Photo: IFCAR / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
2005 Honda Odyssey: common problems and reliability
One of the worst Odyssey years.
One of the Honda Odyssey years to avoid. All Odyssey years
829 owner complaints, most about structure. 9 recalls.
Should I buy a 2005 Odyssey?The 2005 Honda Odyssey has 829 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are structure and power train. Owners most often flag vcm (variable cylinder management) system problems: causes excessive oil consumption, fouled spark plugs, and premature piston ring wear leading to engine damage. very frequent mention for 2005-2017 models.
Safety record for the 2005 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2005 Honda Odyssey vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Odyssey years only. How we score it
Is 2005 a good year for the Odyssey?
Across the 30 Odyssey model years we track, complaint volume runs from 27 (1997) to 990 (2018). With 829 complaints, the 2005 Odyssey sits above the model's median of 307.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2005 Odyssey
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 14E049000Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC (Delphi) is recalling certain replacement fuel pump modules, part number FG1155-11B1, sold for use in 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The affected fuel pump may send an incorrect fuel reading to the fuel gauge possibly causing the vehicle to run out of fuel. The fuel gauge will always read 3/4 full to full regardless of the actual level.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 14V112000American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 23, 2004, through September 4, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump strainer cover may deteriorate allowing fuel to leak out.
service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Campaign 10V504000HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ODYSSEY AND ACURA RL VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS A LUBRICANT FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
Campaign 10V055000HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 ODYSSEY TOURING VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER OPERATED REAR LIFTGATE. THE POWER LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS MAY DETERIORATE UNEXPECTEDLY EARLY. STRUTS THAT HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY MAY FAIL TO HOLD THE POWER LIFTGATE IN THE FULLY OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE POWER LIFTGATE TO CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY.
Show 5 more recalls
steering:column
Campaign 05V039000ON CERTAIN MINIVANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE STEERING COLUMN MAY BE INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Campaign 05V132000ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A LOOSE TERMINAL IN THE MAIN FUSE BOX MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE POWER. IF THE FUEL PUMP BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START.
air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Campaign 05V344000THE FRONTAL AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS TWO EXTERNAL IMPACT SENSORS. ON CERTAIN MINI VANS,SOME SENSORS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY SEALED DURING MANUFACTURING. IF WATER ENTERS A SENSOR, CORROSION CAN OCCUR. CORRODED SENSORS COULD SHORT CIRCUIT INTERNALLY. IF SENSORS FAIL, THE SRS WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL TURN ON AND REMAIN ILLUMINATED.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 07V097000ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, A COIL WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO LOSE POWER. IF THE FUEL PUMP BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START.
service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor
Campaign 04V536000ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) USES A SENSOR ON EACH WHEEL TO DETECT WHEEL SPEED. SOME SENSORS ON THE REAR WHEELS WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, WHICH MEANS THE SENSOR MAY REPORT THE WRONG WHEEL SPEED TO THE ABS CONTROL UNIT.
What owners say across generations
The sentiment is strongly positive regarding the Odyssey's core attributes of practicality, comfort, and long-term reliability, particularly for family transportation.
- VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) system problems
Causes excessive oil consumption, fouled spark plugs, and premature piston ring wear leading to engine damage. Very frequent mention for 2005-2017 models.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Odyssey. See the full Odyssey owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Odyssey listings typically run $13,397–$29,354.
Other Odyssey model years
Compare every Odyssey year side by side to see how 2005 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Odyssey against its rivals
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