RoadVitals

1989 Dodge Grand Caravan Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
9
Latest Mar 4, 2002
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.
38%
of 24 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

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 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 transmission

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

Transmission
Filed Mar 4, 2002

HOW MANY OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE TO FAIL BEFORE D-C OWNS UP TO POOR ENGINEERING/DESIGN??*AK

NHTSA ID
758921
Incident
Feb 20, 2002
EngineTransmission
Filed Nov 4, 2001

OVERALL BUILD QUALITY/REPAIR RELIABILITY/PARTS MFRG FAR BELOW AVG WITH NUMEROUS ROAD SIDE FAILURES UNSAFE. NO, SAFETY DEFCT STATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
754063
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Transmission
Filed Nov 4, 2001

IN A DESIGN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE GAS MILEAGE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT TO "COASTS OR FREEWHEELS" DOWNHILL AT IDLE RPM OF APPROX 1000 AND ZERO ENGINE COMPRESSION BRAKING. THE RESULT IS EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION DOWNHILL, TAILGATING AND/OR EXCESSIVE BRAKE COMPONET WEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
754060
Incident
Dec 19, 1989
Transmission
Filed Apr 7, 2000

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS BEFORE FAILING AT 127,000 MILES. REMAN. TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WENT ONLY 12,375 MILES WHEN IT FAILED. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE. THIRD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT ANOTHER DEALER WENT ABOUT 65,000 MILES AND FAILED ALSO. MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH TRANSAXLE CONTROLLERS, SPEED SENSORS. DEALERS CAN'T SEEM TO REPAIR WITHOUT REPLACING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
711202
Incident
Sep 10, 1999
Transmission
Filed Dec 31, 1999

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW WITH A 4 SPD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES, WITH NO COST TO ME EXCEPT THE TIME I DIDNT HAVE MY VEHICLE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
716698
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Transmission
Filed Sep 29, 1999

ABOUT EVERY 10,000 MI. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON. OF COURSE THERE IS ALWAYS AN EXCUSE FROM THE DODGE MECHANICS AND I END UP PAYING FOR IT. I,M SURE THE TOTAL IS AROUND 5,000.00. THESE PROBLEMS HAD ALSO HAPPEN TO THE PREVIOUS OWNERS BECAUSE ALL THE RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO EACH OWNER, ME BEING THE LAST.

NHTSA ID
712451
Incident
May 25, 1997
Transmission
Filed Sep 28, 1999

THE VEHICLE WILL DROP FROM OVERDRIVE TO 2ND GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
848885
Transmission
Filed Aug 26, 1997

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO STOP POSITION.

NHTSA ID
521435
Transmission
Filed Aug 28, 1996

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO EITHER STICK OR JUMP FORWARD.

NHTSA ID
508001
Incident
Apr 1, 1990

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .