A used Odyssey engine ranges from $1300 and $1850 based on the production year and previous engine wear. The total labor price per hour for replacing an engine is typically between $75 and $150, with the total billed time ranging between 10 and 20 hours depending on the mechanic and shop. Therefore, drivers can expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,850 for the Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost.
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Worst Model Years of the Honda Odyssey
Although the Odyssey has been produced for multiple model years and generations, the reliability concerns, user issues, and high Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost deter some car buyers from purchasing this long-term model.
The 2008 model year has the highest number of overall complaints compared to the previous and future years, while 2003 is often considered the worst due to the frequency of complaints, early onset of issues, and the high replacement costs associated with these severe problems.
Regarding the worst problems across all model years, the following are considered the most serious and expensive:
- Transmission Failure in the 2003 Odyssey, costing $2,700 to fix at 97,000 miles
- Transmission Failure in the 2004 Odyssey, costing $2,900 to fix at 110,000 miles
- Uncomfortable Seats in the 2017 Odyssey, costing 5,000 to replace at time of purchase
2003 Honda Odyssey Engine Problems
The 2003 Odyssey is a very poorly-rated production year, with this car suffering from widespread transmission failure, backlight failing, and a high Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost. The transmission slipping means the entire mechanism eventually has to be replaced, soon after 90,000 miles and costing over $2,000 in most vehicles.
In addition to transmission failure, the most common engine concerns from 2003 Odyssey owners focus on excessive oil consumption, engine dying during use, excessive A/C engine drag, engine catching on fire without warning, a stretched timing chain, sudden acceleration, and a clicking noise while idling.
Fix: Replace Piston Rings and Timing Chain
To fix the excessive oil consumption and reduce the overall Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost, owners need to pay around $1,950 total at 109,000 miles to fix the problematic signs and symptoms. By checking their oil level very often, replacing the piston rings, replacing the timing chain, and adding the right kind of oil, a complete engine replacement can be avoided.
Fix: Replace AC Compressor
Owners can prevent the A/C engine drag by replacing the AC compressor in their car. The total replacement price for this procedure is between $16 and $210 for the labor, while the parts typically cost around $760. The total price of the procedure is between $733 and $970, which can help prevent a very expensive Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost.
2008 Honda Odyssey Engine Problems
The 2008 Odyssey is a victim of serious defects like braking issues, excessive oil consumption, uncomfortable seats, and an expensive Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost. The most concerning engine issues reported by owners deal with excessive consumption, grinding noises, fouled spark plugs, loss of power, engine misfiring, check engine light on the dashboard, losing power during acceleration, and VCT actuator failure.
Fix #1: Address the Engine Grinding
The engine grinding can be due to various reasons, like faulty AC compressors, broken CV joints, problematic brakes, or corroded parts that can cause excessive rubbing.
Replacing your brakes typically costs between $300 and $800 for the pads, brake rotors, and calipers. Depending on the other problems in the braking system, the total replacement price can increase to $1,000 – which is still less than the Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost.
Replacing the AC compressor in your car can also solve the engine grinding, with this procedure costing between $800 and $2,800. Parts and labor comprise around $00 to $1600 and $400 to $1200, respectively, with the billed hourly rate for the labor costing between $75 and $150 on average.
Finally, replacing the CV joint can reduce the engine grinding and rubbing sounds from under the hood. Replacing both CV joints will cost you around $400 for just the parts, with the total procedure costing between $800 and $1,200 total. Although this can sound expensive, this will still be thousands less than waiting and paying for the Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost.
Fix #2: Replace Variable Valve Timing Actuator
The other cause of issues with the engine in the 2008 Honda Odyssey is the VCT actuator failing. The average cost for replacing the variable valve timing actuator is between $806 and $969, with the parts costing between $193 and $196. The labor is between $613 and $773, with the total labor time coming to between 7.5 and 9 hours to complete.
2009 Honda Odyssey Engine Problems
The final problematic model year of the Odyssey in terms of expensive engine repairs, lack of reliability, and owner complaints deals with the 2009 model year. Owners state concerns regarding excessive oil consumption, oil burning, check engine light on the dashboard, grinding on startup, engine shuddering, poor acceleration, and cylinder misfiring.
Fix #1: Address the Engine Shuttering
The first step is to pay for an engine vibration diagnosis service, costing you between $88 and $144 for this procedure. Once this step is complete, the mechanic will have a better idea of what is causing the shuddering and the potentially high Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost. The main causes of engine shuddering are loose vacuum hose, worn-out spark plugs, broken motor mounts, or a faulty timing belt.
Replacing the spark plugs costs between $16 and $100, while the labor for a replacement is between $40 and $150. The price of repairing a vacuum hose leak in your Odyssey can run from around $150 and $1,000 depending on the severity, location, and seriousness of the leak in your hose.
If neither of these fixes reduces the engine shuddering, the next step is replacing the engine motor mounts. This motor mount procedure costs between $224 and $563 on average. Although drivers consider motor mounts expensive to replace, the average price for this fix is still thousands less than a Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost.
Lastly, you can replace the faulty timing belt in your Odyssey for between $300 and $500, with the timing belt itself costing around $50. Still, the labor is time-consuming, intensive, complicated, and expensive.
