-September 2024 Special Lease Deals-
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
Comments
A common misconception, as all else is definitely not equal. Please do not try to obtain any statistical analysis from post quantity of online forums (I realize grplavloff did not do this, but others have). These are not suitable for such data taking, as are well-designed polls or surveys. Demographics can vary widely, for example, enthusiast cars will often generate many more posts than mass-market compact cars even though they have much lower sales volume. Similarly, the general Odyssey forums have always been among the most active of all minivan forums (were up to XXX before the new format). Likewise the "Problems" forums were also very active.
If you're looking for information on reliability, CR is a better bet even though it has its own set of flaws (poorly worded surveys, only surveys its own subscribers). JD Power's Dependability surveys, Carpoint's reliability information and Jack Gillis' Car Book's complaint index all offer other useful reliability data, corrected for number of vehicles sold.
FYI, Carpoints info is here:
http://carpoint.msn.com/home/reliability_ratings.asp?src=tips
Jack Gillis' Ultimate Car Book 2000 gives these numbers for its complaint ratio, higher is better (fewer problems):
Toyota Sienna:6
Honda Odyssey:5
Mercury Villager:5
Mazda MPV:5
Nissan Quest:4
Dodge Caravan:2
Chrysler Town&Country:1
Ford Windstar:1
The last 3 were among the worst 20 of all vehicles according to this index. For reference, the best 3 were the Acura RL, Honda CR-V and Saturn SC while the worst 3 were the Kia Sportage, Chevy S-series pickup and Toyota Tacoma.
These other sources all have their share of flaws. JDP doesn't break its data down by model unless you are a full subscriber. Carpoint surveys independent repair shops for its data, while the Car Book's complaint index is normalized from complaints reported to the NHTSA.
Few participants here seriously consider GM vans (just look at Edmunds reviews on GM cars and the poor fit and finish), Windstar has its problems, and just about every other van is too small.
One other CR/Odyssey thought - CR typically seperates same brand w/ different engine, but not different trim levels. Wonder if Ody LX would do better than EX w/ less complicated systems (including electrical and body).
When you buy - go with your gut. Good luck.
Let's see something like 20000 posts(this topic alone) relating to the Odyssey... and there are still people out there beating the CR ratings around as a bible. Well we have 16,500 miles on our 00' EX_Navi with 1 count em' 1 problem. We had the pasenger side slider motor replaced during the summer. There is a recall for the multiplexor circuit board... but we have not had the time to get it performed. We did have the ac wiring recall done last year... The van is due for it's 15k checkup... but thats it.
to the previous poster that wanted a Navi manual... don't know why, the navi system is very intuitive and user friendly. However when you purchse the vehicle, make sure you get the Navi radio code... I thought we received ours, but nothing I have done has allowed me to save locatons to the personal profile. So make sure you get yours. I will be trying to get ours resolved at the checkup. Also I do have another slight problem. My remote has a tendency to get the buttons stuck down... I will be asking for a new remote.
Now we are into the third year, 2001. I would bet that the 2001 models are going to be rated highly reliable. I know that Honda learns and corrects their mistakes. So don't judge the reliability of the 2001 by the 1999 model. Also those who have the 1999 and the 2000 models have had a number or reliability upgrades added to their cars, increasing their vehicles reliability
For added insurance, for only about $900-$950, you can get the 7yr/100k mile/0 deductble Honda Car Care warranty. When a part fails they will replace it with the latest designed and upgraded part. Say your transmission fails. You would get the latest transmission design with upgraded reliability. If you buy a vehicle which has a brand new design it is a good idea to get the extended warranty for at least the first 2 years. Maybe even the next 3 years of the new design.
We bought an extended warranty (less than $900) for my wife's Ody and view it as good insurance (we'd have bought one for any brand minivan) on a vehicle with two power sliding doors and a high-tech navigation system. Doing this takes the potential cost of the "reliability" risk out of the equation, and probably still results in equal total cost to a comparably-equipped and *significantly* smaller Sienna.
I'd say it's also important to look closely at what kind of failures are being reported, and are these the kinds that will leave you on the side of the interstate (e.g., transmissions that shoot a pin through the transmission case) or not. While it's no fun taking your vehicle back to the dealer to get a sliding door adjusted, it's less of a problem than having your wife and kids stranded on Interstate 80 waiting for a flatbed.
