MYRModel Year Report

2002 Honda Odyssey

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Honda Odyssey
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
960
Recalls
10

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Power train

64% of complaints

Complaints per year

1990: 2 complaints 1990 1994: 1 complaint 1995: 96 complaints 1996: 70 complaints 1997: 20 complaints 1998: 73 complaints 1998 1999: 518 complaints 2000: 675 complaints 2001: 619 complaints 2002: 960 complaints 2002 960 2003: 914 complaints 2004: 585 complaints 2005: 830 complaints 2006: 703 complaints 2007: 830 complaints 2008: 499 complaints 2008 2009: 198 complaints 2010: 255 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2012: 244 complaints 2013: 210 complaints 2013 2014: 308 complaints 2015: 206 complaints 2016: 270 complaints 2017: 39 complaints 2018: 992 complaints 2018 2019: 977 complaints 2020: 473 complaints 2021: 143 complaints 2022: 137 complaints 2023: 100 complaints 2023 2024: 113 complaints 2025: 400 complaints 2026: 43 complaints
1990: 2 complaints 1990 1994: 1 complaint 1995: 96 complaints 1996: 70 complaints 1996 1997: 20 complaints 1998: 73 complaints 1999: 518 complaints 1999 2000: 675 complaints 2001: 619 complaints 2002: 960 complaints 2002 960 2003: 914 complaints 2004: 585 complaints 2005: 830 complaints 2005 2006: 703 complaints 2007: 830 complaints 2008: 499 complaints 2008 2009: 198 complaints 2010: 255 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2011 2012: 244 complaints 2013: 210 complaints 2014: 308 complaints 2014 2015: 206 complaints 2016: 270 complaints 2017: 39 complaints 2017 2018: 992 complaints 2019: 977 complaints 2020: 473 complaints 2020 2021: 143 complaints 2022: 137 complaints 2023: 100 complaints 2023 2024: 113 complaints 2025: 400 complaints 2026: 43 complaints 2026
1990: 2 complaints 1990 1994: 1 complaint 1995: 96 complaints 1995 1996: 70 complaints 1997: 20 complaints 1997 1998: 73 complaints 1999: 518 complaints 1999 2000: 675 complaints 2001: 619 complaints 2002: 960 complaints 2002 960 2003: 914 complaints 2004: 585 complaints 2005: 830 complaints 2005 2006: 703 complaints 2007: 830 complaints 2007 2008: 499 complaints 2009: 198 complaints 2009 2010: 255 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2011 2012: 244 complaints 2013: 210 complaints 2013 2014: 308 complaints 2015: 206 complaints 2015 2016: 270 complaints 2017: 39 complaints 2017 2018: 992 complaints 2019: 977 complaints 2019 2020: 473 complaints 2021: 143 complaints 2021 2022: 137 complaints 2023: 100 complaints 2023 2024: 113 complaints 2025: 400 complaints 2025 2026: 43 complaints

2002: 960 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19902
19941
199596
199670
199720
199873
1999518
2000675
2001619
2002960
2003914
2004585
2005830
2006703
2007830
2008499
2009198
2010255
2011235
2012244
2013210
2014308
2015206
2016270
201739
2018992
2019977
2020473
2021143
2022137
2023100
2024113
2025400
202643

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Power train

64% · 613 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and torque converter.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Bad tranny an I just bought this car. Now to spend more money on your defect. Honda offers zero help class action lawsuit please.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-03-22

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the transmission failed while traveling 70 MPH. The contact stated that there was a smell of transmission fluid burning prior to the transmission overheating.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-08-07

My transmission has almost completely went out

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-08-14

Also filed under Air bags and engine

Air bags

11% · 102 reports

Most commonly citing sensor/control module and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The airbags on my Honda were recalled and we had them replaced at nanuet Honda where we purchased the car. Thinking after we had them replaced that they would actually work if we got into and accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-01-14

Got a letter saying there was a recall for a 2002 Honda Odyssey with the airbags but I do not own that car anymore. That car was in an accident and is gone now.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-08-24

My wife was injured when the side airbags of our 2002 Odyssey inadvertently deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-05-03

Structure

6% · 57 reports

Most commonly citing door and body.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The passenger side door opens and closes intermittently. The consumer's wife pushed the button for the automatic door to open, but the sliding doors only opened a few inches.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-21

Engine and engine cooling

4% · 43 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

CRASHINJURY

Electrical system

4% · 36 reports

Most commonly citing interior/under dash and alternator/generator/regulator.

CRASHFIRE

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 960 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2002-08-30Engine and engine cooling02V226000 On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with V6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began August 30, 2002. Owners who take their…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2004-04-27Power train04V176000 On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic…

    Remedy: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  5. R
    2015-01-26Air bags14V700000 American Honda Motor Co.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  7. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V370000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2016-06-29Air bags16V344000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2018-06-22Air bags18V268000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Honda Odyssey — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 613 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 102 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 57 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02V226000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 04V176000 · Power train
  • Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V370000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V344000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V268000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Honda Odyssey reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Honda Odyssey is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Honda Odyssey?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 64% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Honda Odyssey have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.