The Honda Odyssey was introduced into Honda’s lineup as a minivan in 1997 and remains one of the most popular minivans available today. Hondas are known for their reliability and for having the features consumers expect from today’s vehicles, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a Honda Odyssey?
The Honda Odyssey has a max towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
There’s a bit more to know about Honda Odyssey towing capabilities which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
Honda Odyssey Towing Capacity By Year
As we covered earlier, the current Honda Odyssey can tow a maximum of 3,500 lbs.
The Odyssey has been in production from 1995 through the present. We’ve listed out the maximum tow capacity by year below for reference.
Note that for each model year, there are many variables that affect the total towing capability of each vehicle year, so we recommend checking your specific Odyssey year and trim level in the links below for an in-depth guide and to get the most accurate information for that year.
Here’s the maximum Honda Odyssey towing capacity by year:
2023 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2022 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2021 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2020 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2019 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2018 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2017 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2016 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2015 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2014 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2013 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2012 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2011 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2010 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2009 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2008 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2007 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2006 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2005 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2004 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2003 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2002 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2001 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2000 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
1999 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
1998 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 1,600 pounds
1997 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 1,600 pounds
1996 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 1,600 pounds
1995 Honda Odyssey Tow Capacity: 1,600 pounds
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
Here’s a video of a Honda Odyssey being put to a real-world towing test:
Honda Odyssey Braked Vs. Unbraked Towing Capacity
All vehicles have different towing capacities based on whether or not you’re towing a trailer that has trailer brakes installed.
Trailer brakes allow the trailer to stop faster than if only the vehicle is using its brakes, allowing the vehicle to tow more weight, so braked towing capacity will always be higher than unbraked towing capacity.
Honda Odyssey Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs.
Honda Odyssey Unbraked Towing Capacity: 1,000 lbs.
Honda Odyssey Towing Capacity Factors
There are a few factors that affect the Honda Odyssey tow capacity.
Model Year
The Odyssey’s tow capability varied a little bit by year and generation.
The towing cap of the Honda Odyssey stayed steady across all years 1999-2023 at a maximum of 3,500 pounds, but the minimum changed a bit for a few model years throughout the vehicle’s history.
Additionally, the Honda Odyssey max tow capability was only 1,600 pounds for 1995-1998 model years.
Trim Level
Some trim levels of the Honda Odyssey can tow more than others. For example, the 2020 Honda Odyssey can pull up to 3,500 lbs on Elite and Touring models, but can only pull up to 3,000 lbs across lower trim levels.
Factory Installed Equipment
Honda specified that certain years of the Odyssey models could only tow anything if they had either a transmission fluid cooler, ATF cooler, and/or power steering fluid cooler installed.
Number Of Passengers
This is true for determining how much you should tow with any vehicle, but Honda makes a point to specify how the number of passengers in your Odyssey can impact how heavy of a trailer you can pull with it.
This impacts the total weight inside the vehicle, which plays a part in determining how much weight you have left for towing when considering the vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
Honda Odyssey Engine Specs
Honda offers a single gas engine option on all trim levels of the Honda Odyssey.
3.5 Liter V6 Engine
The current Honda Odyssey engine is a 3.5 Liter 6-Cylinder SOHC naturally-aspirated gas engine paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission.
This engine produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft of torque.
Honda Odyssey Tow Package Info
Does The Honda Odyssey Have A Tow Package?
Honda offers a factory-installed Honda Odyssey trailer hitch.
The Honda Odyssey trailer hitch package includes the following:
- Honda Odyssey factory Class II receiver trailer hitch
- Draw bar, retaining pin, and clip
Honda does not include the wiring harness, but says that one is required for safe use of the trailer hitch.
They also sell a 1-⅞” trailer ball and 2” trailer ball separately.
Can You Install A Trailer Hitch On a Honda Odyssey?
If you plan on towing anything with your Honda Odyssey, you’ll need a tow hitch and wiring harness.
Depending on what you’re towing, you’re going to need a ball mount (aka a trailer ball hitch) so you can attach items for towing.
Make sure to get the right trailer ball size that matches your hitch and trailer.
Honda Odyssey Tow Hitch
Trailer hitches come in different hitch classes, which are rated for different vehicle sizes and weight limits.
