1996 DODGE CARAVAN Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO INTO REVERSE ON TWO OCCASIONS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IT WORKED PROPERLY. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THE CODES NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED PROPERLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. HOWEVER, THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

TRANSMISSION AT 91,000 MILES ESSENTIALLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. CHYSLER REFUSED TO HELP ME I ALSO HAD TO CALL THEM BACK TO BE INFORMED OF THE DENIAL. I ASKED FOR THE NAME AND NUMBER OF THE ZONE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD I COULD ONLY GET THAT FROM THE DEALER. TOM ADDIS DODGE REFUSE TO IDENTIFY THE ZONE MANAGER OR GIVE ME HIS NUMBER. I WAS THEN INFORMED THE ZONE MANAGER DOES NOT TALK TO CUSTOMERS, AND UNLESS I COULD PRODUCE RECIEPTS FOR ROUTINE MAINTANCE FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNERS (WHO I CANNOT IDENTIFY) THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION, EVEB IF I HAD THAT PROOF I WAS TOLD DUE TO THE MILEAGE THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE. I ASKED TO SEE THIER TSB'S AND THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO ALLOW ME ACCESS TO THEM, STATING SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY MOTIVE TO READ THEM.*AK

VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS BREACHED BY A DRIVE PIN WHICH WAS COMING LOOSE FROM THE ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

AS A PRECAUTION TO OTHER DRIVERS.MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN 125000 MILES,UPON LEAVING A PARKING LOT AFTER A HIGHWAY SPEED AND CITY SPEED TRIP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD.A POLICE OFFICER WAVED ME TO STOP.UPON INSPECTION OF THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WE FOUND THE OUTER TIE ROD JOINT BROKE SEPERATING AT THE BALL SOCKET CAUSING THE WHEEL TO NOT MOVE WITH THE STEERING.BY THE GRACE OF GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE WAY WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD.WE WERE ABLE THE CHANGE THE TIE OUTER TIE ROD SO WE COULD RETURN HOME.THE OTHER DRIVER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AS A PRECAUTION.IS THERE A RECALL ABOUT THESE TIE RODS? THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM A AFTERMARKET PARTS STORE APPEAR HEAVY DUTY COMPARED TO THE ORIGINALS.THE ORIGINAL PART SHOWED WEAR ON THE BALL ASWELL AS THE SOCKET.THE REPACEMENT PART HAS A GREASE FITTING TO LUBE THE JOINT AND...

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WOULDN'T REVERSE. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FILLER NECK FRONT SEAL. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *

MY TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN ON A HIGHWAY NO WARNING AND I ALMOST GOT KILL, SPEEDING CARS BEHIND ME. MY OLD TRANS IN A 92 DODGE CARAVAN BROKE DOWN 3 TIMES AND IT COST ME 9,000 AND NOW MY 96 DODGE CARAVAN THE TRANS BROKE AND I DO NT WANT TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SO I AM PLANNING TO SEW DODGE FOR NOT WARNING ON THE TRANS PROBLEM AND THE NEW MODELS RE NOT BETTER THEN THE OLD, AND I HAVE PROOF THAT SELF DESTRUCT, IN BAD WEATHERS OR OUT OF NO WHERE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-35 MPH VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL SHAFT NOT BEING PROPERLY BOLTED AT THE FACTORY. AS A RESULT, IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE HOUSING. *AK THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS BREACHED BY A DRIVE PIN THAT HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE ASSEMBLY. *SC

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC REPLACED SPEED SENSOR.*AK

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. *NLM

THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE COVER IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND THE TENSIONER BEARING HAD FALLEN APART. THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE SHIFT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS TO GET THE SHIFT UP. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS COLD, IT WOULD DELAY ENGAGING IN REVERSE FROM PARK. SCC *JB

TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCING 2ND GEAR SLIPPAGE CAUSING HESITATION AND DEGRADED ACCELERATION WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ENTERING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC.

WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN HAS FAILED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. IT WAS REPLACED ONCE IN 1997 AT 7,000 MILES BY CHRYSLER. IT WAS RECONDITIONED IN 2000 AT 56,000 MILES BY CHRYSLER. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE AT 81,000 MILES IN DECEMBER OF 2002. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND REFUSES TO PERFORM ANY "GOOD WILL" REPAIRS.

