VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Honda Odyssey1999–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Honda Odyssey
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Honda Odyssey Years to Avoid
7 recalls · 693 complaints
16 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9 recalls · 710 complaints
25 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12 recalls · 549 complaints
30 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Honda Odyssey — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 7 | — | — | 77 | 40 | 64 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 84 | 6 | — | 68 | 55 | 63 | Good |
| 2024 | 2 | 40 | — | — | 75 | 68 | 73 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 4 | 71 | 2 | — | 69 | 78 | 72 | Good |
| 2022 | 7 | 92 | 8 | — | 59 | 85 | 68 | Good |
| 2021 | 5 | 92 | 3 | — | 67 | 88 | 74 | Good |
| 2020 | 7 | 343 | 20 | — | 50 | 87 | 63 | Caution |
| 2019 | 9 | 710 | 25 | — | 43 | 83 | 57 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 7 | 693 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 77 | 27 | Avoid |
| 2017 | 1 | 24 | 1 | — | 89 | 70 | 82 | Excellent |
| 2016 | 1 | 156 | 6 | — | 77 | 63 | 72 | Good |
| 2015 | 2 | 121 | 3 | — | 78 | 56 | 70 | Good |
| 2014 | 1 | 206 | 6 | — | 77 | 50 | 68 | Good |
| 2013 | 4 | 124 | 8 | — | 72 | 45 | 63 | Good |
| 2012 | 3 | 172 | 26 | — | 68 | 41 | 59 | Good |
| 2011 | 3 | 130 | 9 | — | 75 | 38 | 62 | Good |
| 2010 | 1 | 143 | 5 | — | 81 | 38 | 66 | Good |
| 2009 | 2 | 120 | 6 | — | 80 | 38 | 65 | Good |
| 2008 | 2 | 279 | 20 | — | 71 | 38 | 59 | Caution |
| 2007 | 3 | 521 | 56 | — | 63 | 38 | 54 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 3 | 435 | 21 | — | 66 | 38 | 56 | Caution |
| 2005 | 7 | 519 | 16 | — | 57 | 38 | 50 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 11 | 374 | 27 | 1 | 45 | 38 | 43 | Caution |
| 2003 | 12 | 549 | 30 | — | 51 | 38 | 46 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 8 | 544 | 17 | — | 54 | 38 | 48 | Avoid |
| 2001 | 1 | 371 | 33 | — | 72 | 38 | 60 | Caution |
| 2000 | 6 | 399 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 38 | 13 | Caution |
| 1999 | 7 | 304 | 11 | 2 | 47 | 38 | 44 | 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.
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 74).
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 82).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Odyssey to buy?+
The 2017 Honda Odyssey scores highest on our Buyer Score (82/100) — combining a reliability score of 89/100 with a value score of 70/100. It has 1 recall and 24 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Odyssey years have the most problems?+
The 2018, 2019, 2003 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2018 Odyssey leads with 7 recalls and 693 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: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.