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.
Driving 20 miles an hour under normal conditions. My transmission fell apart in my 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan SE 3.3 automatic transmission. There is a pin inside the transmission that simply breaks apart. You receive no warning of the defect. When this happens your vehicle seizes and stops. I was lucky I was close to home. When the pin breaks it destroys the case as well. In researching this defect I found out it also happens in 1999,2000, and 2001 Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Chrysler town and country vans. This breakage can occur at any speed. It seems to happen at around 100,000 miles. Again in my research came across a person who replaced the transmission 5 times in one year and another who was going 60 miles an hour when it happened luckily they gained control of the vehicle and no one was hurt. There are still a great many of these vehicles on the road and present a danger to all occupants and even those who are next to them on the road when all systems shut down. You must purchase an after market built case that stabilizes the pin and helps prevent the metal fatigue or the problem will continue to happen. Chrysler needs to offer some assistance to owners as this is $2000 or more repair. They do not acknowledge the problem and it seems to be very common.
I was driving down a major road (M-59) and my minivan made a popping noise (my initial reaction was my tire blown) and came to an abrupt stop and engine cut off. I was able to restart and pull into a parking lot near by. I noticed transmission fluid leaking(which left a trail and a decent puddle when stopped). After speaking to 6 different transmission repair shops they all stated that there is a pin that is know to slip and shoot out causing the gears to slip out that has been know with the 99 Dodge Caravan.two mechanics believed there had been a silent recall because it is the most common problem with the transmission and Dodge was aware of this problem. After reviewing online it seems that this is the biggest complaint. There is a bracket that now fixes this problem. I am grateful what happened didn't cause my 6 yr old daughter and I to get into a collision. I talked to my local dealership and the lady, samantha, I talked to was aware that this issue does exist. I don't understand why the consumer has to experience this expensive, dangerous event and be left to bear the cost to fix this. All of the repair shops state there are brackets that are designed to prevent this from occurring again, but it's something that shouldn't occur in the first place! there was no warning that my transmission was about to falter. The consumer shouldn't have to bear the financial consequence of a faulty design. If there is solution then Dodge should have/or be fixing this not the consumer!
While driving about 45mph I heard a loud thump. A few moments later the van stopped pulling itself. I took it to a shop and they said that a pin in the transmission had broke and tore up the housing of transmission causing all of the fluid to pour out onto the road. No one was hurt but I was told that it was a common problem and think that if it is common Dodge should help pay for some of the damage.
Our belts sips off during wet weather"five times we replaced the "S" belt and the tensioners, waterpump, overheating our 2nd yr of owership.now the 3rd yr of transmissions leaking, the ABS light came on while driving at 35mph w/children in car, starting to brake causing to slow way down in traffic and made a chime sound, the horn went off and it got hot fast causing the car to shut down. Thank god there was room to get over. All the lights were flickering all over the dashboard. The car just leaks everywhere, water, oil, trans. Something needs to be done about these cars. I cant even get mine smog because I have to keep unplugging my battery because now we have a short in the electrical system somewhere. I brought a lemon.....oh yeah! I called the dealer, they cant replace the cruise control unless the ABS light stays on. I hope I don't die cause the airbags wont work because I have a electrical shortage. 2 batteries were replaced, alternator too. The clockspring wont work for my car only the cruise control so said the dealer. I would feel bad selling this car to a family, cause what if they were killed. I couldn't deal with that. The day that happened was on my daughter 16th birthday. I had to stop everywhere all day to put water in the radiator just to keep it cool enough not to ruin her day. I hate hot days, I fear the rainy days, I cant see at night cause my headlights on the left side burned out and the covers has a glass over them.
I am a licensed day care provider who Transport several small children daily. My vehicle is a 2000 Dodge Caravan. On Tuesday, my transmission failed without warning while I was on the interstate with five children inside. I was horrified. My transmission needs to be replaced, which will cost upwards of around $2000. I did research on the internet and I have discovered some disturbing facts. Chrysler vans from 1998-2002 have a reputation of having this type of failure happen. The cause is a differential pin that shoots through the casing of the transmission. There is nothing the consumer can do to prevent this. Newer models of the Caravan 2003 and later have the same transmissions but they now have metal plates installed which keep the pins from breaking through the casing. I tried to get assistance from chrsyler directly, but according to their customer service department, there has been no problem with these transmissions. I asked them why then were there several stories on the internet of customers having the same problem that I just experienced. They replied that there is nothing they can do to help me. My transmission did not wear out, it failed. The differential pins shot out and broke the transmission casing. If you call locally or across the country and try to locate a used transmission for 1998-2002 Chrysler vans you will discover that the majority have the broken cases caused by the differential pins. Thus, they recommend replacing with a new transmission that has the corrected plates inside. I also discovered that at lithia Dodge, they have on an average 2 or more of these vans coming in with the same defect. They charge the customer to replace a transmission that they know has a defect, yet they do not take responsibility for it. There are millions of Chrysler's on the road. It is a safety hazard to have these vehicles on the road that can fail without any prior notice.
- Omaha, NE, USA
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While driving through the neighborhood the rear end pin came loose in the transaxle and cracked the housing. Lost all the transmission fluid and vehicle became inoperative. Vehicle had 49,992 miles and Dodge would not repair under warranty. They dealer recommended a new transmission for almost $3000. I had it rebuilt with replacement parts at a transmission shop for $1600.
Contact stated something was defective with the radiator and transmission. The coolant from the radiator went into the transmission and destroyed the transmission. This happened about two weeks ago. She took the vehicle to a mechanic and he changed the radiator and tried to flush the transmission, but the transmission was to be rebuilt. She called Chrysler and they said they could not do anything. The mechanic told her he had changed many with the exact same problem.
Transmission failure(blown apart per mechanic)and no warranty provided with less than 54000 miles.had 8 year/80000 mile warranty plus extra to 100000 mile paid. Paid out of pocket for repair.tranny slipping again since with another 2500 miles added. 1999 Dodge Caravan factory warranty refused.
Engine races, the transmission whines and changes gears while in the park position. The consumer also complained of another vehicle she owns a 1996 Chrysler cirrus. The key lock was replaced 3 times and it accelerated on its own.
Transmission needed to be replaced/rebuilt because it was leaking. Had problems with it shifting to neutral while driving with my 3 kids. Now, it is lurching forward by itself while slowing down at a stop light or going in reverse. It is back at the mechanic and they are stating there is 1 or 2 faulty solenoid packs and something about a sensor and not reading correctly. The van had only 50,000 miles on it when this problem first started happening. Spent $2400 1st time at mechanic, other 2 times are for free. Let's face it, people don't normally drive vans because they like them, they drive them because they have young children. This car is not safe in my opinoin at all and I will never buy a Dodge or any of its 'cousins' again. Why hasn't Dodge had a recall for the numerous problems I have read about" oh, and by the way, where is my recall for the airbag light problem"
Differential pin came loose and blew a hole through the transmission. Failure caused van to break down on the freeway. Transmission was completely ruined and would have had to be replaced. Possible starter damage as well. Quotes for repairs were around $3,000, so we decided to junk the car. It was only 5 years old with 62,000 miles at the time. '99 Dodge Caravan.
I bought a used 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan SE in 2002 with 28000 miles. The original mfg warranty had expired so we bought extended warranty. From the first week this car gave us trouble ending with a major accident due to gear shift. On the day of the accident while driving the car the gear shifted on its own from drive to lower gear. 5 min later the car when parked on my driveway moved from park to reverse on its own. Since I was out of the car I was run over by the car causing severe injuries but I was lucky that I did not die. The fatality rate is over 50% in such accident but I escaped with rib fractures, internal blood loss and extensive bruising.
While driving at 35 mph consumer heard a loud clunking sound and the speedometer dropped to zero. Also, vehicle would not go out of first gear. Dealer examined the vehicle, and found that the transmission sensor was burned out. This problem occurred again in December 2003, and the dealer repaired the sensor again.
Consumer stated while vehicle was shifting from park to reverse automatic transmission failed. Vehicle was towed to dealership, and mechanic replaced the transmission at consumer's expenses of $2,200.
While driving at 45 mph the steering pump failed, consumer lost the control, but was able to pull out of the road. Vehicle was taken to independent repair shop, mechanic determined steering pump had to be replaced. Also, at 50,000 miles, transmission failed while driving.
While driving at 35 mph, the consumer heard a clanking sound come from the engine compartment. A few seconds later the vehicle loss power steering and stalled. After repeated attempts the vehicle would not restart. The dealer examined the vehicle and found that holes were punched into the transmission housing case.
Last week my wife was coming home from work when she thought she ran over something. She said that the steering wheel shuttered and it scared her a lot. I'm just thankful she was not on the interstate when that happened because it could have put her life, as well as others, in danger. She was turning a corner after the light changed for left hand turns as was only traveling around 25-30 mph. When she looked she did not see anything in the road. The Caravan suddenly stopped. She got off the road. She was able to restart the car and make it home, about 5 miles. I had the Caravan towed to a transmission repair shop. They told me that this problem is very common with Dodge Caravan's with an engine rating of 3.1 to 3.8 litter and the 41te transmission. I need the car so I had it fixed for $2,265. F Dodge (Chrysler) knows about this problem, why is it still happening to owners of this vehicle?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Harrisonville, MO, USA