JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 11:36 am
Makes sense... the lifespan of Chrysler transmissions seems to be 100-150k miles.
We have run Doge Caravan minivans personally and for business for many years. In my experience, the transmissions go out around 200K. Once we had one go out around 150K, and it turned out that a fluid line going into it was crushed, likely by hitting an object on the road or by a rock being kicked up, draining out the fluid and locking up the transmission.
Wife: maybe yours did better than the norm because it was improved by the department of government efficiency.
We bought both our dodge caravans at around 100,000 miles from people who had taken good care of them. We had well over 200,000 (possibly close to 260,000?) when our last caravan blew a gasket, and we decided to get rid of it. Our current one is still going strong at 207000, but we would love to get a Toyota or Honda. Our Yukon, on the other hand, was a “94 year old Grandma,” that the mechanic in Idaho told us would never make it down here and wasn’t worth fixing, and it’s still puddling along four or five years later, although with some oil incontinence. Some of ours might be very disappointed if we got another Yukon, or especially a Tahoe, but I told them we could just put a Ford or Dodge sticker over the Chevy symbol.
My Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey seem to spend more time being repaired than they do driving them. I don't buy the hype about them being "reliable" anymore.
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 6:33 pm
My Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey seem to spend more time being repaired than they do driving them. I don't buy the hype about them being "reliable" anymore.
Interesting. My daughter has a RAV4 my parents gave her when they were done with it, and it has around 230K and uses no oil and has zero problems. I know various people who have the Sienna minivans and have gotten well over 300K on original engines and transmissions. I always end up going with the Dodge minivans because they are generally cheaper. About the Odyssey, this goes back a ways, but my wife's cousins who run a transmission shop always used to say run from those.
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 6:33 pm
My Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey seem to spend more time being repaired than they do driving them. I don't buy the hype about them being "reliable" anymore.
Interesting. My daughter has a RAV4 my parents gave her when they were done with it, and it has around 230K and uses no oil and has zero problems. I know various people who have the Sienna minivans and have gotten well over 300K on original engines and transmissions. I always end up going with the Dodge minivans because they are generally cheaper. About the Odyssey, this goes back a ways, but my wife's cousins who run a transmission shop always used to say run from those.
The powertrain on the Sienna is okay; it's just got the typical rust problems that Toyotas and Hondas from that era do.
The Odyssey's powertrain is fine since the transmission was replaced with a Jasper and a tranny temp gauge put in.
Wife: I just got done reading all your reviews on those vehicles and I have to say it is not funny at all
Seriously though, I know that certain eras of Sienna‘s have issues with the transmission and then some odysseys have issues with the timing belt and possibly also transmission. I still remember looking at a vehicle with the bumper held on by zip ties and the mechanic at the dealership saying that they did a detailed mechanical inspection (that one does not let you take vehicles to get checked out by a different mechanic), and we pointed out the missing lugnut. he also said that if they fixed everything on that 2010 sienna with close to 200,000 miles, they could sell it for 20,000 or $30,000.
Wife: it is my duty to put this thread back on the rails with something funny.
Optometrist: “And the final line please?”
Man: “N P Z F W H”
Optometrist “Perfect. Now look for the brown sugar in the pantry.”
Man: *squinting* “I don’t…I don’t see it.”
Optometrist: “I’m afraid he’s domestically blind.”
Wife: *weeping*
Wife: A woman was found guilty in traffic court, and when asked for her occupation, she said she was a schoolteacher.
The judge rose from the bench. “Madam, I have waited years for a school teacher to appear before this court.”He smiled with delight.
“Now, sit down at the table and write, ‘I will not run a red light,’ 500 times.”
