2008 Dodge Grand Caravan: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Nov 27, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 160,000 miles · TN

The tmpi on a 20008 dodge grand caravan needs to be recalled. Used car lots are disconnecting the horn and selling the 20008 grand caravan for up to 10,000 dollars to customers who are unaware that any time the caravan will become disabled while driving on any street or highway because the tmpi is faulty and caravan wipers will spray continuously wiper fluid on windshield. ( the horn will blow continuously if not tampered with and disabled. As in this situation with the 20008 dodge grand caravan. Resource '. Customer reviews and complaints filed against dodge chrysler corporations) caravan will not excel over 30 miles an hour. When caravan is finally parked the engine will not turn off. Caravan will not go into drive or reverse. Engine continuously idles while on the back of the wrecker/flatbed with the keys removed and then finally shuts its self off. Another issue.... The used car lot owner will then repossess said vehicle and sell it to another unsuspecting customer who will buy the caravan that needs to be recalled because the cost of said vehicle repair part (tmpi) is $1,080.00 and $115.00 labor cost to fix the repair an hour. Because buyer cannot afford the repair costs and the caravan payments and full coverage insurance ..which does not pay to replace the altered or defective tmpi. Even though there have been recalls on the same identical tmpi part on two other chrysler/dodge vehicles. Note... Battery has to be disconnected while parked.

Filed Aug 5, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 168,000 miles · NC

Tipm completely failed, locking my transmission in "limp mode" and also affecting doors and window controls. While driving on the hywy I loss speed instantly making it necessary to pull onto the median to prevent accident.

Filed Feb 13, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 65,500 miles · IN

I was driving at 45 MPH when suddenly van revved up from 1500 RPM to 3500 RPM, and speed went down to 30 MPH. Somehow I got my car to my work place and parked it. I suspected my transmission had gone bad. I decided to take my car to a transmission shop. I drove the van at 30 MPH at 3500 RPM to the transmission shop. Their technician drove the van around, did some other inspection and reported that there was no problem with my transmission. However he mentioned there was a electrical power loss which made my van go into limp mode. Remarkably my van started driving normally after the inspection. I took my van to authorized dodge dealer. They pulled some codes from the computer which indicated power loss to several equipment. They suspected the tipm module, but did not have hard evidence from the codes. They advised me to leave van overnight at the service area, and have them check it out. I declined because arranging alternate transportation was difficult. Today morning, while driving the van, wiper blade suddenly started running. It stopped on its own after few cycles. Now I am unable to start the van. Reading through forums where drivers have experienced similar issues, I am confident it is the tipm on my van. It is a safety issue, since I drive on the freeway a lot, and if van goes into limp mode, it will be a hazard. Looks like dodge is aware of this issue. Why don't they accept the situation and deal with it by issuing a safety recall and fixing the tipm. Please force dodge to issue recall, else I will need to spend $1000 atleast to fix tipm.

Filed Jul 3, 2014 · Electrical · 76,000 miles · PA

Electrical issues. Upon starring, car wipers will not turn off, windows will not open or close, car does not shift right / bucks, car has difficulty shutting off, the GPS/tv flickers and the cd eject runs constantly even when the car is off. Had it looked at by local non dodge mechanic and was told not to dive it as it was probably the tipm. Called the dealer and described the issue and they gave me a service date of 14 days in the future to even look at the issue. Internet sources say chrysler will need 30 - 60 days to order back ordered part. Its scary to think that some folks would need to drive their car for 2 weeks in this condition before it can even be seen and even longer as they wait for a part. I don't think its safe to drive, if this had failed while driving I would be very concerned.

