VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Honda Odyssey19992026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

TOP PICK
2017
Buyer Score 81/100
28
Years Analyzed
117
Total Recalls
8180
Total Complaints
410
Reported Injuries
21
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Honda Odyssey

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK9yr old
2017
Strong Buy · 81/100
Reliability87/100
Value window70/100
Recalls1
Complaints25
Top issue: ENGINE
#2 PICK5yr old
2021
Strong Buy · 78/100
Reliability73/100
Value window88/100
Recalls4
Complaints107
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
#3 PICK3yr old
2023
Strong Buy · 76/100
Reliability75/100
Value window78/100
Recalls2
Complaints83
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Honda Odyssey Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2019

12 recalls · 803 complaints

25 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#2 WORST
2018

9 recalls · 775 complaints

17 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#3 WORST
2007

4 recalls · 522 complaints

56 reported injuries

Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Honda Odyssey — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
2026125
75
40
63
Excellent
202512588
67
55
63
Good
20241641
77
68
74
Excellent
20232833
75
78
76
Good
20225988
66
85
73
Good
202141073
73
88
78
Good
2020944723
38
87
55
Caution
20191280325
33
83
51
Avoid
20189775179
17
77
38
Avoid
20171252
87
70
81
Excellent
201631716
74
63
70
Good
201521273
80
56
72
Good
201432066
74
50
66
Good
201351268
70
45
61
Good
2012417126
62
41
55
Good
201121319
77
38
63
Good
201021445
83
38
67
Good
200931206
78
38
64
Good
2008227920
68
38
58
Caution
2007452256
58
38
51
Avoid
2006443821
63
38
54
Caution
2005551916
62
38
54
Caution
20048374271
44
38
42
Caution
20031054930
46
38
43
Avoid
2002754417
51
38
46
Avoid
2001037133
74
38
61
Caution
20004399209
44
38
42
Caution
19994304112
60
38
52
Caution

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Honda Odyssey Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
770
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
749
POWER TRAIN
733
ENGINE
730
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
455
STRUCTURE:BODY
360
AIR BAGS
358
SERVICE BRAKES
298

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Odyssey compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 78).

Best: 2021

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2017 (Buyer Score 81).

Best: 2017

Pre-2013

Older Odyssey models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Odyssey to buy?+

The 2017 Honda Odyssey scores highest on our Buyer Score (81/100) — combining a reliability score of 87/100 with a value score of 70/100. It has 1 recall and 25 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Odyssey years have the most problems?+

The 2019, 2018, 2007 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2019 Odyssey leads with 12 recalls and 803 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Odyssey problems?+

The most frequently reported Honda Odyssey issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →