2016 Dodge Grand Caravan: harsh or hard shifting

Filed May 21, 2026 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the vehicle experienced hard shifting while changing gears with no warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle experienced high engine revving and increased RPMs unexpectedly with no warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to accelerate on several occasions with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired . The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired . The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

Filed Oct 7, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · LA

Today, I was driving my van to work, and I stopped at a stop sign, went to go, and the van made a horrible clunk noise and wouldn't drive. I shifted through the gears, and each one made the van shake hard. I purchased this van 2 weeks ago from a used car lot. Earlier today, the check engine light came on, which I planned on going check it when I got off work. I had a mobile diagnostic worker come check it out, and he told me it was my transmission. I contacted the lot where I bought it, and am waiting to get it towed back there. This was dangerous because it stopped driving at a stop sign, and I didn't know what to do. I had to flag traffic to go around and wait for people to come help me push it out of the way of traffic. I am a single mother with a three year old.

Filed Dec 31, 2024 · Suspension, Transmission · MO

Was driving home from work (on city streets) and noticed that the engine seemed to be idling higher than normal RPMs. Van would not shift from first gear and would not accelerate beyond about 30 MPH, very sluggish, while RPMs rose above 3K and engine made a grinding/whining sound. No warning lights of any kind came on while driving or while stopped. While stopped at a traffic light, heard several loud clunks from under the hood and van had difficulty accelerating from stop. Was able to get it to the shop where they diagnosed transmission failure - the mechanics couldn't get it out of first gear by the time they were done looking at it and had to push it off the lift. Total cost of a remanufactured transmission plus new hubs and axles because they couldn't get the old ones removed without damaging them to remove/replace the transmission was $5600. Van has 128,000 miles.

Filed Nov 11, 2024 · Transmission · TX

My family was in the vehicle driving on the hwy in town and suddenly the car revved all the way up to 5000 rpms and would not shift out of first gear. When my husband shifted the car from drive to reverse to park the transmission made a loud clunking noise and hard jerking motion, the check engine light came on. There were no warning signs or lamps. this happened all within 30 seconds of driving down the highway. Since the vehicle would not shift out of first gear our safety was put at risk being we were on a major hwy and unable to gain speed or move out of way of traffic.

Filed Jan 18, 2023 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH and slowing for a traffic signal, the vehicle downshifted with an abnormal clunking sound. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal the RPM was fluctuating with an abnormal sound before the vehicle started to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and codes P083B, P0868, P084B, and P0944 were retrieved. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train). The contact stated that the failure was reoccurring. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The contact stated that the transmission failed while on the road and required towing to the dealer. Since the cost of the repair was nearly equal to the value of the vehicle, the contact ended up trading it in.

Filed Aug 30, 2021 · Transmission · CA

My 2016 dodge van began to lose power while i was on the freeway. While changing gears it was hesitant and would stall and lose power going from the second to the third gear. It appears the RPMs would go past 4 then the gear would change but with less power. Then the check engine light came on. Various times while i was stopped at a light upon acceleration the car would turn off. I took it down to the repair shop for the computer analyzation and was told to change the ignition coils and spark plugs and any and all air filters and check the sensors. The Performance did improve and I discovered the engine mounts were all in need of repair and that was the cause of the transmission stalling. I had those repaired and now the gears work fine. And now after spending quite a bit of money notice another issue. When I am getting out of my drive way and go from Reverse then stop to Drive there is a stall and the transmission does a clunk sound before it changes gear to drive. It very dangerous due to the fact that the gear stall and if the drive gear does not kick it any passing car may hit my van