Fix #2: Replace Engine Cylinder Head
To prevent a high Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost, you can prevent the engine from continuing to shudder by replacing the engine cylinder head before the problems worsen. The procedure to replace the engine cylinder head costs at least $500, with the parts costing between $200 and $300, and the labor costing at least over $200.
2001-2007 Honda Odyssey Recall
Honda issued a recall in 2019 that dealt with the following vehicles:
- 2003 Honda Acura 3.2CL
- 2002-2003 3.2TL
- 2003-2006 Acura MDX
- 2001-2007 Honda Odyssey
- 2001-2005 Honda Civic
- 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid
- 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV
- 2002-2006 CR-V
- 2003-2011 Honda Element
- 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey
- 2003-2008 Honda Pilot
- 2006 Ridgeline
The vehicles mentioned above contain an issue with the driver’s frontal airbag inflators. If these parts were assembled and installed as a recall remedy part or replacement part, they have a high risk of exploding due to propellant degradation after consistent and long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature levels, and temperature changes.
In addition, the recall dealt with a safety-related engine issue that focused on both engines, the 3.0-liter V6 engine and the 2.3-liter four-cylinder used in this generation of Odyssey vehicles. With unsafe driving conditions and the potential for safety risks, the high Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost is not worth paying for the 2001-2007 model years.
2013-2015 Honda Odyssey Recall
Honda issued a recall involving the 2015 Odyssey due to concerns with the 4-cylinder engine, continuous-variable transmission, and the high Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost. Certain 2013-2015 Odyssey vehicles were produced with a lubricant that could degrade quickly over time, leading to a deterioration of the drive shaft’s protective coating.
If the driveshaft malfunctions or stops working properly, it could become susceptible to further issues due to road salt or exterior contaminants, causing it to break completely. This can result in a sudden loss of power and inability to accelerate. Furthermore, it can cause the vehicle to roll away while in the park position if the driver has not applied the emergency parking brake.
2021 Honda Odyssey Reliability
To get an idea of why it could be a smart idea to pay for the expensive Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost, drivers need to know how this latest car model stacks up against the competition. Fortunately for car shoppers, the 2021 Odyssey earned the #1 spot in the Midsize Cars category and won a Finalist spot for the 2021 Best Midsize Car for the Money category.
- The positives of the latest Odyssey focus on the roomy interior, comfortable seats, upscale furnishings, large cargo area and trunk, high-powered engine powertrain options, and engaging and composed handling.
- The negatives of the 2021 Odyssey deal with the below-average predicted reliability rating and the potential to spend thousands on the Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost if you need to fix one of the high-powered engines during your car’s lifespan.
This car earned an 8.4 out of 10 overall on the Car US News Scorecard ranking system. The Odyssey earned 9.8 in the critics’ rating category, 8.3 for performance, 8.1 for interior, 9.9 for safety, and 2.5 out of 5 for the JD Power Reliability rating.
Odyssey Engine and Powertrain Specs
Regardless of which engine you choose for the 2021 Odyssey, you will experience a high-powered, punchy, and high-performance option that is best for those drivers who feel the need for speed. With a quick start off the line and plenty of power for most driving roads and situations, the versatile engine choices provide something for everyone.
Engine and Powertrain Options
- Base – The base engine choice for the Odyssey is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 192 horsepower and 192 pound-per-foot of torque. Starting at just below $25,000, this engine choice has the lowest Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost.
- Available – The other available engine choice is the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 242 horsepower and 273 pound-per-foot of torque, which starts at just below $32,000 for the Sport and touring model.
- Drivetrain – The drivetrain paired with both engine types is the front-wheel-drive set-up that makes it a suitable car for most driving conditions.
- Transmission – The Odyssey pairs the continuously variable automatic transmission with a base engine and a 10speed automatic transmission with the higher-powered 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the Sport and Touring model.
Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Camry
Let’s see how the Odyssey fairs when in competition against the Camry and if it is possible to justify the high Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost for the 2021 model year.
- Toyota Camry and Odyssey are the top two vehicles in the Midsize Cars category for this production year, with both having excellent ratings from critics and owners alike.
- The Camry comes with a great fuel economy, active safety features, and a stylish interior. In addition, the Camry has more tech features, infotainment options, and a high-powered V6 engine available for add-on.
- The positives of the Odyssey focus on the turbocharged four-cylinder engine options and the larger trunk space. Although both have comfortable rides, the acceleration and the performance features of the Odyssey outweigh the high-tech offerings in the Camry.
Honda Odyssey vs. Acura TLX
- The positives of the Acura TLX focus on the increased safety features in the higher-trim levels.
- However, the positives of the Odyssey far outweigh the benefits of purchasing the Acura. The Odyssey costs less, has larger seats, more trunk and cargo space, superior handling, a favorable fuel and economy rating, and luxurious finishings in the cabin space.
- Although the Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost can be expensive, the lower-priced model makes the Odyssey a better choice than the TLX.
The Bottom Line
When comparing the latest Honda Odyssey model to other similar choices on the market, drivers can easily justify the expensive Honda Odyssey engine replacement cost due to the high safety features, great handling, enhanced fuel economy, and stylish interior. However, in some model years, like 2003 and 2008, paying for the replacement engine is not worth the price.