Most common 1996 Honda Odyssey problems
Share of the 70 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Odyssey complaints by model year
Best Odyssey years: 2017, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2025, 2019, 2018, 2020, 2002. Compare all years →
What 1996 Honda Odyssey owners say
Air bags all 24 →
Cruising at 35 miles an hour down park boulevard without hitting any bumps the passenger airbag exploded. The explosion was so hard that it knocked down the rearview mirror, the glove compartment door, and caused damage to the windshield. I was so lucky not to have been hurt by flying debris or having my ear drums blowing out. Everyone I spoken to in the car service business has never heard of anything like this. An airbag exploding without impact or hitting a major bump. I had local ems come to check me out.
July 2002, I took my Odyssey to a Honda dealer because I was having several electrical problems: 1. My SRS light came on and wouldn't go off. 2. My ABS light had also begun to go on and off. 3. My power locks would lock uncontrollably and drain battery. I asked them to take a look. After $160 diagnostic charge, I was told the following: code 8-3 present on SRS. Cleared code and test drove. Light remained off for drive. Suggest replacing airbag if light comes on again. Probably a sensor problem. Cost $748 code 44 present on ABS. Right rear wheel speed sensor is faulty. Suggest replacing sensor. Cost $283 electronic locks need new lock unit. Cost $256 I was shocked that repairs would cost another $1300. After discussing these problems with the dealer and being told the issues were probably all sensor malfunctions, I opted not to pay for repairs. …
Electrical system
This is the second time that we have had an ignition switch failure on this 1996 Honda Odyssey. It will sometimes start, with some jiggling of the key, or will not start at all. It has cut out while driving, a dangerous situation, especially when carrying children. At this point, it will not start at all. How often do we need to replace this? Honda odysseys of this year were subject to recall for this very problem in australia, Japan, and china. Why not here? China, in this instance, has more concern for safety than the obsessively safety-oriented USA.
I purchased a 1996 Honda Odyssey van new in 1996. (VIN#: [redacted]) on March 11, 2003 we drove it with some friends to a neighborhood restaurant where we parked and locked the car, and went in. About 15 minutes later a man came into the restaurant saying there was a car on fire in the parking lot. The driver's side door of my Honda was on fire. Fortunately, the restaurant owner had a fire extinguisher, and we were able to get the door open and put out the fire. The fire appears to have started in the electrical wiring within the interior of the driver's door. As a result of the fire, the plastic power window switch assembly was melted, rendering the windows inoperative, the plastic door latch mechanism that enables the door to be opened from the inside was also melted and inoperable. This rendered the driver's door inoperative from the inside. …
Engine & cooling
Was waiting in the left turn lane to make the turn, light turned green and when trying to make the turn, vehicle stalled suddenly without any notice or engine problems. A family member was present in the car when this happened. Have had engine stall after starting before and had the battery checked. No issues were noted with anything before this sudden stall in traffic. Have researched and found numerous similar complaints with Honda vehicles and ignition switch problems with same results about vehicle stalling in traffic without any signs of the stalling about to occur.
Complained about a small oil leak when at dlr for oil change at 90000 mi. Was told that cam shaft seal was leaking. Oil leak had saturated time belt. Dlr recommended replacing timing belt due to possible failure due to oil saturation. Original owner, timing belt had already been replaced at 60000 mi as part of regular maintenance. Replaced camshaft seal, balancer shaft seal, gear set, timing belt, and water pump at cost of $866. Noted other complaints on site of balancer shaft seal problems.
1996 Honda Odyssey engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 22 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Honda Odyssey a good car?
Based on 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Odyssey rates better than average: 78% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Odyssey at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Honda Odyssey?
The air bags — 24 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › sensor/control module. Next are the electrical system (17) and engine & cooling (12).
How many recalls does the 1996 Honda Odyssey have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Honda Odyssey. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Odyssey?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2019, 2018, 2020 and 2002. See the full Honda Odyssey years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Honda Odyssey problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 117,000 miles; 4% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.