Best & Worst Years of Honda Odyssey – Graphs & Owner Surveys

The Best Years of the Honda Odyssey

After analyzing engine reliability scores and Honda Odyssey owner surveys from the past 20 years, we’ve put together this list of model years that perform best. The ranking also ties in data on fuel efficiency, safety scores, and market values. When applicable, we included information on common diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) and safety recalls. 

2015-2018 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 9/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 10/10
• KBB Value: $13,064-$24,027
• Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $250-$768
• Safety Rating: 4.8/5

Honda Odysseys sold from 2015 to 2018 earn their rank as the best of the best thanks in large part to outstanding reliability. Both the FIXD and owner survey reliability scores hit their highest points – 9 for FIXD and 10 for owners – in 2015 and remained there through 2018. 

These models also boast the lowest annual maintenance costs of $250 in 2017 and 2018, which represents a steady drop from about $760 in 2015 and $580 in 2016. Some of this performance can be attributed to the fact that 2015, 2016, and 2017 were the final three years of the fourth-gen Odyssey meaning Honda had the kinks ironed out. 

When repair work does arise for these models, the most common DTCs are P0303 & P0302. This is related to spark plug replacement, a job that typically runs less $100 for DIYers or up to $250 when the professionals are involved.

2018 marked the debut of the fifth-gen Odyssey with no apparent ill effects on reliability as is so often the case. So kudos to Honda on that note. That same year, 20% of owners reported great driver visibility. This is on the high side for this metric and further bolsters the case for a strong debut of the latest generation.  

Of course, this overall positive picture is helped by the low mileage these newer Odysseys tend to show. None of them average more than 100,000 miles with the 2018 models reporting just 50,000 miles on the clock. Aside from an average of one day in the shop for 2015 models, the rest of this lineup reports zero days in the shop.

2012-2013 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 8/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 9/10
• KBB Value: $8,641-$9,081
• Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $672-$736
• Safety Rating: 4.8/5

Going back about 10 years, we see that 2012 and 2013 Honda Odysseys are still quite reliable with FIXD data flat at 8 and owner-reported reliability consistent at 9. Fuel efficiency hits 22 mpg in this range – the high point for the Odyssey – and stays there going forward.

Yearly maintenance costs are close to the overall average of $600 with both years seeing the brakes as the most likely culprit of a $500 repair per owner surveys.The likelihood of a costly repair is low as evidenced by zero days in the shop according to owners, but of course problems can arise. 

DTC P0430 & P0420 are the most common codes seen in 2012-2013 Odysseys. Though tied to the catalytic converter – which is expensive to replace ($1500-$2000)  – it can also be as simple as an exhaust leak. This could run you between $100 and $200 for a welded repair.

On the amenity front, 11% of owners felt the entertainment system is easy to use which aligns with Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port becoming standard equipment at this time. 

One safety recall of concern was for missing rivets on the driver’s airbag that affected nearly 750,000 Odysseys. Automakers are required to fix recalls for up to 15 years at no cost and you can check the NHTSA site to find out if your Odyssey needs to be looked at.

For those considering the purchase of a used Odyssey, these 2012-2013 models average about 135,000 miles and have a Kelley Blue Book value of less than $10,000 making them a great value.

2009-2010 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 7/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 8-9/10
• KBB Value: $4,386-$5,130
• Fuel Economy: 19 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $560-$942
• Safety Rating: 4.8/5

As the final two model years of the third-gen Honda Odyssey, 2009 and 2010 vans show a marked improvement in FIXD reliability scores. The chart shows how that figure jumps up to 7 after languishing at 5 or less during the first years of this model. That’s an indicator that Honda identified issues and worked to make them right.

Related to this is how the repair costs came down from about $950 in 2009 to $560 for 2010. The higher cost tends to be associated with a replacement catalytic converter, DTC P0430 or P0420, that runs between $1,500 and $2,000.

On the low side of repair work cost is DTC P0300, another common CEL cause for these Odysseys. It can be related to engine valve work or the ignition coil system, both of which come in under $200 to have fixed.

