1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Transmission Problems

WHILE DRIVING THE RAIN I WENT THROUGH A MIDSIZE PUDDLE DUE TO STORM DRAINS BEING BLOCKED I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR STOPPED AND STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I WAS THANKFULLY DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT 25 MPH WITH OUT ALOT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY. BECAUSE OF GOING THROUGH THE PUDDLE THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. WHEN THE BELT SLIPPED OFF IT BENT THE SUSPENSION AND SPRING THAT HOLD THE BELT TIGHT. THE BELT IS FAIRLY NEW AND THE CAR HAD RECENTLY BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND CHECKED OVER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE BELT TO COME OFF. CAN I NOT DRIVE MY CAR IN THE RAIN? IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50MPH OR THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SNOWY OR ICY I MAY NOT BE HERE. *TR

VEHICLE ONLY HAS PARK INTERMITTENTLY, MUST USE PARKING BRAKE TO INSURE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE GOING 60 ON INTERSTATE. POWER WOULD COME AND GO LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON UNTIL I WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD. NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE PENDING FAILURE. *JB

MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, WHEN I WENT TO MOVE FORWARD, IT CLUNKED, AND DID NOT MOVE FOR 1-2 SECONDS, THEN JUMPED FORWARD. TOOK TO TRANNY SHOP AND WAS TOLD I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE SHOP INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COMPLETELY DAMAGED AT THE TIME, BUT RECOMMENDS THAT IT BE REPLACED. *NM

WE WERE JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT (A COUPLE OF JERKS AND THEN NO ACCELERATION ABILITY). WE WERE ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI WHO ALMOST RAN INTO US WHEN WE SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY SLOWED AND HADN'T BRAKED AND HE COULDN'T MOVE TO ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE OF OTHER TRUCKS IN THAT LANE. OUR 98 GRAND CARAVAN HAS ONLY 79K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, (THOUGH I THINK THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED RATHER THAN REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1000 AND JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS PAST THE YEAR WARRANTY). NOW WE FIND THAT IT WILL BE $3000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE IT SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DODGE DEALER. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE (ONCE WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BATTERY). ALL WORK HAS BEEN OR IS BEING DONE BY THE DODGE DEALER. NOW I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. WHY ISN'T DODGE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF GOUGING THE PUBLIC (NOT TO MENTION PUTTING US IN DANGER)?*JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE, AND CONTACT USED THE SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES IT DONE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IT BROKE SOME OF THE GEARS IN THE TRANSFER CASE, AND POTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VISCOUS COUPLINGS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS GOING TO CONTACT HIM. HOWEVER CURRENTLY THEY WERE TELLING HIM THAT THE CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE WARRANTY WAS NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPARE TIRE WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF USED ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A LOW SPEED TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP BEING SERVICED. *AK THE UPPER AND LOWER PLANETARY ASSEMBLY FAILED. *NM

WHEN PARKED AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK UNTIL CONSUMER GAINED CONTROL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT 60,000 MILES. DIFFERENTIAL PIN RELEASED AND SHATTERED THE CASING. THE CAR JOLTED AS I WAS DRIVING AS IF I FELL IN A DITCH. LUCKILY I HAD JUST PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED(25 MILES/HR). TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS RELEASED ALL OVER THE ROAD.. THE VAN IS AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP RIGHT NOW AND WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $2500. COMPLETE REBUILD IN A NEW CASING REQUIRED. I CAN ASK FOR THE OLD PART SINCE THE CORE IS NO LONGER USABLE FOR A TRADE IN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED TRANSMISSION WENT FROM SECOND GEAR TO NEUTRAL BEFORE GOING INTO THIRD GEAR. *AK

WHILE ALLOWING VEHICLE TO IDLE IN PARK IN RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, DRIVER STEPPED INSIDE HOUSE AND WITHIN 30 SEC HEARD LOUD CRASH. UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND VEHICLES ENGINE IDLE AT 5500 RPMS AND HAD COLLIDED WITH WASHER/DRYER 4FT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. *AK DAMAGE WAS TO THE W/D AND MINOR SCRATCHES WERE FOUND ON BUMPER. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WASHER WAS TOTAL LOSS.

DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME OUT, HIT TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND BROKE A HOLE IN IT. COSTING ME OVER $1700 TO REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP COMMENTED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS IN CHRYSLER PRODUCTS OTHER TIMES.*AK

WHEN TAKING TRANSMISSION IN FOR ROUTINE FLUID & FILTER CHANGE, SEVERAL FRAGMENTS OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE PAN. SOME FROM GEAR TEETH, OTHERS FROM BEARINGS. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETLEY REMANUFACTURED, AND THE COST IS ASTONOMICAL. THIS IS MY SECOND (AND NOW MY LAST) CHYSLER MINIVAN. I HAD SIMILAR TROUBLE WITH AN OLDER MODEL, HOWEVER CHRYSLER HONORED THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT LAST VERY LONG. THIS TIME HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT ONLY NASTY TO ME ON THE PHONE WHEN I CALLED, BUT THEIR RESPONSE WAS "WE WILL NEVER PAY FOR OR REPAIR THIS VEHICLE" WHICH I FIND ODD, CONSIDERING WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF THEY WERE FORCED TO RECALL IT FOR THIS PROBLEM. I'VE LOOKED INTO THIS, AND IT SEEMS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME TROUBLE WITH THESE VANS. NOW, I ASK CHRYSLER "FOR OVER 13 YEARS YOU'VE CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS, HOW LONG WILL YOU CONTINUE TO BILK THE CUSTOMERS WHO HELPED MAKE YOU ONE OF THE BIGGEST AUTOMAKERS IN THE WORLD" YOU HAVE TURNED YOUR BACK ON THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL TO YOUR PRODUCT, DON'T BE SHOCKED WHEN WE RETURN THE FAVOR. WHEN THE FOREIGN AUTOMAKERS EVENTUALLY PUT YOU OUT OF BUSINESS, IT WILL BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO INTENTION OF CORRECTING YOUR BIGGEST AND LONGEST LASTING MISTAKE IN THE HISTORY OF YOUR VEHICLES. I SUGGEST YOU CHARGE A LITTLE MORE FOR YOUR CARS, AND INVEST IN THE TRANSMISSION LONGEVITY. SAVING A FEW PENNIES PER VEHICLE TODAY, WILL COST YOU BILLIONS SOME DAY. I WAS HOPEFULL THAT DAIMLER WOULD COME IN AND STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. SHAME ON YOU DAIMLER FOR EMBARRASSING YOURSELVES WITH POOR QUALITY, AND FOR THE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU ALLLOW TO CONTINUE. YOUR PREVIOUS HISTORY WAS TO BE ADMIRED WITH YOUR MECEDES LINE OF VEHICLES. NOW YOU ARE SLOWLY BECOMING AN EMBARRASSMENT. I WAS EXPECTING BETTER FROM YOU, AND YOU LET US DOWN. IF IT IS YOUR INTENTION TO SLOWLY DISSOLVE CHRYSLER, THEN YOU ARE CERTAINLY ON THE RIGHT TRACK. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON 95 IN VIRGINIA IN 1998 GRAND CARAVAN LE (80,000) , AND I HEARD A BANGING NOISE. IT SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE THE ENGINE WENT FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A PUFF OF SMOKE IN BACK OF ME, AND THE CARS BEHIND ME BACKED OFF. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A FRIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL US. WE CALLED THE STATE POLICE AND THEY PROCEEDED TO CALL AAA WHERE THEY TOWED US INTO WHITTEN DODGE. ALL OF THE FLUIDS HAD COME OUT OF THE CAR AND THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP. SEEING AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO FLORIDA ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON OUR ONLY OPTION WAS TO BUY ANOTHER DODGE. WE PURCHASED A 2004 GRAND CARAVAN. I HAVE A DIARY OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO MY VAN. IT WAS VERY WELL KEPT. JOSH A MACHANIC WITH WHITTEN DODGE WENT OVER THE WHOLE CAR AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION DIFFERENCIAL PIN (THAT HOLDS THE SPIDE GEARS) IN THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. THIS PIN ALONG WITH THE SPIDER GEARS TOTALED THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. DUE TO THIS UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT WE GOT NOTHING FOR THE CAR. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE WERE SO LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT SMEARED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT MAJOR RESTITUTION IS DUE IN THIS SERIOUS SITUATION. NOW I HAVE A 04 GRAND CARAVAN, SHOULD I BE WARY OF THIS VAN? WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FEBRUARY, 2004 - 1998 GRAND CARAVAN WITH 75100 MILES STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF PROBLEM. TOTAL REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION COSTING $1500.00. VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. DRIVEN BY "SOCCER" MOM. OBVIOUS THROUGH RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JB

