9.5
really awful
transmission problem
I was on I-16 at 10:30p.m. with my 14 year old daughter when it felt like the car was falling apart. We were able to pulling off on the next exit and let the car round to a stop. We had to spend the night in a motel til the next day and have the car towed 30 miles to the nearest dealership. Not only the transmission, the air condition does not work correctly, the lining of the ceiling is falling in.
- Janie B., Thomson, GA, US
A little history first... I bought the van from the company I worked for, who had bought the van new. They had the oil changed and regular service on time every time, needless to say, it was well maintained, mainly the reason I bought it in the first place.
A couple months after driving it, I noticed a random "skipping" feeling when accelerating. Nothing big, just a subtle skip every now and then. I took it to my cousin who is a mechanic, but because he couldn't get it to do it while he was driving said basically that it wasn't a big deal, and to bring it back if it got worse.
A couple months later, out of nowhere, on my BIRTHDAY, my husband and I are heading out of town for a weekend get away, when I first notice a slight vibrating of the steering wheel. Less than a mile later, the van is shaking violently. I pull into a gas station, check the oil and transmission fluid, all is fine, try to start it again, it starts but is still shaking, try to back up to get it back home and it dies.
We tow it to a mechanic (the cousin is out of town) who says that the 2nd cyl has stopped firing and that a coil needs to be replaced. $350.00.
Two days after getting it back, I drop my children off at school and two miles down the road the van just completely dies. Acceleration, power steering, EVERYTHING, just dead. I manage to get it off the road and call the mechanic back. He tows it to his shop and after a day tells me that I must have hit a rock, which popped the fuel line off of the fuel pump. Sounded like bullshit to me, but he didn't charge me anything, so I just leave.
On the way home I notice that when I'm first taking off, something is not working correctly. Either the tires are spinning, or the transmission is catching or something... I take it to my cousin, who basically tells me that the transmission needs to be replaced. The thingy in the transmission that turns the axles is not working right, which is causing the tires to spin.
Unable to pay for a new transmission, I've been driving it like this for 2 months now. Every time I take off it shakes, spins, and sounds like the bottom is falling out. I'm now hoping it will last until we've saved enough money for another car, because there is NO WAY I'm fixing this van.
- Dena R., Florence, MS, US
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I bought this van & less than 30 days the transmission broke. I took it back & they "claim" they replaced the transmission but not even a month later the transmission broke again. I took it back they "claim" it was replaced again. Now less than two years later here I am again having to replace the transmission again at my own expense. This car is a piece of garbage. The dealership had to know this car had a real problem but they sold it 2 me anyway. Very very bad investment. Stay far away from these vans.
- jehzara, Rochester, NY, US
This problem came as a complete surprise, the transmission did not give any warning that it was going out, like for example it never slipped, leaked or failed to go when I put it in drive etc. My husband was out of town and I had to run errands. I was driving on the interstate behind a truck going only 55mph in a 70mph speed limit so I got into the passing lane to pass only got up to 65mph and my rpms got higher my speedometer started falling so I heard a loud sound it felt as if I ran over something [ nothing was in front of me] so I got back into the right lane and into the emergency lane it came to a stop not pulling at all. I got out raised the hood checked the fluid, it was full. The temperature outside was over a 100 degrees miserable. To make a long story short I had to wait over an hour for a tow truck to take me to a mechanic which told me to buy a new transmission because if I get a rebuilt one this will probably happen again soon. Cost $2,000.00
- Joyce L., Monterey, TN, US
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Do not buy a Dodge!!!!! They have been selling cars with faulty transmissions for years. I don't know how they get away with this. After reading multiple forums, I realize the transmission in a dodge caravan is substandard and likely will go out before the car is paid off.
- mom23pac, Lexington, KY, US
Well, I have had 5700.00 in repairs done in the last six months. This was definitely the icing on the cake. I am going to sell the car. I will not buy another dodge. But as an interesting side note, I called Chrysler and they took care of the issue and all I had to pay was $50.00. Their reasoning was that because we chose to cover it with the extended warranty, they would help us out. I don't understand, but I am happier.
- Thomas R. B., Hilton Head, SC, US
Driving to work this morning on the freeway doing 65, the engine rpm maxed out and I lost all power. coasted to the side and had it towed to a dealership. received call back, all parts inside the transmission were destroyed and that it would be $3100 to fix!!!
Forget it!! I told them to hold the vehicle there and I going to find another vehicle elsewhere.
- Bob A., Shelbyville, TN, US
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
changed fluid and filter,then the radio won't work the heater won't work the wipers won't work,head lights won't work,parking lights wont work cruse won't work and also the horn quit working all at the same time,when i changed the fluid and filter
- David H., Bertrand, MO, US