Most common 1997 Honda Odyssey problems
Share of the 20 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 →
1997 Honda Odyssey recalls (2)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began June 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles were manufactured with ball joints that can prematurely wear out and, in the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
What 1997 Honda Odyssey owners say
Electrical system
Faulty ignition switch causes the engine to spontaneously shut off while the vehicle is in motion. Since the engine cannot be restarted while not in park, this requires coming to a complete stop without the aid of power brakes or steering. This has happened multiple times and various speeds and conditions. It is very similar to the situation in recall 05V025000.
Vehicle had a total electrical shutdown. Consumer lost brakes/power steering, and smoke came from ignition housing. Took to dealer, and they replaced defective part with 35130-sxo-ao1 steering switch.
Speed control & acceleration
Applying the brakes while in the process of parking the vehicle lunched forward, causing the vehicle to hit a brick wall. Another time, applied the brakes while in the process of parking the vehicle lunged forward into traffic.
The cruise control on this car causes the speed to increase while traveling up longer grades. There have been many times during our ownership when this had caused very awkward and dangerous situations. Other drivers who begin to pass on a hill have gotten annoyed when our car picks up speed while they are trying to pass. On occasion the increase in speed has been substantial, as much as 8 miles per hour. Sometimes, when cresting a hill, the car continues at the faster speed, wanting to gain even more speed at the next hill. The only way to prevent this is to disengage the cruise when approaching hills. This problem was reported to the dealer early on, but he was unable to do anything about it.
1997 Honda Odyssey engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Honda Odyssey a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Odyssey rates better than average: 92% 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 1997 Honda Odyssey?
The electrical system — 9 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › switch. Next are the speed control & acceleration (3) and brakes (2).
How many recalls does the 1997 Honda Odyssey have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1997 Honda Odyssey, the most recent from May 16, 2002 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 1997 Honda Odyssey problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 120,000 miles; 25% 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.