1997 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH; ENGINE REMAINED ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN AND DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES. 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT LOST POWER AGAIN, I SLOWED AND THEN TRIED TO REACCELERATE, AND IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MILES, ENOUGH TO GET ME OFF THE FREEWAY AND TO A SAFE LOCATION. I CHECKED THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION LEVELS, WHICH WERE OK, AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEAKING UNDER THE CAR. WENT TO AN APPOINTMENT, AND CAME BACK TO THE CAR, WHICH STARTED UP AND DROVE OK FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE, THEN IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T START BACK UP AGAIN, SO I PUSHED IT ONTO A SIDE STREET, WHERE IT STARTED UP FINE AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS/REPAIR STATION. NOW, THE VAN WON'T START AGAIN. VAN WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT IN ALL SITUATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #11282502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WAS DRIVING THE VAN ABOUT APPROX 35 MPH IN A SNOW STORM WHEN IT STARTED TO SLIDE, I ACCELERATED TO KEEP FROM SPINNING OUT AND THE TRANSMISSION LET GO..TOOK IT TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT PUT IT IN AND THEY SAID THE SPIDER GEARS WERE "WELDED" TO THE SHAFT AND IT CAUSED THE SHAFT TO BREAK..THIS IS THE SECOND TRANNY WE PUT IN THIS VAN FOR THE SAME THING. MANUFACTURE DEFECT..THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE NEW TRANNY.. IT COST ME OVER $1950 TO PUT THIS TRANNY IN AND IT IS A REBUILD FROM ADVANCED AUTO..THEY SAID ITS A MANUFACTURE REBUILD..ALSO, THE SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS VERY LOOSE AND YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH IT AND GET IT IN A CERTAIN POSITION TO GET THE LIGHTS TO STAY ON. YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT THEN PULL IT OUT A LITTLE THEN IT WILL STAY ON..

NHTSA complaint #10494980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE TIRE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND EXHIBITED SIGNS OF RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE UNATTAINABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

NHTSA complaint #10352950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTS, THE VEHICLE MAKES AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, IT OPERATES NORMALLY. THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND WILL START BACK UP, BUT IT IS UNRELIABLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV AND HAVE TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE REVVING TO STOP. IF THERE IS A POWER FLUCTUATION, THE REAR WIPERS WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. THE HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK, BUT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE PARKING LIGHT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. HE REPLACED THE BULB, BUT IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AND THERE IS A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY IS RUSTING AND ROTTING. THE ROCKER PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS RUSTED COMPLETELY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,766. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08.

NHTSA complaint #10237378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TWICE IN THE LAST 6 YEARS THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT IN OUR 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DUE TO FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME, IN 2002, OCCURRED AS THE TRANSMISSION PERMANENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE SECOND TIME, MARCH 2008, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN-SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR - AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR BEFORE DOWN-SHIFTING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE HIGH. THE VAN IS NOT USED FOR ANYTHING BUT PASSENGER TRAVEL NOR IS IT USED FOR TOWING.

NHTSA complaint #10220764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. SHE MANAGED TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE A CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10215626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TOOK OFF FROM STOP LIGHT TRANSMISSION FAILED HAD BEEN SLIPPING FOR A WHILE BEFORE. ALSO SHIFTED HARD INTO GEAR. ALREADY HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACE DUE TO OVERHEATING PROBLEMS AT THE COST OF $1,000.00 NO THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO REPLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10171287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RPMS DROPPED TO ZERO, THE VEHICLE JERKED, AND THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 10 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. UPDATED 08/15/06.

NHTSA complaint #10163047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED THE 1997 GRAND CARAVAN IN JANUARY 1998 AT THE MARLOW HEIGHTS DEALERSHIP IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MARYLAND. THE FIRST TIME I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS 5/1999 AT 24,006 MILES VEHICLE HAD LITTLE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING, TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE RECONDITIONED. IN 12/1999, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUSING A VERY STRONG NASTY ODOR. CARPET HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION TO MY FAMILY ESPECIALLY MY KIDS HAVING TO BREATH IN THIS FLUID. 3 /2000 SAME FLUID LEAKED AGAIN IN AUTO BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE HEATING COIL. THEN AGAIN IN 8/2001 THE LEAK HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER IN NORTH CAROLINA AND COMPLAINED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WHAT THEY CALLED ONE CONSUMER REPAIR PER CUSTOMER PER VEHICLE. IN 11/2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DUE FOR EMISSIONS TESTING AND DID NOT PASS THE TEST BECAUSE OF A CYLINDER MISFIRE CODE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THE FUNDS FOR REPAIR, IN 5/2004 @ 118,668 MILES, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AND THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. SO I PAID $114.24 TO REPLACE THE 6 .SPARK PLUGS, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED I ENDED UP PAYING $3,758.82 IN 7/2005 TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEADS, TIMING BELT, AND WATER PUMP . THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED. RECENTLY, IN 3/2006, OIL LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH VC GASKETS, CAM PLUGS, BOTH FT CAM SEALS AND REAR CAM SEALS AND TIMING BELT ONCE AGAIN FOR THIRD TIME. THIS COST TO ME WAS $2,677.50. NOW THE OIL LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10153128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

