1996 Dodge Caravan: jerking or lurching

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Suspension · OH

I took ownership of my used 1996 dodge grand caravan in 2000, and since then have replaced minor mechanical failures such as the starter, water pump, serpentine belt, tires (twice), wiper blades, bulbs, brakes (twice) as well as the rotors. At present I am dealing with the following problems: peeling paint, wipers engaging and not going off even though they are not turned on, hard jerks every now and again (possibly from transmission), and the breakage of a stabilizer bar bushing in the front suspension.

Filed Jan 7, 2002 · Transmission · KY

While driviing vehicle gives a very hard jerk, took to dealer, transmission has been replaced three times. Please provide any further informaiton.

Filed Mar 20, 2001 · Transmission · PA

Transmission slows down if you accelerate to quickly, also jerks and engine check light comes on. Shuts off during warm days. Very poor design of vehicle.

Filed May 19, 2000 · Engine · MD · crash

Was pulling out of parking lot when vehicle jerked hard in driver's hand. Lost control & hit a curb. Towed vehicle to dealership & mechanic discovered that tensioner wheel broke, and serpentine belt fell off. Also, mounts to side of motor & shaft had broken in half. Tensioner wheel needed to be replaced.

Filed Mar 13, 2000 · Brakes, Transmission · MD

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

Filed Jan 3, 2000 · Acceleration, Transmission · NY

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

Filed Sep 29, 1999 · Transmission · GA

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

Filed Jun 21, 1999 · Steering, Transmission · CA · crash

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).

Filed Aug 5, 1998 · Transmission · MO

Had pulled into station. Restarted vehicle & was shifting into gear when vehicle jerked. The transmission fluid leaked out. Will be taking vehicle to dealer. *ak

Filed May 24, 1996 · Fuel system · MA

Vehicle lurches forward followed by deceleration/stalling problem continues after several repair attmepts.