10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,091 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Honda Odyssey seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments

problem #18

Dec 012022

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We have had issues with our drivers side seatbelt since we purchased the vehicle new. First it had retraction issues, then the plastic stop button that keeps the buckle from sliding down failed, disintegrated. We asked the dealer to replace the belt which they refused to do. We have brought it to the dealer before, even generating a case number from Honda, but Honda refused to repair the belt. Over the years it has gotten progressively worse, where the belt is seriously frayed, and there are retraction issues. In August 2022, I contacted our local dealer, Piazza Honda in Springfield, PA. It took almost a month for them to take the car, make some photographs, and then to leave out of the notes that we had an ongoing retraction issue. Two months later, Honda Corporate informed me that they are denying the claim for the defective seatbelt. The warranty as stated in the handbook states a lifetime warranty for seatbelts. All aspects of the car pass State of PA Inspection requirements, all other aspects of the SRS systems are fully functional, with the exception of the drivers seatbelt. We believe that Honda's determination of non-liability is a ruse, a cynical attempt to exploit their customers in a critical safety component. We deserve a replacement seatbelt, and Honda customers need to be reminded that Honda is legally required to stand by the mandated Lifetime Warranty for Seatbelts. We feel that our only recourse to request that your agency look into this issue, and remind Honda of their responsibility. Honda's unconscionable conduct should not be condoned, not tolerated. This is not the first time Honda has tried to harm it's customers. The Federal government forced Honda to extend the warranty for its automatic transmissions, and repair defective ones. Our vehicle suffered from the same transmission issue, but we fell just outside the extended warranty period. The cost of the part (Honda 04818-S0X-A02ZH) is quite high from Honda, in excess of $667.73 without labor.

- Springfield, PA, USA

problem #17

Dec 022019

Odyssey

  • 116,000 miles
SRS light stays on when car is running. Honda representative says recall work on our car's SRS system was done twice, in 2014 and 2017, and for any further work we must take it to a dealer.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #16

Mar 012017

Odyssey

  • miles
We have been having problems with the ignition system and the starting of it. We are not able to use the automatic sliding doors they are completely out of working order. We have been worried about it was not a safe auto with small children.

- Swifton, AR, USA

problem #15

Sep 082016

Odyssey

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Later on after a minor impact, front driver and passenger seat belts locked and SRS became illuminated. The airbags did not deploy during the impact. The seat belts did not lock during the impact. The airbags did not deploy later either, but the seatbelts locked. Also, there is a picture of the damage at the scene and one taken well afterward. The belts locked and light came on about the same time I observed that the gap had formed in the bumper.

- Gulfport, MS, USA

problem #14

Jun 202016

Odyssey

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the air bag and seat belt warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced per an unknown recall related to the air bags. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Springfield Gardens, NY, USA

problem #13

Nov 172015

Odyssey

  • miles
The SRS light in my vehicle is coming on intermittently. Honda diagnosed the problem as a switch in the driver's side seat belt. Page 53 of my vehicle owners manual clearly states the following: "Honda provides a lifetime warranty on seat belts. Honda will repair or replace any seat belt component that fails to function properly during normal use." As such, the aforementioned seat belt buckle switch is a component of the seat belt. However, Honda refuses to cover repair to my vehicle. This is a major safety concern, as according to my manual, an SRS indicator light may cause certain airbags not to deploy during a collision. Such an event would surely cause clearly preventable bodily harm if they would just honor their warranty. I'm calling on the NHTSA to investigate this issue, as I have found many others in online forums having the exact same problem, with mixed results from Honda.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #12

May 282015

Odyssey

  • 137,737 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

SRS light on dash will not go out. Our dealer say there may be a recall in the works for the SRS system. "?"

- Orlandfo, FL, USA

problem #11

Feb 012013

Odyssey

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the air bag sensor illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under recall NHTSA campaign id number: 13V412000 (airbags). However, the failure recurred. Also, the contact noticed a seat belt sensor code intermittently illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the seatbelt sensor associated with the air bag malfunctioned. As a result, the independent mechanic referred that the contact to an authorized dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- San Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

problem #10

May 152013

Odyssey

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the driver's side seat belt prematurely frayed. The contact took her vehicle to the dealer who stated that the entire seat belt was prematurely worn and needed to be replaced at the contact's expense. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but decline to provide further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was not available.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #9

Feb 212014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 141,298 miles
Driving children to school at 20 mph, driver seat belt locked with a pop and would not let you move forward, passenger seat belt locked with a pop and would not let you move, about 5 to 10 secs later loud bang and front passenger bag deployed another 5 to 10 secs later another loud bang from the front passenger airbag area. SRS light came on, seat belts still locked will not move in or out. Driver airbag not deployed. Drove vehicle to local Honda dealer.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #8

Jul 162013

Odyssey

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the supplemental restraint system sensor light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, who advised that the SRS sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Vacaville , CA, USA

problem #7

Jan 212014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
SRS light appears. The mini-van was taken to service center and I was informed that the driver side airbag inflator module was defective and it needs to be replaced. I note that there is a recall on the 2003 Honda Odyssey driver side airbag inflator module recalls recalls and other components. However, Honda refuses to include my van in the recall. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should include all 2003 Honda Odyssey in the recall.

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #6

Feb 152013

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 112,300 miles
On Friday, February 15th, at approximately 7:00 pm, I was driving our 2003 Honda Odyssey with my family when we experienced a spontaneous airbag deployment while waiting at a stoplight. There was no one in front or behind us and I was completely stopped at the red light. The driver's side airbag deployed first with a loud "pop". two to three seconds later the passenger side airbag deployed (where my wife was sitting). Fortunately, both of us were sitting back in our seats and I had my hands off the steering wheel. Neither of us were contacted by the airbags there was a third loud "pop" a couple of seconds after the deployments. The seatbelt tensioners also engaged and now do not function properly. I immediately pulled to the side of the road and confirmed that we had not been struck by anyone or anything. I brought the van into the Honda dealership for an inspection, where we had purchased it a little more than two years earlier. The inspection report states that, "during service inspection did not locate any obvious impacts and/or damage." The dealership pulled codes 53-41 and 54-50, but said they could not get anymore information from the SRS unit until we had them replace the airbags. The Honda dealership then gave us a quote of over $4100 to fix the airbags and seatbelts. I contacted Honda of America and asked that the cause for the airbag deployment be investigated further. It took almost a month to get a corporate Honda representative to inspect the vehicle at the same dealership as the first inspection. Last night I received the results of the second inspection, which gave no potential reasons for the deployment. We left the vehicle at the dealership, asking for more specific documentation on potential causes. My wife and I believe the airbag deployment was the result of a safety defect, and Honda of America has refused to remedy the situation.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #5

Jul 142010

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. While driving the supplemental restraint system light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosis located the failure as the seat belt sensor which caused the air bag light to illuminate intermittently. The manufacturer stated that they would not assist with the repair, because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle wasn't repaired. The failure mileage was 76,000 and the current mileage was 77,000. Updated 12/21/10 the consumer stated the drive light was flashing and the vehicle would not shift out of park. The transmission temperature sensor failed. Updated 12/30/10

- Holland , MI, USA

problem #4

Dec 252004

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1 miles
Passenger seatbelts lock-up very easily and the only way to release is to undue the belt. This is a major safety concern since the seatbelts should not be undone when the vehicle is moving but that is what must be done to relieve the pressure the belt puts on the passengers.

- Pompton Plains, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jul 302003

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
Rear seat belts lock for no reason. Passengers must unbuckle the seat belt to unlock the mechanism. Has happened at least 50 times in an 8 month period since purchase of the new 2003 Honda Odyssey. My concern is not only inconvenience but the safety issue of having to unbuckle the seat belt during driving. Happens mostly on the freeway at steady speeds. Honda dealer insists there is no problem, but a service employee had told me we are not the first to have this problem.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #2

Apr 112003

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 294 miles
2003 Honda Odyssey (3 weeks old): When I took off the driver's side seat belt, the cloth belt folded over on itself and got jammed in the plastic retractor. The seat belt could not be pulled out, so it could not be used at all. I had to use a pair of pliers to pry it loose.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #1

Mar 042003

Odyssey

  • miles
The seat belt failed to properly restrain my child, due to the way it was designed. My daughter was in the second row of the minivan with the right-side captains chair moved over to configure the row into a bench. The seat belt, however was still attached over by the door with no other attachment available, so there is a gap between the seat and where the seat belt is attached. My daughter was properly buckled in, and she is 105 lbs. And almost 5 feet tall. However, when we were hit from the side, she slid right off the seat and onto the floor between the seat and the door with the buckle still around her. In addition, my seat belt (driver's) failed to restrain me. It pulled all the way out.

- Beverly Hills, MI, USA

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