Filed Jun 26, 2014 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · GA

Since I can't remember the dates of the other incidents I will start with yesterday june 25, 2014. I drove all morning running here and there and everything was fine. I stopped at the post office to mail a package and could not restart the vehicle. The van engine did not even turn over. The dash is blank except for the mileage. I called aaa for a tow and they found that the van was stuck in park and would not budge out of park. So it is still at the post office until we can figure out how to get it out of park. Other issues. A few months ago, in the winter of 2013, the van was in my garage and it would not start. I thought it was the battery and so I turned off the radio and heat and tried it again and it started. This happened every morning with me taking my child to school for about a week. It never did it for my husband. I think I told the dealer about it on my next oil change visit, but they said they can only check it when it is happening. Another time last summer (2013), the horn, and wipers and wiper fluid just started going off by themselves as I tried to start the van. I took the key out and pressed the door open and lock buttons to see if it would stop and it did. I tried to start the van again and it did it again. Repeated the same open and lock procedure and it stopped. I waited a few minutes to start the van and it did not do it again. The following day as I was driving on a busy road, highway 278, it did it again. I had to pull over and I turned off the van did the open and lock button on the key and it stopped. Of course it never repeated for my husband or ever again.

Filed Aug 16, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 70,000 miles · PA

Going high speed, engine suddenly stops, all lights on dash light up, power steering does not function. This happened (3) times last year. I was fortunate enough to be able to pull over on the pa turnpike but was in danger of being hit as I was traveling in the left lane. Car would not restart. Waited 20 minutes and car did initially restart. However, when it restarted, once driven, it would not shift gears--it was stuck in 1st. (automatic transmission) pulled over again. Waited 10 minutes, started driving, and car functioned but "check engine light" was on. Car was taken to dealer immediately. They initially blamed the fob, which I replaced. When this incident happened again a few months later, it was again taken to dealer and since they could not replicate the problem, they said they could not fix it. In july of this year, started this behavior again but now would not restart after the engine cut off. (again traveling high speed) then the engine cut off a day later while only going 40 miles an hour. Took car to the dealer again and they changed the win module. (but tell me that all three electrical system are registering errors) I paid to replace win module, had car for 1 week, went to start it and there was no response. Had car towed to dealership. Replaced starter relay. Picked car up on a wednesday and on thursday, engine shut down on me while doing 20 MPH. Again, would not restart. Car currently at dealership but they claim they have no idea what's wrong. This is a hazard!! I feel I am going to die in this car because someone is going to run into me at high speed when I don't have a engine to get out of the way. My young kids are constantly in this car. Dealership throws up their hands and says "I don't know or care if you die in this vehicle we simply can't fix the problem" I am still paying this car off and can't afford another car!

Filed Jun 4, 2012 · Electrical, Transmission · 80,000 miles · GA

Upon start of vehicle, wipers turned on(switch pos off), washer fluid sprayed(button not pressed), horn sounded (not pressed), could not get it to stop. Started vehicle, continued to do all three, vehicle placed in drive, would not shift out of 1st gear. Shut vehicle off, started again, same things. In days prior to this incident, the vehicle would stall unexpectedly, fortunately while approaching stop sign, or stop light and not on highway, resulted in loss of power steering, and all engine/speed indication. Dodge dealership in valdosta duplicated problems, replaced $500 electrical box. Been two days since repair, no repeats yet.

Filed May 28, 2012 · Electrical · 59,800 miles · IL

Initial symptoms of vehicle involved the horn chirping whenever the car was shifted into park as well as the front windshield wipers going off randomly along with washer fluid spraying. When rear wiper was turned on the front wipers would also come on as well but moved very slow. Symptoms became worse, the passenger sliding door randomly would open on its own and the horn would chirp constantly when car in reverse. The parking lights and tail lights also would stay on and flicker after key removed and light switch off on dash. While taking van to dodge dealership in beloit, wi the check engine light came on, dash lights began to flash randomly and transmission went into limp mode only allowing me to travel at speeds less than 20 MPH. I was advised that I had a faulty tipm (total integrated power module). I was also told that part is on back order and both bryden dealership/dodge corporation are unable to provide a date when the part would be available. I have contacted dodge directly and was able to get a rental car at dodge's expense even though vehicle is not under warranty anymore. They obviously are aware that this is a problem since I was advised by a third party parts supplier that over 600 of these are on back order with no eta on part availability. The worst part of this is not knowing when the part will be available and that so many people are being affected I don't understand how this part can be so scarce when this is one of the most popular vans on the road today.

