Transmission hold up well for Sienna's?

I been reading other newsgroups that the Honda Odyssey and Dodge Caravan have had some history of transmission troubles. How has the Toyota Sienna's transmission held up? I plan to buy a used minivan this summer, likely around the 2000-2002 years, but I am trying to decide which of the three vans mentioned above has the least troubles. Does the Sienna hold up well beyond 100,000? My current 1992 Caravan has 150,000 on it, and I have been lucky with no tranny issues, but it has a tranny cooler installed. Any information on the Sienna appreciated.

Reply to
snow
Loading thread data ...

No tranny problems that I know of, nor any significant problems with the Sienna. Some fools will bring up the sludge fiasco, but if the oil has been changed at the specified intervals, the engine will not sludge up.

Back to the tranny, depending on what year of Odyssey you look at (if at all), those with a 4-speed automatic have an extended warranty on the tranny (7 years/100,000 miles, or something along those lines), while those with a

5-speed automatic were subject to a tranny recall. So at least Honda knows and admits that the Odyssey tranny is a problem, although that tranny is still less likely to fail than a Caravan tranny. Caravan trannies (the 4-speed primarily) have been crap since the late 80s and Crapsler for some reason still refuses to address the issue. The Ford Windstar is just as bad for tranny problems.

Regardless of tranny issues, I would choose the Sienna over everything else.

Reply to
Imminent Vengeance

My family had a 2000 Sienna that we had so many problems with (no tranny problems) that we traded it on a 01 Odyssey. The Odyssey has 70k miles on it and is going to the dealer tommorw for the 4th tranny!! I still would pick the Sienna, I think that Toyota makes the best vehicles on the road, we just got that one bad one. My wife actually went and looked at a new 05 Sienna today. The Odyssey tears up EVERY time we plan a long trip just a few days before. We actually started making jokes about our vacations and what will tear up on the Odyssey. Dont believe that Honda BS consumer reports about how great Hondas are. I have not been impressed!

Reply to
specman1

What problems did you have the Sienna? We have a 1999 Sienna and we have had no problems other than user error (spilled soda gluing the sliding doors shut).

Reply to
ma_twain

Perhaps you aren't but my brother-in-law is...he has a 91 Accord with almost 500,000 MILES on it! (and those are Imperial miles to boot) :)

Reply to
Gord Beaman

I have a 2000 Odyssey and know 4 other owners. None of them have had any transmission problems. Mine has over 80,000 miles on it. I am told by the local Honda dealer the problem has affected a few percent of Odysseys. It has been an excellent van.

Leonard

Reply to
Leonard Caillouet

Some 2000 Siennas are affected by a manufacturing defect in the transmission that caused Toyota to extend the warrantee to 100K. I know because I was lucky enough to have one. Our Transmission started to make a little noise right after the 60K service. The dealer replace the Transmission before we had any real trouble with it. Since Toyota isolated the problem and fixed it, I'm fairly confident that this was an isolated problem and that the problem doesn't affect the replacement tranny or any of the other Siennas not built on this particular production run. That said I would be wary of a 2000 unless the tranny already was replaced under warranty. On a side note, some good friends of ours were stranded last summer in Sheridan Wyoming for almost a week after their 2003 Odyssey's transmission went out. All minivans seem to be rough on transmissions, but Toyota seems to have the least problems by far, and what problems they did have, they addressed, fixed and took care of the customer.

Reply to
ToMh

Chrysler trannies get a bad rap because people put the wrong fluid in it or are ripped off for a new AT when a $30 sensor goes bad. There are lots of people driving 150k miles on the Chrysler 4 speed AT just like the original poster.

Reply to
Art

The then newly designed 5 speed AT gave the Odyssey major problems.

Reply to
Art

I'm sure this could happen with any car. So why is it that Chrysler trannies still have a rather high failure rate compared to others?

