NHTSA Complaint #10103065 — 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 42,000 MILES. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHUDDER, TSB 18-05-94. I HAD BROUGHT THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDER TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION STARTING AT AROUND 32,000 MILES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY RE-FLASHED THE COMPUTER, ETC. VAN WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER TWICE BEFORE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED. BROUGHT THE VAN BACK AT 37,000 MILES TO COMPLAIN AGAIN AND DEALER PROCEEDED TO TELL US THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY PRIOR COMPLAINT REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, THEREFORE THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE US TO RE-FLASH THE TRANSMISSION. (I WILL NEVER LOSE OR THROW AWAY ANY WARRANTY RELATED RECEIPTS AGAIN). AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH AND GETTING NOWHERE WE PAID THE RE-FLASH FEE AND ONCE AGAIN THE THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THEN AT ABOUT 42,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. THIS AFTER THE DEALER TOLD US ON A MINIMUM OF 4 OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. AFTER SOME "POLITE" NEGOTIATION I GOT THE DEALER TO COVER HALF OF THE $1300.00 REPAIR COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PUMP. OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T COVER THE FLATBED & RENTAL CAR EXPENSES. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AND I HAD DRIVEN MOST OF THEM WELL OVER 100,000 MILES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW CHRYSLER CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS. WITH ALL OF THE DISGRUNTLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMERS ON THE INTERNET I CAN'T BELEIVE THE NHTSA ISN'T INVESTIGATING THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. WHO IS PAYING OFF WHO?*AK