The 2002 Honda Odyssey has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Automatic transmission slipping and failure.” Honda vehicles use the Maintenance Minder system — your dashboard displays a Code A (oil change) or Code B (oil change plus inspections) along with sub-codes 1-6 for additional services. Intervals adjust based on how you drive. The schedule below reflects Honda's underlying targets.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2002 Honda Odyssey.
POWER TRAIN
89 NHTSA complaints · 2012-03 → 2026-08
“My transmission has almost completely went out”
“THE POWER TRAIN (TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AT AN EXPENSE OF APPROXIMATELY $6,000. HONDA AMERICA REFUSED TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. *TR”
“THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR ONLY. HAPPENS UNPREDICTABLY, WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT AND TRANS”
ENGINE
5 NHTSA complaints · 2012-07 → 2016-01
“ALTERNATOR BRACKET (STAY) HAS BROKEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON”
“I HAVE HAD MY ALTERNATOR MOUNTING BRACKET CRACK AND BREAK TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH”
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE NORMALLY, WE NOTICED ALL OF THE DASHBOARD "IDIOT LIGHTS" COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN WE WOULD MAKE A TURN OR DECELERATE”
STRUCTURE
4 NHTSA complaints · 2012-06 → 2016-12
“DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ENTIRELY. DRIVING WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN HER CAR SEAT AND THE DOOR OPENED”
“PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR CAME OPEN ABOUT 10 INCHES WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE POWER DOOR QUIT LATCHING AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS ON RANDOMLY”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPEN WITHOUT WARNING”
TIRES
5 NHTSA complaints · 2012-07 → 2023-01
“VIBRATION DEVELOPED IN ALL FOUR MICHELIN DEFENDER TIRES WITH 9000 MILES AND 0.5/32 TREAD WEAR”
“The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Defender XT, Tire Size: 225/60R16, DOT Number: AP3V047X”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRE LINE: M+S ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE: P225/60/R16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TREAD WAS CRACKED AND SEPARATING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE”
AIR BAGS
43 NHTSA complaints · 2013-08 → 2024-11
“RECALL IS NOT BEING PERFORMED”
“I CAN NOT GET MY DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM THE RECALL. DEALERSHIP: TEAM HONDA 4613 EAST LINCOLN HWY MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410 DESPITE PROVIDING THE RECALL NOTICE 13V-132, PROVIDING MY VIN #, AND MAKING AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE, THEY REFUSED TO DO THE WORK. *TR”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE”
AIR BAGS
7 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2019-01
“IVD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF CONTACT'S VEHICLE”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A RECENT CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED”
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5 NHTSA complaints · 2012-12 → 2020-12
“IF I TURN OFF MY CAR, WHILE LEAVING THE SHIFT POSITION OUT OF PARK ( SUCH AS IN R, REVERSE) I CAN THEN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUES AS THE CAR WILL ROLL IF THE PARKING BRAKE HAS ALSO NOT BEEN APPLIED”
“REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY WHEN ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. SEE ATTACHED IMAGE”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. AFTER PARKING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter. The Maintenance Minder triggers Code A between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on driving conditions.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires front-to-back to even out wear. Honda triggers Sub-code 1 alongside every other oil change.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake. Code B includes a multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and fluids.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage to prevent moisture absorption and corrosion of ABS components.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace ATF or CVT fluid. Honda CVT models (Civic, HR-V, Accord LX) use Honda HCF-2 — do not substitute. The Maintenance Minder triggers earlier under heavy stop-and-go.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
AWD CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline: replace rear diff fluid every 30,000 miles, sooner if towing.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$150–$195
Shop
~$105–$135
DIY
~$20–$50
Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.
Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Honda uses a long-life cellulose element on most port-injected engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Honda uses iridium-tipped plugs rated for 100,000+ miles. Replace at 105,000 miles or whenever Sub-code 6 displays.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Honda Long-Life Type 2 (blue) coolant: first change at 120,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles. Do not mix with other coolant types.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace the cabin air filter — accessible behind the glove box on most Hondas. Honda recommends 15,000 miles in dusty conditions, longer in clean climates.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspect and adjust valve clearances at 105,000 miles. Critical on K-series and L-series engines to prevent valve recession.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$495–$535
Shop
~$345–$375
DIY
Pro only
Mechanical-bucket valvetrains (many Honda 4-cyls, older Toyotas) need this. Hydraulic lifters don't. Shop work — feeler-gauge precision required.
Modern Honda engines (K-series, L-series, R-series, plus all Earth Dreams 1.5T and 2.0T) use a timing chain designed to last the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Pro only
Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
144 crashes 1990–2024
How the 144 occupant deaths break down
76
driver deaths
68
passenger deaths
144
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2002 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
45
complaints mentioning a crash
5
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2002 Honda Odyssey reflects Honda's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.