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 67/100
28
Years Analyzed
122
Total Recalls
7689
Total Complaints
404
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
Good Buy · 67/100
Reliability66/100
Value window70/100
Recalls2
Complaints24
Top issue: ENGINE
#2 PICK2yr old
2024
Good Buy · 63/100
Reliability60/100
Value window68/100
Recalls2
Complaints40
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
#3 PICK1yr old
2025
Good Buy · 60/100
Reliability62/100
Value window55/100
Recalls1
Complaints95
Top issue: ENGINE

Honda Odyssey Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2018

10 recalls · 706 complaints

16 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#2 WORST
2019

11 recalls · 725 complaints

25 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#3 WORST
2007

4 recalls · 521 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
202619
86
40
70
Excellent
20251956
62
55
60
Good
2024240
60
68
63
Excellent
20234742
49
78
59
Good
20226958
36
85
53
Good
20215903
44
88
59
Good
2020436123
40
87
56
Caution
20191172525
5
83
32
Avoid
201810706169
0
77
27
Avoid
20172241
66
70
67
Excellent
201651576
42
63
49
Good
201541223
49
56
51
Good
201422066
57
50
55
Good
201341258
46
45
46
Good
2012417026
40
41
40
Good
201121319
56
38
50
Good
201011445
63
38
54
Good
200931206
52
38
47
Good
2008427920
40
38
39
Caution
2007452156
40
38
39
Avoid
2006243521
50
38
46
Caution
2005651916
32
38
34
Avoid
20049374271
7
38
18
Caution
2003954930
15
38
23
Avoid
2002754417
27
38
31
Avoid
2001037133
60
38
52
Caution
20004399209
0
38
13
Caution
19996304112
19
38
26
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.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
749
POWER TRAIN
714
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
666
ENGINE
647
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
403
STRUCTURE:BODY
349
AIR BAGS
345
SERVICE BRAKES
290

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: 2026 (Buyer Score 70).

Best: 2026

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 67).

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 (67/100) — combining a reliability score of 66/100 with a value score of 70/100. It has 2 recalls and 24 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Odyssey years have the most problems?+

The 2018, 2019, 2007 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2018 Odyssey leads with 10 recalls and 706 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

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 →