Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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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 1996 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 165 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 165, in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE BACKED INTO A FENCE AND THEN STRUCK A TREE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
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
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 THE ORIGINAL DOES NOT.PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA E-MAIL IF A RECALL EXIST OR WITH QUESTIONS.PLEASE INFORM THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THESE PARTS INSPECTED BEFORE A PROBLEMS OCCURS FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND BEST REGARDS /DAVID DEROUEN. *AK
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. *
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
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 DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD DISTRIBUTING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND SAW COOLANT FLUID LEAKING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK
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 SHIFTING GEARS TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC REPLACED SPEED SENSOR.*AK
WE PURCHASED OUR 1996 CARAVAN NEW AND WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES (OF THOSE 1 TIME WAS REBUILT UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY) THE LAST TIME WE HAD REBUILT WAS IN MAY 2003 AND IS ALREADY STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN, IT IS SLIPPING IN FIRST GEAR (BETWEEN 10-35 MPH). WE HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE; WE ARE NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. THE TIMING BELT JUST BROKE THIS WEEK. WE HAVE NUMEROUS OIL LEAKS; WE ARE AVERAGING 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK; WE HAD ONE MECHANIC PUT DYE IN THE OIL AND HE HAD US DRIVE IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN CHECKED IT AND STATED THERE WAS 4-5 OIL LEAKS AND WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF TO BUY A NEW CAR; AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS BY SEVERAL MECHANICS DUE TO THE MULTPLE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD. WE HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER; AND THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND JUST HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN THIS WEEK ALONG WITH THE TIMING BELT AND CAM SEALS. WE HAD ABOUT 2 PAGES OF OF WARRANTY WORK DONE AND RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT IT WENT DOWN HILL FROM THERE. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING AND 6 MONTHS LATER THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING AND NOW I CANNOT FIND MY RECEIPT. WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS MORE PROBLEMS THAN WE CAN COUNT AND WE VERY DISSAPPOINTED THAT WE PAID OVER $18000 FOR A VEHICLE AND HAD TO PUT APPROX MORE THAN $4000 IN UNNECCESARY REPAIRS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARAVANS ARE JUNK AND THERE AER ALWAYS PROBLEMS WITH THEM AND THIS DOESNT SEEM VERY FAIR TO US AS CONSUMERS BECAUSE WE PUT OUT TRUST INTO DODGE/CHRYSLER CORP AND WE ENDED UP WITH A LEMON. LAST YEAR I SENT AN EMAIL TO CHRYLER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS AND THEY BASICLY JUST BLEW US OFF, OF COURSE BECAUSE IT WASNT THERE PROBLEM NOW SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, I WILL SAY THIS I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN.
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND WENT OUT ON MY DODGE CARAVAN. WE WILL NEED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. WE ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO THE UPKEEP OF OUR VEHICLES AND SERVICE THEM REGULARLY.
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
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION POP OUT OF REVERSE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TURNING A CORNER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFOMATION. TS
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HE STOPPED AT A REST AREA AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FILL TUBE. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. *SCC
TRANSMISSION FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH TRANSMISSION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND MADE REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
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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