FaultScore

1994 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems

59 of the 248 complaints about the 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the transmission — 24% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 122,500 miles.

C

59

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 50 84.7%
Power Train 2 3.4%
Manual Transmission 2 3.4%
Differential Unit 2 3.4%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 1.7%
Axle Assembly 1 1.7%
Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 1 1.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Dodge Grand Caravan year

1989 11 0.7%
1990 27 1.6%
1991 17 1.0%
1992 39 2.4%
1993 52 3.1%
1994 59 3.6%
1995 25 1.5%
1996 236 14.2%
1997 85 5.1%
1998 85 5.1%
1999 78 4.7%
2000 102 6.2%
2001 29 1.8%
2002 44 2.7%
2003 29 1.8%
2005 24 1.4%
2006 12 0.7%
2007 23 1.4%
2008 68 4.1%
2009 22 1.3%
2010 40 2.4%
2011 43 2.6%
2012 48 2.9%
2013 36 2.2%
2014 18 1.1%
2015 77 4.6%
2016 219 13.2%
2017 37 2.2%
2018 23 1.4%
2019 49 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Woodsville, NH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSON FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10041738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,310 miles Carmichael, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PURCHASED ON 5/2001 A USED 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 93,000 MILES FROM CARMICHAEL AUTO EXCHANGE "AS IS". AFTER 1,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. REPLACED @ $1875.60 WITH NEW MOPAR REBUILT AT 94,282. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR TRANS SERVICE ON 3/8/2002 AT 109,252 TO DEALER. INSTALLED TRANSMISSION COOLER ON 4/2002. NOW REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 7/7/2003 AT 150,325. THIS ADDED EXPENSE WILL COST $2600.00 AT MY EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #10026060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles Bronson, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VAN IN APRIL OF 2001 THE TRANSAXLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN COLD. THE VEHICLE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN WARMED UP BEFORE WE TEST DROVE IT. THE TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUID WERE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SEASON . THE FLUID AND FILTER WERE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SEASON. THE FLUID AND FILTER WERE REPLACED AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT HELP. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR'S COLD SEASON JUST NOT GOING INTO REVERSE WHILE COLD, THEN IT QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO NO FIRST GEAR OR REVERSE WHILE COLD. DURING THE TIME WHEN IT HAD NO FIRST OR REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE. (CHRYSLER A-604 ULTRADRIVE) DURING THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION ONLY FUNCTIONS IN SECOND GEAR (WHILE THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN OVERDRIVE). THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP ACTED VERY SURPRISED THAT OUR TRANSMISSION LASTED 135K MILES! UNFORTUNATELY OUR WARRANTY COMPANY IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION OR JUST DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY BECAUSE OF IT, BUT THEY ONLY PAID FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A USED TRANSMISSION WITH 80K MILES. I USE THE ULTIMATE WARRANTY COMPANY (1-800-576-5113). *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****770786

NHTSA complaint #10006629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandwich, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *NLM.

NHTSA complaint #10021629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Greenbelt, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSAXLE ON 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO AXLES. THE AXLES HAD TO BE REPLACED, ONE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THEY ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN. THE FRONT END WOBBLES AND SHAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARSHLY, WITH A SLAM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN INTERNAL LEAK SO THAT WE HAVE TO CHECK THE FLUID CONSTANTLY, BUT NO FLUID IS DRAINING ONTO THE STREET. IT WILL COST US $2,500 TO REPAIR. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO IT HAD JUST HAD THE TRANSAXLE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10003376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Greenbelt, MD

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

TRANSAXLE ON 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO AXLES. THE AXLES HAD TO BE REPLACED, ONE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THEY ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN. THE FRONT END WOBBLES AND SHAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARSHLY, WITH A SLAM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN INTERNAL LEAK SO THAT WE HAVE TO CHECK THE FLUID CONSTANTLY, BUT NO FLUID IS DRAINING ONTO THE STREET. IT WILL COST US $2,500 TO REPAIR. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO IT HAD JUST HAD THE TRANSAXLE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10003376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakton, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM. COULD NOT BE FIXED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8004788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bettendorf, IA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #756589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Melborne, FL Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

A YOUNG CHILD GOT IN VEHICLE, PUT KEY IN IGNITION, AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDM, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DAMAGE TO THAT VEHICLE WAS $2000.00. *AK

NHTSA complaint #899817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chesapeake, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE HAD CONSISTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE 94 CARAVAN. AS SOON AS I GET ONE PROBLEM FIXED, ANOTHER ONE POPS UP. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT THERE IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR DODGE CARAVAN TRANSMISSIONS. THIS HAS ME HIGHLY CONCERNED AS I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I AM HAVING THE A/C SYSTEM FIXED. AS FOR THE DOOR LATCH FOR THE SLIDING DOOR NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, THERE IS NOTHING I OR MY HUSBAND AM AWARE OF THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO WORK AND THEN NOT TO WORK ON AND OFF. THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN SINCE THIS IS THE FAMILY CAR AND I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHEN THE LATCH MAY FAIL. SO FAR THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WITH MY CHILDREN IN CAR, JUST MYSELF . EGR VALVE WAS AFFECTING ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND MILAGE.

