Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Honda Odyssey, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 24 | 23% |
| Air bags | 23 | 22% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 13% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 7% |
| Tires | 5 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 4% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I WAS DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR HOME AT AROUND 20 MPH IN A SPEED BUMP AREA. I SUDDENLY BECAME AWARE OF A STRONG BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. I SLOWED, PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NAV SYSTEM CHANGES TO 'WHEN TURNED ON'READS DOWNLOADING +, THEN CHANGES TO'CHECK DISC' HONDA SAID NEW DISC NEEDED. I PURCHASED ONE ,INSTALLED WITH SAME RESULTS. THIS ALSO AFFECTED THE REAR CAMERA, VISUAL OF INFO, LIKE RA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A TAKATA RECALL OR NOT. MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON AS I ENTERED MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I SMELLED A BURNT SMELL. I PARKED UNDER THE CAR PORT AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WE TURNED ON THE IGNITION TO WARM THE ENGINE A BIT AT ABOUT 9:50 ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG COMPLETELY EXPLODED. THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION, IT WAS PARKE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
AT ABOUT 25 MPH OR 1500-2000 RPM THE VAN SHUDDERS OR SHAKES. I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ON VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS. THE VAST MAJORITY ATTRIBUTE THIS TO THE TRANSMISSION. UNDER MILD ACCELERATION THE VAN WILL
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE RACK AND PINION SCREW FAILED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TO COLLAPSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
DRIVING 70 MPH ON HWY, FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE. CAR SKIDDED TO MEDIAN. NEEDED TO REPLACE BALL JOINT, CV AXEL AND UPPER BALL JOINT. CAR HAS 231,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
SRS AND ABS LIGHT ON. HAVE BEEN ON FOR YEARS. LOOKS LIKE MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HONDA ACCORD HAD A RECALL ON ONE OF THESE???? WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING ABOUT THIS. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Honda Odyssey. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 68 | good |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 24 of them (23%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.