Want a new minivan - reliability issues???

[charissemp]

Love my 2006 Odyssey.

 

[danielle79]

I have an '11 AWD Sienna and it's nice. I really wanted one ever since the "swagger wagon" commercials and when we found out it had AWD there was no other option. I like the way it drives - doesn't feel huge, although the gas mileage sucks. And it does GREAT in the snow - though we had a mild winter for the first time in a while, and it's very low to the ground so you don't get that high SUV clearance underneath. But my kids are in heaven with all the room - I LOVE having the "isle" you get with a minivan, so on road trips if the kids need something one of the adults can easily get to the back seat. It's easier than manuvering around in an SUV.

As far as the Chrysler/Dodges go, my family was loyal to them for years and years (a family member had a car lot), and I had a LeBaron and my husband has a Dakota, and I can tell you that they start breaking down around 70,000. We had to put a transmission in BOTH of ours.

We have a Grand caravan right now and I love it, she has 140000 miles and still runs great! When I do need another vehicle it will be a Dodge Caravan again. As for problems with transmissions, we have never had this problem. My husband has a 01 dodge truck with something like 170000 and still runs great and I had a dodge intrepid before the van and the third child and we drove it to the junk yard with 195000 miles! I have never owned an SUV but I have rode in a few and I can tell you there is way more room for people and storage space in a minivan than a SUV.

 

[shell8558]

I have a wonderful paid-for 2007 Honda Pilot with 98,000 miles and two 8 year old boys. I hear ya! Our solution 3 years ago was to add a trailer hitch my Pilot (about $200). We then bought one of those "baskets" that slide into the hitch (about $150). Works GREAT for trips! We were able to take one car to the airport for our last WDW trip with my parents. The boys love getting to sit "in the way-back".

Ideally, I wash they'd make a Pilot like the Toyota Sequoia - one package has a middle removable console in the second row, which makes access to the third row more like a minivan. If Honda ever did that, I'd be first in line for a trade in.

Glad to hear that those "baskets" work. I was considering getting one. Now I'm convinced! I just traded my 2007 Pilot for the 2012 Pilot and I absolutely love it! It is a bit larger, but I couldnt image purchasing anything else.Good luck!

 

[mnasf]

We just traded in our 9 year old Honda Odyssey with well over 100,000 miles and replaced it with another. Yes, all at once we had a bunch of problems, but we felt we got good use out of it and it was a nice car.

I want to buy a minivan. We have 2 kids (both 7 years old). Our family car is a 2005 Honda Pilot EX-L with 95,000 miles on it. Extended warrantee now expired, but we have had no serious issues (bought it new). It fits our needs 85% of the time. Can only really fit 4 people, as the 3rd row seat eliminates ANY trunk space. Plus the third row is impossible to get to, especially my elderly parents. We can't take any of our kids friends anywhere. When we go on vacation, the suitcases fit, but not much room to spare. We are driving to Hilton Head this summer for vacation and a minivan would sure be nice!
Hard part is the car is paid for and it is nice not to have a car payment and in winter the SUV is better in the snow (we live in NJ so fortunately not too much snow here).

What minivan do you recommend? Honda Oddessy is top ranked by Consumer Reports, but no minivan is recommended due to reliability issues. Anyone have issues with their minivans?? Will look at Toyota Sienna, but it seems pricier.
I have a "deal" for a 2012 Oddessy EX-L for $31,000 (MSRP $35K), but have not done any serious negotiating yet.

Any advice? Buy or not buy and if buy, which one??
Thanks!

 

[NemoMOm]

We had a Pilot and went with a Odyssey after we had our third. We bought one 7 years old with only 89K miles. At 116K miles (on a trip in the middle of nowhere) the transmission suddenly went. We were able to coast into a hotel 8 miles and 3 hours later. When we called around we found that this is a common theme. Even 2007 and 2008 models are having these issues.

We took it to Aamco which said they had 9 Odysseys that week alone! Apparently transmission, ball baring joints, and sliding doors failing are very common with Odysseys.

Try searching online and you will find tons of Odysseys owners with the same issues-even called the dealer and spoke with service to see if these were common. She said "mmm I can't really say" So, DH said well do you repair alot of these same issues and again "mmm" The she whispered "yes"

We went with a Sienna and love it.

 

[Lucky4me]

I have a 2005 Chyrsler Town and Country. I bought it used for ten grand in 06with 20,000 miles on it. I just hit the 80,000 mark and it still runs as well as it did at 20. We just got back from a 2200 mile round trip and the only problem was the latch on the back door broke. We now need to use a key to open it. I'll see how much it costs, but it's not really that important.

We've had no problems with this van, just regular maintenance and tires. Got new brakes at 60,000. I'll drive it as long as it goes. When it is time for another vehicle, I'll buy another used van of some kind. Chrysler, Honda or Toyota.

The weird thing is five years ago, there were so many vans on the road that looked just like mine, now there are very few. A kid helping me with my groceries the other day seemed shocked I was still driving this car. He said- wow! we used to have this car when I was a little kid! lol

 

[pwdebbie]

We had a Pilot and went with a Odyssey after we had our third. We bought one 7 years old with only 89K miles. At 116K miles (on a trip in the middle of nowhere) the transmission suddenly went. We were able to coast into a hotel 8 miles and 3 hours later. When we called around we found that this is a common theme. Even 2007 and 2008 models are having these issues.

We took it to Aamco which said they had 9 Odysseys that week alone! Apparently transmission, ball baring joints, and sliding doors failing are very common with Odysseys.

Try searching online and you will find tons of Odysseys owners with the same issues-even called the dealer and spoke with service to see if these were common. She said "mmm I can't really say" So, DH said well do you repair alot of these same issues and again "mmm" The she whispered "yes"

We went with a Sienna and love it.

Hmmm, my dd is having trouble with her transmission on her Odyssey. Mechanic told them to drive it till it dies, then get the job done. Will be about $3,000. I had not heard that others have this problem too.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Hmmm, my dd is having trouble with her transmission on her Odyssey. Mechanic told them to drive it till it dies, then get the job done. Will be about $3,000. I had not heard that others have this problem too.

There was a class action suit against Honda for the faulty transmissions. The sad part is that they have done nothing to remedy the problem.

 

[arthuruscg]

You can over come and actually get better traction from a FWD vs AWD car by swapping the all season tires for a set (all 4 tires) of winter tires.

 

[NemoMOm]

Hmmm, my dd is having trouble with her transmission on her Odyssey. Mechanic told them to drive it till it dies, then get the job done. Will be about $3,000. I had not heard that others have this problem too.

Yes, it cost us about $2800, BUT it still does not shift right. Often making loud thumping and jerking noise when we go up/down hills. My mechanic said that Honda Odysseys are know for this issue.

Also the ball baring joints -we had to replace both (I guess when one side goes the other does too) They were $280 each side.

We called the dealer about the doors. They should be automatic, however they do not work. Often freezing in the middle of the track and no amount of pushing and puling will get them to close. The dealer can only do it because several mechanics say they are too difficult, 1200 for each door.

I have 3 small boys (all under the age of 7) so I really need a reliable car. So we bought a 1 year old Sienna and I'm loving it so far.

It makes me sad cause I LOVE Honda.