2001 Honda Odyssey
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 629 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Odyssey model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 19 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 57 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
Campaign 20V027000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
629 reports, newest first.
Structure, Aug 18, 2004
POWER SLIDING DOOR SAFETY MECAHNISM ROUTINELY FAILS. *JB
Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 12, 2004
THE SLIDING DOORS DO NOT STOP WHEN SOMETHING, ACTUALLY WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE WAY. ISN'T THERE A SENSOR OR SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD STOP THE DOORS FROM CLOSING ON SOMEONE?
Exterior lighting, Aug 1, 2004, crash
VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM PARK TO GEAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. EVENTUALLY COMPLETE FAILURE OF SWITCH MEANT USING THE MANUAL RELEASE FOR TH ENGAGEMENT OF GEAR. UPON IDENTIFYING THIS FAILURE, IT IS NOTED THIS SWITCH ALSO CONTROLS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE REAR EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE, AND PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. NEW SWITCH WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED, PROBLEM ELIMINATED. EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AT SAME MILEAGE ON 1999 VEHICLE FROM SAME MANUFACTURER, AND WAS SOLVED BY REPLACING THE SAME PART. *AK
Electrical system, Jul 29, 2004
WE HAVE OWNED THE ODYSSEY FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS. THE CLOCK LIGHT HAS BURNT OUT TWICE, A HEATER LIGHT ONCE, THE PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT ONCE, AND THE DASH INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WENT DEAD AS WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT CAME BACK ON AFTER I HIT THE GAS. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE DASH INSTRUMENTS SO THEY CANT FIX IT. EITHER HONDA HAS LOW QUALITY BULBS SINCE NONE OF THESE LIGHTS HAVE EVER BURNT OUT IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED OR THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ALSO, WE BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 2 DEALERS AND THEY HAVE SAID OUR WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER OUR PROBLEMS. I FEEL LIKE I GOT SCAMMED. NORMALLY, I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT 1 BULB BURNING OUT BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN HERE AND HONDA SHOULD FIND OUT WHAT IT IS AT THEIR COST. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE ODYSSEY IS AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE.*AK
Power train, Equipment, Jun 25, 2004
MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR PARTS DAMAGED BY DEALER. DEALER CHANGED TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS STARTED AFTER, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO WARRANTY OR REPAIR !*AK
Power train, Jun 7, 2004
WHILE DRIVING FOURTH GEAR INDICATOR FLASHED, FLOWING ENGINE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTED SLOW. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK
Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 2, 2004
THE DOOR HANDLES OF THE SLIDING DOORS OF MY 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN HAVE BROKEN AT LEAST ONCE, POSSIBLY TWICE, SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP FROM THE DEALER. THE DOORS HAVE A TENDENCY TO "STICK", MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN. AND OPENING EITHER OF THE SLIDING DOORS WHEN IN SUCH CONDITION MAY AND DOES CAUSE THE DOOR HANDLE TO BREAK AND BECOME USELESS. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I DO SEND MY VEHICLE TO FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS THE RECORDS OF FILE OF THESE INCIDENTS WITH THE BROKEN DOOR HANDLES. I ALSO HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE, AND THEY TOO HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THE DOOR HANDLES.*AK
Seats, May 25, 2004
WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Power train, May 18, 2004
THE TRANSMISSIONIS FAILING ON MY 3-YEAR-OLD HONDA ODYSSEY AT 65,500 MILES. HONDA ADMITS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEY WILL NOT DO IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SAY THE VEHICLE IS A "GRAY MARKET" CAR. IT WAS PRODUCED IN CANADA LIKE ALL OTHER 2001 ODYSSEY'S AND "IMPORTED" TO THE USA ONE-YEAR-OLD WITH 18,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT USED. HONDA SAYS THEY WON'T COVER IT UNDER THEIR NEWLY ANNOUNCED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE IT WAS INTENDED TO BE DRIVEN IN CANADA. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT CANADIAN ROADS WERE SO DIFFERENT FROM THOSE IN MINNESOTA. I ASKED IF THAT MEANT THAT THEY WERE IMPLYING THAT I DID SOMETHING ILLEGAL. THEY SAID "OH NO, BUT "BROKERS" BRING THESE CARS IN FROM CANADA BECAUSE THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN THE USA AND THE PRICES ARE LESS IN CANADA." SOMEHOW IT IS MY FAULT THAT HONDA USA PRICE FIXING CREATES A GRAY MARKET? DOES THE VEHICLE NOT SAY HONDA ALL OVER IT? WAS IT NOT MADE ON THE SAME LINE IN THE SAME PLANT WITH THE SAME PARTS AS ALL OF THE OTHER 2001 ODYSSEY'S? IS CORPORATE DIVISIONAL INFIGHTING PUTTING ME THE CONSUMER IN THE MIDDLE? THEY MAKE A DEFECTIVE TRANNY AND NOW THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND IT. HONDA HAD A STERLING REPUTATION UNTIL THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE STARTED TO SURFACE. A QUALIFIED TRANSMISSION SHOP RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT IS A SAFTEY HAZZARD AND COULD LOCK-UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DO THEY REALLY THINK IF SOMEONE IS KILLED BY THIS THEY WON'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN COURT? THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR POOR PRODUCT QUALITY. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET ME TO GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME HIGH AND DRY WITH A $5,000 FIX-IT BILL (DEALER QUOTE) ON A 3-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE I PAID BIG BUCKS FOR. SEEMS FRAUDULENT TO ME! THIS IS A DISASTER IN THE MAKING AND MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE AN INNOCENT LIFE IS LOST.*AK