1998 CHRYSLER GRAND CARAVAN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*MR 1998 DODGE CARAVAN SUFFERED FROM AVEHICLE FIRE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER IS SEEKING A FAIR SETTLEMENT FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE.*MR

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 40 MPH. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC.*AK *MR

IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WARMED UP BEFORE BEING DRIVEN, IT WOULD HESITATE. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH UNEVEN SHIFTING FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS GRAND CARAVAN. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP TO A HIGHER RPM THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO HIGHER GEAR. INITIALLY WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD ADJUST TO THE DRIVER AND THUS ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT RECENT OCCURRENCES, WHEN IN GEAR, THE CAR DID NOT ENGAGE AND SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE THIRD TIME, WHILE MOVING AND MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND PUT ME IN THE PATH OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THUS NEEDED TO TAKE TRANSMISSION APART. UPON DISASSEMBLY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GEARS HAD BEEN GROUND OFF AND NOT REPAIRABLE AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NO FAULT OF ANYTHING I DID. THE REMEDY WAS A $3000 COST TO PUT IN A FACTORY-REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT EXCEPT THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LATE AT NIGHT ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN TRAFFIC WAS LOW. THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNIQUE TO THIS VEHICLE AS OTHER COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA. THIS GRAND CARAVAN TRANSMISSION DESIGN FLAW NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. THE CAR OWNERS LIVES SHOULD NOT BE PUT AT RISK, NOR SHOULD THEY HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FIXING A PROBLEM WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLAW.

TRANSMISSION IN 1998 GRAND CARAVAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE A BROKEN DIFFERENTIAL PIN. *AK

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN: MASSIVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE SHAFT OF A PIN EXTENDING INTO THE CORE (SORRY IF I HAVE THE TECHNICAL DETAILS WRONG) SHEERED OF COMPLETELY AND DESTROYED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER THE FAILURE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST BEING LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC, THE TRANSMISSION "LOCKED UP", MEANING THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED OR MOVED. THE REASON I AM REPORTING THIS IS BECAUSE MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HAD THIS "LOCK UP OCCURRED" AT THE WRONG TIME AND PLACE THAT THERE IS GOOD CHANCE MY WIFE (WHO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE DAILY) AND MY CHILDREN (WHO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE DAILY) WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES SHOWING THE FAILURE AND DAMAGE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND MY MECHANIC IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS OR INFORMATION. *AK

THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. SOON AFTER, THE STEERING BECAME HARD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ON TO THE GROUND. THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. *JB. IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD EXITED THE CASE PH *JB

THE DRIVER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A GATE AND SOME TRASH CANS. WHEN RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS STILL IN PARK. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 6/25/2003. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH THE CONSUMER HEAR A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONSUMER PULLED AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A "POP" THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION PIN CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE CASING WHICH CAUSED THE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *JB

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 65,000 MILES. VAN NEEDS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $2,400. PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ONE MONTH EARLIER WITH TRANSMISSION VALVE PROBLEM AT SAME DEALER. OPENING CASES WITH CFAS AND ZONE REP ALSO. PLEASE ADVISE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND AND A ROD WAS STICKING THROUGH THE CASTING. *NLM

MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT LATE ONE EVENING. IT WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO ANY GEAR CHANGE AND IN FACT, IT SOUNDED AND SMELLED TERRIBLE! I WAS COMPLETELY STRANDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON A DARK WINDY ROAD UNTIL I COULD OBTAIN HELP. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I SAW THAT THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY A COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEM FOR DODGE OWNERS. I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH MY CAR AND HAD ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. DANGEROUS!! *JB

VEHICLE EXPRIENCED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IN OUR RESEARCH, WE HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE WITH DODGE GRAND CARAVANS.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAME TO STOP SIGN AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE METAL FILINGS FOUND IN TRANSMISSION PAN. THIS VAN HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT 15000, 30000, AND AGAIN AT 45000 WHICH IS WHY I BROUGHT IT IN THERE. NOBODY TOUCHED THE ENGINE BUT THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER. WHEN THE DEALER GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, FOUND THAT THE CLUTCHES WERE GRINDING THEMSELVES UP. $2050.00 TOTAL IN REPAIRS. NOTHING FROM DODGE EXCEPT I'M SORRY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

THE DRIVESHAFT SPLIT IN HALF ..THE METAL TWISTED APART...IF I WAS GOING AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED SOMEONE ELSE WOULD BE WIRTING YOU..*AK

A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A DRAGGING SOUND, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED, IT WAS FOUND BY THE DEALER THAT A COMPONENT BROKE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION AND CAME THROUGH THE CASE. NLM

KNOWN CHRYSLER MINIVAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH FOUR KIDS INSIDE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN DRIVEWAY INTO A HOUSE. EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. CONSUMER STATED THAT INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHIFT INTERLOCK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE CAN GO INTO ANY GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 48,000. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE MANAGER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM OVER THE TELEPHONE. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG, HIS RESPONSE WAS " HAPPENS ON THESE VANS ALL THE TIME, IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM". WHEN I ASKED WHY DODGE DIDN'T DO A RECALL AND FIX THEM ALL, HIS RESPONSE WAS "WE WOULD RATHER HANDLE THEM ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS". I'M SURE IT'S A COST FACTOR. MY POSITION IS THAT DODGE, (CHRYSLER), HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON THEIR VEHICLES, THEY KNOWINGLY INSTALLED THEM ANYWAYS AND HAVE DECEIVED THE PUBLIC. IF A SURVEY OF DODGE OWNERS WAS CONDUCTED, I'M SURE THAT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WOULD BE FREQUENT. DODGE SPLIT THE COST OF A RE-BUILT TRANMISSION WITH ME WHICH COST ME $864.00. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE COSTS SPLIT LIKE ME, HAD THE WHOLE THING TAKEN CARE OF AND THOSE WHO SUFFERED THE BURDEN OF PAYING FOR THE ENTIRE COST. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER OWES ME $864.00 AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR PUTTING "BAD" TRANSMISSIONS IN CARS. *AK

SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT - "NEUTRAL" ONLY. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY; TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT <70K MI HAS OCCURRED WITH 3 OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS - RECALL NEEDED?*AK

VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF WITH KEYS AND VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACK, AND HIT A PARKED CAR. CONSUMER WAS TAKING VEHICLE IN AS OF 14TH OF MAY TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAD 35,094 MILES AND CONSUMER PUT 48,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD 5,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY TO GET FIXED. DEALER WILL NOT CONSIDER REPAIRING OR ASSISTING CONSUMER. *AK THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE HIM THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *YH

A INTERNAL PART FAILED IN TRANSMISSION. MINIVAN WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 56000 MILES DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS IS NOT A UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE, THIS IS A DEFECT.*AK

