Honda Odyssey: The Best Years To Buy (And The Ones You Should Steer Clear Of)

Minivans are practical and immensely helpful vehicles for people who frequently transport large families or other groups of people. The second best-selling minivan of 2023 is the Honda Odyssey, which has been in production since the 1995 model year, meaning it is celebrating 30 years of production this year.

If you are someone in the market for a minivan, the Honda Odyssey is a well-regarded option thanks to its impressive size and surprising fuel efficiency. However, a new 2024 model may just not be in the cards for a family large enough to need one, as the latest model has a starting price of $38,240. The good news is Honda has made many good versions of its Odyssey over the years, and you can typically find them for reasonable prices on the used market.

There are important things to keep in mind. While you can find slightly older minivans for about half the price that remain great vehicles to this day, not every model year is created equal. As with any product, there are unfortunately bad years you should avoid, and good years you should seek out. After going through the ratings and reviews of each of the Odyssey's model years — particularly regarding their reliability ratings — we have made a handy list of which model years to watch out for if you're looking to get yourself a used Honda minivan.

It took some trial and error to get the Honda Odyssey to a place where it could be considered a reliable vehicle, but Honda definitely has a bunch of strong model years under its belt now. There have been five different generations of the minivan over its 30 year lifespan, but we will be skipping over the first one due to it being significantly smaller than its successors.

1. 2004: The second generation was a rocky time for Honda's Odyssey, but its final year of production, the 2004 model year stands the test of time. This model year has received solid owner satisfaction ratings from both Consumer Reports and Edmunds, and despite not featuring side-curtain airbags, it has received sterling marks for its crash safety capabilities, as you would hope for a large minivan. Being a 20 year old vehicle, you can also find this being sold for just a few thousand dollars.
2. 2017: While the third generation wasn't terrible, it was something of a mixed bag, but it was able to end on a high note. Here, the model year you should be looking at is 2017. The Consumer Reports reliability score has seen a massive increase this year, and remarkably, only two recalls have been issued for this model since it hit the streets, with one being a Honda-wide recall for fuel pump issues. The biggest praise it got was for its handling, which can sometimes be an issue for a large minivan.

Now we move onto the years for the Honda Odyssey that you should quickly bypass when investigating used models for purchase. These are the models that have not held up over time, endured a vast number of recalls, or just weren't even that great to begin with when they first came out. If you want the best minivan for your family, don't look at these.

1. 2003: It's already been mentioned that the second generation for the Odyssey was rocky, and the 2003 model was the low point. Notably, this model was among the most recalled for any Honda, including airbags not properly inflating, overheating transmissions, faulty parking brakes, and more. It's no wonder that the 2004 turned out so well, because Honda really needed to right the ship after this one.
2. 2005: The 2005 model saw year saw the beginning of the Odyssey's third generation, and while the end of the second ended on a high, the beginning of this generation started on a major low. With a reliability score of 35 out of 100 from Consumer Reports, this Honda Odyssey has reported issues ranging from oil leaks to A/C compressor failures to problems with electrical systems. Pair that with nine recalls and an owner satisfaction rating of 2 out of 5, and you have a minivan you should pass over at the car lot.

Those who are looking to get a Honda Odyssey may want something akin to the brand new models that are coming out of the factory today but don't necessarily cost the same as those brand new prices. Luckily, the Odyssey is able to accommodate this, particularly with its 2022 model year. The reliability scores for the 2022 Honda Odyssey from Consumer Reports are off the charts better than any other model year for the minivan, even besting the aforementioned 2017 model by 9 points. Plus, it was ranked by J.D. Power as the best minivan of its model year period. This is the same generation of vehicle as the new one on the market, so you are getting something pretty close to what is coming directly from the factory. You just get to enjoy a used discount price for a much-liked minivan.

This current generation did not begin on as high of a note though, and there are model years to avoid here as well. This is best evidenced by the 2018 model, the first model of the generation, as it doesn't fall far behind the 2003 one in terms of number of recalls with 13, including for fuel pump failures to faulty door latches that would cause them to open while driving. Other reported issues include needing to quickly replace struts and sensors turning on when they shouldn't. It's a great way to start out the new generation of Honda Odyssey.

Being able to whittle down 30 years of the Honda Odyssey into just a few model years to recommend you consider purchasing — and a few you should definitely not purchase — is a fairly difficult task. More than anything, these particular model years were chosen due to their documented reliability ratings from institutions like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. Because these are recommendations for used vehicles, reliability is the most important element, as these minivans need to be able to stand up to wear and tear without faltering. This is also why the number of recalls a model year has gone through was also an important factor in the decision-making process. These model years were also chosen to give a good sampling of how the Odyssey has performed over its five different generations, showcasing that each has its winners and losers.