NHTSA Complaint #10086403 — 1995 DODGE CARAVAN

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 350 MILES BACK FROM A TRIP, TRANSMISSION FAILED. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP (THIS WAS NOT A SUDDEN STOP). I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES. I HAD TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE PRIOR TO THIS DURING THE TRIP. WHILE IN IDLE, THERE WAS NO GRINDING NOISE. WHEN WE STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHIFT AND STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS ONLY 67,000 MILE ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER CHARGED ALMOST $3,000 TO PUT IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THE SERVICE SHOP WAS VERY RUDE. WHEN ASKED IF IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND IF THIS WAS THE KIND OF QUALITY ONE COULD EXPECT FROM DODGE, THE SERVICEMAN SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW AND ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T CARE. HE SAID TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER IF I WASN'T HAPPY. WHEN I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER, THE PERSON I TALKED TO ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T CARE AND BASICALLY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED PROPERLY. I TOLD HIM THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN CHANGED JULY 1ST. HE TOLD ME THAT IF I BROUGHT IT TO PLACES LIKE JIFFY LUBE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED OR IF I BROUGHT IT TO OTHER PLACES FOR MAINTENANCE THAT THEY DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB AND DID NOT DO IT PROPERLY. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NONE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD AN AIR SENSOR GO OUT (WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE STUCK IN SECOND GEAR). THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT NOW WHINES WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK