1999 Dodge Grand Caravan Transmission Problems

VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK, WHEN IT SUDDENLY CHANGED TO REVERSE, KNOCKING DOWN AND RUNNING OVER THE DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257037

Incident

Jan 3, 2009

Mileage

182,507 mi

MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED THE SHIFTING LEVER OUT OF PARK WITH OUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VAN WENT IN TO NEUTRAL AND CAME DOWN OUR DRIVE WAY AND HIT A SNOWBANK COMING CLOSE TO A FOOT FROM HITTING MY HOME. THE DOOR HIT MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK AND CRUSHED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ON THE VAN INTO THE FENDER. THE LIFT GATE ON THE BACK CAVED IN. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT FROM BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE VAN BEFORE IT ROLLED. IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED WITH OUT THE BRAKE BEING PRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223417

Incident

Mar 30, 2008

Mileage

149,895 mi

TRANSMISSION BROKE FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. METAL PENETRATED THE CASE, VEHICLE ONLY HAD 38,304 MILES ON IT. IT IS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE. DODGE WOULD NOT COVER IT SINCE THEY BELIEVE IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR. FOR ME THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS WAS AN ACT OF GOD THAT MY HUSBAND WAS NOT KILLED WHILE DRIVING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE EXPRESS WAY GOING TO A WEAPONS TRAINING SITE ON THE WISCONSIN/ILLINOIS BOARDER. WE HAD AAA MOTOR CLUB BUT THE NEXT DEALERSHIP WAS OVER 35 MILES AWAY AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. OUR BILL FROM GURNEE DODGE, 7255 GRAND AVENUE (ROUTE 132), GURNEE, IL 60031 WAS $3499.27. AND OUR TOW WAS $125.00. WE NOT ONLY BABY THE CAR, CLEAN IT AND DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ON IT EVERY 6 MONTHS, IT SHOCKED THE HELL OUT OF ME TO KNOW MY HUSBAND WAS JUST DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON AN OFF RAMP W/ NOTHING BUT A GALLY DROP TO LOOK FORWARD TO. I WAS ANGRY TO SEE THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER WOULD NOT HELP US WITH THIS KNOWING THAT IT HAS A 7 YEAR 70,000 MILES POWER TRAIN WARRANTY (BUMPER TO BUMPER). THIS WAS NOT MY HUSBAND'S FAULT AND HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THANK GOD HE'S A COP AND CAN MANEUVER EVEN FROM THE TOUGHEST SITUATIONS. THE AVERAGE CONSUMER IS NOT MY HUSBAND, SO I WRITE YOU THIS NOTE TO MAKE COMPANIES LIKE DAIMLER CHRYSLER HONOR THEIR WARRANTY AND HELP THE CONSUMER WHEN A FAULTY TRANSMISSION BLOWS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE MECHANISM UP TO THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC AT GURNEE SAID MY HUSBAND WAS LUCKY IT HAD NOT PENETRATED THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE KILLED HIM, CUT HIM IN HALF OR EVEN CAUSED MORE DAMAGE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR HEARING MY VOICE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169265

Incident

Sep 28, 2004

Mileage

38,304 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE PIN CAME OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10159602

Incident

Jun 12, 2006

Mileage

118,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE SLID OFF OF THE ROAD INTO A SNOW BANK AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED A PIN IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME OUT, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. THE PIN IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/15/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150988

Incident

Feb 17, 2006

Mileage

82,609 mi

1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS EXCESSIVE RUST EATING AWAY AT THE INNER STRUT PLATE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*MR THE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN WAS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON STRUT PLATE. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10122648

Incident

May 1, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO LOW GEARS. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED IF PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10119089

Incident

Apr 14, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111463

Incident

Aug 3, 2004

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, VIN # [XXX] WITH 47,300 MILES. HERE LATELY IT WILL SHIFT ROUGH SOMETIMES AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SERVICE BULLITTEN CONCERNING THIS SITUATION OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED AND WHAT I SHOULD ADVISE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK. I AM NOT SURE THEY SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION AT 25,000 MILES. AS A SERVICE AND TRAINING MANAGER FOR YORK I KNOW THE VALUE OF CORRECT SERVICE. THANKS. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10105919

Incident

Dec 19, 2004

Mileage

41,000 mi

THE PLANETARY SET FROM THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS DISCOVERED BROKEN BY THE DEALER AFTER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *AK HEADLIGHTS WERE TO DIM ON THE VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ID

10099891

Incident

Oct 14, 2004

Mileage

69,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THERE WAS A SUDDEN GRINDING NOISE. A TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FALLING APART AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE, BUT THEY DIDN'T INDICATED WHAT IS CAUSING THE FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10074338

Incident

May 26, 2004

Mileage

57,000 mi

I HAVE A POORLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. IT WAS REBUILT ONCE, NOW IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY REBUILT AGAIN THIS TIME 1600.00 DOLLARS.MAYBE YOU ALL CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM . SEARCHING THE INTERNET MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FAULLTY CHYSLER TRANSMISSIONS. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10060306

Incident

Mar 2, 2004

Mileage

102,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE "JERKED", THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO AND THE VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR. MILEAGE = 55000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10060190

Incident

Mar 2, 2004

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. TOWED VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE NEED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, ALSO TIE ROD AND STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053819

Incident

Jan 12, 2004

Mileage

105,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN LOW RANGE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. MECHANIC FOUND THAT TRANMISSION WAS SHOT AFTER 80,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10050760

Incident

Jun 29, 2003

Mileage

81 mi

WHILE DRIVING GEAR CAN BE EASILY MOVED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048039

Incident

Nov 17, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, BLOWN TRANSMISSION, 41000 MILES. DEALER SAYS TRANSAXEL ASSEMBLY PIN BROKE? UNKNOWN WHY? FACTORY WON'T STANDBY PRODUCT ITS OUTSIDE THE 3YR, 36000 MILES. FACTORY CLAIMS THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045890

Incident

Nov 5, 2003

Mileage

41,000 mi

WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE "LUNGED FORWARD" AND LOST SPEED AND SPEEDOMETER WENT TO "0MPH". VEH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST OR 2D GEAR. WE ARE MILITARY STATIONED IN GERMANY AND THIS IS OUR OWN VEH. VEH TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP THAT HONORS U.S. WARRANTY AND WE WERE TOLD THAT 27 OTHER VANS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT THIS TIME AND WERE ALSO WAITING FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT TOOK 6 WEEKS FOR A TRANSMISSION TO BECOME AVAILABLE...OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM IF THAT MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK THAT LONG TO GET A TRANMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10028642

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

Mileage

35,475 mi

I OWN A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WITH LESS THAN 66,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FROM MY RESEARCH, DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR OVER 15 YEARS BUT HAVE REFUSED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION WHILE CONTINUING TO INSTALL THE SAME TRANSMISSIONS IN ALL DODGE, CHRYSLER AND PLYMOUTH VANS. IN 1992, CHRYSLER RENAMED THE A604 ULTRADRIVE AS THE 41TE TRANSMISSION TO ESCAPE BAD PUBLICITY! WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT LETTING THIS CONTINUE? DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED? *AK

NHTSA ID

10021397

Incident

Jun 7, 2003

Mileage

65,075 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND MAKING A LOUD STREAKING NOISE. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10021873

Incident

May 29, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID RUNNING OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD WORN LOOSE, AND FOUR HOLES WERE IN THE HOUSING. (MODEL/SPORT). *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017726

Incident

Feb 13, 2003

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *JB THE CONSUMER FELT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLOWING OUT. THE MECHANIC FOUND A PIN THAT HAD FLOWN THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND RIPPED APART. *SCC

NHTSA ID

10011310

Incident

Mar 6, 2003

Mileage

49,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UP HILLS VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND SOMETIMES CUTS OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA ID

8020712

WE WERE ON THE WAY TO OUR VACATION DESTINATION ON 7/30/02 AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY FOR GAS. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AS SOON AS WE PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION. ONCE WE WERE ON THE ROAD AGAIN, THE VAN WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR. WE WERE THEN FORCED TO STOP IN A PARKING LOT AND GOT DIRECTIONS TO THE CLOSEST FULL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. (THIS ALL TOOK PLACE AT 8:15PM IN BARSTOW, CA) THE MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VAN AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE SENSOR BUT WOULD HAVE TO RUN MORE TESTS THE FOLLOWING MORNING. WE WERE, AT THAT POINT FORCED TO STAY IN BARSTOW FOR THE NIGHT. WE CALLED THE MECHANIC IN THE MORNING AND GOT THE UNBELIEVABLE NEWS. AFTER RUNNING MORE DIAGNOSTICS HE FOUND TWO ADDITIONAL ERRORS IN THE TRANSMISSION RELATED TO A PRESSURE PROBLEM AND INFORMED US OUR TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO ORDER A FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND WE WERE CHARGED A MERE $2,750.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. IN THE MEAN TIME WE HAD TO RENT 2 CARS TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION (NO VEHICLES WERE AVAILABLE TO FIT 6 PEOPLE). WE HAD TO STAY AN ADDITIONAL NIGHT IN A HOTEL, AS OUR VAN WOULD NOT BE READY UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT. OUR VAN HAS LESS THAN 43,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE RELIABLE THAN WHAT IT WAS. WE NOW HAVE THE FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION, PROBABLY FROM SOMEONE ELSE VAN AND THEREFORE CANNOT BE TRUSTED. WE DO NOT FEEL THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS RELIABLE AND NOW WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. IT IS UNSAFE!! WE FEEL FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD EXITED THE FREEWAY AT APPARENTLY THE RIGHT TIME, WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE VAN SHIFTED IN TO SECOND GEAR AT 70MPH. THE STORY WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

765177

Incident

Jul 30, 2002

WHILE IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING APROX.35MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO LOWEST GEAR,RPMS SHOT UP,SPEEDOMETER FAILED,SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY WHERE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY DODGE CARVAN TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER.I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND DON'T KNOW IF THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND PERHAPS THATS WHY HE TRADED IT WITH ONLY ABOUT 40K MILES ON IT?DEALER SAYS PROBABLY A SENSOR,CAN'T FIX TODAY - COME BACK MONDAY.

NHTSA ID

764807

Incident

Jul 27, 2002