1999 - 2004 Honda Odyssey review

Honda Odyssey 2003 (Photo: American Honda) Honda Odyssey 2003 (Photo: American Honda) Honda Odyssey 2003 (Photo: American Honda) The second generation (1999-2004) Honda Odyssey offered stylish look, comfortable, very spacious interior, good safety ratings, powerful engine and great handling for a minivan. The 1999-2004 Honda Odyssey comes in two models: LX and EX with major difference that EX comes with dual power sliding doors - great convenience but more potential problems. Front-wheel drive. The only engine choice - the 3.5-liter 210-hp V6 (increased to 240 hp from 2002) mated with 4-speed automatic transmission (replaced by 5-speed automatic transmission from 2002). Independent suspension on all four wheels. Antilock brakes (ABS) are standard. The Odyssey's interior is very spacious. For more cargo room, the second row seats can be folded or completely removed. The third-row seat easily folds flat into the floor. When it's in an upright position, you got a large storage well behind. The tall driving position offers great frontal visibility. The instrument panel is well-designed with easy to use controls. The dual air conditioning system has separate controls in the rear. Handling is sharp for a minivan. Ride is fairly smooth, but the interior could be quite noisy. The 1999-2004 Honda Odyssey rated "Good" in the IIHS offset frontal crash test. In the NHTSA frontal crash tests the 1999-2004 Honda Odyssey received five stars for both, the driver and the front passenger. Five stars as well in the NHTSA side impact test for 2000-2004 models.

The engine

Strengths

- Stylish look
- Plenty of space
- Powerful engine
- Versatility
- Third-row seat folds flat
- Good crash test ratings
- High resale value
- Interior quality and comfort

Weaknesses

- High price
- Road noise, interior rattles
- Transmission problems

Overall

Honda Odyssey is one of top choices in a used minivan market despite the higher price. Good crash test ratings, well-designed spacious interior, folding third-row seat, powerful V6 engine, standard ABS - all this is worth to consider when choosing between more expensive Honda Odyssey and less expensive competitors. Honda parts and repairs could be quite expensive. Some of the possible problems are automatic transmission, power sliding doors on early models, 'check engine' light with EGR related codes. Consider buying an extended warranty to protect yourself from unexpected repairs.

What to look for buying a used Honda Odyssey

When you are buying a used vehicle, don't base your decision solely on Honda reputation for quality. The particular vehicle, for example, may have been poorly maintained or was involved in an accident.
Definitely check the used car history records, follow this link: How to check used car history
Make sure to test-drive an automatic transmission carefully.
If you feel strong clunk when shifting into the Reverse or while driving, the transmission may have a problem.
Learn more about how to check an automatic transmission.
Check power sliding doors operation.
Look for a trailer hitch - if the car was used for towing, transmission may have been excessively worn.
If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a Honda dealer before buying a car.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
Prior to purchase, have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice on a lift - many components (e.g. ball joints) cannot be properly inspected during a simple visual inspection.
After buying a car, visit your local Honda dealer to check if all necessary recalls have been performed.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition.

Maintenance and repair

- Wash and wax your car regularly
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Change transmission fluid regularly.
- Take care of minor problems as soon as you can, before they could cause something serious.
- Check your parking space for possible leaks, and if you find one, get it fixed as soon as you can.
- At least once a year have your car inspected in the garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at one of those fast lube places; the car must be on the lift.
- If you have power sliding doors, don't open them when they are frozen. Keep the door rails clean and lubricated.
If you have problem with the automatic transmission, visit your local Honda dealer first.
No matter where you service your Honda, try to stick with original Honda parts.
Check more Car maintenance tips

Honda Odyssey specifications (2003 model)

Links

If you are looking for more detailed technical information

If you want to find technical information about you car such as repair manual, check engine codes description, wiring diagrams, diagnostic procedures, fluid type, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, recalls, etc. follow this link:

by Vlad Samarin