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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the minivan segment

2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2021 Chrysler Pacifica and 2021 Honda Odyssey are nearly tied on reliability data

Two direct rivals running close on the data. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (3.6 versus 3.8), and both have similar complaint patterns. At this margin, choose based on what specifically matters to your use case rather than overall scoring.

2021 Chrysler Pacifica

3.6/5
Reliability score
341 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$11,150 repair exposure
vs

2021 Honda Odyssey

3.8/5
Reliability score
116 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$10,300 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Direct rivals running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores within rounding distance (3.6 for the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, 3.8 for the 2021 Honda Odyssey). When two vehicles in the same segment land this close, the data alone won't pick a winner.

If you lean 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, know what you're getting into on powertrain and electrical. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2021 Honda Odyssey sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2021 Honda Odyssey? Watch the airbags and visibility. The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2021 Chrysler Pacifica
2021 Honda Odyssey
powertrain
115 reports
severe · ~$2,500
5 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
electrical
82 reports
moderate · ~$850
38 reports
moderate · ~$850
engine
32 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
6 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
airbags
No reports
15 reports
moderate · ~$1,100
steering
11 reports
moderate · ~$700
No reports
visibility
4 reports
moderate · ~$350
7 reports
severe · ~$350
body
5 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
4 reports
severe · ~$1,500
brakes
5 reports
severe · ~$450
No reports
cruise control
5 reports
moderate · ~$600
No reports
suspension
No reports
5 reports
moderate · ~$900

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica or the 2021 Honda Odyssey?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.6 vs 3.8). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica?

Compared to the 2021 Honda Odyssey, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica sees more reported issues in powertrain and electrical. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2021 Honda Odyssey?

Compared to the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, the 2021 Honda Odyssey has more complaints in airbags and visibility. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2021 Honda Odyssey has more active recalls (1 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $11,150 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2021 Chrysler Pacifica on NHTSA · 2021 Honda Odyssey on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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