The relevant provision of the U.S. Code can be found at:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/49/32709.html
There seems to be a lot of misinformation about Canadian Odysseys and the odometer/speedometer switch out. My feeling, FWIW, is that if the switch is done under supervision of the appropriate state agency with responsibility to monitor such things (in my state the State Police), there will not be a problem with the odometer, and the title, accurately reflecting the mileage.
http://1netweb.com/checklist.htm
I now know I don't have to budget for auto repairs, but what I like about it best is if the service department tells me I need to get something fixed on my vehicle, I can just tell them to fix it. Without a warranty I would not trust them and would have to go to all the hassle of taking it to several places to get a second or third opinion. So the warranty buys a lot of piece of mind.
With my last car, with the extended warranty,they made about $6,000 in repairs, most of which was not need, and I got a rental car to drive also.
I agree with this and your suggestion that people look at survey results. The reality, of course, is that these vary widely as well, but at least you have made an attempt to move beyond the anecdotal.
Does anyone notice a really loud noise when driving over snowy/slushy roads?
Thanks
The Oracle (CR) sez:
1. The `99 Odyssey's reliability rating is below average.
2. The `00 Odyssey's reliability rating is average.
CR has not made any public statement that I know of about how it will do with the `99 Odyssey in its annual auto issue, which is the April issue.
thanks
You could take a statistical sample as you watch Odysseys go by, although it might vary by region. My guess is green is one of the least popular colors as I see few green cars. White must be a popular color as every car model I have ever seen comes in white. I have seen a number of brown ones.
You could go to the Honda site and send an e-mail to the manufactuor and tell them you plan to post it on this board. Maybe their PR department will e-mail you back the information. Be interesting to see the results. I have seen numbers on the most popular car colors for all cars, but don't remember the results. It probably changes as the years go by,and may vary by the region of the country.
Sometimes I can see the TCS light flash on out of the corner of my eye, but I am sure there are times I miss it. (TCS did me well in snow on the way home tonight when other cars were getting stranded on small, slippery hills).
As for the noise, I hear lots of it at times when TCS engages - doubt it is the TCS which I would not expect make noise. More likely, ice, rocks, etc kick up as wheel tries to get traction. When I have engaged TCS on fresh, unplowed/unsanded snow on my small side street, it engages quietly.
Did I misunderstand your note ??
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
CR will recommend a model "when it performs well in our tests and when our reader-survey data indicate it should be at least average in reliability." - That comes straight out of the guide Mr. Cliffyb referred to. Since, as I said, the 2000 Odyssey got an average reliability score (I was defending the blasted vehicle !), it will be recommended by CR.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
For mini vans there are four check rated vehicles in order, Odyssey LX; Toyota Sienna LE; Chrysler Town & Country LX; Dodge Caravan SE. This is for the April 2000 issue.
In later issues the Odyssey is still top rated and check rated so there is no reason to believe the Odyssey will have a below average rating.
I write on the issue when I receive it. I received the April 2000 issue on 03/13/00 so we can expect to know on approximately that date one year later which would be 03/13/01 what the rating is that CR gives the Odyssey. I will post it here if no one else does.
As of the January 2001 issue, which I received on 12/04/00, the Odyssey is still the top rated vehicle and is check rated. Odyssey EX ; Sienna LE; Dodge Grand Caravan Sport are the top rated minivans in that order in that issue, with only the first two check rated. The Grand Caravan is not check rated because they say it is to new to predict its reliability.
Conclusion: The Odyssey will almost certainly be check rated when the CR April 2001 issue comes out in about 5 weeks. How the 1999 model will be rated is a question however.
There is no certainty in the world,except death and taxes, but I am assigning a 90% probability that the Odyssey for years 2000 and above will have at least an average reliability rating and that the Odyssey will continue to be check rated and the top minivan.
If you want more certainty then that in your life you will have to wait about 5 weeks, until the next issue of CR comes out, which will be the April issue as I received the March issue on 01/31/01.
"I have a 2001 EX and am curious about how the rear doors are affected in case of an accident. Since the tranny has to be in PARK for the doors to operate (automatic mode), what happens in the event of a frontal or front side impact where the driver would be incapacitated and/or can't get tranny in PARK. How are the doors affected ? The doors are very hard for kids to operate manually. How would they get out ? "
It does make you stop and think.. Anybody have any comment or experience with this?
