2018 Honda Odyssey vs 2018 Toyota Sienna
Two minivans, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2018 Honda
Odyssey
6/10
Best-driving minivan on sale that year, but the 10-speed and CabinTalk/CabinWatch electronics need a probation period before you trust them.
VS
2018 Toyota
Sienna
8/10
Buy it for the bulletproof 2GR-FKS V6, tolerate the sometimes-clunky 8-speed, and it'll outlast your kids' childhood.
Milo scores the 2018 Toyota Sienna higher — 8/10 against 6/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Honda Odyssey |
Toyota Sienna |
| Known failure points | 6 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 962 | 69 |
| Safety recalls | 16 | 7 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 58 | 78 |
| Cheap to own | 62 | 72 |
| Fun factor | 48 | 35 |
| Holds value | 55 | 75 |
| Enthusiast cred | 40 | 30 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2018 Honda Odyssey
10-speed automatic transmission harsh/delayed shifts, shudder in 2nd-3rd gear
$0–$4,5000k–30k mi
2018 Toyota Sienna
UA80E/UA80F 8-speed transaxle whining, harsh or erratic shifting
$3,500–$6,50080k–130k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2018 Honda Odyssey
A 2018 EX-L or Touring built after mid-2018 production, with confirmed TCM software updates and the MOST-bus recall completed — Touring adds CabinWatch/Talk and better sound insulation without Elite's price premium.
✅ 2018 Toyota Sienna
2018 Sienna SE or XLE with FWD (skip AWD unless you truly need it) and under 80k miles with documented transmission fluid services — FWD avoids the extra diff maintenance and AWD-specific complexity while keeping the same excellent V6.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.