THE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT NEARLY EVERY MONTH. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SWAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON FREEWAY OR WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKES. THE EGR VALVE KEEPS GOING OUT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10128830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VAN WAS SLIPPING NOT GOING INTO GEAR WHEN IT WAS COLD AND NOW JUST WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT HAS TO BE REBUILT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $2300 TO $2800 TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10108509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

AT 91,000 MILES THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORS & FRIENDS ALSO EXPERIENCE GRAND CARAVAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN 97 & 98 MODELS, THERE OBVIOUSLY IS A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM. I HAD OWNED A 1989 GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK A CHANCE GOING BACK TO CHRYSLER AND LOST THE BET. WHILE CHRYSLER "CUSTOMER NO SERVICE" HAS TOLD ME "SIR, WHEN YOU SIGNED THE DOTTED LINE, YOU KNEW THE WARRANTY WAS 36,000 MILES", CLEARLY THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS THAT TRANSMISSIONS IN $30,000 AUTOMOBILES SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 90,000 MILES. WHILE CHRYSLER CAN HIDE BEHIND THE WARRANTY ALL THEY WANT, THEY CLEARLY ARE BREAKING WITH THE PUBLIC''S TRUST. THE FACT THAT CHRYSLER HAS HAD 100,000 MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTIES ON OTHER YEARS OF GRAND CARAVANS BESPEAKS TO THE LEVELS THAT THEY: 1. HAD TO GO TO GAIN PUBLIC TRUST 2. THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY MAY HAVE DESIGN PROBLEMS. LASTLY, AS I HAVE LEARNED, THEIR "CUSTOMER NO SERVICE" DEPARTMENT IS A VERY SHORT ONE WAY STREET. WHEN I CALLED, I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROCESS TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN IN VERY SHORT ORDER THAT THE FIRST PERSON I TALKED TO WAS ALSO THE LAST PERSON THAT I WOULD TO TALK. HE QUICKLY MADE THE DECISION THE CHRYSLER WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HELPING IN ANY WAY AND THAT HIS DECISION WAS FINAL. THERE WAS NEVER ANY "I AM SORRY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT I CAN DO". IT WAS "YOU KNEW WHAT YOU PURCHASED, AND I AM NOT GOING TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY". IN FACT HE KEPT REMINDING ME HOW LONG WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE AND THAT I WAS WASTING MINE AND IMPLICITLY HIS TIME. ALL IN ALL A VERY POOR EXPERIENCE WITH A LOUSY PRODUCT AND NON-EXISTENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #10070510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THE AIR CONDITIONER TURNED ALL THE WAY UP WILL BLOW OUT AIR AS IF IT WAS ON MID WAY. THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED, WHICH CAUSES ME TO BUY BLADES MORE OFTEN. THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP WHEN THE GROUND IS WET. YOU CAN HEAR METAL HITTING TOGETHER, AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. MY SISTER-IN-LAW, AND ONE OF MY DAYCARE MOMS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT AS LUCKY AS I WAS IT CAUSED THEM TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10070637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS CONSUMER CHANGED FOUR TIMES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA.

NHTSA complaint #10042752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIPPING. SOMETIMES TAKES A FEW MOMENTS FOR IT TO 'CATCH' FIRST GEAR TO GO FROM A LIGHT OR SHIFTS 'HARD' WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO, DOWN SHIFTS 'HARD' WHEN DECELERATING.

NHTSA complaint #10030478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10013753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK PRNDL.

NHTSA complaint #10000951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA complaint #10002237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 10MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #10002005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

CAR HAD SERIOUS DAMAGE WHOSES SOURCE CANNOT BE DETERMINED BY DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WILL NOT INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA complaint #10000366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #8019114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY AND WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #564820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL PIN FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON, BUT THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #566130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING RPM STAYED HIGH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. DEALER STATES TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8008357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

CONSUMERS IS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING BRAKE, THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8007506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE BACKING UP THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, THEN AT 40 MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8005672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TO SUPER MARKET THERE WAS SOME NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. THEN, AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AND GETTING BACK IN, AND TRYING TO PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE.

NHTSA complaint #899644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED AIR BAG INDIACTOR LIGHT WAS ON INTERMITTENTLY SOON AFTER, RADIO CAME ON AND BEEN REPLACED. ALSO, SPEEDODOMETER GAVE WRONG READING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND REPLACED BATTERY. HAS BEEN REPLACE 6 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #897737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.