Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 49 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 49, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AN DTOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT THREE TIMES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO LOW, CAUSING DRIVER TO INJURE HIS BACK. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. CONSUMER WAS VERY UPSET. *AK *TC
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION STOPPED, AND WOULD NOT PULL OR GO INTO GEAR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WITH ANOTHER ONE, WHICH WORKED FINE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD A MALFUNCTION WITHIN FOR YEARS. CONSUMER COULD NOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, BUT FELT THAT DODGE SHOULD HELP HIM SINCE THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 1991 TRANSMISSION. *AK
TRANSMISSION BEHAVES ERRATICALLY. FIRST SYMPTOMS WERE REVVING AND FAILURE TO GO INTO GEAR IN COOL (BELOW 60) OR RAINY WEATHER. THREE TRIPS TO THE DODGE SERVICE CENTER AND SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAVE DONE NO GOOD! ON MY WAY TO WORK THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I HAD TO VEER INTO AN EMPTY LOT AT @ 40 MPH TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY THREE SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN WITH ME. I HAD TO FORCE VAN INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE AS IT WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I HAVE SEEN MANY ISSUES OF THIS TYPE POSTED ON NHTSA AS WELL AS OTHER SITES. ONLY A FEW CRASHES AND INJURIES AND JUST ONE FATALITY. THESE VEHICLES ARE PRIMARILY "FAMILY HAULERS" USED BY CONSUMERS WITH CHILDREN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE CRITERIA IS .....DO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR BE SEVERELY INJURED BEFORE SOMEONE FORCES DODGE TO DO SOMETHING ????!!! *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE IT WILL SHUT OFF. THEN, START TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING A TANY MPH TRANSMISSION WILL DECELERATE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
BRAKE LINE WAS CUT.*AK CONSUMER STATES ABS LINE RUBBED A TIRE AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. AIR CONDITIONER CAUGHT ON FIRE. TRANSMISSION FAILED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. *SLC
A SMALL CHILD WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO A NEIGHBORS VEHICLE TWICE. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF A SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM NOT BEING INSTALLED IN VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP AND SKIP WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON TRANSMISSION.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES ACCORDING TO THE ENCLOSED BILL THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED THEY CHARGED CONSUMER FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER IS NOT SURE IF IT IS THE SAME THING AS A TRANSMISSION, IT IS ONLY GOOD FOR 1 YEAR OR 12,000 MILES. *JB
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. OUR 1996 DODGE CARAVAN'S TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ALSO. WE PUT OUR FAITH IN CHRYSLER PRODUCTS AND NOW WE ARE STRANDED. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER CORP. SHOULD BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS AS A RESULT OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THA TTRANSMISSION FAILED ON THIS 91 DODGE CARAVAN. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 81000 MILES IN FEBRUARY '99 WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND LASTED ONLY 28000 MILES THE SECOND TIME. THE TRANSMISSION IS A FOUR SPEED OVERDRIVE AUTOMATIC.*AK
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM CHRYSLER. LESS THAN 24000 MILES, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN. CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS FAIL, AND A FORTH ONE WAS BEING PUT IN. *AK
A WRITTEN REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED TO THE MECHANIC ASKING FOR AN EVALUATION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND PEELING PAINT. I WAS GIVEN AN ORAL ESTIMATE VIA PHONE CALL EXPRESSING THE NEED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $2000.00. THE DIAGNOSIS, COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WAS NOT INCLUDED ON INVOICE, NOR WAS THE EVALUATION/ REPAIR COST OF PEELING EXTERIOR PAINT.. I PAID $65.00 FOR THE ESTIMATE, BUT FEEL I GOT NOTHING IN WRITING. I DIDN'T RECEIVE DOCUMENTATION OF DIAGNOSIS, OR COST OF REPAIRS. *AK
1ST TRANSMISSION FAILURE: 2-4 HUB AND GEAR ASSEMBLY DAMAGED, OUTPUT CARRIER DAMAGED, NO REVERSE AND SECOND GEAR. TRANSMISSION PUMP ALSO REPAIRED. 2ND TRANSMISSION FAILURE: 12/99 SAME EXACT PROBLEM AGAIN. COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION 6 DIFFERENT TIMES WAS TOLD COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WOULD HAVE TO TAKE TRANSMISSION APART AT OUR COST TO FIND A PROBLEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY
CONSUMER SAYS WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION EXPLODED. DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 55MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND HEARD A BIG BANG, AND CAR WENT INTO A SKID AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CONSUMER SAYS IF IN HAEVY TRAFFIC MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
VEHICLE WON'T GO OUT OF GEAR. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON, AND BRAKES LOCK UP. *AK
RE:TRANSMISSION - I REALIZE IT IS NOT SAFETY RELATED BUT THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. RE:ABS WARNING LIGHT - DEALER WILL DO NOTHING UNLESS A "HARD CODE" IS SHOWN. THE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR DAYS BUT AS WITH AN ACHING TOOTH, THE PAIN SOMETIMES DISAPPEARS WHEN VISITING THE DENTIST. ALWAYS ON WHEN I TAKE IT IN BUT LEAVING THE VAN A DAY OR TWO AT THE DEALER SOMETIMES CAUSES THE LIGHT TO GO OUT FOR A SHORT TIME. *AK
CONSUMER IS CONTINUING TO HAVE ABS BRAKE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER RECALL (#685)REPAIR. *NLM
SUDDEN UNPREDICTED DOWNSHIFT FROM OVERDRIVE TO SECOND GEAR WHILE AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS ON SIDE STREETS, MAIN THOROUGHFARES AND ESPECIALLY WHILST ON FREEWAYS. THE OCCURENCE HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, THE DOWNSHIFT ('SLAM DOWN') CAUSES PERSONS IN THE DRIVING COMPARTMENT TO BE THRUST FORWARD IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO A REAR-END COLLISION. WE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN AUGUST, 1998; THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER, 1998 AND HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM REPAIRED AND PURGED IN OCTOBER, 1998 (WE HAD NOTED SOME ASSOCIATION WITH ENGINE OVERHEATING, BUT THIS SEEMS NOT TO BE THE CASE). WE SUSPECT ELECTROINC ERROR MESSAGES IN THE PROGRAM OF THIS 'EXCITING' WELL MONITORED TRANSMISSION (IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE COMPUTERS ON BOARD CONTAIN NO ERROR MESSAGES, EITHER BECAUSE WE NEED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TO RESET THE TRANSMISSION - THUS THE ERROR MESSAGE, IF ANY IS NOTED ON THE 'COMPUTER MEMORY' IS DISPATCHED TO OBLIVION ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, [HOW CONVENIENT]) WE TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC BILL'S AUTO CARE 805-520-7818 FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT (INCLUDING ASSOCIATED ELECTRONICS) AND THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION (ACQUIRED FROM A LOCAL SIMI VALLEY DODGE DEALER) DOES THE SAME THING - WE ARE NOW ON OUR FOURTH TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS AT WILL. THIS DOWNSHIFT INCIDENT CAN AND HAS HAPPENED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: FREEWAY DRIVING UP HILL ON STEEP (GRAPEVINE INTERSTATE 5) 1 TIME LATE AUGUST 1998 OR AFTER MODERATELY STEEP UPHILL WHILE GOING TO WORK (CA 118 FREEWAY FROM SIMI VALLEY - CHATSWORTH CA, ) ALMOST EVERY DAY AT 550-615AM DRIVE TIME AND ON MANY RETURNS 345-500PM DRIVE TIME. I WORK AT MONROE HS IN NORTH HILLS, CA OR DRIVING THE CALIFORNIA 118 AND 14 FREEWAYS TO AND FROM (SIMI VALLEY TO PALMDALE) WHICH HAS A MODERATE CHANGE OF GRADE. WEATHER CLEAR AFTERNOON 70'S AND NIGHT 60'S. 2 TIMES OR DRIVING THE CALIFORNIA 118 AND 126 TO AND FROM (SIMI VALLEY, VENTURA) WHICH HAS A MODERATE CHANGE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT GO INTO GEAR, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM REOCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
WHEN SHIFTING VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE JUST WENT OUT OF CONTROL IN REVERSE. FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THE VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER HITTING A POLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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