2002 Honda Odyssey Electrical Problems

Your van shuts down completely and randomly while driving, sometimes 3-4 times per day, and won't restart until a green key light appears on the dashboard—which can take 5 minutes to 8 hours. The engine cranks but won't turn over during these shutdowns, and you get a warning when the green key starts flashing. You suspect the immobilizer system is causing the problem, and you've already replaced the key fob battery, main battery, and checked fuses without success. The fix will likely involve having a Honda dealer diagnose and repair the immobilizer security system or related electrical components.

Your vehicle is displaying a warning that the passenger airbag isn't working, and then the warning turns off intermittently. This suggests an electrical or sensor problem with the airbag system that's causing the warning to malfunction. A technician will need to diagnose the airbag control module and passenger occupancy sensor to identify the electrical fault.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AS ME AND MY 2 TODDLER SONS WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD WHAT SEEMED A POWER SURGE AND TAILLIGHTS WENT OUT AND POWER WENT LOW RADIO STOPPED AND DOORS UNLOCKED. LUCKILY WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME I GOT NEW FUSE FOR LIGHTS RADIO SAID ERROR BUT MUSIC DIDN'T MATTER THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO JUMP IT TO GOT WORK BUT SEEMED OK. THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I DEALT WITH DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. AND ONE MORNING CAME OUT BOTH DOORS WERE OPEN.I DIDN'T LET BOYS RIDE AFTER PROBLEMS ESCALATED ONE DAY DOORS STOPPED AND GOT STUCK IN MIDDLE WHEN THEY WERE GETTING OUT. IT I REPLACED SOME FUSES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED OK BUT MOST DAYS BATTERY FELT WORK WHEN STARTING. I WENT TO GET BOYS AND I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE THEM WHEN IT DIED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD SMOKING I GOT IT IN PARKING LOT. CALLED FATHER AND WE TOOK BATTERY OUT TO GO GET A NEW ONE. THE BATTERY WAS SWOLLEN WATER AND ACID SPITTING OUT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BURST. NEW BATTERY INSTALLED AND DROVE IT MAYBE 5 MIN BACK HOME. THOUGHT WELL IT WAS BATTERY WHOLE TIME. WENT INSIDE TO OPEN EASTER THINGS WITH BOYS I WALKED OUTSIDE HOUR LATER AND SMELLED ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL BAD THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF HOOD NOT ALOFT BUT BATTERY WAS DEAD. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING KEEPS PUSHING POWER THROUGH THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS CAUSING THEM TO SHORT. IF YOU LOOK UP ON INTERNET DEAD BATTERY 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY NOTHING BUT STORY'S OF POWER SURGES MAKING VEHICLES LOOSE POWER BURN OUT THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. WHAT IF MY BOYS AND I HAD LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY. OR DOOR DECIDED TO OPEN I DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM BUT EVERY STORY TALKS OF IT. KIDS LIVES IN THESE VEHICLES ARE IN DANGER. PLEASE HELP.I SAY IT COULD EASILY BE ACCIDENTS I WAS JUST SMART ENOUGH TO AVOID THEM BY DISCONNECTING PAYING ATTENTION AND BE PREPARED. NOT EVERYONE IS LIKE ME MOST HOP IN AND GO NOW I HAVE NO VEHICLE NO HELP AND THINK OF ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN IN THESE VAN'S. THANK YOU

IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VAN WILL DIE BUT IF YOU BUMP THE KEY THE POWER TO EVERYTHING TURNS BACK ON IT STARTED THIS LAST YEAR AND CONTINUES TO DO IT

NAVIGATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ON APPROXIMATELY 8/16 OR 8/17/2017, THE CLOCK DISPLAYED ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN BECAME STUCK AT "0:00". I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THIS AFFECTS THE ACTUAL NAVIGATION FUNCTION, GPS SYSTEM, OR OTHER ELECTRICAL (OR NON-ELECTRICAL) COMPONENTS. I BELIEVE THE DVD-BASED NAVIGATION SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE WAS MANUFACTURED BY ALPINE FOR HONDA (AND MANY OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS). I HAVE UPDATED MY MAP/SOFTWARE DVD TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2002. I HAVE TURNED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, REMOVED THE SOFTWARE/MAPS DVD AND REINSERTED IT, AND PERFORMED MANY OTHER ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, ALL WITHOUT SUCCESS.

RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR DECIDEDS TO SHUT OFF WHICH IS SCARY AND HAS HAPPENDED MORE THAN ONCE AND NOT HAVING THE SPEED OF CONTROL OF TRYING TO GET OVER WHEN YOU ARE IN THE FAST LANE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. MY MAIN CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS HAPPENED TO BEFORE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A SERIOUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR BEHIND YOU WILL SLOW DOWN. I ALWAYS END UP PRESSING MY EMERGENCY LIGHT RIGHT AWAY, HOPING THE OTHER DRIVERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE I AM DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. FIVE KIDS I TAKE TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS THERE SAFTEY AT ALL TIMES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ

FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I MAKE LEFT TURNS, WHETHER FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR A SPEED OF 0-5MPH, THE VAN JERKS AND SLOWS TO A ALMOST STOP. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL SHUT DOWN AND CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ONE DAY. I HAVE CALLED HONDA A FEW TIMES TO INQUIRE ABOUT IT AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THE BREAKS ARE ONLY A YEAR OLD AND SEEMS TO WORK FINE BUT THERE IS A NOISE EVERY TIME I PUSH THE BRAKES. NOT THE USUAL BAD BRAKES SOUND BUT LIKE A TAPPING SOUND. ALSO THE 2 PASSENGER SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT CLOSE OR OPEN AT TIMES AS WELL AS THE BACK WINDOWS. THE MOTORS HAS BEEN CHANGED IN THE PANEL BOX, PLEASE WHAT COULD IT BE AND IS THERE ANY HELP HONDA SHOULD BE DOING AS THEY HAVE STATED THESE PROBLEMS AREN'T UNDER WARRANTY? *TR

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. FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP, WE HAD TO KEEP PRESSING THE BUTTON TO SHUT THE DOOR EVERY TIME IT CAME OPEN. WE ALSO HAD TO MOVE THE KIDS AROUND SO THAT NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT CLOSEST TO THE DOOR. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE DRIVER-SIDE SLIDING DOOR TWO YEARS AGO. VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, NOT TO MENTION, YOUNG CHILDREN RIDING IN THE VAN AND HAVING THE DOOR RANDOMLY POP OPEN IS DANGEROUS AND A LIABILITY ISSUE. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ODYSSEY. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS COULD BE VERY POOR PR FOR HONDA IF SOMEONE'S DOOR COMES OPEN AND A CHILD FALLS OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE NORMALLY, WE NOTICED ALL OF THE DASHBOARD "IDIOT LIGHTS" COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN WE WOULD MAKE A TURN OR DECELERATE. FINALLY THEY CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING. WE TOOK THE VAN TO OUR TRUSTED MECHANIC AND HE FOUND A BROKEN ALTERNATOR BRACKET. HE WELDED IT AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED. HE THEN INSTALLED A NEW ALTERNATOR BRACKET. ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND HE FOUND THE NEW BRACKET HAD ALSO BROKEN. HE THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE ALTERNATOR WAS "DRAGGING" ON THE BELT AND CAUSING STRAIN ON THE BRACKET, SO HE REPLACED THE BRACKET AND ALTERNATOR. CAR WORKED FINE FOR ANOTHER WEEK AND THEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. HE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH HONDA ODYSSEYS, BUT THAT HONDA IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. ALSO, BECAUSE MY VAN IS A 2002, HE SAID THAT HONDA WOULD NOT LIKELY HELP ME IN ANY WAY. I CALLED HONDA AND THAT WAS INDEED THE CASE. I AM HAVING A FOURTH BRACKET INSTALLED AND WE'LL SEE HOW LONG THIS ONE LASTS. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH IT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. AT THOSE TIMES, I MANUALLY CLOSE THE DOOR. TWO TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, I DID THIS. SEEMED TO HAVE LATCHED SINCE THE LIGHT WENT OUT. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD ON THAT SIDE, SECURED IN A CAR SEAT AND THE DOOR OPENED - EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE SWITCH TO MANUAL. HAD TO TRY TO GET OFF THE ROAD, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUTTING THE SWITCH TO AUTOMATIC AND HOLDING DOWN THE CLOSE BUTTON. VERY DANGEROUS!!!!! AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A SEVERE LIABILITY FOR HONDA. CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 140,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

