1997 Honda Odyssey — Known Issues & Recalls

Your engine is shutting off unexpectedly while you're driving at various speeds and conditions. When this happens, you can't restart the engine unless you're in Park, which means you have to coast to a stop without power steering or power brakes. This has occurred multiple times and creates a serious safety risk. The ignition switch likely needs to be replaced or repaired to restore normal engine operation.

Your vehicle's engine cuts off suddenly while you're driving in traffic without any warning signs beforehand. The dealership has acknowledged they're aware of this issue. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the electrical system, ignition switch, or fuel pump relay to identify why power is being lost to the engine.

Your vehicle experienced a complete electrical shutdown while driving, causing you to lose both your brakes and power steering. Smoke appeared coming from the ignition housing area. The dealer identified a defective steering switch (part #35130-SXO-AO1) as the cause and replaced it to restore electrical power and vehicle control.

Your engine has stalled while driving on multiple occasions over several months. You've noticed the tachometer moving erratically and the engine sputtering before restarting. Your dealer diagnosed a failed ignition coil as the cause. Replacing the ignition coil should resolve the stalling issue.

Your car's ignition lock engages unexpectedly without any warning. This could leave you unable to start your vehicle or cause it to shut off while driving.

Your Honda Odyssey is subject to recall 02 V 120 000 for the ignition switch, but the dealer refused to perform the recall work. The dealer claimed your vehicle must reach 65,000 miles before they would complete the recall repair. You're seeking NHTSA's assistance to get the dealer to honor the recall. Fixing this will likely involve the dealer replacing or inspecting your ignition switch at no cost under the recall program.

Your vehicle stalled repeatedly while you were driving. The dealer found that your ignition switch is affected by a safety recall (02V120000), but you were never notified about it. The dealer didn't have the parts in stock to fix the problem right away. The ignition switch will need to be replaced to prevent the stalling from happening again.

While driving, all of your car's electrical functions suddenly stopped working. Your dealer determined that the ignition switch had failed and needed to be replaced.

After having your vehicle serviced for a recall on the ignition oil retainer, you noticed the alarm system wasn't working properly—specifically, your door locks kept popping up on their own and wouldn't stay locked. This electrical issue with the door locking mechanism may have been caused by or discovered during the recall service. A technician will likely need to inspect the door lock actuators and alarm system wiring to diagnose and repair the problem.

During a crash, your airbags deployed with significant force. The driver's airbag caused a red mark on the husband's arm, but the passenger airbag hit you hard enough to knock you unconscious temporarily and caused your right leg to strike the dashboard, resulting in bruising and a cut. Four weeks after the accident, you were still experiencing chest pain from the airbag impact. The repair would involve inspection and potential replacement of the airbag system components.

Your SRS (airbag) warning light is staying on, and the problem hasn't been fixed despite attempts. This appears to be a known issue affecting multiple Honda models including Accords, Civics, and CRVs. The airbag system will need diagnostic testing to identify the underlying fault code causing the warning light.

Smoke started coming from your driver's side door while driving, and your power windows stopped working. The problem happened again while the van was parked, affecting another window. You discovered that the plastic and electrical components in the power window control had melted inside the door, indicating an electrical fire hazard. The fix will likely involve replacing the power window motor, control switch, and wiring harness.

The pin that holds the right windshield wiper arm in place broke while you were driving. This caused the right wiper to tangle with the left wiper, making both wipers stop working properly during a rainstorm and reducing your visibility. The fix will likely involve replacing the wiper arm assembly or the pivot pin that holds it in place.

While driving on the highway, another vehicle swerved into your lane. When you stepped on the brake pedal to avoid a collision, the brakes went all the way to the floor without stopping the car. This is a critical safety issue that needs immediate attention from a mechanic who can inspect your brake system for leaks or failures.

Your vehicle's steering, speed control, and forward collision avoidance systems may not be functioning properly due to a transmission issue. This could affect your ability to control the vehicle safely and maintain consistent speeds. A complete transmission inspection and repair will likely be needed to resolve these interconnected problems.

Your car's frame has developed rust near the A-arm and steering knuckle area, which could potentially become dangerous over time. While there hasn't been a failure yet, rust in this structural area should be inspected and addressed. Fixing this will likely involve rust removal and treatment, or replacement of affected frame components if the corrosion is severe.

While driving at any speed, your Odyssey runs roughly. You noticed the tread separating on the right rear tire, and several months later the same problem happened on the left rear tire. The dealer discounted the first tire replacement but refused a discount on the second one. You may need to replace both rear tires and have the wheels balanced.

You noticed a strong fuel smell coming from your vehicle. A mechanic found a hole in the fuel tank caused by the tank rubbing against metal underneath the car. The fuel tank will need to be replaced to stop the leak and eliminate the smell.

Your transmission has failed due to a defective counter shaft inside it. You experienced rough shifting right from when you first purchased the vehicle. Fixing this will likely require transmission repair or replacement to address the faulty internal component.

After you turn off your engine and remove the key, you hear a loud popping noise that sounds like an explosion coming from the rear right of your van. The noise temporarily stopped after the brake pads were replaced, but the dealership has serviced the vehicle multiple times without identifying the source. The fix may involve inspecting suspension components, brake system parts, or other rear-end assemblies to locate the noise source.