Fuel system, Other, May 17, 2004
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Latches/locks/linkages, May 11, 2004
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE LOCKS WILL WORK NORMALLY, AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T WORK AT ALL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Latches/locks/linkages, May 11, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH SLIDING DOOR FLEW OPEN AND CAME OFF THE DOOR TRACK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 3, 2004
GASOLINE ODOR ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK SEAL, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK TWO DAYS LATER. *AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 3, 2004
GASOLINE ODOR ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK SEAL, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
Structure, Mar 3, 2004
THE SLIDING DOORS ON MY HONDA ODYSSEY 2001 DO NOT STOP WHEN CLOSING AND A PERSON GETS IN THE WAY. IT IS WAY TOO DANGEROUS!*AK
Seat belts, Feb 24, 2004
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER FINGER BECAME WEDGED IN THE HOLE IN THE MALE SECTION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE BUCKLE WAS CUT FROM THE VEHICLE AND CARRIED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR REMOVAL. THE CHILD SUFFERED TISSUE DAMAGE AND MUSCLES BRUISING.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 24, 2004
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE GENERAL MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE MOUNTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 24, 2004
AFTER GETTING OUR 30000 MILES MAINTENANCE COMPLETED WHICH INCLUDED (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) AN OIL CHANGE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WE STARTED NOTICING A HESITATION IN THE CAR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED, IT TOOK LONGER THAN EXPECTED THUS I ASSUMED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THEM ASSESS THE SITUATION AND THEY FOUND THAT TWO OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 34K MILES ON IT. IT SEEMS PREMATURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN, THEREFORE, I FEEL IT NECESSARY TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY OF THIS PART (THE ENGINE MOUNTS).*AK
Power train, Feb 11, 2004
I OWN A 2001 HONDA ODESSEY. 2 WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING THE VAN BEGAN SHIFTING HARD UP AND DOWN. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND I WENT TO TURN LEFT AND PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO GO BEFORE A CAR CAME AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD!! THEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SHIFTED SENDING US FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. I DID NOT WANT TO CHANCE ANYTHING HAPPENING AND TOOK IT RIGHT INTO A TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A NEW CAR AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE "RELIABLE" . ALSO, I HAD ANOTHER CAR WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE EFFECTS WERE NOT SO SUDDEN AND FREIGHTENING! I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN I BEGAN TO RESEARCH MY PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. I WAS EVEN MORE UPSET WHEN I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, ONLY A "GOODWILL" WARRANTY. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WARRANTY BECAUSE MY CAR WAS INITALLY PURCHACED IN CANADA AND THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. SHE PROCEDED TO TELL ME THAT THEY WILL ONLY FIX THE CAR IF THE NHTSA TELLS THEM THEY HAVE TO ISSUE A RECALL. I THOUGHT A HONDA WAS A HONDA. I AM EVEN MORE FRUSTRATED IN READING OTHER ACCOUNTS WHERE REPLACED AND REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Power train, Feb 4, 2004
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING DIFFERENT WHEN STARTING. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T WANT TO HONOR WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS MADE OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. *LA *SC
Suspension, Jan 28, 2004
AT 49,000 MILES THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A ROARING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHICH BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER DAILY. THESE BEARINGS ARE SEALED AND SHOULD AT LEAST LAST FOR 100,000 MILES. THEY WERE REPLACED AND THE NOISE STOPPED.*AK
Visibility, Jan 15, 2004
THE POWER SLIDING DOOR FAILS TO OPEN ELECTRONICALLY, EITHER THROUGH THE REMOTE, THE DRIVER'S CONTROLS ON THE DASH, OR THE HANDLES (BOTH INTERIOR & EXTERIOR) ON THE DOOR. THIS ONLY AFFECTS ONE DOOR (SO FAR). THE DEALER SAYS THAT WASHERS HAVE TO BE ATTACHED TO FOUR GROUNDING WIRES INSIDE THE DOOR IN ORDER FOR THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO WORK CORRECTLY, AT A COST OF $240. IT IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT IT SEEMS THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN EITHER THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE.
Visibility, Jan 15, 2004
THE MINIVAN HAS AUTOMATIC SLIDING REAR DOORS THAT DO NOT STOP CLOSING EVEN WHEN THERE IS AN OBSTRUCTION. I HAVE 2 SMALL KIDS AND AM VERY AFRAID THAT IF THE DOOR DOES NOT STOP WHEN I AM OBTRUCTING IT, THAT IT IS SIMILARLY NOT STOP FOR UNKNOWING KIDS.
Exterior lighting, Jan 14, 2004
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILED DUE TO BULB BEING DEFORMED FROM HEAT BUILD-UP. *LA *SC *JB
Power train, Jan 12, 2004
I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY HONDA 2001 ODYSSEY SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED WHILE DOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE SHIFTING WAS CRAZY AND HIGHLY ERRATIC. IT HAS BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALER BUT HAS TO BEGGED FOR A LOANER CAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *LA