IN MAY, 2010, SRS LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED AIR BAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT FAILED AND REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED OPDS WARRANTY. IN AUG 2010, SRS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALER DIAGNOSED SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE AND NOTED AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF THERE WAS AN IMPACT. NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH HONDA VEHICLES. *TR

SPOUSE WAS LEAVING HOUSE DRIVING OUT THE DRIVEWAY WHEN SHE STOP THE CAR DUE TO SMOKE COMING FROM CENTER CONSOLE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND INFORMED ME OF SMOKE AND SMELL IN VEHICLE. I GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND RAN TO CAR. NO VISIBLE FIRE PRESENT OR SMOKE BUT JUST A BURNED ELECTRICAL SMELL. INSPECTED WIRING THAT WAS VISIBLE AROUND CENTER CONSOLE AND NOTHING DISCOVERED AT THAT TIME. VENTED CAR AND RESTARTED WITH NO INCREASE IN BURNED SMELL OR MORE SMOKE. OPERATIONALLY CHECKED VEHICLE AND HAD NO RADIO SOUND. NO FUSES BLOWN IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS NOT ABLE WITH ANY POSITIVE ASSURANCE AFTER TWO HOUR OF TROUBLESHOOTING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WANTED TO START SWAPPING PARTS TO ISOLATE FAILURE. THOUGHT THE $1000 RADIO OF THE DVD ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM COULD BE BAD. TOOK CAR HOME AND REMOVED INTEGRATED RADIO AND DISMANTLED ONLY TO FIND A BURNED UP POWER SUPPLY ON ONE OF THE INTERNAL CIRCUIT BOARDS. SENT RADIO OUT FOR REPAIR FOR $200 INSTEAD OF $1000 REPLACEMENT COST. POOR TROUBLESHOOTING BY DEALER COULD HAVE LED TO FUTURE FIRE IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB

2002 HONDA CIVIC COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BRAKING GOING 15 MPH. CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE FAILERE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALERS AND BEEN SEEN IN MANY WEB FORUMS. THIS TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE FAILERE LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES WENT OUT TURNING A CORNER. NO AIR BAG WAS EVER DEPLOYED WHEN HE HIT THE CURB AND SIGN WHICH SHOULD HAVE AS HE HIT A SIGN AND TREE STRIPPING THE FRONT BUMPER OFF AND CRUSHED THE RADIATOR INTO THE ENGINE. NO AIR BAGS WEAR EVER DEPLOYED. EVEN THE POLICE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND QUESTIONED IT . IT HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF HURST TEXAS. IN THESE FORUMS MANY DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE FAILERE AND BRAKES IN SOME CASES. HONDA JUST PUT OUT A RECALL ON 1998-2000 FOR THE ENGINE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTING OUT CAUSING ENGINE FAILERE. I SUGGEST THEY INCREASE THAT RECALL TO 2002 POSSIBLY. ALSO I READ WHERE THE ELECTRICAL LOAD DETECTOR IS GETTING WET AND SHORTING OUT CAUSING THE SAME THING IN SOME CARS. IN ONE CASE I READ THAT THE VACUMM HOSE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER MAY BE BAD. PUMPING THE BRAKES CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. SO ANY CASE I THINK HONDA HAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ENGINES STALLING WHILE CONSUMERS ARE DRIVING. MY SON WAS LUCKY HE WAS ONLY DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED . IF HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS OF LIFE. THE VEHICALE IS IN THE BODY SHOP GETTING FIXED AND AFTER THAT WILL BE DRIVEN TO HONDA FOR AN ENGINE CHECK. I HOPE THE COMPUTER CODES TELL US SOMETHING BUT I THINK HONDA NEEDS TO RESEARCH THIS CLOSLY.

WHILE DRIVING, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR ON NOVEMBER 2002 THEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER ON THE ALTERNATOR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPONENT ON APRIL 29, 2003. *SC *JB

2002 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHT EQUIPMENT. HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD. *MR *NM THE HEADLIGHTS HAD GONE OUT INTERMITTENTLY SEVEN TIMES IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. *SC THERE WERE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. (THIS DOCUMENT IS AN ADD TO). *JB

SRS WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED ON DASH BOARD.*MR THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL AUDIO CONTROLS WENT HAYWIRE. WHEN THE CONSUMER PUSHED THE UP BUTTON ON THE RADIO, IT CHANGED THE TRACK NUMBER. WHEN THE CONSUMER PUSHED THE DOWN BUTTON, IT TURNRED THE VOLUME UP. ONE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND FIXED THE AUDIO PROBLEM. THIS DIDN'T WORK. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE WORKED. *PH *JB

WHEN DRIVING MY ODYSSEY, NORMALLY IN THE 30-50 MPH RANGE, ALL OR MOST OF THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR AND WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH INTERMITTENTLY FOR A BRIEF SECOND OR TWO. THE NUMEROUS (25 + ) TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED IS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE ONE THINKS THE VAN HAS STALLED. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PATTERN OR CONNECTION SUCH AS PLAYING/NOT PLAYING RADIO, A/C, AMOUNT OF GAS, ETC. . . I WILL SAY 75-85% OF THE OCCURENCES HAPPEN ON THE ROAD LEADING TO OUR SUBDIVISION (USUALLY 30-50 MPH DRIVING). ALSO, I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES I HAVE MISSED IT BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN SO QUICKLY; ONE ACTUALLY HAS TO BE LOOKING AT THE PANEL. HONDA SAYS TO DRIVE THE VAN SINCE IT IS NOT STALLING AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO INHERENT DANGER. HONDA'S POLICY IS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. INTERESTING! WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WHEN IT HAPPENS --- THERE'S NO TIME TO TAKE A PICTURE. I'VE CONSIDERED RUNNING A VIDEO CAMERA, BUT IT'S SO UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. THERE SEEMS TO BE ABOUT A DOZEN DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING (ACCORDING TO HONDA), BUT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. GUESS WHAT? THE REPLICATION IS NOT LIKELY GOING TO HAPPEN UNLESS A SERVICE MANAGER OR TECHNICIAN TAKES TEMPORARY OWNERSHIP OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES FOR A MONTH OR TWO. SOMETIMES THE FLASHING OCCURS ONCE EVERY MONTH OR TWO, MAYBE SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY OR A WEEK. JUST BECAUSE THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, DOES THAT MEAN SOME OF US ARE HALLUCINATING? IS ANYTHING BEING DONE OR EXPLORED BASED ON THE INFORMATION GIVEN. HONDA, IMAGINE THIS: IF YOU ACTUALLY REPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND SAW ALL THE DASHBOARD PANEL WARNING AND SERVICE LIGHTS FLASH, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN TO YOU AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO? THIS IS NOT IMAGINARY! I AM KEEPING WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF EACH TIME THIS ISSUE IS CHECKED AND REPORTED, MAINLY FOR POST-WARRANTY ISSUES.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED INDICATION DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.