1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN JUST 30,000 MILES, THIS TIME MY WIFE AND 4 KIDS WERE NEARLY KILLED ON A BUSY INTERSTATE BECAUSE WE WERE ALMOST HIT . THIS VEHICLE IS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *NM

WE HAVE HAD THE CAR APPROX 6 YEARS AND HAD TO PUT IN FIVE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY KEEP BURNING UP AND NOBODY CAN TELL US WHY. WE USE THE VEHICLE FOR VERY LITTLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL MOSTLY APPROX 2 AND 1/2 MILES EACH WAY. THE VAN CONSTANTLY BUCKS WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGH SPEEDS TO LOW SPEEDS AND WILL OFTEN DIE DOING THE SAME THING. THE TRANSMISSION ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE MAKING A SOUND THAT INDICATES IT IS BEING STRESSED WHILE IN 2 TO 3 GEARS. *NM

BOUGHT A 1996 CARAVAN NEW, IN AUGUST 1999 THE TRANSMISSION WENT WITH ABOUT 36,000 MILES AND REBUILT PUT IN - LASTED TILL JAN 2005. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT JAN 2005 AND A REBUILT WAS PUT IN AND LASTED UNTIL JULY 2005 AND ANOTHER REBUILT WAS PUT IN. *NM

- 96 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN W/3.8 V6 AND 41TE 4SPD TRANSMISION - 2 TRANSMISSION FAILURES - 1ST WENT TO ABOUT 125000, THEN KEPT HITTING THE "LIMP HOME MODE" - 2ND HAS "TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP" PROBLEM, SHOPS SAY REBUILD AGAIN, AFTER ONLY 38000 MILES. - FAN RELAY WENT OUT BEFORE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR OUT OF POCKET. - HAD CLOCK SPRING REPLACED AFTER COMPONENT FAILURE RELATING TO IT (HORN, CRUISE ETC) - UNION CITY GA DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE FUEL RETURN LINE ISSUE, BOTCHED IT UP AND CAUSED MAJOR LEAK WHEN REFUELING. THEY RE-FIXED IT AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING. *AK

TOOK MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN IN FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR. SHOP WOULD NOT REPAIR AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO RUSTING OUT OF STRUT MOUNT TOWER. HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *JB

AS I BROUGHT DOWN SPEED OF MY VEHICLE FROM 65 MPH TO STOP TODAY, JUST STOPPED DEAD AT THE STOP SIGN AND THE TRANSMISSION OF MY VEHICLE FAILED. WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, I FOUND A TONS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK WITH SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THERE HAS TO BE A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT .

THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. FIRST THERE IS A SERIOUS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT WHEEL/TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED 8 TIRES (IN 30000 MILES!), BOTH FRONT AXLES, ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS, AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, AS WELL AS HAVING THREE ALIGNMENT CHECKS. THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FRONT WIPERS WERE, FOR A TIME, COMING ON ANY TIME THEY FELT LIKE IT; THIS WAS REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH ON 09/21/01. SINCE THEN, THE REAR WIPER WILL OCCASIONALLY COME ON FOR ONE SWIPE WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE - ANNOYING, BUT NOT AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD. BUT TODAY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING AT ALL. THEY WILL ONLY WORK IF I PUT THE WIPERS ON INTERVAL - IN WHICH CASE THEY DO NOTHING FOR A TIME, THEN MAKE TWO TO FOUR SWIPES, THEN WAIT A...

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE DRIVER TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS NUMEROUS TIMES BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AT ALL. *JB

1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. THIRD OWNER AT 155,000 MILES. HAPPENED TO FIRST OWNER AS WELL. LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE, REAR GATE WAS COVERED WITH FLUID. WENT THROUGH OVER 2 QUARTS OF FLUID A DAY FOR A 5 MILE DRIVE TO WORK. DIAGNOSED AS A LOOSE PIN WHICH WORE A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. A HOLE THE SIZE OF A FIST WAS BLOWN THROUGH THE TOP OF THE CASE WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED. ALSO, THIS PART IS IN SUCH DEMAND DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES WITH THIS MODEL THAT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS ALMOST $2000. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. WAS ON THE ROAD IN A SNOW STORM WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH COULD HAVE IN TURN CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *JB

NAR 03-27-2003 MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS, AND THE TRANSMISSION DIED OUT. *CB

