The 2003 Honda Odyssey is still an excellent family car twenty years later, with a DVD player in the back and enough room to host a Superbowl party. But there are a few hundred NHTSA complaints of early powertrain failure that make the minivan difficult to drive without worry.
Is the 2003 Honda Odyssey a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – One of the best family cars on the market from top to bottom, but reports of early transmission failure cost it a point.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 9/10 – This is as comfortable and as spacious as you’re going to get outside of a luxury RV.
- Reliability 7/10 – The 2004 edition has everything the 2003 model has going for it, but it’s a little more likely to reach a quarter million miles.
- Safety 8/10 – By 2003 standards it’s a 10/10, but a twenty year old minivan just isn’t going to be as safe as a new one.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – At 18/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway it’s efficient for a twenty year old minivan, but it’s a twenty year old minivan.
- Value 7/10 – The 2003 Odyssey probably deserves a higher score for value, but those early transmission failure complaints are hard to overlook.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Honda Odyssey?
Consumer Reports note that while the overall design of the Odyssey may have felt dated by 2003, the minivan still provided an excellent value with zippy acceleration, a comfortable ride, and a smooth, strong powertrain.
Kelley Blue Book users give the minivan an 85% recommendation, praising the spacious interior and low maintenance costs, but stating that it’s not the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the road, and early transmission failure isn’t uncommon.
Edmunds were impressed by the Odyssey’s crash test scores, massive interior, powerful V6, and generous entertainment features. Some interior materials felt a bit cheap, though, and, depending on your local market, it may be a bit overpriced due to strong demand.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Honda Odyssey Have?
There are 933 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and more than half of those, 533, are for the powertrain. What we’re seeing is difficulty shifting, loss of power, and jerking, all basically boiling down to transmission failure before 150,000 miles.
Airbags are a major concern for Odyssey drivers with 133 complaints on file, with some drivers reporting as late as 2022 that they’re still on replacement part waiting lists for one of the twelve airbag recalls issued from 2013 to 2019.
Electrical issues take third with 81 complaints on file, with some of them for relatively minor issues like faulty windows, but quite a few being registered for the car failing to start when you turn the key. There was an ignition recall in 2012 to address potential rollaway, but the issues seem to be more extensive than Honda or the NHTSA realized.
Honda’s are known to be very reliable with few major mechanical issues, but the 2013 Honda Odyssey, while hardly a lemon, does have some worrying issues under the hood, with 15 recalls on file and two airbag investigations still open.
How Long Will the 2003 Honda Odyssey Last?
The Odyssey generally has a life expectancy of 200,000 to 300,000 miles but the 2003 model seems to be something of an outlier with more than a few reports of transmissions going out at around 150,000 miles. A 2003 Odyssey that’s been well-kept might make it to a quarter million, but why risk it when you could buy a 2004 Odyssey?
According to RepairPal, you should expect to spend around $447 a year maintaining an older Honda Odyssey. The most expensive common repair is a CV joint replacement starting at around $1,425.
Yes it is super reliable and it has minor problems like it needs steering wheel fluid but it has never had any major problems
Yes it is very reliable and doesn't have any current problems. It starts everyday, the air conditioner works very well and the engine is smooth running
It is mostly reliable. There have been times where the AC broke, the window wouldn't roll back up, and the engine wouldn't start, but they were all fixable.
It has been very reliable. Today, I have experienced some electrical problems. Hopefully, they are not the end of this vehicle.
The only problems it had was that it needed a new or rebuilt transmission twice so far, but hopefully it won't need any more transmission repair for the rest of the time I own it. The paint is also chipping off.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is very good for a 2003 model. This is a family car, after all, so entry levels start out with a cassette player and four speakers, and higher-end models get a DVD player in the backseat.
Safety tech is excellent, as well. Four wheel anti-lock brakes, occupant sensing airbags, traction control and childproof door locks all come standard. We’ve made a lot of advancements since then, but for a 2003 minivan this is as good as it gets.
Is the 2003 Honda Odyssey a Good Value?
With fair market prices on an LX standing at around $3,465, and that’s with just over 150,000 miles on the odometer, the 2003 Honda Odyssey is a very good value. However, because of the potential for early breakdown and the marginal price disparity, it might be a good idea to spend another five hundred for the 2004 edition.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Honda Odyssey?
The 2003 Honda Odyssey was offered in just three trim levels, from the base LX to the high-end EX-L.
The entry-level LX features:
- Manual air conditioning with front and rear controls
- Radio/cassette player with four speakers
- Anti-lock brakes and traction control
- Cloth seating
- Power locks for doors and tailgate
- Power windows Front bucket seats
- Cruise control
With the mid-range EX you’re adding:
- Keyfob and remote keyless entry
- Automatic air conditioning
- Driver lumbar support
- CD player with six speakers
The top-of-the-line EX-L adds:
- Leather seat trim
- Heated seats for driver and front passenger
What Engines Come In the 2003 Honda Odyssey?
- The 2003 Honda Odyssey comes packed with a 3.5L V6 engine delivering 240 horsepower and 242 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 5-speed electronic transmission and configured in front wheel drive. Minivans aren’t exactly built for towing, but you can pull up to 3,500 pounds with the 2003 Odyssey, so you won’t have any issue bringing small trailers with you.
What Colors Does the 2003 Honda Odyssey Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Honda Odyssey?
The 2003 Honda Odyssey is about as comfortable as it gets outside of the luxury car market. A true living room on wheels with seating for seven and a DVD player in the back, the rear seats are wide enough that the average passenger could almost lay flat across them.
There are only seven suspension complaints on file with the NHTSA, which is a remarkably low number after twenty years of service. Don’t skip the test drive, but expect the suspension to still be as smooth now as it was in 2003.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Honda Odyssey Have?
The 2003 Honda Odyssey probably has more space than you’ll ever need. With all the seats up you’ve got 38.1 cubic feet of storage, and with the seats down you’ve got 146.1 cubic feet. We’re not just kidding when we say that, if you took the wheels off, you could just about fit a Fiat 500 back there. It’s actually a few inches wider on the inside than the Fiat is on the outside.
As for cabin space, you’ve got enough pockets and cup holders and slots store everything your family likes to bring on the road, and if you don’t, you’ve got enough room left over for a storage trunk on the floor.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 Honda Odyssey was the second to last model year for the 2nd Generation of the vehicle, launched for 1999 and retiring with the 2004 model.
1999: The most noticeable change to the second gen Odyssey was the size, with the minivan much larger than the first gen. Honda pioneered the second sliding door as a standard minivan feature with the 1999 model. Back then, minivans charged extra for that.
2000: For 2000 the Honda Odyssey was one of the first minivans to offer a navigational system as a built-in feature.
2001: This would be the last year for the 4-speed automatic transmission, owing to a bad bearing that could seriously affect longevity.
2002: Improvements under the hood brought the Odyssey up from 210 horsepower to 240 with no loss of fuel economy.
2003: No big changes for 2003, but they added an intermittent rear window wiper and an auto up/down window for the driver.
2004: Another uneventful year. By this time Honda was gearing up for the launch of the third gen, so improving the second gen was low priority.
How Does the 2003 Honda Odyssey Compare to the Competition?
The 2003 Toyota Sienna is comparable in many ways to the Odyssey. It typically lists around $500 to $1,000 higher in the Blue Book, and the Odyssey is about an inch longer. Fuel economy is comparable, but the Odyssey is about thirty horses stronger than the Sienna’s 210 hp.
Honda outshines Dodge in the minivan department for 2003, providing way more convenience and comfort than the Caravan, and 50 horses more muscle. There’s a lot to like about a Dodge Caravan, but Honda takes the prize for this model year.
The Honda Odyssey is probably the best minivan of the 2003 model year, but it’s hard to get over those powertrain complaints. Rate of incidence may be pretty low, with Honda selling over 150,000 of these and only 533 complaints being registered. But you could spend an extra $500 on a 2004 Odyssey and not even have to worry about it.
Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Honda Odyssey?
Yes it has taken me everywhere and hasn't broken down, a few minor problems but compared to any other cars I've had this one has not let me down
Absolutely. The car has been relatively maintenance free. It has 268,000 miles on it and other than tires, brakes, and other preventive maintenance items it has given me no problems
Yes, I have been using it since 2003. It has been 16 years and it is still in good working condition.
It has been a great, reliable vehicle. It has really not had any major mechanical problems. Mostly cosmetic issues due to its age.
Yes it’s amazing and very versatile vehicle. If we want more trunk space for large items we just fold the back row of seats down. We can also move the second row captains chairs over to make room down the middle. The vehicle is still running very well