1999 - 2004 Honda Odyssey review

Overview

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 came in two models: LX and EX, with major difference that EX comes with dual power sliding doors - a convenient feature, but more potential problems. The Odyssey has front-wheel drive with only one powertrain choice: the 3.5-liter 210-hp V6 (240 hp from 2002) mated with 4-speed automatic transmission (replaced by 5-speed automatic transmission from 2002). Honda Odyssey has an independent suspension on all four wheels. The 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 visibility in the front. The instrument panel is well-designed with easy to use controls. The dual air conditioning system has separate controls in the rear. On the road, the Odyssey handles very well for a minivan, The 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. In the NHTSA side impact tests, the 2000-2004 models also received five stars. For more details check Safercar.gov

The engine

The 1999-2001 Odyssey comes with the 3.5L SOHC, 24-Valve, VTEC V6 engine with 210 hp and 229 lb.-ft. of torque. Starting from 2002, the engine power has been increased to 240-horsepower and 242 lb.-ft. of torque on regular unleaded fuel. The Odyssey's engine is fairly reliable and requires minimum maintenance. The Honda Odyssey engine has a timing belt that must be changed at recommended intervals.

Pros

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

Cons

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

Overall

The 1999-2004 Honda Odyssey offers good crash test ratings, well-designed spacious interior, folding third-row seat, powerful V6 engine and standard ABS. Honda parts and service could be quite expensive. Some of the possible problems are automatic transmission, power sliding doors on early models, 'check engine' light with the EGR system related codes (e.g. P0401).

What to look for buying a used Honda Odyssey

As a first step, check used car history records. A history report may help you to uncover some of the problems the car might have in the past such as accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, etc. Follow this link: How to check used car history
Make sure to test-drive an automatic transmission carefully.
If you feel a 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, a 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.
Check few vehicles 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 vehicle 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.
- If you have power sliding doors, don't open them when they are frozen. Keep the door rails clean and lubricated.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- At least once a year have your car inspected in a 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 fast lube places; the car must be on the lift.
No matter where you service your Honda, try to stick with original Honda parts.
Check more Car maintenance tips

Honda Odyssey specifications (2003 model)

Dimensions:
Overall length: Wheelbase: Overall width: Overall height: LX: EX:	201.2 in (5110 mm) 118.1 in (3000 mm) 75.6 in (1920 mm) 68.5 in (1740 mm) 69.7 in (1770 mm)
Seating capacity:	7
Cargo capacity:
Behind 1st row Behind 2nd row Behind 3rd row	146.1 cu. ft. 88.5 cu. ft. 38.1 cu. ft.
Towing Capacity:	3500 lbs. (1587 kg) /additional equipment required/
Engine:	The SOHC 24-Valve VTEC™ 3.5L Aluminum-Alloy V-6 240 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 242 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm
EPA Fuel Economy:	city: 16 MPG (14.7 L/100km) hwy: 23 MPG (10.2 L/100km)
Recommended Fuel:	Regular Unleaded
Fuel Tank Capacity:	20.00 US gallons (75.7 liters)

Resources

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: Where to find repair manual