The Honda Odyssey uses a Class 2 hitch.
Here’s a great option for a Class II Honda Odyssey trailer hitch:
- DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. This trailer hitch is rated for 3,500 lbs. gross trailer weight, 350 lbs. tongue weight, 5,000 lbs. weight distribution capacity and 500 lbs. weight distribution tongue weight (limited to lowest-rated towing component)
- VERSATILE DESIGN. This class 3 hitch equips your vehicle with a standard 2-inch x 2-inch hitch receiver, allowing for a wide variety of towing options. It can accept a ball mount, cargo carrier, bike rack, tow hook and much more
- FULLY TESTED. Every CURT class 3 trailer hitch design is tested in real-world, on-vehicle conditions at our Detroit engineering facility. Aftermarket hitches are tested according to SAE J684 standards for the utmost safety while hauling
- RUST, CHIP, UV-RESISTANT. This tow hitch is protected with a unique dual-coat finish of rust-resistant liquid A-coat and highly durable black powder coat. The two finishes are co-cured together for exceptional resistance to rust, chipping and UV rays
- EASY TO INSTALL. This hitch offers a custom, factory fit on select model years of the Honda Odyssey
Here’s a great ball mount option so you can hook up different types of trailers for towing with your Odyssey:
- DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. Rated to tow 3,500 pounds gross trailer weight and 350 pounds tongue weight, this ball hitch offers dependability for your towing setup (weight capacity may change if trailer ball is removed)
- VERSATILE USE. This trailer hitch ball mount comes with a 1-1/4-inch shank to fit virtually any industry-standard 1-1/4-inch receiver. The ball mount has a 3-1/4-inch drop, 2-inch diameter ball, 1/2-inch hitch pin hole and 7-1/4-inch overall length
- READY TO TOW. Hitching up your trailer is easy with this ready-to-use trailer hitch ball mount. It comes with a pre-attached tow ball for ready coupling and a trailer hitch pin to securely mount onto your hitch receiver
- CORROSION-RESISTANT. For long-lasting use, this ball hitch is protected with a durable black powder coat finish, and the trailer ball has a polished chrome plating. These finishes resist damage from rain, dirt, road salt and other corrosive threats
- EASY TO INSTALL. To install the trailer hitch ball mount on your vehicle, simply insert the shank into your vehicle's 1-1/4-inch hitch receiver. The rounded shank makes installation easy
Honda Odyssey Trailer Hitch Installation
If you’re considering having a tow hitch added to your Odyssey, expect to pay between $100 and $200 to have a tow package professionally installed (excluding the cost of the tow hitch and wiring harness).
If you’re handy and looking to save money, you can install the trailer hitch and wiring harness yourself.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and use proper safety precautions.
Here’s a great video walkthrough on a Honda Odyssey trailer hitch installation:
Hitch Receiver Vs Rear Step Bumper Towing
Some vehicles allow for bumper towing, which means you can mount a tow hitch ball directly on the bumper instead of installing a tow hitch to the vehicle’s frame.
Can I Bumper Tow With A Honda Odyssey?
The Honda Odyssey does not allow for bumper towing, so you’ll need to use a frame mounted hitch.
How Do I Know If My Honda Odyssey Has A Tow Package?
You can start by looking under the rear bumper of your Odyssey to see if you notice a trailer hitch or trailer ball.
That will give you a good indication of if you have a tow hitch already installed on your Odyssey.
Another way to research this is by checking the paperwork that came with your vehicle or taking it to a local dealer to see what’s installed.
Make sure to have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy if you call the dealer so they can look up the exact specs and whether or not your vehicle has any towing packages or features installed on it.
Does My Odyssey Have A Transmission Cooler?
There is an easy way of how to tell if a Honda Odyssey has an ATF cooler or transmission cooler installed.
Simply look in the grate at the radiator.
In the lower left corner is where you will see a transmission cooler installed, if you have one.
It looks like a small radiator.
The other way to check is to call the original dealer with your VIN number and have them look it up, but a visual inspection is usually more accurate and much easier.
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official Honda Odyssey Owner’s Manuals on Honda’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a Honda Odyssey.