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS. ALSO AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT IT HESITATED WHEN MOVING INTO THE REVERSE GEAR THEN ABRUPTLY ENGAGED. *PH *NLM

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION "BLEW UP". TS

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE THE REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I HAVE REVIEWED ALOT OF WEBSITES AND IT SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THIS MODEL OF CAR. SOME COULD HAVE LED TO ACCIDENTS, WHILE OUR CAR SO FAR INVOLVES ONLY TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKEAGE AND OCCASIONAL NOISE. BUT, I AM AFRAID THIS MAY BE PRELUDE TO A FULL FAILURE. IT SEEMS PRUDENT TO CONSIDER A GENERAL RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THERE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE INTERNET. EVEN OUR AUTO MECHANIC WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED THAT WE COMPLAIN TO THE DEALER AND SEE IF THEY WOULD BE NICE ENOUGH TO HONOR SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION!*JB

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE SUDDENLY.TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PREVIOUSLY; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT AROUND 45000 MILES, AND THE SECOND WAS AROUND 55000 MILES. I HAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNING ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON. THERE IS A LOUD WIND NOISE UNDER THE CAR WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 29000 MILES WHEN WE PURCHASED IT, AND IT HAS CAUSED US GRIEF EVER SINCE. WE CANNOT TRADE IT IN, AND GET WHAT ITS WORTH, BECAUSE OF THESE AWFUL DEFECTS, NOR DO WE WANT TO PUT OUR CHILDREN IN JEOPARDY. I CANNOT DRIVE OUT OF MY LOCAL AREA BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF THE VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT OF DRIVE, KEEPS KICKING OUT OF GEARS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT OF DRIVE AND KICKS OUT OF GEARS.*AK *YH

TRANSMISSION BREAKDOWN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS INFERIOR MATERIAL USED IN THE PIN, THE CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND FOR REPAIRS AND OTHER EXPENSES. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. WHEELS WERE DRAGGING LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO PULL. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK *YH

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, NO HORN OR CRUISE CONTROL. A FEW DAYS LATER I READ ABOUT CHRYSLER MINIVANS BEING INVESTIGATED BECAUSE OF FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLIES. AFTER READING THAT, I CALLED OUR DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. NONE! THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. NO AIRBAG, NO HORN MEANS DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. AFTER READING THROUGH 96 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART ON YOUR WEBSITE, I THOUGHT I WOULD ADD MY COMPLAINT. CHRYSLER PAID FOR OUR NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT WE HAD TO PAY LABOR. ALSO PAID FOR THE NEW ELECT. FOR AC KNOB.*AK

CONSUMER, WITHOUT WARNING, SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, AND VEHICLE SHOOK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN.*AK

SECOND FAILURE AT 83,310 MILES ON 2/1/02 AT 65-75MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.

TRANSMISSION BREAKDOWN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS INFERIOR MATERIAL USED IN THE PIN, THE CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR A REFUND FOR REPAIRS AND OTHER EXPENSES. *YH

THE NORN DOES NOT WORK/ CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON EVERY TIME YOU TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT! WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF WHEN THEY PLEASE, WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 68,000 MILES, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE CANNOT PASS INSPECTION AT OUR MILITARY BASE OVERSEAS UNTIL THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS FIXED!*AK

SHEAR PIN PULLED OUT AND GOT CAUGHT IN SPIDER GEARS. THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION AND REAR END TO GO OUT ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WHEN I START TO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION TAKES A LITTE TIME TO GET SPEED THEN WHEN I AM STOPPING AND I ONLY HAVE LIKE ABOUT 5 MILES TO GO TO A COMPLETE STOP I FEEL LIKE IF THE VAN WANTS TO CONTINUE TO RUN OR FOR ME IS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION AND I HEARD THAT ALL DODGE CARAVANS GETS DAMAGE FROM THE TRANSMOTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHICH IS THE LIST OF RECALL FROM THE MY DODGE CARAVAN PLEASE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT AT ANY MPH TRANSMISSION COULD DECELERATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVIING VEHICLE GIVES A VERY HARD JERK, TOOK TO DEALER, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAITON.*AK

IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING AND ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. NONE OF WARNING INDICATING LIGHTS CAME ON AS VEHICLE HESITATED TO CUT OFF. NO CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE TO DEALER.*AK

IN SECOND FAILURE TRANSMISSION--AND FRONT WHEELS--LOCKED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT (SPEED ABOUT 5MPH) IN THE CENTER OF AN INTERSECTION. *AK

1. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, HORN QUIT WORKING. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS THE CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. 2. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON - COMPUTER CODE INDICATES THIS IS A COIL PACK FAILURE. 3. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 55,000 MI. 4. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON FOR NO REASON 5. A/C FREON CHARGE AT 98,000 6. WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 98,000

CLOCKSPRING "BROKE" AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HORN/CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK . REPLACED, BUT SAME SYMPTOMS ARE HAPPENING AGAIN. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. I FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SO MANY MINIVANS MADE BY CHRYSLER.

MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES THIS VAN WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM, AND USUALLY IT OCCURS FROM COLD START, BUT HAS ALSO OCCURRED OVER 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. ALSO LOST TRANSMISSION SENSOR AND THAT KILLED CAR WHILE DRIVING BUT HAS BEEN REPLACED. CHRYSLER IS NOT HELPING AND I AM NERVOUS DRIVING MY KIDS IN THIS VAN. HAD IT 2 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN STRANDED MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES. NOTICED OTHERS WITH SIMILAR UNSAFE SITUATIONS AND HOPE CHRYSLER WILL ADDRESS THEM SOON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION WITH A BANG IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. LATER, FOUND OUT THAT TRANSMISSION HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF SITUATION WHICH HAD NOT BEEN SOLVED. *AK CONSUMER IS REQUSTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING, RENTAL CAR, MOTEL, AND REPAIR EXPENSES. AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *SLC

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. WHEN I SHFTED INTO REVERSE TO PULL BACK INTO THE PARKING SPOT AND CALL FOR HELP, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD THUNK AND THE TIRES LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. *AK

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. REPAIR SHOP SAYS THE ONLY FIX IS COMPLETE OVERHALL OR REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ABOUT $1,850.00. WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, ONE WOULD EXPECT SOME COMPENSATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN WELL AWARE OF THESE EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THESE CARAVANS FOR QUITE A WHILE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT FROM 70 MPH TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING, UPON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN, CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE HAD BEEN A THUMPING NOISE WHEN TAKING OFF. NLM

THIS DEFECT IS ALL TOO COMMON - TOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO REPORT THIS. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I'VE STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION ABOUT AT 51,602 MILES, THE BACK-UP LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING WHEN I WAS IN REVERSE. THE DEALERSHIP NOTICE THAT WHEN I HAD MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THEY TRIED CHANGING THE LIGHTS WITH NO SUCCESS. THEN THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A "GAP" IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO PUT HIS HAND IN THE GAP!! THEY PULLED AND REPLACE VALVE BODY AND SEALS. STILL, I WAS ALWAYS TELLING MY FRIENDS THAT MY CAR WAS MAKING STRANGE NOISES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AROUND 72,000 MILES I'VE STARTED EXPERIENCING BIGGER CHANGE WITH MY VEHICLE. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR CHANGE GEAR IN SECOND AFTER I'VE PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL, UNTIL IT SUDDENLY JUMPED TO THE THIRD GEAR. VERY SCARY AND ANNOYING. I THOUGH IT WAS WEATHER RELATED SINCE IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER IN WEST VIRGINIA. AFTER A WHILE I'VE CONTACTED...

TRANSMISSION COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEN ON APRIL 2, 2001 TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR, WOULD DOWNSHIFT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, GO INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER FOUND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLOWS DOWN IF YOU ACCELERATE TO QUICKLY, ALSO JERKS AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. SHUTS OFF DURING WARM DAYS. VERY POOR DESIGN OF VEHICLE.*AK

HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED, 8 MONTHS LATER IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. AIR COMPRESSOR BEING REPLACED AT THIS TIME. *AK

SEAL FOR TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ON 3RD GEAR IS LEAKING - NOT GETTING ENOUGH PRESSURE TO SHIFT GEARS (TORQUE CONVERTER.) PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, AND THEN SOME TIME AFTER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING TO THE POINT WHERE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THEN DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK