Every recall campaign and owner complaint the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration holds for the 1998 Honda Odyssey. Nothing on this page is written from memory — it is all imported from NHTSA's public database.
3 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 1998 Odyssey, newest first.
| Campaign | Component | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|
| 20V026000 2020-01-17 |
Air Bags Frontal Driver Side › Inflator Module |
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles.
These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag…
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death. Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138… |
| 02V120000 2002-05-16 |
Electrical System Ignition Switch |
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Risk: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238. |
| 99V069000 1999-05-10 |
Suspension Front Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint |
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED. Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS. |
Summaries are quoted verbatim from NHTSA's official campaign records. A single campaign often covers dozens of model years and several nameplates, so a summary may name vehicles other than the 1998 Odyssey — that is normal. Every record listed here carries this vehicle's own make, model and model year in NHTSA's database. Whether a recall is still open on a particular car can only be determined by VIN.
75 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 1998 Odyssey, grouped by the component owners reported. Counts reflect how many owners complained, not how often the fault actually occurs.
| Reported component | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System 1 fire |
29 | |
| Power Train | 12 | |
| Air Bags 1 crash, 1 injured |
6 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | |
| Visibility | 3 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control 1 injured |
2 | |
| Tires | 2 | |
| Structure | 2 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Structure | 1 | |
| Suspension,Equipment | 1 | |
| Structure,Service Brakes,Engine 1 crash, 1 injured |
1 | |
| Engine 1 fire |
1 |
A complaint is an unverified owner report. It is a signal about where to look, not proof of a defect.
Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaint filings on this model year. These are the owners' own words, not our diagnosis, and each one is a single unverified report.
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Odyssey. The contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition switch. The contact was able to turn the key to start the vehicle; however, the contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.
filed 04/15/2025 · ODI 11654658
The 1998 Honda Odyssey recall for ignition switch I don't believe included all VIN numbers affected. My van is having the exact issue for what is stated in the recall, yet my VIN does not show as a recall. When the switch is turned to the run position, the dash lights may or may not illuminate. Once the van is started, there is a 50/50 chance that the stops running because of the switch. I believe this is an issue that needs to be looked into. Has not been confirmed yet because we are awaiting service on the airbag recall to put the van into service.
filed 06/22/2021 · ODI 11421924
THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED AND I PUT ANOTHER ONE IN AND IT FAILED WITHIN TWO DAYS. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I THINK HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THESE PROBLEM TRANSMISSIONS WITH A RECALL. I DON'T HAVE $1,500 TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION EVERY DAY OR TWO. *TR
filed 05/05/2014 · ODI 10586591
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TUMBLERS TO FIND THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,400.
filed 01/22/2013 · ODI 10493728
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Odyssey. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V026000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
filed 06/01/2021 · ODI 11419188
1998 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE PART NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE RECALL HAD NOT BEEN AVAILABLE. *JS
filed 12/02/2020 · ODI 11375532
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPLY THE BRAKE AND A LOUD GROUNING SOUND CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND OWNER CHECK THE VEHICLE AND REALIZE THE MOUNT FOR THE CALPIPER WAS BROKEN. NLM
filed 09/24/2002 · ODI 8019325
BRAKE PROBLEMS, LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED. PURCHASED 8/98 AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERS FOR REPAIRS, 7 TIMES, FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED, AND ROTORS MACHINED, MILEAGE 22,201, 4/10/00. RETURNED 7/13/00, 3 MONTHS LATER, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM,MILEAGE 25,262 WAS TOLD FRONT BRAKES 65%. THEN TODAY, 1/22/02 RETURNED, SAME PROBLEM, MILEAGE 38,444, AGAIN, TOLD NEED TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACE THE ROTORS. HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS? WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE WHAT THE DEALER SUGGESTED NOW WHAT?.*AK
filed 01/22/2002 · ODI 757210
A recall only matters if it is open on your car. The lists above are for the model year as a whole; the free official lookup below tells you what applies to your specific 17-character VIN.
Free, official, and takes about thirty seconds. No account needed.
Yes. NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 1998 Odyssey. The most recent is campaign 20V026000, filed 2020-01-17, covering Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module.
Yes. 1 of the 3 campaigns on record for this model year involve the airbag system. The fix is a free inflator replacement at an authorised dealer.
The most-reported component is Electrical System with 29 of the 75 owner complaints on file. Complaint counts show where owners report trouble; they are not proof of a defect.
75 complaints with NHTSA for the 1998 Odyssey, spread across 23 reported component groups.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's free recall lookup. Recalls are applied per vehicle, so the model-year lists above cannot tell you whether your particular car is covered.