Is the 2002 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
959 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 607, 36× a quiet Odyssey year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2002 Honda Odyssey were filed between 64k and 107k miles. You're at 86,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Odyssey owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 86,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 607 (63%) | 64k–107k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 99 (10%) | 48k–160k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 63 (7%) | 59k–138k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 55 (6%) | 32k–125k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 35 (4%) | 57k–161k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 33 (3%) | 51k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 31 (3%) | 26k–104k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Latches and locks | 24 (3%) | 44k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 19 (2%) | 70k–105k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 13 (1%) | 61k–169k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seats | 13 (1%) | 52k–153k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 12 (1%) | 41k–127k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Equipment | 11 (1%) | 23k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 17 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 86,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 959 complaints: 41 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 32 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My '02 Honda odyssey is now on its third transmission in 86000 miles the first was replaced at 3000. Last failure occurred on interstate while going through hills of chattanooga, tn.
Driving my 2002 Honda odyssey 107,000 miles on a family vacation when the transmission starts to slip, we were stuck on a steep hill, narrow road on a dangerous curve.
Took car in the first two years experience high RPM when automatic Mini van was trying to shift gears. Continued maintenance and the problems which they claimed were nothing.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 86,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Honda Odyssey: 10
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
On some Mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage. Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with V6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail. If the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 40
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Honda Odyssey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
PCM replacement for erratic or harsh shifting
In certain vehicles, the driver s (Front) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment
New and different inflators are available
The inspection procedure for takata driver s airbags was removed because all takata driver s airbag inflators installed in the recall vehicle population…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2001 Odyssey: 619 complaints, consider selling · 2003 Odyssey: 914 complaints, consider selling.
Every Honda Odyssey year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Odyssey years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
959 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 607, 36× a quiet Odyssey year. At 86,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2002 Honda Odyssey were filed between 64k and 107k miles. You're at 86,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Honda Odyssey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (607), air bags (99), engine (63), body structure (55), electrical system (35). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 64k–107k miles.
How many recalls does the 2002 Honda Odyssey have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-499), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-182), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-268) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.