I live in Northern NJ, my experience with my '99 Ody EX in the snow leaves much to be desire. Take yesterday's snow storm for example, the Ody was losing traction going uphill and getting stuck in less than a foot high snow banks. I couldn't manuver snow-covered hills where smaller sedans were able to handle with seemingly no problem. The snow-handling capability of my Ody has been way below expectation - given its weight, FWD and TCS.
On the other hand, I have been reading alot of Ody owner who have re-assuring snow driving experiences. I am wondering if it's the Firestone Affinity tires that I have?! I have 20K miles on the tires and there is still plenty of treads. WHAT KIND OF TIRES DO YOU AND OTHERS HAVE THAT RESULTED IN GOOD SNOW-HANDLING? (not shouting, just want to get attention Thanks.
Mike
2) As of the 1/01 issue, Odyssey has an "Average" reliability projection. This projection is based on all model years for which the vehicle has the current design (i.e. starting with 1999 for Odyssey). Previous Odyssey reliability projections were based, in part, on the previous generation of Odysseys. CR carried over their excellent reliability projection in their review of a 1999 LX. It is always interesting when they do this, since on many redesigned vehicles (like the new Grand Caravan), they chose instead to give it a "New" rating for reliability.
3) The website and an e-mail I received BOTH confirm that the 1999 model year Odyssey will be rated below average in reliability. This, presumably, is why the overall projection is now "Average" while the previous projection was above average.
4) It is still likely Odyssey will be a recommended vehicle (check mark), because it got at least a "Good" evaluation and at least an "Average" reliability projection.
5) Even so, the 1999 Odyssey may or may not be added to the "Used Cars to Avoid" list. This is still speculation, as there has been no confirmation of this by email or on the website.
There really isn't much to dispute on this. The 1999 Odyssey was a first year model, and it's reliability is going to be worse than average. No one said their overall projection would be worse than average, or that it would cause the Odyssey to lose ground in its overall evaluation. These things could happen in the future, of course, as more reliability surveys are returned. CR frequently adjusts its overall ratings bars even without re-reviewing a vehicle. Case in point, the 1999 minivan reviews put Sienna as the top rated minivan. When the April 2000 issue was released, Odyssey had moved to the top, even though neither Odyssey nor Sienna had been re-reviewed in that time period. This happens quite often, and no explanations are ever given...
CR is not perfect. Its reliability results are based on surveys [poorly worded in my opinion] that are only sent to its subscribers. It's overall reviews are subjective, as with any other magazine. As such, there can be an unbroken cycle where the editor's opinions affect the consumer's reliability surveys and vice-versa. So, don't take CR's word as gospel. I find it valuable, but don't use it as my only reference for automobile information.
Now as to why this system works a little different than a hand held GPS. First of all this system is specifically made for roads, and it will prompt you for changes in directions, and alternate routes. Your hand held won't do that. You can also program in your daily schedule and it will map you a route, while giving you ATM's, gas stations and more.
I would suggest that you visit your local dealer and ask to see the next Nav that comes in for a demonstration.
Hope this helps.
Only complaint is that the tires sing on wet pavement, but you get used to it.
Please, immediately cease and desist from such postings as they make the rest of us look bad. If you will kindly descend once again down to the level of the rest of us, it would be greatly appreciated. Mediocraty possesses large quantities of gravity.
Tongue-firmly-in-cheekily yours,
TAD ;-)
PS Lest the wrath of the skim-readers fall heavily on my head, let me say that you have my highest compliments for posting in the very best way.
Odyssey RULEZ! All other minivans suck! Consumer Reports is clearly biased against 1999 Odysseys. All of these facts are supported by irrefutable evidence, which I cannot post at this time.
Thank you.
Whatever.... ;-)
were terrible last winter in the snow here in Cleveland. To make matters worse, they wore out quickly, 5/32 of tread with less than 23K miles.
I replaced them in late Nov. '00 with Michelin Symetrys. Much, much better. I personally think these are an excellent all season tire choice. We have Blizzaks on our '89 Accord which also perform exceptionally well in the snow. Good seasonal choice. I suggest dumping the Affinitys. If your budget allows a winter and summer tire arrangement you will get optimal performance. If not, then I think the Symetrys are a good compromise.
Hope this helps!
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards