NHTSA Complaint #10030406 — 1994 DODGE CARAVAN

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON OUR 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITHOUT ANY WARNING - THE VAN IS JUST UNDER 9 YEARS OLD AND HAD 86292 MILES. IT HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND IS MAINTAINED IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. IT IS USED TO COMMUTE TO WORK AND AS A FAMILY CAR WITHOUT ANY TOWING OR HEAVY LOADS. REGULAR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND CHECKUP HAS BEEN PERFORMED WITH LAST ONE BEFORE THE FAILURE AT 72456 MILES. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AT THIS SERVICE, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE TAKEN APPROPRIATE ACTION. THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN AN OFFICE UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN MY WIFE TRIED TO PARK IT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR ON A BUSY STREET AND COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO HER SAFETY AND TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. I RESEARCHED INTO THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A LOT OF CHRYSLER/DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS. I EVEN TALKED TO FRIENDS AND PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ARE CARAVAN OWNERS AND SEVERAL TOLD ME IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS BUT CHRYSLER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. FAILURES EVEN HAPPEN AT LOWER MILEAGE THAN MY VAN AND TO OLDER MODELS. REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS ARE ALSO KNOWN TO FAIL WITH LOW MILEAGE IN SEVERAL CASES THAT I CAME ACROSS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER ON THIS MATTER AND THE RIDICULOUS COST OF $2500 THAT I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE. THE DEALER THAT CHECKED THE PROBLEM ON MY VAN FOUND THAT THERE WERE 4 PROBLEMS FOUND INCLUDING WORN OUT CLUTCHES AND HE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. CHRYSLER INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME BUT THEY MAY HAVE ONE LATER ON. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS WITH A BETTER DESIGNED ONE FOR THE SAKE OF SAFETY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.