With mileage running towards 180,000 miles on these 2009 and 2010 Odysseys, it’s good to see about 20% of owners – in both years – reporting they expect the odometer to hit 200,000 miles or more. 

One notable ding on the 2009 Odyssey is the 50% of owners who think the sound system stinks. This is, of course, a subjective area but the percentage is still quite a bit higher than in other years. 

2004 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 3/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 7/10
• KBB Value: $3,003
• Fuel Economy: 19 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $797
• Safety Rating: 5/5

Although the FIXD engine reliability score comes in at just 3 for the 2004 model, it makes the list of best Odysseys partly because this value is the highest for second-gen models. This suggests Honda worked to improve early issues. As well, owners report a much higher reliability of 7 out of 10. Based on how we ask about reliability, owners think their 2004 could make it through a 100-500 mile road trip without a breakdown. 

Be aware that one of the more common CEL causes for this model year is DTC 0740 that indicates automatic transmission trouble. Repairs can hit $3,000, which is why preventative transmission maintenance is so important. On the less expensive side P0300 is the 2nd most common code, usually repaired by replacing ignition coils ($51-173). Still the third most common repair is one we’ve seen in many older models already, P0420. This is generally resolved by replacing the catalytic converter, $1500-$2000.

Other notable points include an average safety score of 5, the highest of all model years, and odometer readings that lean into 200,000 miles. The owner reliability score of 7 bodes well considering this high mileage and that 23% of those owners expect the Odyssey to make it over 200,000 miles.

Finally, for those on a tighter budget, the Kelley Blue Book value of $3,000 makes this the most affordable Honda Odyssey on our list of best model years.

The Worst Years of the Honda Odyssey 

As with any automaker known for well-engineered vehicles, Honda is not without its faults. Such is the case for their Odyssey minivan which is generally less reliable as you push past a 15-year-old model. 

To create this ranking of the worst years of the Odyssey, we’ve analyzed FIXD and owner survey reliability scores, market values, annual maintenance costs, and government-reported safety scores. We have also noted DTC problem areas and safety recall information where applicable.

2001-2003 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 1-2/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 6-8/10
• KBB Value: $2,398-$2,948
• Fuel Economy: 18-19 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $300-$893
• Safety Rating: 4.8/5

With FIXD engine reliability scores that don’t go higher than 2 out of 10, the 2001-2003 Honda Odyssey sits at the bottom of our worst model years ranking. These second-generation Odysseys received an all-new 3.5L V6 to replace the prior inline-4 motor in 1999, which clearly took some time to get running smoothly. 

Then in 2002, a new 5-speed automatic transmission replaced the 4-speed unit and the engine was revised to bump horsepower from 210 to 240. All of which drove notably poor reliability scores and the rare instance where market value dropped from one year to the next between 2002 and 2003. 

Though these Odysseys currently cost less than $3,000 and have strong safety scores, the spike in annual repair cost for 2002 – nearly $900 – is reason enough to stay away. Per owner surveys, it is the transmission that is most likely to cost more than $500 to fix that year. DTC code P0740 backs this up – it represents transmission work that can set you back up to $3,000.

Fortunately, the other most common DTC from 2001 to 2003 is P0300 & P0305. Indicating an ignition coil problem, repairs are far less costly, ranging from $50 to $175.

2005-2008 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 1-5/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 7-810
• KBB Value: $3,435-$4,460
• Fuel Economy: 19-20 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $765-$908
• Safety Rating: 4.8/5

Owner-reported reliability is high from 2005 to 2008 at 7 and 8 out of 10, but the FIXD scores remain stubbornly low. Yes, this metric does steadily tick up over the four model year span however, it is still relatively low compared to other (better) Odyssey years.

The low FIXD score of just 1 in 2005 aligns with the introduction of Honda’s new cylinder deactivation technology that debuted that year. Known as Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), this system would shut down 3 of 6 cylinders to improve fuel efficiency in certain conditions. 

As you can see, the annual repair bill runs high in this range and the engine is the culprit of $500+ work in both 2006 and 2008. Though DTC P0300, P0304, P0305, and P0306 which can indicate ignition coil or engine valve work, is not overly expensive at less than $200 in either case, it can clearly lead to more expensive repairs related to VCM.

Another possibility is the catalytic converter that can cost upwards to $2,000 to replace. Represented by DTC P0420 and P0430, these two codes show up most frequently on the 2008 Odyssey.

2011 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 8/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 9/10
• KBB Value: $7,109
• Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $1,000
• Safety Rating: 4.8/5

The 2011 Honda Odyssey lands on our list of worst model years due to abnormally high repair costs and days out of service. FIXD and owner-reported reliability scores are high, but an average annual maintenance budget of $1,000 is not ideal. 

This is nearly double the figure of 2010 and can be chalked up to 2011 being the first year of the fourth generation Odyssey. That was the year that a 6-speed automatic transmission was added to top-spec models and VCM became lineup standard. Previously, VCM was limited to higher-end Odysseys.

As a result, owners report nearly five days in the shop each year for the 2011 Odyssey. That is far more than any other model year and 7 ½ times more than the overall average of less than one day per year. 

Expensive catalytic converter work, DTC P0420 & P0430, is a common culprit for 2011 that tends to cost between $1,500 and $2,000. Another frequently seen issue is DTC P0303 that has to do with the spark plugs. In this case, you can expect a cheaper bill as repairs run less than $200 at a shop or even less on your own.

It’s not all bad news as 37% of owners expect their Honda to go past 200,000 miles. As well, these Odysseys are in the 22 mpg club. However, the likelihood of big-ticket powertrain repairs means this is an Odyssey to avoid. 

2014 Honda Odyssey

• FIXD Reliability Score: 9/10
• Owner Reliability Score: 9/10
• KBB Value: $10,857
• Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: $925
• Safety Rating: 4.8/5

As the “best” of the worst Honda Odysseys, the 2014 model year is not without its merits. Reliability in both categories is high and safety scores remain solid. Unfortunately, annual repair costs jumped from about $670 to over $900 in 2014.

It was in 2014 that the 6-speed automatic became standard across the Odyssey lineup. That same year, there was a 4% chance that repair work running over $500 was related to the transmission. This may not sound high but consider that for every other Odyssey model year between 2008 and 2018, this probability was flat at zero.  

In line with the owner surveys is that DTC P0990 was the most commonly recorded code in 2014. Typically related to low transmission fluid level or a faulty transmission sensor, this is best avoided by staying on top of factory-recommended transmission service. However, the second and third most common codes are P0303 and P0302. They are generally resolved for this model year by replacing spark plugs, typically a $50-$170 repair.

On the recall front, be aware that some 800,000 Honda Odysseys had an issue with second-row seats tipping forward during braking due to a faulty latching mechanism. The 2014 model year was part of this recall and if the work is not already done, a Honda dealer should remedy it at no cost.

FAQs

What years of the Honda Odyssey have engine and/or transmission problems?

The 2001 and 2002 Honda Odyssey, both part of the second-generation model, have the unfortunate distinction of being most likely to require major powertrain work. Along with FIXD reliability scores of just 1 and 2, respectively, both years are also in the double digits for the chance that a repair over $500 is related to the engine or transmission.

Per owner surveys, repairs running over $500 have a 12% chance that it is the engine in 2001 and a 33% likelihood of being due to the transmission. Those figures jump to 19% for the engine and 50% for the transmission – by far the highest probability of all model years – in 2002.

What is considered high mileage for a Honda Odyssey?

Reviewing owner-reported Honda Odyssey mileage reveals 200,000 miles as a relatively high odometer reading. Only the 2002 and 2004 model years hit this mark. However, another four model years from 2009 and earlier are around 180,000 miles, and on average, 20% of Odyssey owners expect the minivan to go past 200,000 miles.

With that in mind, we could reasonably say 225,000 miles would be high for a Honda Odyssey. However, of these high-mileage Odysseys, an average of 25% are used for “Lots of Driving” per their owners. This suggests accumulated highway miles, which tend to add longevity versus short trips. So, if you’re in the market for a well-used Odyssey, it’s worth learning about how the previous owner or owners used the van in this regard. 

What other vehicles should I consider? 

The minivan segment is ever-shrinking, but there are other fish in the sea. Both the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica offer hybrid powertrains with AWD. Kia’s new Carnival blurs the line between SUV and minivan, while Ford’s Transit Connect trades on Euro-styling and a smaller footprint. 

If you’re looking to stay in the Honda family but aren’t quite ready to drive a minivan, the automaker’s Pilot SUV is a solid alternative. It has been for sale nearly as long as the Odyssey and was fully redesigned for the 2023 model year. Three rows of seating are standard as are regular (read: not sliding) doors. Other Honda models like the CR-V have undergone notable changes over the years. To help you make an informed decision when selecting your perfect vehicle, our article on the Best & Worst Years of Honda CR-V can offer valuable insights on the model’s safety, reliability, and overall performance. 

Honda’s Ridgeline blends a five-seat cabin that is easily mistaken for the interior of an Odyssey or Pilot with a utility-friendly pickup truck bed. There are also several smaller two-row SUVs like the Passport and CR-V. As well, a  fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain is available on both the CR-V and well-regarded Accord sedan.

What owners of the Honda Odyssey like to use their car for:

Frequent Use Categories:	How Useful? (Out of 5 Stars)
Family Vehicle	*****
Lots of Driving (travel/long commute)	***
Hauling/Towing	*
Office on Wheels	*
Sport/Fast Driving	*
Luxurious Driving	*
Outdoor/Off-Road	*

A Note About Data and Information Sources

This article has many details about Honda Odyssey reliability; here’s what we used for our assumptions and recommendations.

• FIXD Reliability Score & Data: Engine reliability information is captured via the FIXD App. 

The FIXD Reliability Score is calculated using the number of DTCs per year, weighted by mileage. This is then turned into a scale of 1-10 for easy graphing. 

This is an objective score.

• Owner Reliability Score & Data: This data is the result of surveying Honda Odyssey owners who use FIXD. 

The Owner Reliability Score comes straight from owners of the Honda Odyssey   

This is a subjective score.

To determine the Owner Reliability Score we ask each car owner:

How reliable would you say your Honda Odyssey is?

a. Just point A to point B driving

b. A Daily Commuter

c. Good for a 100 mile road trip

d. Good for a 500 mile road trip

e. I could take a cross-country road trip, no problem

From here we translate their answers into the Owner Reliability Score:

a. = 2

b. = 4

c. = 6

d. = 8

e. = 10

Keep in mind, owners may think their car is more or less reliable than it actually is. 

One potential problem is that people often buy the same make or model they are used to when they go car shopping, just a newer year.

Ford, for instance, has a number of consumer loyalty awards for the Ford F-Series, Ford Mustang, and Ford Expedition.

Car owners may be so loyal to the make or model they currently own that they would have trouble accurately comparing their cars’ reliability to others. 

It’s for this reason that we intentionally ask car owners a question that is relative to mileage rather than relative to other cars. 

Still, be mindful of the accuracy of these Owner Reliability Scores, people’s perceptions and unconscious blindspots can skew data. 

We suggest looking at both the FIXD Reliability Score and the Owner Reliability Score for this reason.

• KBB Value: Average private-seller valuations as supplied by Kelley Blue Book (KBB), based on a Honda Odyssey with typical mileage for that respective model year.
• Fuel Economy: Mileage-per-gallon estimates according to the EPA MPG on Fueleconomy.gov
• Annual Maintenance/Repair: Upkeep expenses as reported by surveyed Honda Odyssey owners
• Safety Rating: Crash test data collected and reported by NHTSA. We average all ratings for each year to come up with a simplified, average safety score. This makes it easier to look at on a graph. 

References

1. Honda Odyssey model-specific information, Edmunds.com (various dates). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.edmunds.com/
2. Model-specific recall information as per the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
3. Honda Odyssey model-specific information, Honda Newsroom (various dates). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles 
4. Honda Odyssey model-specific information, Auto Catalog Archive (various model years). Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://autocatalogarchive.com/