Filed Apr 13, 2012 · Electrical, Visibility · 24,000 miles · DC

Just after parking van the electrical system went crazy. The front wipers started wiping, the wiper fluid deployed, the horn sounded. I turned off car and removed the key. Everything continued to run. At a loss I got back in, turned it on and drove it out of the garage where the noise wouldn't be so loud. Again I removed the key. I popped the hood, thinking if all else fails, I could pull the battery. I saw the fuse box by the battery (I have since looked up that it is the tipm) and I smacked it hard with my palm. The car shut up. Several months later it did a similar behavior, again while not moving. Still several months after that it did it again, this time while I was driving. Wipers, horn, washer fluid whole deal. I managed to pull over and safely stop the car. Before I could get out the car stopped its behavior. Since then I have also had other electrical problems, horn attempting to sound on its own, but no wipers, transmission in "limp mode" where it won't get out of second gear, and front blower motor intermittently running/not running. Often stopping car and opening door, and restarting car fixes it, but more recently not so much. I reported first incident to dealer, but they found nothing. I have reported further incidents and now that I am out of warranty they are advising me it is the tipm (fuse box) and replacement cost is $800 and it may not fix my problem. Because it is intermittent they claim not to be able to diagnose themselves. I would hate to have the wiper horn fluid combo happen on the highway. Can be dangerous.

Filed Aug 5, 2010 · Electrical · 27,700 miles · IA

2008 gr. Caravan - electrical/computer issue. Events - nothing consistent (so far) symptoms: intermittent issue, not able to recreate. W/ or w/o key in ignition, horn will blare, dummy lights appear, wipers (frnt/back) turn on, fluid squirts, no A/C fan (frnt only). Will stop after several minutes, normally. Remove battery cbl and wait, seems to allow reset. Next time start van, engine light (no codes found). Will go off after 2 drive cycles. Sometimes transmission will not shift out of 1st gear. Turn off and restart, seems to resolve that issue. Owned van 8 weeks, this has occurred 5 times spread out over that period. Two instances of 5, the ABS system initiated while driving (same other symptoms w/horn wiper at the same time, seem to be related). Caused unexpected driving behavior when that occurred (brakes kicked in automatically and transmission tried to downshift). Diagnosis: dealer has replaced horns, since they burned out (no tools to pull battery cabl). Searched codes (none stored). Says, I have to bring it in when I'm experiencing issue:( started in june '10 and has occurred sporadically since. Last incident 8/4/10. Occurred multiple times..

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Electrical, Transmission · 14,154 miles · CA

2008 dodge grand caravan the car dies while driving,occasionally won't shift after dying and restarting. All warning lights go on and sometimes stay on or flash on and off. Have returned to dealership several times and they can't find anything wrong with it. Also had sliding doors open on their own had that fixed then they wouldn't close with back access button, apparently caused by a loose wire had that repaired, then rear bumper warped so back door wouldn't open, had to take it in to have that fixed, basically my car is in for repair most of the time and I have a small rental of which this time I had to pay for a cracked windshield and it costs me 50.00 every time I have to rent one. I have 4 special needs children who have appointments up to 300 miles away from home. I am a single mom and traveling alone with my children and no longer feel safe driving with them for these distances. The las time the car died I also had two foster children with me, six kids and the car died while driving it and they can't find anything wrong with it so I bring it home sometimes with 200 miles added on it and an empty gas tank. I think it's time chrysler corp. Take the vehicle off my hands so I can purchase a reliable vehicle.

Filed Jun 20, 2008 · Electrical, Transmission · 4,085 miles · VA

2008 dodge grand caravan transmission went into limp mode and was stuck in gear and would not shift. I had to exit to side of road, shut vehicle off and then restart. Vehicle started shifting but then engine light came on along with a burning smell. Dealership looked at vehicle and cleared codes and reprogrammed PCM. Dealer stated codes were related to transmission.