A couple of my friends bought the Toyota Sienna (based on Consumer Reports) and needless to say - I take a lot of heat for buying the Dodge Grand Caravan. Unfortuntely, Dodge (Chrysler) still deals with a very bad reputation. Anyway, I decided to jump over the NHTSA and do a little research - very interesting.

Toyota Sienna Customer Complaints = 61
Dodge Grand Caravan Customer Complaints = 6

Toyota Sienna Safety Recalls = 3
Dodge Grand Caravan Safety Recalls = 1

Toyota Sienna Technical Service Bulletins = 7
Dodge Grand Caravan Technical Service Bulletins = 1

Needless to say, I just sent off a E-Mail to my friends!

 

Wow, I didn't know that. Toyota not as good as it use to be.

 

some days i think i bought the wrong vehicle originally wantted honda odyssey but i think everyones got its own issues. sometimes its just draw of luck the vehicle you get runs perfect. i like the general of what dodge has but i think they still need to emprove on tranny's

 

It was very interesting. The perception has always been that foreign cars (i.e., Toyota, Nissan, etc.) are better then American made. The funny thing is most the foreign car makers now have their rides assembled in the United States and Canada. The Toyota Sienna is assembled in Princeton, Indiana, etc.

 

I updated the statistics to include the 2011 Honda Odyssey.

Toyota Sienna Customer Complaints = 61
Honda Odyssey Customer Complaints = 59
Dodge Grand Caravan Customer Complaints = 6

Toyota Sienna Safety Recalls = 3
Honda Odyssey Safety Recalls = 2
Dodge Grand Caravan Safety Recalls = 1

Toyota Sienna Technical Service Bulletins = 7
Honda Odyssey Technical Service Bulletins = 3
Dodge Grand Caravan Technical Service Bulletins = 1

I wonder if the gigantic difference between the rides is the expectation that the Odyseey and Sienna are supposed to be fantastic rides and trouble free?

 

To be fair, the 2011 Sienna went on sale 10 months before the 2011 Grand Caravan. That said, thats 61 complaints for the Sienna over a 17 month period vs 6 complaints over a 7 month period for the Caravan. The trend is still looking good for the Caravan.