2002 Dodge Caravan Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT DETECTED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WATER PUMP WERE LEAKING FLUIDS. ALSO, THE FLYWHEEL BROKE IN HALF. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SERVICE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID

10322092

Incident

Mar 25, 2009

Mileage

53,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59,000 MILES- WILL COST ME AT LEAST $2650 WHEN I PICK IT UP THURSDAY, 10/25/07. WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE, I HAVE TO GET TO WORK. I BOUGHT IT NEW AND IT WILL BE PAID OFF NEXT OCTOBER, 2008. I'VE HAD THAT VAN TO THE TWO DODGE DEALERS AND AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL MECHANICS. I'VE PAID FOR EMISSIONS REPAIRS, 3 SETS OF TIRES. I HAD THE "CARAVAN" LETTERS REPLACED AND THEY ARE NOW ETCHED OUT AGAIN, I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT AND IT QUIT BEFORE, BUT TODAY'S INCIDENT, WAS JUST A NEAR MISS I WASN'T CRUSHED BETWEEN A SCHOOL BUS AND A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE VAN JUST WOULDN'T GO. I WAS JUST SICK ALL DAY-SCARED AND ACTUALLY LEFT WORK EARLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206711

Incident

Oct 23, 2007

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED THANKSGIVING DAY 2006. VAN WAS PARKED ON HILL. I PLACED IT IN DRIVE AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL. WAS ABLE TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE UNIT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. AFTER PICKING IT UP I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR. SHOP STATED IT WAS DUE TO A SENSOR PROBLEM. A COUPLE OF MONTH'S LATER IT DID THE SAME FIRST GEAR. SHOP REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN. LUCKILY THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DODGE ONLY WARRANTS THE POWERTRAIN TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER. I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2003. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186596

Incident

Nov 26, 2006

Mileage

70,800 mi

I AND MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING UP HWY 44 AT 1730 HRS TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM WORK AT SIX FLAGS(IN THE RAIN), SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 DODGE CARAVAN EC. WE CAME DOWN PAST ANTIRE HILL RD THERE WERE A WARRING BUZZER AND A ENGINE WARRING LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER THE VAN SEEM TO HAVE A SHUTTER IN THE STEERING, SHE STATED AND I SAW THIS. AS WE CROSSED THE MERAMAC RIVER THERE WAS A LOUD METAL POPPING AND GRINDING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALMOST THROUGH ME OUT OF THE SEAT I THOUGHT SHE HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES. SHE STATED SHE HAD NOT AND THAT SHE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME CONTROLLING IT. SHE HAD LET OFF THE GAS AND SLOWED BUT NOT BEFORE HEARING THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE LOCK UP AND SKID ON THE WET PAVEMENT PULLING US TOWARD THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND. THEN THE VEHICLE GAVE ANOTHER LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND POP AND SHE GOT TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD HER POP THE HOOD AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK PUSHED OUT OF THE TUBE WITH FLUID SPRAYED EVERY WERE. I SAID I WOULD TRY AND GET US TO WALMART SO WE COULD CALL FAR HELP AND GET A RIDE FOR MY SON. I THEN STARED THE VAN PLACED IT IN (L) AND CONTINUED TO THE HWY 109 EXIT. THEN TO THE OUTER ROAD THEN FINALLY MAKING IT TO WALMART'S PARKING LOT. WHILE TRYING TO PULLING TO A PARKING SPOT THE TRANS GAVE ONE LAST LOUD SNAPPING SOUND, THAT WAS ALL I HAD TO ROLL BACK DOWN THE HILL AND COST TO PARK VAN. ENGINE WOULD RUN NOTHING FROM TRANS IN ANY GEAR. WE WALKED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION AND CALLED MY FATHER TO COME AND GET US. WE ARRIVED BACK HOME AT 2030 HRS. THE VAN IS NOT FIXED THIS JUST HAPPENED I AM GOING TO CALL CHRYSLER MONDAY TO SE IF THEY WILL COVER IT. IF NOT I WILL BE FIXING IT MYSELF AND YOU MAY HAVE THE PARTS IF NEEDED. THE ODOMETER HAD JUST TURN TO 72,000 MILES ON THIS DAY OF HAPPENING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171529

Incident

Oct 21, 2006

Mileage

72,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN NEW. IT HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. ASIDE FROM ALL OF THE RECALL WORK, MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED WAS TWO MONTHS AGO, THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS FIXED. IT WENT OUT AGAIN LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER DEDUCTIBLE TO "FIX" IT AGAIN. MY AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY IN OVER A YEAR, WATER LEAKS DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, AND COLD AIR ONLY COMES OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE VENTS, THE DRIVER SIDE VENTS BLOW OUT HOT AIR. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS NOT WORKED IN OVER A YEAR, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AT RANDOM, AND THE ARM REST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT JUST SNAPPED OFF. THE DEALER IS NOT VERY HELPFUL AT ALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168435

Incident

Sep 15, 2006

Mileage

68,000 mi

2002 DODGE CARAVAN'S TRANSMISSION FAILED. *KB *NM

NHTSA ID

10167986

Incident

Jul 18, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A FLATBED TRUCK BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE LOCKED UP. THE DEALERSHIPS DIAGNOSTIC TEST DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME, AND CAUSES THE RIMS TO GET HOT, CAUSING THREE BLOWOUTS ON THE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM, BUT THE SHOES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA ID

10150328

Incident

Feb 15, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

DT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUNDTHAT THE AXLE NUTS WERE LOOSE. THREE MONTHS LATER THE CONSUMER HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE BAFCK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME THING. THEY SAID THAT THE NUTS HAD JUST COME LOOSE AND WERE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED IT. THIS HAPPENED ON MAY 12, 2004. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED BOTH TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10135804

Incident

May 12, 2004

Mileage

56,704 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED THIRD RECALL NOTICE FOR 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE DASH ON AND OFF, AND THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10126867

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

CAR WAS BOUGHT USED FORM KIA DEAL 7/1/2003 A LITTLE UNDER 2 YRS LEFT ON WARRANTY HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINT. PER MFG SPEC. WENT ON VACATION TO MAIN 5/12/05 CAME BACK 5/21/05 AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FUILD ON GARAGE FLOOR. WENT TO I WENT TO MECH (PEP BOYS) BECAUSE THOUGTH WHEN I HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSH PER DODGE SPEC THAT SOMETING WASNT RIGHT. MECH SAID THAT IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAY HAD DONE AND THAT THAY COUNDNT FIX IT I HAD TO GO TO DODGE IT WAS A SPEC. VALVE THAT WAS LEAKING AND THAY NEED TOOLS THAT THAY DIDN'T HAVE. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS JUST 9 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY..I HAVE HAD FOUR RECALLS ON THIS VAN AND THAY HAVE FIX ALL PROBLEMS .I JUST THINK DODGE SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT GOING TO COST ME 500.00 TO FIX IT. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THE VAN HAD MORE MILES ON IT BUT IT ONLY HAS 35863 MILES IN THREE YEARS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT HAD 17,000 MILE I WORK 7 MILES FROM WORK. I CANT SEE WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HIS PROBLEM. MY SON WORK FOR ATC BUS COMPANY ANY THAY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS AND HAVE TO BE CHANGE OUT AT LESS THEN 35,000 MLES. IF YOU COULD HELP ME OUT WITH INVESTAGATING THIS MATTER THANKS VYONNEE SZALAI EBITT 43720 SERENITY COURT LANCASTER CA 93535

NHTSA ID

10122273

Incident

May 25, 2005

Mileage

35,851 mi

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DRIVER NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING HOSES AND TRANSMISSION SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEMS STILL OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111030

Incident

Feb 7, 2005

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THROUGH VARYING SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SHIFTS IMPROPERLY. SOMETIMES IT IS AN EXTREMELY HARD SHIFT BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AT SPEEDS OF 20-30 MPH WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL PULL BACK AND THEN LURCH FORWARD AND A LOUD THUD OCCURS. IT SHIFTS IMPROPERLY WITH THE SAME ACTIONS WHEN IT SHIFTS DOWN INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. IT ALSO SHIFTS ERRATICALLY BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-65 MPH. HOWEVER THESE ISSUES ARE NOT CONSISTENT AND THE PROBLEM DOESN'T OCCUR EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE SHIFTS IN TO THESE GEARS. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO SERVICE THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD TRANSMISSION PROGRAM. HOWEVER, AFTER THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE "FIXED" THE ISSUES, MY VEHICLE' S TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WORSENED INSTEAD OF IMPROVING. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE TWO MORE TIMES WHERE THE DODGE MECHANIC SAID THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING, AND REFUSED TO FIX MY VEHICLE. THEY WILL ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND IF IT DOESN'T ACT UP THEY SEND IT HOME AND SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093029

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO MOVE AN OBJECT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, AND VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE STOPPING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10084025

Incident

Jul 27, 2004

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AT LOW SPEEDS TRANSMISSION WOULD LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10065297

Incident

Mar 18, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SE HAS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION PUMP REPLACED TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN 32,000 MILES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY DEALER DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE CARAVAN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064266

Incident

Mar 31, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059208

Incident

Feb 17, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040312

Incident

Sep 19, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON VEHICLE.*MR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT TO DATE THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10040152

Incident

Aug 19, 2003

Mileage

9,965 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD, ONLY BACKWARDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10031632

Mileage

56,000 mi

2002 DODGE CARAVAN ROLLED BACK WHILE IN PARK AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER LOCKED. *MR PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10026418

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO HIGHER THAN 30 MPH, ANYTHING OVER MAY DESTROY THE ENGINE. TVEHICLE IS STICKING IN SECOND GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10022030

Incident

May 19, 2003

Mileage

16,138 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICE THE RMPS HAD RISEN. CONSUMER LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD SHIFTED TO NUETRAL ALL ON ITS OWN. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020258

Incident

Sep 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. ALSO, THERE IS A STRAIN IN VEHICLE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND CANT FIXED IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005545