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Honda Odyssey (3rd Gen)

05-10 · Honda Odyssey

87out of 100

The 3rd gen Odyssey fixed the transmission issue and added 5-star NHTSA and IIHS Good, it's the Honda minivan that finally deserves the reliability reputation.

Score breakdown

80/ 100Reliability×2.573/ 100True Annual Cost×2.090/ 100Safety×2.5100/ 100Practicality×2.0100/ 100Repairability×1.0

Our take

What it really is

Honda addressed the 2nd gen transmission failure with a revised unit in the J35A6 Odyssey. 5-star NHTSA, IIHS Good. RepairPal improved to 4.0/5. Still a timing belt (J35A6, due at 105k miles). No ESC standard on most trims. At $10k–$16k for clean examples, the 3rd gen is the used minivan benchmark.

Why it's on this list

The best used minivan value available. 148 cu ft cargo, 5-star NHTSA, Honda reliability at $10k–$16k. Timing belt is the maintenance item you must verify.

The honest trade-offs

Timing belt due at 105k, non-negotiable. ESC optional, not standard. Takata airbag recall on some 3rd gen Odysseys, verify completion. Sliding door motor wear above 150k, test both doors.

What to buy and what to avoid

08-10 EX-L with power doors and verified timing belt history. ESC available on Touring trim. Takata recall check. Test power sliding doors in-person.

Annual cost of ownership

Fuel (12k mi)
$1,925 (USD)[5]
Maintenance
$547 (USD)[1]
Tires (prorated)
$193 (USD)
Insurance (25yr male)
$1,960 (USD)[8]
Insurance (40yr female)
$1,500 (USD)[8]
Total (25yr male)
$3,065 (USD)
Total (40yr female)
$2,605 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined
21[5]
MPG city / hwy
18 / 25[5]
Engine
3.5L V6 (J35A6)
Horsepower
244 hp
Torque
240 lb-ft
Seats
8
Cargo max
148.5 cu ft
Stock tires
235/60R17
Body
Minivan
Rear seats
Folds flat
3rd row
Folds flat

Safety

NHTSA overall
5/5 ★[2]
Rollover risk
14%[2]
IIHS rating
Good[4]
ESC standard
No

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity
Low
Frame rust risk
Low

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost
$547 (USD)[1]
Industry avg annual cost
$652 (USD)[1]
RepairPal rating
4/5[1]
Unscheduled visits/yr
0.4[1]
Severe issue probability
11%[1]
250k-mile survival
55%[7]

Repairability

Headlight type
Halogen
DIY replacement cost
$20 (USD)
At major retailer
Yes
Headlight benchmark
10/10

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

  1. [1]dataset
    RepairPal

    Annual repair cost, visit frequency, and severe issue probability. Used in the reliability formula.

  2. [2]government
    NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

    Federal crash test star ratings and rollover percentages. Used in the safety formula.

  3. [3]government
    NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins

    Manufacturer-issued service bulletins flagging known defects. Used in the PPI checklist generator.

  4. [4]dataset
    IIHS Safety Ratings

    Insurance Institute crash test ratings (small overlap, side, headlight quality). Used in the safety formula and the repairability headlight benchmark.

  5. [5]government
    EPA Fuel Economy Guide

    Official combined/city/highway MPG figures. Used in the true annual cost formula.

  6. [6]forum thread
    CarComplaints

    Owner-reported defect patterns by mileage and year. Used in the known-issues list and PPI checklist.

  7. [7]dataset
    iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability

    Probability of reaching 250,000 miles by make and model. Used in the reliability formula.

  8. [8]publication
    Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates

    Full-coverage insurance estimates by driver profile (25M, 40F). Used in the true annual cost formula.

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Honda Odyssey?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist

Modernize this car

CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.

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