Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vehicle experienced the following: out of alignment, loud bang/ticking, shaking, engine hesitation, inoperative A/C, a contaminated filter with metal shavings, A/C drain tube was rubbing and draining on the steering rack boot, coolant reservoir was empty and the right front seal on the body was damaged due to it being improperly placed, A/C knob was broken, the A/C airflow automatically changed, when the A/C blower motor speed decreased, various dash lights would dim, the hood latch was defective, static shock problem, there was a coolant smell, due to the reservoir fluid level, the sliding door was inoperative, the transmission was defective, the crankshaft pulley and the steering wheel vibrated, the right door seal had come apart, the splash shield clip was missing, the idle speed fluctuated from 750 to 2000 RPM with the vehicle in park/neutral, and immediately after, the MIL …
Automatic sliding doors apply dangerous pressure to people before retracting. I have been hurt twice by being crushed and bruised by doors closing on my body when door was accidently activated while loading children and passengers. The sensor to retract does not operate as indicated by manufacturer. This defect poses serious danger to children. Also, both sliding doors have been malfunctioning since oct 2002. Will almost close, then retract with nothing obstructing them. Dealer has attempted to repair this malfunction four times in the last year starting at 25,000 miles with no success. Faulty junction switches have been replaced and doors rehoned but malfunctions continue to happen approx every couple months and mileage is now at 38,000. Driver side window is very slow to raise. Faulty regulator was replaced oct, 2002. …
We have a 2001 Honda Odyssey lx. The power sliding door on the passenger side suddenly quit working and will no longer close properly. The only way we have been able to continue driving the car without the incessant alarm is to shut off the power sliding door function and try to keep it shut. There are several potentially big problems with this. Number one - the kids cannot open the door manually, it is too heavy for them. The only option they have to exit the car is on the traffic side of the vehicle. The door will suddenly become ajar when we are driving, even with the locks closed, which is also a huge safety factor. I have tried to get this problem fixed professionally numerous times and I cannot get a satisfactory answer to what the problem is. I cannot sell this car in good conscience with an issue like this.
The drivers side door on my 2001honda Odyssey stopped working on 3/12/2004. I cannot open the door no matter what I do. I took it to a dealership at the time ,and was told that the "door contacts were too small, and it was fixed on the new models. They charged me $250 to get the door open and told me it would cost aproximately $800 to fix it properly. The door stopped working within 2 months. I have been waiting for a recall, but no recall was ever issued. I feel this is a safety issue since that door will not open and if I had a collision or an emergency the passenger on the driver side could not exit the van quickly. I have owned many, many hondas and consider myself a Honda person but this problem is causing me to rethink my loyalty. I want someone to take Honda to task for this problem!!!!!
Honda Odyssey 01 ex model, power slide doors. Many times in the past years, we have experienced the sliding door alarm chimes or the doors fail to close/open. While driving the sliding door alarms shows that the door is opened and buzzes. This causes us to stop car and check the doors with no clue what the problem is. A few times, the door could not be opened and had to be opened manually. Had to use extreme force to open the door. This is OK if only one side failed, but both doors failed last week. I reset the fuse but that only fixed one door leaving the driver side sliding door locked.
Passenger automatic van door on 2001 Honda Odyssey consistently refuses to completely close even after being "repaired" several times. Door has actually come open after vehicle is in drive. I had to physically hold the door closed with four children in the van, till my husband found a safe place to stop on the side of highway. We are constantly having to "bump" the door close and keep safety lock on. My kids are not allowed to sit near this door. This issue needs to seriously be addressed by the NHTSA as safety hazard that Honda will not comment on.
The sliding doors on our 2001 Honda odysey ex will not remain closed and often open slightly while driving, triggering the interior buzzer system. This problem occurs off and on during random occasions with no apparent warning or cause. The sliding door fuses have been reset numerous times and the battery has been replaced, but the problem fails to be remedied. This is a dangerous situation and I am concerned for the safety of my children/passengers when riding in the vehicle, as I never know when the sliding doors May fail to stay closed!
Tl contact owns a 2001 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that when depressing the lock for the rear sliding doors, the door would not shut completely. When using the manual lock, she could not determine if the doors were fully closed. The failure was previously diagnosed by the dealer, the door fuses and motor were replaced. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer nor was the manufacturer contacted. The VIN was not available when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was unknown.
The power sliding door on the driver side does not open and close. The "sliding door light" is illuminated. The passenger side sliding door works fine. (the passenger side power sliding door closes but not quite all the way, it will not "engage", or "catch". Therefore, the van thinks the door is still open (open door light is on, buzzes continually when put into gear, and interior lights stay on).
Sliding rear doors fail to open or close. One must remove fuse #13 to reset the door. In the even of an accident or emergency, passengers sitting in the re rear seats could be trapped in the vehicle. Dealer repair quotes are in the $400 - $600 range. But the removal of a fuse resets the doors. Something is not right here. This happens several times a year and has been happening for the last 5 years.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2001 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2001 Honda Odyssey, 5% of the model year's 619 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Honda Odyssey door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for the 2001 Honda Odyssey, though it has 1 recall 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 2001 Honda Odyssey door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to locks & latches problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.