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 1998 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 95 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 95, in the owner's own words
I FOUND OUT THAT THE 1998 DODGE CARAVAN THAT I PURCHASED HAS TWO DESIGN FLAWS. ONE IS THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK. THE OTHER IS THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH CHRYSLER GEN3 SEAT BELTS THAT, IN SOME VEHICLES, HAVE UNLATCHED WHILE PEOPLE WERE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ORDER A RECALL OF THE 1998 CARAVAN FOR BOTH OF THESE IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A PIN LOST INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION.
DT: CONTACT STATES THERE IS A PIN LOCATED IN THE HUB THAT SEPARATES THE DRIVESHAFT FROM THE AXLE. THIS PIN CAUSED THE HUB TO BUST THE CASING ON THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE CONSUME BELIEVES THE SMALL PIN IS NOT LARGE/STRONG ENOUGH FOR ALL THE PRESSURE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THEN, DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A LEVEL PARKING LOT, AND WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLIPPED INTO REVERSE INADVERTENTLY. THEN, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S LEFT SIDE PANEL IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS CAUGHT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND DRAGGED TO THE GROUND. *TC
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
I STARTED OUT IN THE MORNING TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL, AND WE HAD TO MAKE A STOP AT THE GROCERY STORE. WHEN I GOT TO THE STOP SIGN TO TURN INTO THE GROCERY STORE I HEARD THIS CLANKING SOUND. THE CAR HAD STOPPED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID MY TRANSMISSION BROKE INTO PIECES AND FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE VAN. HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED BEING THAT I ONLY HAD 67,000 MILES ON THE VAN. HE COULD NOT FIX IT SO I HAD TO GET A NEW ONE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE WHOLE PROCESS COST ME $2400.00 (OUTRAGEOUS). BEFORE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED THERE WAS LEAKING COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION I CANNOT BELIEVE DODGE/CHRYSLER HAS NOT DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.*AK
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN WITH ONLY 66,332 MILES THE PROBLEM'S THAT HAVE COME UP IS FIRST THE TRANSMISSION HAD A INTERNAL PIN BUST WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL PARTS TO COME APART. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSIONTO BREAK, IT HAD TO BE REBUILT ON 2-17-04 WITH 61995 MILES AT THE COST OF $1685.25. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAD A FAILURE WITH THE EVAPORATOR WHICH SEEMS TO BE VERY COMON ACCORDING TO SEVERAL SERVICE CENTERS THAT I HAVE CONTACTED OUTSIDE THE CHRYSLER COMPANY. WHICH SPITZER DODGE WANTED TO CHARGE $1100.00 TO REPAIR. I KNOW THE VEHICAL IS 6 YEARS OLD BUT WITH THE LOW MILAGE I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE UNCALLED FOR AND THOUGH IT SHOULD BE REPORTED.*AK
WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE TO LEAVE FOR WORK, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. AS I LET THE VAN RUN, THE NOISE SLOWLY STOPPED BUT THE VAN WOULDN'T MOVE. I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH CARAVANS TO SEE IF THIS WAS COMMON. AND TO MY SURPRISE, EVERYONE SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE/OVERHAUL THEIR TRANSMISSION. I WAS INFORMED TO LOOK AT THIS SITE TO SEE IF ANY COMPLAINTS MATCHED MINE AND THERE WAS AT LEAST TEN WHEN I STOPPED COUNTING. I NOTIFIED DODGE AND THEY WERE OF LITTLE HELP BECAUSE THEY SAID MY VEHICLE HAD 77,000 MILES.
ON AUGUST, 1, 1998, ALLEN AND ANNE MAZEROLLE PURCHASED A NEW 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER FROM LEE DODGE IN WESTBROOK, MAINE. AT THE TIME OF THEIR PURCHASE, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER PROVIDED ANY DISCLOSURE TO THE MAZEROLLES CONCERNING THE DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMISSION DEFECT. IN 2001, ANNE MAZEROLLE WAS OPERATING THE CHRYSLER MINIVAN WITH HER CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING, A THUNDEROUS NOISE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE WHEELS LOCKED IN TRAFFIC. MRS. MAZEROLLE TELEPHONED CHRYSLERS AUTHORIZED DEALER, LEE DODGE, FROM THE HIGHWAY SEEKING ASSISTANCE. MRS. MAZEROLLE WAS INFORMED THAT, WHILE IT WAS WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE VEHICLES PURCHASE, THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 36,000 MILE LIMITATION AND THE MAZEROLLES WERE OUT OF LUCK AS TO ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE MAZEROLLES THEN INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER THERE WAS ANY RECALL OR PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CHRYSLER TRANSMISSION. THEY WERE INFORMED BY THE CHRYSLER DEALER THAT NO SUCH PROBLEMS HAD BEEN REPORTED BY CHRYSLER AND THERE WAS NO RECALL CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION. IN THE EMERGENCY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, A&M TRANSMISSION, IN SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE. MRS. MAZEROLLE WAS INFORMED BY TECHNICIANS THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE PINION GEAR HAD SEIZED TO THE PINION SHAFT AND PENETRATED THE BELL HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE LOCK-UP OF THE VEHICLES DRIVE TRAIN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *SC *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 115,000 MILES. *NM
I OWN A 1998 V6 DODGE CARAVAN. MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE TRANSMISSION LITERALLY BLEW APART. IT WAS NOT MERELY A TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION MONTHLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN IN 1999, AND I HAVE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND CHANGED THE FLUID. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS $2,511.00.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 80,000 MILES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED TWO MONTHS AGO.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED GRINDING SOUND IN FRONT END. REPLACED BRAKE PADS, NOISE STILL EXIST. SERVICE MANAGER FOUND THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION, AND WAS REPLACED BECAUSE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT NUMEROUS PARTS HAD BEEN DAMAGED. *LA *MR
EMERGENCY BRAKES INOPERABLE, AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON, HORN DOES NOT WORK, HARD TIME REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AND I CAN GO FROM "P" TO "R" OR "D" WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKES (EVEN IF THERE IS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION). *JB
DEALER REPLACED THREE TIMES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE LAST PAST TWO YEARS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
SIX DIFFERENT CASES OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED. PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET, THE TRANSMISSION TWICE AND THREE TIMES ON THE FLYWHEEL. *LA THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BOLTS ON THE FLYWHEEL AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WERE LOOSE. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT, WHICH CAUSES THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK OFF, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE CRANKSHAFT WAS OUT OF ROUND, WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE CRITERIA WAS FOR ISSUING A RECALL. *SCC *JB
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE ID#1B4GP44GOWB500517 WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES ENDED THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH A LOUD METALIC CLUNK.*AK
VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED FROM DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. *MR (UNDER SIZED TRANSMISSIONS, INADEQUATE SIZED COOLING LINES AND INTERNAL PARTS) THE TRANSMISSIONS DID NOT LAST OVER AND AVERAGE OF 25K MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE AT TIMES. WHILE DRIVING, THE DASH SHOWED EVERYTHING BEING, NORMAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO SMOKE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RESPONSIVE. THE TRANSMISSION DRIPPED BALLS OF FLAMES. *SCC *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 63,000 ON THE HIGHWAY, ON A COLD DAY, 90 MILES FROM HOME WHEN I HAD MY CHILDREN, AGES 2 AND 5 IN THE VAN. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY VEHICLE! IT SHOULD BE RELIABLE AND SAFE. I'VE ALWAYS HAD TOYOTAS AND HONDAS AND PUT 200,000 MILES ON THEM WITH NO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE PUBLIC IS BEING DUMPED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER INTO THINKING THAT REPLACING TRANSMISSIONS IS A NORMAL PART OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP. I JUST HAD TO SPEND $2800 TO FIX A VEHICLE THAT IS WORTH ABOUT $7000. I'VE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT CARAVANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD TRANSMISSIONS AND MOTOR FAILURE IN UNDER 100,000 MILES. IF THEY ARE GOING TO MARKET FAMILY VEHICLES THEY SHOULD BE SAFE AND RELIABLE! *LA
TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WE DROVE TO NJ FROM OUR HOUSE, NO PROBLEMS, NOISES OR WARNINGS PARKED THE CAR AND 1/2 HOUR LATER GO IN THE CAR AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE EITHER BACK OR FORTH. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC AND NEXT DAY HE TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, I WAS SHOCKED, SO DECIDE TO GET A 2ND OPINION, TOOK CAR TO AMACO , THEY DIAGNOSED ALSO THAT A NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION OR REBUILD TRANSMISSION. I WAS GOING AWAY ON VACATION ON FRIDAY , SO HAD NO OPTIONS BUT FIX TRANSMISSION WHICH COST ME $2,021.25. I WAS GLAD IT DIDNT BRAKE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND NO ONE GOT HURT. I ASKED THE PEOPLE AT AMACO , WHAT MADE THE TRANSMISSION JUST DIE, AT 81,525 MILES AND THEY TOLD ME IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR, SO I DECIDE TO RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE RIGHT, BY YOUR OWN RECORDS OF COMPLAINTS. SO, I HOPE THE MANUFACTURER WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT OR BE FORCED TO DO SO. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE OTHER RECALLS THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT, SUCH AS SEAT BELTS AND FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *PH
PROBLEMS WITH FUEL RAIL ON 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE FUEL LINE IN WHICH THE DODGE DEALER REPAIRED IT, BUT THERE WAS A CONTINUED LEAK THAT HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GOOD YEAR WHO REPLACED THE FAULTY LINE TO STOP THE LEAK, AND ALL THE DEALER DID WAS PLACE A STRONGER CLAMP AROUND THE LEAKING LINE. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED A REFUND, BECAUSE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE WORK. RECALL#00V268000 *SCC. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,400 MILES THAT RESULTED IN HAVING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT 65,000 MILES WITH A COST OF REPAIR AT $2140.00, THE DEALER TELLING ME I HAVE A 15% OFF TOTAL COST TO FIX. AN ACTUAL REPLACEMENT IS A $2600.00, A REBUILT AT THE COST OF 2,140.00. A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN MADE WITH CHRYSLER, WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THEM AS YET. THE DEALER SAID THE WOULD CONTACT THE ZONE MGR, BUT NOT AVAILABLE FOR ME FOR AT LEAST A WEEK. WHEN I ASKED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN, THE DEALER DID REPLY, WELL, THE VAN IS 5 YEARS OLD. MEANING? A DISPOSABLE VAN AT 5 YEARS OR 50,000 WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. RIDICULOUS! *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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