RoadVitals

2005 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.
11
Latest Jul 22, 2010
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.
1%
of 995 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.
2
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 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 Jul 22, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. A LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT EXPENSE FOR APPROXIMATELY $3,000. DODGE WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

NHTSA ID
10344788
Incident
Apr 5, 2010
Mileage
94,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT HEARS A THUMPING AND KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED INTO DRIVE. THERE IS ALSO TAPPING IN THE ENGINE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. ON JANUARY 15, 2008, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIFTERS FAILED AND ALL OF THEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED ONE LIFTER AND DECLARED THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,128 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,287. UPDATED 02/11/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10215981
Incident
Jan 15, 2008
Mileage
61,287 mi
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Jan 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OVER TEN TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE ISSUE OCCURRED WHENEVER THERE WAS AN INCLINE IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED EXTREME CONCERN FOR THE DEFECT AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 100. UPDATED 05/13/08 *BF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, T WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF REVERSE. THE RATTLING NOISE WAS DUE TO THE SWAY BAR BEING BROKEN. UPDATED 05/13/08

NHTSA ID
10215394
Incident
May 9, 2004
Mileage
100 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Jul 19, 2007

CATHEDRAL CITY DODGE REFUSED TO WORK ON THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED. THE RECALL PROBLEM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MODIFICATIONS BUT CATHEDRAL CITY DODGE REFUSED TO WORK ON IT.. AFTER SEVERAL HEATED CONVERSATIONS WITH MANAGEMENT CATHEDRAL CITY DODGE RETURNED MY VEHICLE WITH A DEAD BATTERY, AND A LEAK IN MY ENGINE AND DID NOT FIX THE RECALLED ITEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE NEW PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MODIFICATIONS BUT WERE INDEPENDENT FROM ANY MODIFICATIONS PREVIOUSLY MADE TO MY VEHICLE. AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DODGE CORPORATION I WAS REFERRED TO THE DODGE SERVICE CENTER IN LAQUINTA. THERE MY CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND THE RECALL ITEM WAS NOT FIXED BECAUSE THE MANAGER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE MODIFICATIONS. I CALLED LAQUINTA DODGE TO COMPLAIN AND MY VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE ENGINE LEAK, THE UNSERVICED RECALL ITEM AND NOW IN DOESN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CATHEDRAL CITY SERVICE CENTER AND THE LAQUINTA SERVICE CENTER DIDN'T EVEN CHECK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEMS WERE IN ANYWAY WAY CONNECTED TO THE MODIFICATIONS. THEY JUST REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. NOW THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL ON MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE AIRBAGS AND LAQUINTA IS REFUSING TO WORK ON IT. IN SUMMARY MY VEHICLE ARRIVED IN PALM SPRINGS FULLY OPERATIONAL IN JUNE 2006 AND EVER SINCE THE FIRST CONTACT WITH CATHEDRAL CITY SERVICE CENTER MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE. BETWEEN THE CATHEDRAL CITY AND LAQUINTA DODGE SERVICE CENTERS MY CAR NOW HAS AN ENGINE LEAK, A BAD HEATING COIL, DEFECTED AIRBAGS PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND DOES NOT START. MY VEHICLE WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL AND HAD 80 MILES ON IT WHEN IT ARRIVED AT CATHEDRAL CITY DODGE IN 2006 AND NOW HAS 87 MILES ON IT AND IS IN OPERABLE. THAT?S 87 MILES NOT 8,700 OR 87,000 MILES. IT HAS ONLY 87 MILES BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN RUNNING SINCE CATHEDRAL CITY AND LAQUINTA DODGE HAVE DAMAGED MY VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10196878
Incident
Jul 19, 2007
Transmission
Filed Jun 25, 2007

TRANSMISSION SHIFED FROM FOURTH GEAR TO SECOND GEAR AT 60 MPH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. DEALER REPLACED TRANS MISSION CONTROL MODULE. NINE DAYS LATER TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SOLENOID.*AK

NHTSA ID
10194170
Incident
May 20, 2007
Mileage
42,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 26, 2007

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 38,000 MILES. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS CLEARLY A FAILURE THAT STARTED BEFORE THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. TRANSMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON, AND UPON INSPECTION AT 2 CERTIFIED MECHANICS, I WAS SHOWN BLACK TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND SCANNER SHOWED MAJOR TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10183517
Incident
Feb 26, 2007
Mileage
37,900 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Dec 26, 2006

1) LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID; NOISY STEERING 2) NO FAILURE, PROMPTLY TOOK TO MECHANIC 3) REPLACED STEERING RACK, FRONT- END ALIGNED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10177002
Incident
Dec 25, 2006
Mileage
48,352 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Nov 4, 2006

DEAR SIRS: 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE . IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, FEW OF WHICH WERE FIXED PROPERLY WHEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. FINALLY, ON OCTOBER 04, 2006, WITH 29000+ MILES ON THE VEHICLE, AN AXLE BROKE AS MY SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, AND TWO GRANDCHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE ROAD. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE, WITH THE VEHICLE MOVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THERE IS EVERY LIKELIHOOD THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. AXLES DO NOT BREAK EXCEPT UNDER EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES OR WHEN THERE IS SOME FATAL FAULT WITH THE MANUFACTURE ITSELF. THIS IS NOT A VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN ABUSED. IT HAS BEEN USED TO TRANSPORT HOUSEWIVES AND SMALL CHILDREN BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL, TO GROCERY, ETCETERA. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AT ALL PROPER INTERVALS AT THE MECHANICSVILLE, VA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. EXCEPT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE SO AS TO AVOID STORAGE CHARGES, I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY TRANSPORTED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MECHANICSVILLE DODGE CLAIMS TO HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT IS SAFE. THEY HAVE ALL ''' DRIVEN IT AND IT DRIVES FINE!'' THAT IS ILLOGICAL FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. FIRST, IT ''DROVE FINE'' RIGHT UP UNTIL THE MOMENT THE AXLE BROKE, EVEN THOUGH NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL AND OTHER PROBLEMS EXISTED WHICH WERE NOT FULLY REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. SECOND, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, BASED ON MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH SHODDY WORK AND OUTRIGHT FALSEHOODS AT THIS STORE, TO BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOP IS CAPABLE OF PROPERLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THIRD, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT OTHER LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS DO NOT EXIST, LURKING IN THIS VEHICLE TO STRIKE MY FAMILY IF WE WERE TO TRUST IT OR MECHANICSVILLE DODGE ONCE AGAIN WITH OUR LIVES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10172615
Incident
Oct 4, 2006
Mileage
29,751 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Mar 21, 2006
Crash reported

AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY,WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED THERE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153330
Incident
Feb 20, 2006
Mileage
12,385 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 14, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN FIRST GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHICH REPLACED THE VEIL BODY. TWO YEARS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE IDLING. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ALTHOUGH THE RPMS INCREASED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. LATER, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS. AFTERWARDS THE TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPAGE AND WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. EVERY INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 40 MPH OR LESS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 03/09/06

NHTSA ID
10150225
Incident
Feb 14, 2006
Mileage
9,784 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 19, 2005
Crash reported

DT: 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE IT WENT BACKWARDS. ITTRAVELING ABOUT 25 METERS AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES. A TREE STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLEWAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY E INVESTIGATING WHY THIS HAPPENED. HE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DAIMLERCHRYSLER.

NHTSA ID
10133519
Incident
Aug 18, 2005

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .