Transmission cannot hold or will disengage when the car is on a hill grade when set in park.
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission complaints
Page 5 of 8: complaints 101 to 130 of 208, newest first, as owners wrote them.
When starting vehicle in first 5 minutes vehicle would not shift into gear. Soon afterward vehicle would travel normal. *ak the original transmission failed at 20,233 miles and the second one failed at 53,167 miles. The transmissions needed complete teardown, reseal and a new torque converter.
Replaced complete air condition system, front and rear, transmission, fuel injection, cv joints, fuel tank leaks, the list goes on and on.
Right before vehicle shifts into overdrive there is a jerky motion. Dealer cannot find problem, at 40 -45 MPH. Also, transmission has to be rebuilt, and airbag light stays on. Dealer says it's due to an open circuit, brakes replaced twice, rotors replaced. *ak the consumer had transmission problems numerous times. Noise in engine while driving due to serpentin belt and tensioner failure.
When pulling into driveway driveshaft broke. Had it repaired first time it happened. Then was backing out of parking space, driveshaft broke again. Each time it was at low speed. Mechanic could not find the cause of the breakage each time. Was towed to dealership each time.
Transmission failed while driving through busy city intersection. After having the vehicle towed to the dealer, I asked the service manager is this is a common problem in caravans. He said no, but he had seen it happen. Cost of repair: $1507.63. When I questionned this, he said I should have purchased an extended warranty for the transmission.
Transmission gear cracked and teeth broke off. Van now moves in park. Also occasional gear jams and van jerks to a stop while moving from 1 to 10 MPH.
How can radical failures like this go on unaddressed? Chrysler is satisfied to sell cars that fail as long as they don't get sued. The problem is not new and is very frequent.
When the gear shift was placed into the "park" position, the transmission remained in neutral; when put into the "reverse" position, the transmission went into drive. It would not go into park or reverse.
The transmission failed prematurely.
The car currently has been in a sjop specializing in transmissions defying all attempts to restore the second transmission installed january, 1999. The mechanics are at a total loss to explain why a simple thing like a transmission failed prematurely in january, 1999 and has been effectively destroyed by something unidentifiable now. The second transmission failed on august 3, 2000 and the vehicle has been inoperable to this writing. The car would stop at high speed in highways trapping me and my children in the middle of high speed traffic, lietrally terrorizing me and my children. This would happen aften and the first sign of trouble occurred early whne the column-mounted shift would without warning pop out of gear, leaving the car either in neutral or with the engine turning off. All this was very troubling but chrysler said it was "normal." that summarizes my experience with this totally dangerously unreliable vehicle. The only thing that hasn't failed has been the exhaust system. I was told that I or any passengers or other drivers (my older children drive) could have died if the gas ignited when I found the discharge of gas as indicated by the rapidly dropping gas gauge into the engine creating an incredibly noxious odor of gasoline in the passenger compartment alerting me to the potential hazard. Chrysler subsequently issued two recalls on this failed fuel system. I have just received another- this at four years old. Clearly chrysler knows a lot more about this dangerous, deadly vehicle than it is admitting through these recalls and I am ripping mad. Thanks for your attention. *ak( dot number: )
Rear carrier weld broke, causing vehicle to surge forward when applying accelerator, and transmisson did not go into gear. Dealer has replaced the transmission.
Complete transmission overhaul and TCM replacement, vehicle would not shift out of first gear.
Transmission shifts from into neutral itself while driving. Multiple incidents, dealer claims ignorance.
Heading out on vacation, cruising along the interstate at 70 MPH, when the transmission shifted itself into neutral. Crossed multiple lanes of high speed traffic to the shoulder. Stopped, inspected, restarted all was well for about two hundred feet. Car went into "limp mode". Limped back to the dealer. Verdict: new tranny required. Cost: $2475 (not including the 8.5% sales tax). After moments on the internet, discovered this is a rampant problem with these vehicles. We're angry that we were endangered by a well known problem. A serious problem which should be the subject of a recall.
The tackometer and speedometer flatlined to 0 then returned to normal, the horn and cruise control, have stopped working and the airbag light stays on most of the time. The transmission had a total failure in the highway and had to be rebuilt. The wipers occasionally come on by themselves and cycle a couple of times and then stop and occasionally stop in the middle of the windshield (this has been tothe dealer in madison heights, va several times for repair under warranty, but not since the warranty expired. The left speakers on the sound suystem periodically go off and on while the system is on. The starter went out and had to be replaced the end of june, 2000.
While driving the tackometer and speedometer flat lined to zero. Also, transmission indicator light went out. Consumer shut engine off and restarted vehicle. Air bag warning light remained illuminated/ horn and cruise control were inoperable. Please give any further details.
Transmission locked into 2nd gear. I was told by chrysler that it was out of warranty, therefore all repairs were our responsibility. There are numerous incidents on the internet that point out that this is a defective transmission. I believe that chrysler should pay for the repair.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Windshield wipers still engage by themselves originally repaired 05/99. Transmission went out at30904 miles. Airbag light came on and horn stopped working had to replace click spring. Car stall while driving said it needed tune-up. When using AC or driving in rain and making a turn steering gets stiff and cannot control. Interior lights flash dealer could not duplicate. Power door locks lock and unlock by themselves. Had to replace axle due to it being bent when new transmission was put in. Had to get new tires because axle threw off balance. Keep replacing batteries. Drove car for 10 minutes and fan came on and stayed on after car was turned off.
Air conditioner/evaporator/condensor failed. Est cost to fix $1000. Transmission failed. Was fixed. Cost $2,300.
Child shifted gear out of park without engine running or applying brakes, and vehicle ran over another child. *ak the vehicle went into gear without the engine running because there was no safety feature to prevent it.
Upon applying gas from a dead stop, van began making a harsh grinding sound and wouldn't move. Van was towed to chrysler dealer who said the output shaft had snapped. Transmission had to be replaced.
Noticed hesitation during highway driving. Mechanic reports transmission is pulling apart and would need to be rebuilt or replace w/in 6 mos.
This is my second dodge gr. Caravan to drop a transmission at 71,000 mile mark and I insist that dodge reimburse me the $1711.82 it cost me to repair it......I have all invoices on the repairs.
Hesitates when put into gear, also slips while driving, causing much fear. The speedometer also goes up and down at will, even when driving a steady speed. Has been to the dealer three times now, and they have yet to locate the problem. This is causing much aggravation for our family.
Transmission went out, and it wouldn't change gears. Consumer stated that dealer was very rude and of no assistance.
Coolant gauge, tach,and speedometer all flatline at same time and return intermittently, air bag warning light stays on and horn and cruise control stopped working at same time. Drivers side sliding door lock works when it wants to. Windshield wipers work when they want to when it is cold outside. No fuel leaks until recall repair made then leak developed when tank filled ( dealer fixed). Radio does not switch from am to fm unless button pushed 3 or 4 times. Just one big electrical lemon.
While driving about 60mph engine cut off without warning. Mechanic said transmission needed to be replaced.
Pedestal holding the rocker arm broke causing rocker arm shaft to break, also the transmission has broken this is still a new vehicle and these two items should not have broken the rocker arm and pedestal should not have broken I fill this is a design defect because of the way it broke and could have caused serious problems are damages. I also would like for this to be looked into. The local dealer told me that.
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