NHTSA complaint #754386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN STOPPING CAUSING HANDLING PROBLEMS AND COMPONENT FAILURE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WHICH COMES WITH NO WARNING. THE 1ST TIME WAS DEC. 1997 WITH ONLY 35000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #754104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sonoma, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #751397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sonoma, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #751399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wallingford, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FIRST FAILURE HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY. DANGEROUS GETTING OFF. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED ON A WINDING HILL GOING UP. CARS CAME UP FROM BEHIND AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH REAR OF CAR. CHRYSLER SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH SUCH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAS IT HAS HAD ON THESE MINIVANS.

NHTSA complaint #748199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, ME

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE CUTS OUT PERIODICALLY, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 12,000 ON AN ALREADY PREVIOUSLY REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND WAS ADVISED, THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD OUT LAST THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #560464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

White Lake, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

EVERY CARAVAN OWNER I TALK TO TELLS ME ABOUT THEIR TRANSMISSION FAILING. WHY HASN'T NHTSA INVESTIGATED THIS HUGE PROBLEM? MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE SHOP TOLD ME THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT HAS BEEN THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE VANS.

NHTSA complaint #744691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT TRANSMISSION, HAD BEEN REPLACED BY THIS DEALERSHIP A YEAR EARLIER AT 120,000 MILES, HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #887303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Massillon, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I REALLY FEEL DODGE/CHRYSLER HAS A PROBELM WITH THEIR AUTOMATIC TRANMISSIONS IN THEIR MINI-VANS, EVERYONE I KNOW HAS HAD TROUBLE AND HAD TO REPLACE THEM. MY TURN CAME LAST WEEK, REPRTEDLY THE NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WAS INSTALLED IS RE-DESIGNED AND HAS A LONGER WARRANTY. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #744013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manteca, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

ENGINE CONSUMES A LOT OF OIL. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE RPM MALFUNCTIONS.

NHTSA complaint #880359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Walkersville, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL LOSE POWER AND GEARS. THIS MORE LIKELY WILL HAPPEN DURING COLD WEATHER. WHEN VEHICLE WARMS UP IT WILL WORK BETTER. BUT SOMETIMES NOT EVEN REVERSE GEAR WILL WORK.

NHTSA complaint #877545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stonington, CT

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #736943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watertown, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #876545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eugene, OR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HAD CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVER A YEAR: STUCK 2ND GEAR, ACCELERATION SHUDDER, DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY WITH NO REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #736610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Muncie, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS LOCKS UP IN SECOND GEAR, RPM'S WILL DOUBLE, SPEED BECOMES LIMITED. 2. WINDOW ON REAR HATCH IS OOZING GLUE AND THE WINDOW IS BUCKELING.

NHTSA complaint #725174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plainfield, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS HESITATING & WON'T CATCH IN 2ND GEAR. DEALER PUT VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE & FOUND FAILURE OF 2ND GEAR. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.

NHTSA complaint #863628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rootstown, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I BELIEVE THAT THIS VAN WAS A "LEMON" FROM THE START. IT WAS PURCHASED WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP, "AURORA CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH" DID WHAT THEY CALLED A SAFETY CHECK ON IT. SOMEHOW THEY FAILED TO FIND THAT BOTH TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED REPLACED. THAT WAS WITHIN 1 MONTH OF PURCHASE. WE TOOK IT TO A MORE LOCAL DEALER FOR THE SERVICE. THEN BEFORE WE HAD 84,000 MILES ON IT, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. NOW THE ENGINE HAS FAILED E-CHECK WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS. AFTER READING ALL THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON FAILED TRANSMISSIONS, I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A "FORCED" RECALL ON THESE. I ALSO WONDER HOW MANY OTHER ENGINE FAILURES ARE OUT THERE, NOT BEING REPORTED.

NHTSA complaint #722097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westbrook, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE INTERNET IS CHOCK FULL OF CONSUMERS REPORTING PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLER CORPORATIONS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. WHY IS IT TAKING YOU SO LONG TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?

NHTSA complaint #722420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Valley CIT, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

THE VEHICLE'S GEAR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO ELECTRONIC TRANSAXLE COMPUTER DEVICE FAILURE. YH

NHTSA complaint #551502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Valley CIT, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #551502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grimes, IA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN DRIVING 20-30 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR, DECREASING DRIVER'S SPEED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE PAUSES MOMENTARILY BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE BEFORE ENGAGING, AND IT DOES NOT ALWAYS SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR WHEN IT SHOULD. *AK

NHTSA complaint #858344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan problems

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