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSIO HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE FOR THE SECURITY AND SO THAT I WOULD NOT BE INCONVENIENCED WITH MAJOR REPAIRS. THAT THEORY WAS THROWN OUT THE WINDOW WITH THIS PROBLEM. DIFFERENTIAL PIN WAS WORN IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM AND GAVE ME THE CHOICE OF REBUILDING OR REPLACING TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS A LITTLE ALARMED WHEN I WAS TOLD HOW LONG I WOULD BE WITHOUT THE VAHICLE BECAUSE THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMSISSION ARE NOT UNCOMMON. I FURHTER BELIEVE MY THEORY TO BE TRUE BECAUSE WHENEVER I MENTION IT TO PEOPLE THEY ARE NOT SURPRISED AND BASICALLY TELL ME THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME TO CARAVANS. SO, $2091.25 POORER, I AM WRITING THIS IN HOPES THAT THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN TO OTHER OWNERS OF DODGE CARAVANS. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE OF ABSOLUTELY NO HELP WHEN IT CAME TO RECTIFYING THIS PROBLEM. THEREFORE, YOU HAVE A LETTER FROM ONE EXTREMELY UNHAPPY AND IRATE DODGE CARAVAN OWNER (ALTHOUGH NOT FOR LONG, BECAUSE I AM LOOKING TO TRADE).*AK

WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN WERE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH, HEARD CLUNK, COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WHERE TRANSMISSION GEARS AND PARTIAL SHAFTS FELL INTO ROAD FROM APPROX. 4" HOLE IN TRANSMISSION CASE.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER SAID IT HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 2 YEARS. NLM

NOVEMBER 1999 TRANSMISSION LEAKED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, AND LEAK STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. ON DECEMBER 4 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HEARD LOUD NOISE, PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID POURING OUT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE AT DEALER NOW. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER PAID ONLY HALF OF THE COST OF THE PARTS. *YH

SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT SLIPPED COMPLETELY OFF THE PULLEY WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING CAPABILITY FOR MY WIFE

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A PIN SHEARING OFF FROM WITHIN, CAUSING A HOLE, AND ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE THE VAN WAS RUNNING TWO YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION, CAUSING THE VAN TO CRASH THROUGH THE GARAGE . MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A STANDARD THAT WOULD KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS PUNCTURED FROM INSIDE AND LEAKS FLUID. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE OPERATING. ENGINE SURGED SEVERAL TIMES, LOST ACCELERATION, THEN STALLED. VEHICLE OPERATED WITH ONLY PASSENGER WEIGHT. DEALER NO EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. SUGGEST COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH V AUTO TRANSMISSION WORKING ERRATICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER , AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START IN 3RD. GEAR AND REMAIN IN 3RD. GEAR. DEALER NOTIFED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS TAKEN OUT OF REVERSE AND PUT IN DRIVE IT CONTINUES TO GO IN REVERSE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

REAR HEAT AND AIR LINE RUNNING UNDER FRONT OF VAN CAUSED RATTLE. DEALER HAD VAN FOR OVER 15 DAYS , REPLACED TRANSMISSION, MOST OF THE DASH WAS PULLED OUT, ALL KINDS OF HEAT SHIELDS WERE REMOVED AND PROBLEM STILL RETURNED. FINALLY AFTER OVER 12 RETURN TRIPS TO DEALER THEY REPLACED THE LINES OR CLAMPS AND PROBLEM IS GONE. NOW THE PROBLEMS ARE SHOWING UP FROM THE DASH BEING REMOVE. RADIO,SPEAKERS,DASH LITES & RATTLES.

THE VAN CAN BE PULLED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, KIDS OFTEN GO TO THE FRONT OF A PARKED VEHICLE. IF THE IGNITION IS ON THE VAN CAN BE PUT IN GEAR BY JUST PULLING DOWN ON THE GEAR CHANGE HANDLE. MANY CARS HAVE A LOCK OUT THIS SHOULD BE REQUIRED. A RESPONSE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED BY TWO YEAR OLD CHILD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A TREE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

SHIFT GEAR ( ON COLUMN ) CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK WHEN BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED.

VEHICLE WA SPARKED USING THE GEAR SHIFT. KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS, VEHICLE ROLED SLIGHTLY FORWARD, PICKE DUP SPEED AND CRASHE DINTO A TREE, STOPPING IT. GEA RSHIFT WAS NOT IN PARK AFTER THE COLLISION. *AK

SHIFT INDICATOR GEAR DOES NOT CONTAIN A LOCKING MECHANISM, ALLOWING CHILD TO ENGAGE GEAR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.