Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was hot, the engine would not start. When the vehicle was not hot, the contact had no issues starting the engine. The contact stated that the instrument panel lighting would illuminate, but the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 169,400.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the key warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle could be restarted. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.
I believe strongly, it has to do with my ignition. My engine just quits without any warning. One time it quit on me when I was driving on a high way. And multiple times it quits on the regular driving on local roads.
We were in the first day of a 10 day trip in our 1999 Honda Odyssey. The check engine light and the TCS light came on and then the transmission began slipping. (the van had been in to the dealership for a similar issue with the TCS light and check engine light in May, 2003 and had also been checked out prior to the trip to make sure everything was in good shape). Three hours into our trip, the lights come on and we're dealing with an out of town Honda dealer. We were unable to get a new transmission done in a timely mannerat the out of town dealership and we needed a van due to a disabled child and no vans were available for rent. Therefore, we were left with the only choice we felt we had which was to purchase a new Honda Odyssey (03) at the dealership. After we get home and research this issue, we feel that Honda has been less than fair and honest. …
At 54,700 miles (July 2001) the car made a clunking noise when put into gear. TCS light and check engine light came on. Service couldnot reproduce clunking problem. Since the transmission was out of warrenty I kept driving making sure to have regular maintenance. It continued to "rev" when starting to move or excellerating quickly. TCS light and check engine light came on again at 100,000 (dec 2002). I questioned them again about the transmission but was told that it was a catalytic converter/ engine control system.( out of stock until February). TCS and check engine lights again in June 2003 at 117,900. Code showed a transmission po740.transmission "smelled burned." sept. 2003 TCS and check engine light indicate trainsmission needs replacing. The dealer nor manufacturer had told me that the warrenty had been extended to 100,000. …
The van engine turned off while driving on the freeway at 70mph while my family and I were on the third lane. I almost got in an accident trying to get to the right shoulder. Van speed was down to 40mph while making rights to get the right shoulder. The van started immediately, and we went on our way. After exiting the free way the engine again stopped but this time we were in the middle of the intersection. The lights turned red and I was blocking on coming traffic and the person behind me was honking his horn. I put the van in park and restarted the it and continued through the red light. Mean while my wife noticed smoke coming out of the steering wheel. When I got home that evening I removed the cover and ignition switch was overheating and killing the engine ( solder joints on the wires were melting). …
My wife was driving the 1999 Honda Odyssey ex home on the freeway. We were going home after having dinner. And the check engine light went on,we heard a noise and soon after all the dash lights went on followed by stiff steering wheel, and then the Honda completely shut off. We were able to coast to the side off ramp off the freeway. We tried to restart but the Honda would not restart.I had the Honda Odyssey towed to my regular mechanic.he looked at the Odyssey and informed me that my engine was shot.the Honda has not been driven ever since,it is parked and non operational.I do have a Honda invoice that states that they performed safety recall (ignition switch) repair on my Honda Odyssey invoice date of 8/30/2002.
On 12/17/03, I brought my vehicle back to the Honda dealer because my check engine light came on again. This is the second time in 2 months that the check engine light has come on. I told them that I am still feeling some hard slippage on downshifts. With approximately 82,500 miles on my car, the technicians believed it was the catalytic converter. The estimate was $701.90. They said they would have to order the part and I would have to prepay. I was uneasy about this (and not to mention the amount of money), so they reset the indicator and said that "it wouldn't do any damage to the car if I didn't fix it now. All that would happen would be that the light would continue to come on.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the engine stalls without warning and all of the instrument panel lights illuminate. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under recall number 02V120000 (electrical system:ignition:switch), yet the failure persists. The contact also stated that the sensor to the electronic door does not sense movement properly, which fails to keep the door opened or closed. On several occasions, she was nearly crushed by the door. The dealer has not been notified. The speed was unknown. The failure mileage was 93,000 and current mileage was 94,000.
Engine complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Honda Odyssey, 8% of the model year's 518 complaints. The component named most often is engine (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Honda Odyssey engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1999 Honda Odyssey, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Honda Odyssey engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 117,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 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.