This may apply to the Chevy Venture/Pontiac Montana tranny. But how do you know that it also applies to the Chrysler tranny? You've made this "bad sensor" claim a few times, but I have seen no proof to back it up. How do you know that ONLY the sensor is bad? How do you know the alleged sensor failure did not result in other tranny parts being damaged?

Again, how do you know? Moreover, the OP did not specify what tranny his Caravan had. If I remember right, a '92 Caravan could still be had with a

3-speed automatic if mated with the 4-banger or one of two available V6s, while the 4-speed was available with either V6. The 3-speed automatic was not prone to failure like the 4-speed has been. So it's possible that the OP's Caravan tranny is a 3-speed.

I know I might be wasting my time trying to discuss this with a Chrysler defender like you, but I just want to know where you are getting your alleged "facts" from.

Reply to
Imminent Vengeance

Because for many years only dealers had the right fluid. What do yo think Peanut BUtter lube thru in the car.

Because software protects the tranny. At 45k miles a sensor went on my 99

300M leaving me with second gear. Do you realling think the typical transmission shop would have advised the typical consumer it could be fixed for under $50? In fact it cost me $37 installed at the dealer. I had it towed so the fluid would not get hot from the drive in second gear. I have an extended warranty so Chrysler paid the tow.

Indeed he may have the 3 speed. My mistake. This is my second chrysler with the 4 speed and neither had a serious AT problem even though they were the biggest models made except for minivans.

I hang around the Chrysler newsgroup too. Most of the AT problems are just the sensors. Too bad they fail so easy. Pretty stupid on chryslers part not to make them bulletproof. On the otherhand, I rather have a sensor problem every 50K miles than the many anoyances that are unfixable in my

2001 Avalon.
Reply to
Art

To be honest, most of the tranny failures I have heard of were on the minivans. But I have heard of a handful of LH-platform cars experiencing tranny failures too.

Seriously, I still think you have been lucky with your Chryslers. I know 2 Sebring owners ('03 and '04) and one person with an '04 SX (Canadian Neon equivalent) who have had numerous problems with them since they bought them new. They are lucky to have the warranty now, but I know that they will be looking to get rid of them when their current warranties expire.

As for your Avalon problems, perhaps you just got a rare Toyota lemon. Aside from the strut mount issue (for which, I believe, Toyota issued a TSB), I haven't heard of many others (in and outside this newsgroup) having the problems you have had with yours (except perhaps for interior rattles, which are common on most new cars by most manufacturers now). And judging by some of your posts, I only got the impression that you think that all of your Avalon problems are common to most Avalons out there, when they probably are not common at all.

For me, regardless of whether the warranty covers a repair or replacement, there is also the inconvenience of having to take the car in for the service (possibly altering plans at the last minute) and being without it for some period of time. And from my experiences and the experiences of family and friends, these visits to the mechanic/dealer have been few with Toyota (and Honda), whereas they were frequent with Chrysler, Ford and GM.

Reply to
Imminent Vengeance

Actually one of the most annoying features of the Avalon is the completely useless so-called autoclimate control. Many others have posted the same opinion. Even a Lexus owner posted here that his autoclimate control was terrible. Too bad Consumer Reports hasn't noticed the problem. The other day it was 71 degrees outside and the interior was set for 71 degrees and for some reason the Autoclimate control thought it required hurricane force cold air to maintain the cabinet temperature. No kidding. At least the fan noised drowned out the rattles.

Reply to
Art

My 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport has 220K miles on right now, although the tranny went south around the 175K mile mark. Replaced it with a Factory Rebuilt (which went out about 17K miles later, but was rebuilt under warranty at the local Dodge dealer) which is still doing OK. I have heard almost universal praise for this particular model year -- so I guess I am lucky to have picked 1994 as the year to buy a new Dodge. My engine is still running about as good as new and I'm currently averaging around 20 MPG in hiway/city/mountain driving. However I do have a 2005 Sienna LE AWD (which Dodge doesn't offer any more) on order right now. Suggest checking out

formatting link
as a great resource for Sienna owners or wannabees.

Reply to
Private Person

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.