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 84/100
28
Years Analyzed
104
Total Recalls
7886
Total Complaints
407
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 · 84/100
Reliability91/100
Value window70/100
Recalls0
Complaints24
Top issue: ENGINE
#2 PICK5yr old
2021
Strong Buy · 76/100
Reliability70/100
Value window88/100
Recalls5
Complaints97
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
#3 PICK2yr old
2024
Strong Buy · 75/100
Reliability79/100
Value window68/100
Recalls1
Complaints48
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Honda Odyssey Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2019

11 recalls · 757 complaints

25 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#2 WORST
2018

8 recalls · 728 complaints

16 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

#3 WORST
2007

3 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
2026015
77
40
64
Excellent
202501698
68
55
63
Good
2024148
79
68
75
Excellent
20233793
72
78
74
Good
20225968
66
85
73
Good
20215973
70
88
76
Good
2020539123
49
87
62
Caution
20191175725
33
83
51
Avoid
20188728169
19
77
39
Avoid
20170241
91
70
84
Excellent
201611626
80
63
74
Good
201511243
83
56
74
Good
201432066
74
50
66
Good
201341258
73
45
63
Good
2012317126
65
41
57
Good
201121319
77
38
63
Good
201011445
86
38
69
Good
200931206
78
38
64
Good
2008427920
62
38
54
Caution
2007352256
61
38
53
Avoid
2006143821
72
38
60
Caution
2005651916
59
38
52
Avoid
200410374271
43
38
41
Caution
20031154930
46
38
43
Avoid
2002854417
48
38
45
Avoid
2001037133
74
38
61
Caution
20001399209
53
38
48
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.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
749
POWER TRAIN
724
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
714
ENGINE
676
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
422
STRUCTURE:BODY
354
AIR BAGS
348
SERVICE BRAKES
294

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 76).

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 84).

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 (84/100) — combining a reliability score of 91/100 with a value score of 70/100. It has 0 recalls and 24 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 11 recalls and 757 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 →