AT 130000 MILE A PIN WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF/OR GOT LOOSE AND WORE THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. TRANSMISSION FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS AND WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 62,0000 MILES. THEN, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*AK

SERPENTINE BELT OR TENSIONER CLIP HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED 4 TIMES (TOWED EVERY TIME) ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING; TURN THE KEY AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START GOING, TURN THE KEY OFF AND THE WIPERS "KEEP" GOING, TAKE THE KEY TOTALLY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE WIPERS GO AND THE "DINGING" ALARM THAT TELLS YOU THE LIGHTS ARE ON OR THE KEY IS IN, STARTS.(I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THE CAR WAS POSSESSED) OR TURN THE KEY AND "NOTHING" COMES ON EXCEPT THE ENGINE. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 5 TIMES AT LEAST - IT'S USUALLY BETTER W/ A NEW BATTERY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW MOTOR AND ASSEMBLY REPLACED ON DRIVERS SIDE TWICE AND 5 TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MOST RECENT WAS 4/04, WHICH WAS REPLACED 7/04 AGAIN. THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDE DO NOT LOCK, IF YOU PUSH THE BUTTON DOWN,...

DEALER REPLACED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT 37,000 MILES. THEN, TRANSMISSION FAILED, AGAIN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STOPPED BUT ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PIN SLIPPED OUT AND BROKE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER MANAGED PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

AT 72,691 MILES, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AT 120,000 MILES TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT MOVE. *AK *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR, WILL NOT DRIVE OR GO IN REVERSE. LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND CAR JERKED. COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT. *JB

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND IT HAS HAD 4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES. CURRENTLY, THE 5TH TRANSMISSION IS IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE OWNED THE CARAVAN SINCE 1/97 WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED WITH ABOUT 50K MILES ON IT. IT WAS A LEASE TURN IN VEHICLE USED BY A SALESMAN NOT HAULING HEAVY LOADS BUT MAKING TOBBACCO SALES CALLS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE OWNERS AND THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. I FEEL THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL THE TRANSMISSION FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A SATISFACTORY ONE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED (PARKED AND RUNNING IN DRIVEWAY) WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. 81,000 MILES, METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. DIAGNOSED AS A LOOSE PIN WHICH WORE A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. A HOLE THE SIZE OF A FIST WAS BLOWN THROUGH THE TOP OF THE CASE WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED. ALSO, THIS PART IS IN SUCH DEMAND DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES WITH THIS MODEL THAT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS ALMOST $2000. CHRYSLER'S CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE WAS CONTACTED (CASE #11518366) AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE FAST LANE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *NLM

DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 TIMES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER STATES HAS TO BE REPLACE AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE IS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN OVERDRIVE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM THE IDLE POSITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD/STALLED OUT. THIS WAS CAUSED BY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*AK AT 60,000 MILE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CHRYSLER WOULD NOT HONOR ANY WARRANTY.*CB *JB

1ST DATE OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WAS IN APRIL 1999. STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. STILL UNDER WARRANTLY, STILL HAD TO PAY DEDUCTIBLE. MILEAGE WAS 35,000. NOW 2ND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AT 96,000 STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. TRANSMISSION STUCK AND LEAKING FLUID. WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. FOR A WOPPING COST OF $2700.00

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE AND WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

TRANSMISSION LOCKED-UP ON 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN WE CONTACTED SOMEONE ABOUT OBTAINING A TRANSMISSION, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ALREADY SENT LETTERS TO DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO EXPECT TO BE CONTACTED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE 1996 & 1997 GRAND CARAVANS; THE DEALERSHIPS WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE DEFECTIVE, BUT THAT THEY(MANUFACTURER) WOULD NOT HAVE THEM REPAIRED. MY HUSBAND WAS TRAVELING ON I-40 BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF WINSTON SALEM, NC, WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HE HAD WITH HIM OUR 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND MY STEP-DAUGHTER, THEY WERE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER 4 HOURS, AND AT NIGHT. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A "PIN" OF SOME SORT IN THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AND THE VAN SEEMED TO BE FINE AFTER THAT; WE HAD NO OTHER INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM--THE VAN'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM....

