8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,290
Average Mileage:
75,500 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. replaced entire transmission (3 reports)
  3. transmission replaced due to extensive damage (3 reports)
  4. dealer replaced torque converter, front trans pump, clutch pack & seals (1 reports)
2002 Dodge Caravan transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Dodge Caravan Owner Comments

problem #11

Sep 172016

Caravan SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,992 miles

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

Van was working top notch until today. It went into drive but reved up to 4000 rpms at 80 klms in town about 2000 rpms, works perfect in all other gears but drive...van is in perfect condition other then this

- la cabs, Trenton, NS, Canada

problem #10

Jun 182011

Caravan SE 3.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

this car almost cost me my whole life and my families. we were trying to merge in to a highway when suddenly, i noticed a cling noise, then a grinding one. then all of a sudden i started to rapidly slow down. i thought that i had put the car in nuetral and had damaged the engine. so at the time of that happening, there was a huge truck comming towards us, but thank goodness the car went on the side of the shoulder.

when i took it to the shop they looked at every thing and said it was ok. BUT, when they took a look at the trans they saw that it had dissolved compleataly. the gears were turned in to a powder and they said that it also damaged the inside were it connects to the shaft to drive the weels. it cost me over 5,000 dollars.I WILL NEVER BUY THIS CRAP AGIAN!!!!

- jonway g., Eugene, OR, US

problem #9

Jan 232011

Caravan 3.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

This is my 3rd Dodge And 3rd transmission problem .I will never buy another and would like to tell others don't walk away from buying a dodge run like hell.. They all break down they should outlaw them ..

- jhorn, Orlando, FL, US

problem #8

Dec 222009

Caravan EC 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

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

Chronice problem with the gas gauge flucuating up and down fuel light coming on and off! Engine light intermittent problem on and off since dec 22, 2009 effecting the tranny to where it wont go ount of 1st gear and sometimes stays in neuntal and now we can't even drive it, it wont engage into any gear! There was a popping noise when putting it into drive. The shiffting square digital light on and off! The drivers side front disc brakes prematurely wearing out to metal on metal , excessive brake dust coating the front rims daily!

- melissaca, Moreno Valley, CA, US

problem #7

Jan 182006

Caravan Sport 3.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

I also had 2 transmissions placed in my 2002 caravan sport. The 1st in 2006 at 72,000 miles and the second summer of 2008 2yrs later. We are now in December of 2009, my warranty is over and the transmission is going out again. Don't buy a Dodge.

- legend, Yeadon, PA, US

problem #6

Aug 262006

Caravan SE 3.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 169,941 miles

my damm tranny goe out you never know one day my gf at the time picked our kids from my grandpernts. my gf at the time called me and told me that the p.o.s. wouldnt shift form park. mygrand dad broke his arm the van transmission goes out every 1000 miles. i am tired of this sh*t having me and my wife and our famly on the road p.o.s. i told my wife its time to get a nisssan and trade this sh*t in it sits on its big fat ass iam goging to scrap this sh*t for monye for our new car and dogshit tells us justn drive it utill it blows up i said helllllllllll naw i still pay carnotes for this pos ido not want it they can have they sh*t i dont give a shiit just get a new car!!!!!!!!!!! NOT MADE BUY DOG SH*T LCC

Update from Dec 15, 2010: dont have the car have a new car like a said a nissan purrs likke a kitten chrysler cant harm me any more paid mother f*ckers off

- Devin C., orange county, califonia, US

problem #5

Jan 152004

(reported on)

Caravan

  • 40,000 miles

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

The problem I am having with my transmission is exactly the same as Jeff A. was having.

- jimh, Beverly, MA, US

problem #4

Feb 022007

(reported on)

Caravan V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles

Bought 2002 van in 2004 with 46,000 miles. Transmission failed and local Dodge dealership repaired it for $100 deductible. Now at $99,000 miles it has failed again. Two transmissions in less than 100k miles. Still trying to find some way to fix it without paying $2,000 + First and last Dodge I'll ever buy. Too bad - otherwise OK vehicle.

- Darrell T., Richards, TX, US

problem #3

Jul 102006

(reported on)

Caravan Sport

  • 37,003 miles

My wife attempted to drive the vehicle home from her parents' house one afternoon. Upon starting the vehicle and shifting it into drive, she pressed the gas pedal to be rewarded with a clunk, followed by a lurch and the sound of lots of metal grinding. The transmission then disengaged from the engine. No other coaxing could get it to re-engage. The vehicle was towed (at our expense) to the closest dealership. They proceeded to claim that the vehicle was out of warranty (the bumper to bumper expired at 3 years, over 8 months before it made 36K miles) however, this vehicle included DCXs 7 year, 100K mile powertrain warranty with $100 deductible. It took a while to get them to remember that promotion. They took the vehicle in and looked at the transmission.

They then called me at a later date, apparently with chunks of gears in their hands and claimed that the transmission was abused and uncared for. I pointed out to them that the vehicle is a minivan, driven by my wife, with my three small children (all under 4 at the time) inside it most of the time to and from the store and the day-care for the kids. I then reminded them that, if they checked their own records, it would show that they had replaced all the solenoids, the fluid, seals, and a clutch pack in the tranmission less then 20K miles before that from a previous trip to the dealership with a transmission that wouldn't shift out of 2nd.

Once they verified the original repair job, they apologized and replaced the transmission and billed us the $100 deductible. The transmission has not acted up since then, though, the CEL lit up a month ago without generating any codes in the computer.

- Joel H., Kenner, LA, US

problem #2

Jun 162004

(reported on)

Caravan ES

  • 16,500 miles

Took nine days and only reimbursed up to 150 of rental. Currently, the steering wheel locks and the abs light came on cause a cable snapped windshield wipers are constantly crossing after 3 complete replacements and it seems like nothing ever is covered under warrenty I have 32000 miles on it now and I also have had to deal with bad factory battery and brakes.

- Melody M., Pearland, TX, US

problem #1

Nov 082003

(reported on)

Caravan LE

  • 21,000 miles

while sitting at stoplight i took off and turned right. van gave two large shuddering lunges and the transmission quit completely. i was able to coax it into a parking lot and get it parked. my dealer picked up next day. would not give me a loaner. called on wed and said vehicle would be ready. replaced front transmission pump and clutch pack plus various seals and gaskets. called back on wed and said he was going to have to give me a loner because they found the torque converter was bad also and couldn't get me one for a few days. picked up a Dodge Stratus on wed for a loaner. it has the same cruise control that mine has and found that one side of my cruise control apparently does not work at all.

after reading many letters on internet i find that i had a problem with this transmission from date of delivery. every once in awhile it would feel as though I was losing traction with the tires when leaving a stoplight and making a turn. it also had a slight feel of driving over a rumble strip every once in awhile. these are both common problems to the 4 speed automatic transmission. what is worse this is apparently a reoccurring problem and I suspect it will go out again. I bought the 7 yr/70,000 mile warranty so I expect I will keep it until it goes again, have it repaired and trade it. if it does not go out before 70,000 miles I will trade it before I get to the end of the warranty. other than this, van has been a very good vehicle.

- Ken V., Rome, OH, US

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