2009 Dodge Grand Caravan Transmission Problems

Your parked vehicle rolled down a hill after you put it in park, causing it to crash through a chain link fence and damage the front end. This suggests your transmission may not be holding the vehicle securely in park on inclines. The issue likely involves the transmission park pawl or related holding mechanisms that need inspection and possible repair or replacement.

Your van suddenly lost power while driving, and your traction control, ABS, and check engine warning lights all came on at the same time. Resetting the computer temporarily fixed it, but the problem happened again. This suggests a deeper issue with your engine computer or transmission control system that needs proper diagnostic testing.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE IGNITION FAILED TO GO IN THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED DUE TO THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE GEAR SHIFTER ALSO CEASED IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.*DT*JB

KEEP HAVING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR

WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED AND POWER STEERING GONE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. I MANAGED TO STEER TO THE ROADSIDE, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND START AGAIN. YESTERDAY AFTER DRIVING FOR COUPLE HOURS I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND WEN I GOT BACK THE CAR DIDN'T START NO CRANK, NO SOUND ( ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ON, FULL BATTERY) CALL TOLL TRUCK.... WAITING FOR TOLL TRUCK ARRIVE, START LOOKING ON LINE FOR THE PROBLEM.... LOTS A PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM... I DID FALLOW RECOMMENDATIONS AND TRY SHIFTING FROM P TO N COUPLE TIMES AND TURN KEY ON AND OFF. THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED AGAIN... CANCEL TOLL TRUCK... BUT NO SOLUTIONS, NO CHECKING LIGHT ON... NOTHING.. JUST WAITING FOR THIS HAPPENING AGAIN....

WHEN I PUT MY VAN IN REVERSE 3 DIFFERENT TIMES THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND IN THE PROCESS OF BACKING UP SLOWLY IT SHUT OFF. TWICE I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, & IT SHUT OFF IN THE TOWN ROAD. I HAD TO RESTART IT AND CONTINUE BACKING UP. ANOTHER TIME I WAS TURNING OUT OF A PLAZA, WHERE I HAD TO TURN, AND WHEN I BACKED UP IT SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TOWN ROAD. TRAFFIC STOPPED, FOR ME TO RESTART IT AND BACK UP. ON TUESDAY 10/23/18, I TRIED BACKING IT OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO BRING IT FOR SERVICE. THE RPM'S WENT HIGH, IT WASN'T MOVING, AND WAS SHAKING. I SHUT IF IT OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. IT IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY RECALLS FOR IT ONLINE, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE UNSAFE CONDITION! I SAW HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR DODGE CARAVANS SHUTTING OFF.

OUR VAN KEEPS RUNNING OUT OF OIL COMPLETELY BEFORE OIL CHANGE IS DUE, DEALER HAS ALREADY REPLACED OIL PAN AND REAR MAIN SEAL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THEY ARE SAYING THE REAR MAIN SEAL AGAIN. DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE BECAUSE THERE IS NO OIL IN PARKING SPOT OR UNDER VEHICLE NEAR REAR MAIN SEAL. ONLINE MANY PEOPLE REPORT THAT IT IS A ENGINE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MOTOR... SO WHY ARE PEOPLE HAVING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS WHEN THIS MOTOR SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW BEING REPAIRED OR REPLACING REAR MAIN SEAL AGAIN.

VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO FAULTY/CORRODED TIPM.

MY VAN WAS BOUGHT NEW BY ME AND HAS AROUND 51,111 MILES ON IT. ABOUT A MONTH AGO TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING OUT OF IT. THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY SEALED, NO WAY TO CHECK IT'S LEVEL OR CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE OLD 1/4 INCH TUBE THAT USUALLY WOULD HOLD THE DIP STICK IS MUCH SHORTER (ABOUT A FOOT) THAN A NORMAL TRANSMISSION DIP STICK. IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FIND IT. IT IS ONE OF TWO TRANSMISSION LINES GOING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND GOING TO THE RADIATOR AND THE LEAK IS IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE WHERE YOU CAN'T GET TO IT WITHOUT DROPPING THE TRANSMISSION... DODGE HAS A 100,000 WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BUT THIS LINE IS OUTSIDE THE TRANSMISSION SO THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT PART OF THEIR WARRANTY... REGARDLESS THE TUBING THEY USE HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN 100,000'S MILES WITHOUT HAVING THIS NON-MOVING PART TO FAIL. I HAVE THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT COVERED. SO HOW DOES IT GET REPORTED. I HAD TO PAY OVER $500 FOR THE WIRING HARNESS IN MY AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS THAT OBVIOUSLY THE LOWER ARM ON THE DOOR KEPT RUBBING AND RUBBING UNTIL IT FRAYED THE PLASTIC COVERING CAUSING MY WIRING HARNESS TO BREAK BUT WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN THEIR WAS NO RECALL YET SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF AND THEN AROUND 6 MONTHS LATER I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR WHICH I HAVEN'T GOT I.

FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE COMPLAINED TO CHRYSLER MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. IT SEEMS TO SLIP WITHIN THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF THE CARAVAN BEING STARTED. IT SEEMS TO DO IT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECENTLY STARTED, WHEN IT IS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND GEARS OR 2ND TO 3RD GEARS (NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT GEAR IT'S IN WHEN IT'S MAKING THE SHIFT) AND IT USUALLY ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A TURN AT A LOWER SPEED. THE SERVICE REP. AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID A LOT OF VEHICLES HAVE THIS TRANSMISSION AND THEY ALL SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. HE EVEN TOLD ME HIS WIFE DROVE A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND THAT TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AS WELL. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR CHRYSLER TO FIX AND HE STATED THAT IF IT'S NOT ACTUALLY BROKEN, THEN THEY WON'T FIX IT. RECENTLY I WAS TOLD THAT MY LIFETIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE TRANSMISSION INSPECTED WITHIN A 90 DAY PERIOD FROM IT'S 5 YEAR DATE OF PURCHASE. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE IT INSPECTED, THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT AT CHRYSLER SAID IT WAS IN MY HANDBOOK...SO I LOOKED IT UP AND IT WAS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY AND THAT'S IT. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THE MULTIPLE TIMES I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE INSPECTED...THOSE INSPECTIONS DID NOT COUNT AS A QUALIFIED INSPECTION FOR THE WARRANTY!!! THAT DOES NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V393000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. WORST FIRST. HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, MAINTAIN VEHICLE FAITHFULLY. AT APPROX. 70 K MILES THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT POPPED ON. CHECKED OIL. WAS NOT REGISTERING ON STICK. OVER THREE QTS LOW! ENGINE CONTINUES TO USE 3-4 QTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (3000 MILES). VAN IS ON ITS THIRD SET OF BRAKES. TIRES HAVE TO BE ROTATED VERY OFTEN BECAUSE THE FRONT RUINS TIRES QUICKLY. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE KEY FOB TWICE. BOTH TIMES IT HAS LEFT US STRANDED WITH NO WARNING. VAN IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR BAD MOTOR MOUNTS. GAUGE CLUSTER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. HEATER HOSE "Y" CONNECTION BLEW APART WHILE ON VACATION AT APPROX. 75K MILES. (ENGINE DID NOT OVERHEAT). VAN IS ON ITS THIRD OR FOURTH BATTERY. POWER SLIDING DOORS CONTINUALLY HAVE PROBLEMS CLOSING. POWER STEERING PUMP WHINES SINCE 15K MILES. VAN CURRENTLY HAS 91K MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON AN INCLINE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 10/22/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE SHIFTER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR VALVE FAILED ON ALL 4 WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 4/6/2015 *JS

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, FACING UP, AND PUT IN PARK. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THEN REACHED BACK IN TO TURN OFF AND REMOVE THE KEYS. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACK DOWN THE DRIVE, HITTING TWO OTHER VEHICLES BEFORE THE DRIVER, WHO WAS HIT BY THE OPEN DOOR, COULD GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND APPLY THE BRAKES. IT IS UNKNOWN WHY THE KEYS WOULD HAVE COME OUT IF THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK, OR WHY THE CAR WOULD SWITCH FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITHOUT THE KEYS IN OR A FOOT ON THE BRAKE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I FELT AND ALSO HEARD A CLUNK, THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHILE DRIVING IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR (IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC/MANUAL TRANS). WE THEN REALIZED THE MANUAL WAS NOT WORKING, AND EVERYTIME WE PUT IT IN DRIVE THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. NOW AS WE ARE DRIVING IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR LIKE THE MANUAL WENT OUT AND THE CAR THINKS IT IS STUCK, THE ENGINE REVS THE RPM'S GO UP AND THE AUTOMATIC KICKS IN BUT IT DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP REVVING. SINCE I HAD THIS CAR I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES TWICE, THE BATTERY, THE WINDOW MODULE, THE WHOLE AC. THIS CAR IS COSTING MORE THEN IT IS WORTH AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP WITH ANY OF IT. THE WINDOW MODULE TRANSMISSION AND AC SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO EARLY. *KB

WHEN MOVING THE CVT TRANSMISSION, DASH MOUNTED GEAR SHIFT LEVER FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY FELL APART. THE HANDLE FELL TO THE FLOOR, AS DID THE BUTTON AND THE INTERNAL SPRING. THIS OCCURRED TODAY 8/12/2010 FOR THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME (SO FAR). I MANAGED TO RE-ASSEMBLE THE SPRING, BUTTON AND LEVER UPHOLSTERED GRIP ONTO THE LEVER ITSELF BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP IT IN PLACE. I FOUND NO SCREW ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT WILL REQUIRE SERVICING TO REPAIR AT A DEALERSHIP. IN THE MEANWHILE I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO JUST USE THE LEVER ITSELF BUT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I NOW HAVE A POINTED PIECE OF METAL STICKING OUT OF MY DASH. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE INCIDENT. *TR

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2009. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN BACK TOT HE DEALERSHIP 2 MORE TIMES FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO US. THE EVENING OF APRIL 3RD, WE WERE RETURNING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED US TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR