Most common 1999 Honda Odyssey problems
Share of the 518 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 →
1999 Honda Odyssey recalls (9)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans, the ignition switch May wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to "park."
Remedy: Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that determines the amount of cylinder body wear. If significant wear is indicated, the dealer will replace the cylinder body, collar, and latch plate.
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…
Interior lighting
Vehicle description: Mini vans. The dimmer control for the instrument panel lights can fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the multiplex unit.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Vehicle description: minivan. The sliding doors May not latch properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the door latch assembly on all odyssey minvans built from December 3, 1999 through December 16, 1999. Also included in this recall are approximately 1,612 odyssey minivans that had the latches…
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Vehicle description: Mini vans. A wire harness, located within the engine compartment, could be damaged by contact with a metal pipe, possibly resulting in a blown fuse.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective covering over the wire harness and metal pipe to prevent this problem. If any wires are damaged, the dealer will make the necessary repairs, and then install the protective covering.
Show 3 more recalls
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Vehicle description: minivan. The sliding doors May not latch properly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the door latch assembly.
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: minivan. In extremely cold, wet weather, ice can form in the throttle body preventing the throttle return to the idle position. This could cause the throttle to remain open even though the driver has removed his or her foot from the accelerator pedal.
Remedy: Dealers will drill two additional drain holes in the bottom of the resonator.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Vehicle description: minivan. The power door lock remote control actuator unlatches the door in response to input from the remote transmitter. Excessive grease in the actuator could cause a slow return of the activation lever to the proper latching position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the power door lock remote control assembly.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Honda Odyssey:
Upexpected opening of sliding door
There is no summary currently available
What 1999 Honda Odyssey owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 170 →
I was driving on a crowded expressway when my car seized up completely due to a transmission failure which put me in an extremely dangerous situation. I was in the middle lane with three large semi trailer trucks in front of me, in back of me, and to the right of me on a 3 lane highway. The truck behind me had enough room to barely slow down but it almost crashed into me. I turned on my emergency flasher lights and was able to get the car onto the shoulder of a slightly uphill exit ramp, narrowly escaping serious injury. I was then able to very slowly move the car in first gear with the flashers going, and fortunately was close to a side street where I parked the car and had it towed to the nearest dealership. Although Honda replaced my transmission for free under the auspices of a class action lawsuit back in 2007, the car has low mileage for the life of the transmission. …
Our 1999 Honda Odyssey has had the p0740 torque clutch converter solenoid circuit (open) code displayed numerous times, we thought since it was a serious issue and the transmission had already been replaced within 20,000 miles that we should actually take it to the dealer in marysville, wa and have them do a transmission flush then a supervisor and said no you should have us run a diagnostic by one of our master techs. After reiterating this seriousness of our transmission issue the code coming on and delays in shifting mostly just barely noticeable, they assured us if we paid $129 for a diagnostic that a master tech could get to the issue, however they later told us after we got the car back and called on the issue that an apprentice (not a master tech) had done the entire inspection and came up with no problems except a different code having to do with up bad catalytic converter which …
Electrical system all 110 →
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ignition switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,617.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey ex. While driving 35 MPH on a clear day the contact smelled something burning and noticed smoke rising from the steering column. He stated that the instrument panel shut off and the lights dimmed. Also , the vehicle began to thrust, jerk, and finally shut off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. He stated that the engine sounded as if the battery was losing power. The vehicle was towed to his residence and was able to restart a few days later. The contact discovered recalls 00v0300 concerning electrical system:wiring:front underhood, and 03V423000 concerning electrical system :ignition :switch, and called the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was included in the abovementioned recalls. …
Locks & latches all 78 →
Tl contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey ex. While driving 35 MPH on a clear day the contact smelled something burning and noticed smoke rising from the steering column. He stated that the instrument panel shut off and the lights dimmed. Also , the vehicle began to thrust, jerk, and finally shut off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. He stated that the engine sounded as if the battery was losing power. The vehicle was towed to his residence and was able to restart a few days later. The contact discovered recalls 00v0300 concerning electrical system:wiring:front underhood, and 03V423000 concerning electrical system :ignition :switch, and called the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was included in the abovementioned recalls. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the trunk would independently open. The contact also stated that the sliding door on the passenger side failed. The contact mentioned that the slider button had to remain deactivated in order for the alert for the slider door to deactivate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000.
1999 Honda Odyssey engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Honda Odyssey a good car?
Based on 518 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Odyssey rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Odyssey at the same age. It is one of the Odyssey years we suggest avoiding. 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 1999 Honda Odyssey?
The transmission & drivetrain — 170 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (110) and locks & latches (78).
How many recalls does the 1999 Honda Odyssey have?
There are 9 recalls for the 1999 Honda Odyssey, the most recent from January 17, 2020 (inflator module). 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 1999 Honda Odyssey problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 14% 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.