HondaOdyssey2003Overview/honda/odyssey/2003/base/

2003 Honda Odyssey

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Odyssey.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 5-spd

The 2003 Honda Odyssey is a minivan paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission and EPA-rated at 16 city, 23 highway, and 19 combined mpg, with manufacturer-specified engine oil capacity of 4.5 quarts using 5W-20 API viscosity. On the reliability ledger, this model year records 940 total owner complaints with the powertrain as the leading complaint area and 15 recalls attached, positioning it at the top of the Odyssey's complaint distribution across model years from 1990 through 2026. The 2003 figure sits just below the 2002 peak of 972 and a stark contrast to the 1994 low of a single complaint, framing this generation as a focal point for any reliability review of the nameplate.

Model year202620242023202220212020201920182003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/23/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size225-60TR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length201.2 in
Overall width75.6 in
Overall height69.7 in
Wheelbase118.1 in
Curb weight4365 lb
Track (front / rear)66.1 / 66.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Odyssey of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.5–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 2004 EX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2004EX 3.5L V67.50 sec15.90 sec240 hpFWD
2000EX 3.5L V69.60 sec17.20 sec210 hpFWD
1999EX 3.5L V69.40 sec17.20 sec210 hpFWD
1999EX 3.5L V69.50 sec17.10 sec210 hpFWD
1999EX 3.5L V69.70 sec17.30 sec210 hpFWD
1999EX 3.5L V610.00 sec17.60 sec210 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Main Bearings11MM Bolts: 54 ft-lbs, 10MM Bolts: 36 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)730 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.34-.42 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance17,100-20,900 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityLess rear A/C, 1.31-1.43lbs, With rear A/C, 1.81-2.00lbs.
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)48.0-56.0 psi
Engine Compression145 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 71 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.008-0.009 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.011-0.013 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.063 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.098 in / 0.429 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.106 in / 0.437 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Step: 29 ft. lbs.

251 ft. lbs.51 ft. lbs
372.3

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 105,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · Water Pump (inspect)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2003 Odyssey sits near the peak of the generation’s complaint and recall activity, recording 940 complaints, 15 recalls, and 5 investigations—well above the early‑1990s baseline (e.g., 2 complaints in 1990) and higher than the post‑2005 decline (e.g., 703 complaints and 4 recalls in 2006). Across the full span, complaints rose sharply from the mid‑1990s, spiked dramatically from 1999 through 2003, then fell steadily after 2008, while recalls followed a similar arc, peaking at 20 in 2019 after a mid‑2000s trough. In 2003 the top complaint categories were Power Train (467 reports), Air Bags (112) and Electrical System (43), with 54 crash‑related and 13 fire‑related complaints, indicating that drivetrain and safety‑system issues dominated that year. Compared with surrounding years, 2003’s figures are among the highest, suggesting a relatively higher risk profile for this model year. **Takeaway:** because 2003 sits at the generation’s high‑complaint/high‑recall point, it is a less favorable year to buy than later, lower‑activity model years.

15
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
316
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
940
Owner complaints
54 involved a crash · 13 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 940 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train467
Air Bags112
Electrical System43
Engine & Engine Cooling23
Structure22
Unknown Or Other17
Latches/Locks/Linkages15
Vehicle Speed Control14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 15 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V182000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 06/03/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may…

19V499000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/06/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 316 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A18-0502026-06-30Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's…
A20-0152022-05-03Air BagsService bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…
A21-0542021-05-28Power TrainService Bulletin - Case v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. BC 424169 (Third…
A07-0302021-01-23Equipment"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant…
A20-0152020-03-10Air BagsService Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Odyssey. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 Odyssey take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 Odyssey have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Odyssey get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.