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ON ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION.*JB

DODGE '96 MINIVAN STALLING PROBLEM WHILE IN OPERATION. START UP TIME 5-10 MINUTES LATER (VERY DANGEROUS). TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR; PROBLEM ESCALATED TO FULL REPLACEMENT. NOT SATISFIED WITH REPLACEMENT -"BUMPS" ON SECOND AND THIRD GEARS UP AND DOWN. THESE HAVE BEEN COSTLY REPAIRS. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT NO MATTER WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED - FULL FUEL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. RPS RACED TO 15K. REPLACED CAM SENSOR, HARNESS, HOSES ETC. *NLM

CONSUMER NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE REPLACED TRANSMISSION IN SEPTEMBER, 2002. TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 19,000 MILES. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. OR TRANSMISSION ENGAGES IN REVERSE LONG ENOUGH TO BACK OUT INTO TRAFFIC BUT THEN FAILS TO ENGAGE IN ANY FORWARD GEAR OR REVERSE. DT

REPORTED AND INQUIRED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND AWAITING RESPONSE. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE. THIS FIRST BEGAN ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO AND WAS MENTIONED DURING REGULAR SERVICES BUT NOTHING WAS DETERMINED. PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE REGULAR. ALSO EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENT WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY TRANMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I INCREASED SPEED TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND TRANMISSION STILL WOULD NOT SHIFT AND RPM WAS BEGINNING RED LINE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND STOPPING AND TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTING DID VEHICLE OPERATE NORMALLY. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES HAD A TRANSMISSION DEFECT. CONSUMER ADVISED THAT THE "HOLLOW ROPE" THEAT HOLDS THE "PIN" IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSING THE PIN TO BECOME DISLODGED AND BLEW HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING. CONSUMER STATES ISSUE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN HOLES BEING BLOWN INTO THE FLOORBOARD. NLM

EXPERIENCED INCIDENT WHERE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR. ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM N TO D FAILED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER BRINGING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, PLACING IN P AND RESTARTING ENGINE. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMERIOUS INCIDENTS DURING PAST 6 YEARS WHERE TRANSMISSON FAILS TO SHIFT FROM P TO R AND R TO D AND REQUIRES TO BE RESHIFTED TO P AND THEN TO DESIRED SELECTION. RESEARCH INTO PROBLEM BY QUESTIONING VARIOUS PRIVATE TRANMISSION SPECIALISTS THAT AN UNDETERMINED DESIGN FLAW IN DIFFERENTIAL, IN 1995 AND LATER MODELS, CAUSES BOTH PROBLEMS AND HAS EVEN RESULTED IN DIFFERENTIAL COMPLETELY FAILING AND EXPLODING.*AK

AIR CONDITIONERCONDENSER/DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR/TIE ROD, TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE, AND O2 SENSOR WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND FROM THE EXHAUST AREA. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. IN ADDITION, SERPENTINE BELT AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. *JB. *AK

SUDDEN LOUD NOISE AND SHORT MOMENT OF LOCKED FRONT WHEELS, ENGINE STALLED AND AFTER WHEN I STOPPED, HUGE OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER TRANSMISSION DISASSEMBLY BIG HOLE IN TRANS HOUSING AROUND 3" IN DIAMETER TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER SIDE,DAMAGED TORQUE CONVERTER, PIECES OF DIFFERENTIAL PARTS WENT OF THE HOLE. HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FOR VERIFICATION, PICTURES.

AT 65MPH AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT,CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $2500.00.*YH

REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION EVERY 2 YEARS AT 37,000, 100760, AND AT 147654. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AS TRANMISSIONS DO NO TYPICALLY FAIL EVERY 24 TO 28 MONTHS. THE NTHSA SHOULD FORCE DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO STAND BEHIND A KNOWN DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND REPLACE THESE AT NO CHARGE WHEN FAILURES OCCUR FREQUENTLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS AND HAS BEEN REPORTED ON EXTENSIVELY. ACTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AS IT IS UNLIKELY DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILTY ON THEIR OWN.*AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 72000 MILES.*AK THE HINGES ON THE DOOR WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTOR WAS TURNED. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD START TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD START JERKING WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *JG *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. TOOK TO VEHICLE CHRYSLER. TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP 4 TIMES. 1ST TIME @ 54KMILES/2ND @ 37KMILES/3RD @ 30KMILES/ 4TH (WHICH WAS A REMANUFACTURED) @ 48K MILE. ALL OF THESE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION OR THROUGH A LIGHT.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK