RoadVitals

2008 Dodge Caravan Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Dec 27, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 302 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 27, 2016

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN (3.3L / 4SPD) WITH 115,562 MILES (SPENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE IN MICHIGAN). DURING A RIGHT-HAND TURN FROM A STOP THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE THAT OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE THROTTLE WAS PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY DISABLED (NO MORE POWER/TORQUE TO THE WHEELS WITH THROTTLE) FOLLOWED BY A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE (FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND CAME IN THROUGH THE VENTS). THE ROADS WERE DRY BUT THE WEATHER WAS COLD (~25F). UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS A RIGHT HALFSHAFT BARSHAFT THAT HAD FRACTURED/FAILED AND IT DID SO WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CORROSION THAT OCCURRED UNDER THE DAMPER THAT WEAKENED THE SHAFT AND THAT'S WHERE THE FRACTURE TOOK PLACE UNDER LOAD. THE SMOKE WAS A RESULT OF BARSHAFT FRACTURE - THE BOOT TORE/INBOARD JOINT CAME APART (WITH VEHICLE MOVEMENT / THROTTLE) AND GREASE SPRAYED ALL OVER THE HOT ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED ON A VERY BUSY CITY STREET (4 LANES) AND BECAUSE THE HALFSHAFT BROKE THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD PARK (WHICH WAS ONLY DISCOVERED AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS ' HAD TO JUMP IN VEHICLE AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE). THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP.

NHTSA ID
10937669
Incident
Dec 21, 2016
Mileage
115,562 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Mar 11, 2016

CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AND KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION, THEY WERE LAYING ON THE DASH. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE PASSENGER'S FRONT DOOR WAS OPENED THE HORN STARTED HONKING AND WINDSHIELD WASHER STARTED SPRAYING (WIPERS WERE NOT ACTIVATED).IT LASTED ONLY A COUPLE SECONDS AND STOPPED. IT ALSO ACTIVATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR'S AUTO DIM FEATURE. ONCE I WAS ON THE ROAD DISCOVERED IT ALSO PREVENTED THE CAR FROM SHIFTING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I TRIED MANUALLY SHIFTING AND SLIPPING IT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT. THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED NO RESPONSE TO THE MANUAL SHIFTING IT JUST REMAINED ON THE "D". THE VAN DID GO INTO NEUTRAL AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED "N". I DIDN'T TRY THE VAN AGAIN UNTIL 24HRS LATER AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TIPM AND WILL BE REPLACING IT. IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED AT HOME AND IT ONLY LASTED A FEW SECONDS. OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN THAT LUCKY!! THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT IF IT HASN'T ALREADY IT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. MAKE THE RECALL!!

NHTSA ID
10846111
Incident
Mar 9, 2016
Mileage
75,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SPEED REDUCED TO 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 03/02/15*LJ UPDATED 6/10/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10672053
Incident
Oct 15, 2014
Mileage
84,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 31, 2014

THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES AS MY FAMILY IS DRIVING ALONG,THE ENGINE JUST DIES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME AND WHEN THE ENGINE DIES YOU LOOSE ALL POWER, STEERING,ABS ASSIST WITH THE BRAKES AND IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN. THIS ISSUE ENDED THE OTHER DAY WHEN MY WIFE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL AND THE ENGINE DIED ON A OFF RAMP ON INTERSTATE 10 IN MISSISSIPPI. WHEN SHE GOT IT STOPPED IT RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE. WHEN SHE PUT THE VAN IN DRIVE IT WOULD DIE, SHE PUT THE VAN IN REVERSE AND IT BACKED UP FINE. GOT IT OFF THE OFF-RAMP ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD CALLED A TOW SERVICE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD VEILED RELATED TO THE STALLING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS WRITTEN IN A NEWS PAPER. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT DODGE HAS WITH THESE VAN AND IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY DODGE NOT THE CONSUMER. THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WAS ISSUED BY DODGE AS LONG AS YOU ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER SHOULD COVER THIS ISSUE BUT DODGE SAYS IT DOES NOT. PLEASE ASSIST WITH THIS ISSUE AS THE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651608
Incident
Oct 28, 2014
Mileage
168,463 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID
10638914
Incident
Sep 22, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE FROM DRIVE TO SECOND GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS, RADIO, AND WIPERS LOST POWER. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUSH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO REGAIN POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V139000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10637549
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
Mileage
78,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 14, 2012

THE VAN SHUT OFF WHEN IT WAS DOING 60 MILES PER HOUR THE VAN SHUT OFF LIKE 7 TIMES BEFORE THE PART DIED THE PART IS POWER CONTROL MODULE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10458312
Incident
Apr 19, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 20, 2011

CHRYSLER HAD A RECALL ON MANY OF THEIR MINIVANS BUILT IN JANUARY 2008, FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT HUBS AND WHEEL BEARINGS. MY 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAD A WHEEL BEARING GO OUT AT 35,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE ASKED WHY MY VAN IS NOT ON THE RECALL. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN. I NOW HAVE ALMOST 50,000 MILES AND THE ONLY WARRANTY IS THE LIFETIME POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THE NOISE AGAIN INTERMITTANTLY. I DON'T TRUST THIS VEHICLE. *TT

NHTSA ID
10407634
Incident
Jun 20, 2011
Mileage
49,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .