10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
6,316 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Dodge Caravan transmission problems

transmission problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Dodge Caravan:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

1996 Dodge Caravan Owner Comments (Page 5 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #58

Jan 152000

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission on this car gaves problem at about 3 months since purchase. We brought it and explained that there was something wrong, but they lied to us and said it was not. Eventually, about a year and a half later, the transmissin finally broke and they had to replace it with a new one. After that the car continued to jerk violently wehenever we were going up hill and at 45 mph. We kept bring in it in for them to fix it, knowing that this might create other serious problems with the car, but they continued to refuse to fix it because the jerking motion was not quite as pronounced when their mechanic drove it. According to them, chrisler would not allow them to see the transmission unless it justified it by being completely out of commission. We had them try to service it one more time, but instead, they tried to fix other things in it and even tried to charge me for them. I did not pay because they did not fix the transmission and the other things adjusted had no relation to the problem. About four weeks after this service, I woke up to go to my congregation with my children, when my child informed me that the car was burning. I went to look closely and and saw what looked like a small candle light. I told my children to go inside the house as gas fumes could be leaking and the car could explode. I went up to call the fire dept, which took me about a minute, and by the time I got back, the car was already engulfed in flames. This occurred, without anyone turning anything on, be that ignition or electrical component. This is evidence of one of two things, the mechanic at fitzgerald either deliverately or neglectfully created the hazard when he looked and did the wrong repairs, or this was a factory defect that finally was ascelerated by the constant violent jerking motion created by the transmission ongoing malfunction, which went on for more than 3 years. We are now left without a car that was under warranty (100000 miles) and they refuse to help

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #57

Nov 251999

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission fell apart.

- Lockport, NY, USA

problem #56

Dec 221999

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission will not sift into reverse when cold, and does not shift into other gears properly.when engine is warm transmission gets better.

- Pringle, PA, USA

problem #55

Aug 181999

Caravan

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Differential pin has come out of differential unit rubbing though case causing the transmission to leak.

- Burnaby, CD, USA

problem #54

Jan 282000

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
After shifting transmission into gear, vehicle failed to move forward or backward.

- Richmond, CA, USA

problem #53

Jun 011998

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
We had to have transmission rebuilt after it was determined that there was a major problem with it. I am not clear on the specifics of it because I know very little about transmissions, but I have all the paperwork on what exactly was done. Anyway at roughly 42000 miles, we began hearing loud "klunking noise" coming from under minivan. Had it checked and we were given the great news that it definitely was the transmission, and it was shot. Contacted Dodge and they stated it is out of warranty, so sorry. We took it to very good and respectable transmission shop and they rebuilt it for around 1000 dollars I believe. It just pisses me off that a transmission does not last past 40000 miles of normal driving conditions. And we had only owned the vehicle for less than a year. And that Dodge says sorry, but your over 36000, so we cant help you.

- Barnhart, MO, USA

problem #52

Jan 032000

Caravan

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission slips and shifts into gears at unusual speeds. At initial start up each day, car lurches into gear when shifted into reverse.

- Islip Terrace, NY, USA

problem #51

Nov 261999

Caravan

  • miles
No summary

- Taberg, NY, USA

problem #50

Aug 181999

Caravan

  • miles
My new Caravan had only been driven 23,577 miles. The case of transmission was rubbed through by the differential pin moving out of the differential unit.

- Burnabybc V5a1m5 Canada, AK, USA

problem #49

Feb 121998

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Problem occurred while driving in a parking lot at low speed. I feel this should have been covered since the transmission is a known problem with this vehicle.

- Savage, MN, USA

problem #48

Jan 011997

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission engages with loud and forceful "clunck', when engine is cold. Improves when warmed though. Transmission slips from one gear to next: Also until vehicle warms up. Was able to drive vehicle "as is" by backing into parking space before shutting down for evening and did not report until January of 1998. Service was done at that time to "adjust bands" but did not correct problem. Have been trying to work with Chrysler again, since October for repair, but vehicle is no longer under warranty. Condition is now deteriorating substantially and needs repair.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #47

Aug 201999

Caravan

  • miles
I detected a problem with the vehicle while still under warranty, however, the dealer did not make a concerted effort to locate the problem. The unusual sound during accelaration escalated to a strong vibration of the steering wheel, which again was not investigated by the dealership. The transmission problem was not detected until the oil leak was investigated (outside of warranty). Chrysler was contacted after this incident as well as discussions with the dealership. I have been very disappointed with the vehicle, and the quality of the product, not to mention the poor treatment by both the manufacturer and the dealership. I will never buy another Chrysler product.

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #46

Sep 291999

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The vehicle will jerk forward and will not go into the next gear if speed is increased. Dealer says transmission needs replacement.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #45

May 311999

Caravan

  • miles
We have more failures that you don't have room for in this questionnaire. We have a huge file on this vehicle and want out of it. It is a lemon!

- Houma, LA, USA

problem #44

Aug 241999

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The transmission quit, had no prior warning. Not able to shift, engine still running, had vehicle towed to mechanic.

- Crossville, TN, USA

problem #43

Sep 211999

Caravan

  • miles
We now have a van that is basically falling apart and we can't enjoy it and still have to pay to fix it. So if there is something we can do then please let us know we havent had it even 18 months before it was to be parked and now we can't use it at all

- Freeport, FL, USA

problem #42

Aug 081999

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When driving uphill and taking foot off the brake pedal, the vehicle rolls backwards. Also when stepping on the accelerator pedal, the transmission does not engage. The problem was reported to the dealership. Most of the gears in the transmission were replaced by aamco for the second time.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #41

Feb 191999

Caravan

  • miles
Around June or July of 1998, with no warning at all, it appears that parts just started falling out of the car. We had been driving and had stopped to let a passenger out. Upon putting the car in gear, there was a noise that sounded as if something had fallen out. Before we knew, the car would not move and for whatever reason, the 3 of the tires just completely deflated. It appears that the belts came loose. It was a nightmare.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #40

May 141999

Caravan

  • miles
I have taken the vehicle to three different dealers with complaints about the front end, the rubbing & clunking noise when making turns, the steering wheel shimmy and transmission problems (ie. Applying brake and trans not backing down, vehicle lurches).

- Cypress, CA, USA

problem #39

Apr 011996

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving entire electrical system malfunctioned, but vehicle continued to operate with no electric components working. Dealer has been contacted replaced transmission, stabilizer sockets, brakes and battery, latches on doors, hatch replaced several times.

- Jirard, OH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?