2007 Dodge Grand Caravan Transmission Problems

PARKED FACING DOWNHILL WITH VEHICLE IN PARK AND PARKING BRAKE ON. CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEAR USING COLUMN LEVER. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO CHECK UNDER HOOD FOR A PROBLEM. NOTICE CABLE DISCONNECTED FROM LEVER ON TRANSMISSION. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO REACH IN TO GET THE CABLE, THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED DOWN HILL, THE HOOD SLAMMED MY ARM TRAPPING IT AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWNHILL. I BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN ANOTHER CAR AS IT PUSHED ME 20 FEET DOWNHILL. ANOTHER PASSER BY WAS ABLE TO GET IN THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE BRAKE WHILE I PRIED MY ARM OUT CAUSING NERVE DAMAGE. THE HOOD WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE MY ARM WAS STUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398303

Incident

Apr 27, 2011

Mileage

113,352 mi

2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 6 DAYS WHILE WE WERE AWAY ON VACATION. RETURNED TO AIRPORT AND DROVE VEHICLE HOME (30 MILES). NEXT MORNING DROVE VEHICLE INTO TOWN (15 MILES) WITH NO PROBLEMS. PARKED FOR 1 HOUR THEN WENT TO RETURN HOME. WITHIN A FEW MILES THE VEHICLE MOVED ITSELF INTO A NEUTRAL STATE (DISPLAY SHOWED "D" STILL) WHILE MOVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS WAS IMMEDIATELY MADE AWARE AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW AND THE ENGINE QUICKLY REVVED HIGH. WAS BARELY ABLE TO COAST SAFELY INTO A PARKING AREA. TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR 5 MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED AND IT DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE MOVED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT REASON AND ALSO DID NOT UPDATE DISPLAY. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN 35 DEGREES OR LESS RECENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395127

Incident

Apr 7, 2011

Mileage

55,350 mi

I HAVE HAD THE 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SINCE 2007. THIS WINTER, WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE AROUND 33 AND BELOW, IT SLIPS OUT OF DRIVE IN TO A NEUTRAL STATE. THE GEAR ON THE DASH DOES NOT MOVE SO IT APPEARS TO STILL BE IN DRIVE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, IT "GOES NEUTRAL" WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING. IT SLOWS DOWN AND I CAN BRAKE BUT THE ACCELERATION WILL NOT WORK. SUDDENLY IT WILL "POP" BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS ALL HAPPENS WITH BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DOES THIS ALL ON ITS OWN AND IT IS VERY SCARY, ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS IS TO RUN THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES IN COLD WEATHER PRIOR TO PUTTING IT IN DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10393085

Incident

Feb 7, 2011

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. MY LOCAL DEALER SAY THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK AT. IN BOTH CASES THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER I ACCELERATED ON THE INTERSTATE TO PASS A CAR. EVERYTHING GOES DEAD JUST LIKE I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I PUT THE VAN INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IT IS GOING. PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO RESTART VAN. NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. IT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO GET ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION DEPENDING ON WHERE AND WHEN IT HAPPENS. IF IT RESULTS IN AN ACCIDENT I'LL FILE LEGAL ACTION. DODGE SHOULD KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND PROVIDE FIX IT. BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341306

Incident

Apr 18, 2007

Mileage

58,429 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2007 AND FROM DAY ONE, NOTICED THE HARD SHIFT ON MOVE-OFF AND ON SLOW-DOWN. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH A 2007 TOYOTA AND THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED WITH A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. I JUST TOOK MY CAR INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD DEALERSHIP ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE BULLETIN INFO (THANKS TO MYCARSTATS.COM FOR MAKING THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER) AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE TESTED FINE - NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!! SO I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I VISIT ANOTHER (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) DEALERSHIP FOR A SECOND OPINION. WHY SHOULD THIS BE??? THIS IS A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232264

Incident

Jun 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. FROM SEPTEMBER OF 2007 UNTIL MAY OF 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A RED LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IF IT WILL DROP TO THE GROUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. ON MAY 14, 2008, THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINALLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE PAINT WAS PEELING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT TAR ADHERED TO THE PAINT; THEREFORE, THEY WASHED THE QUARTER PANEL AND SCRAPED OFF THE PAINT. WHEN THE VEHICLE AND HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED, EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AUTOMATICALLY, WHICH DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH SHORTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SWITCH ON THE PANEL TO SHUT THE VEHICLE DOORS DID NOT WORK FOR TWO DAYS. IT HAS BEGUN TO WORK AGAIN, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVES IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE SWITCH FAILS AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. UPDATED 07/10/08. *LJ UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10230738

Incident

Sep 13, 2007

Mileage

2,500 mi

SINCE MIDDLE OF LAST DECEMBER 2007 I CANNOT USE MY CAR BECAUSE ?TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE?. THIS IS SECOND TIME A TROUBLE LIKE THIS HAPPENS. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED ON LAST OCTOBER 2007 AT 2,230 MILES. ). I CANNOT AGREE WITH YOUR CORPORATION'S DECISION AND LARRY MILLER DODGE SERVICE CENTER'S DECISION TO REPAIR THE VAN AT EVERY 2,000 MILES. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219254

Incident

Dec 14, 2007

I HAVE HAD MY 07' GRAND CARAVAN IN THE SHOP NOW A TOTAL OF 3TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY ... IT HAS A HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND SOMETIMES WILL DO THE HARD SHIFT WHILE IN DRIVE AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE FIXED BY SEPTEMBER .. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER AND STILL NOTHING. I TOOK THIS TO ANOTHER DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IT SHOULD NOT FEEL LIKE MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO DROP OUT WHEN I COME TO A STOP. GUESS NEXT TIME IT DOES I WILL HAVE IT BACK IN THERE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10209334

Incident

Jun 2, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS NOT APPLICABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,652.

NHTSA ID

10208894

Incident

Jul 19, 2007

Mileage

4,000 mi

THIS ISSUE OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT IS A CHRYSLER FINANCIAL LEASE VEHICLE, AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 9,200 MILES. THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING AT APPROXIMATELY 250 MILES. I AM AN ENGINEER ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS TO PROVIDE NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER WITH ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF AN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE. THE DODGE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED. ISSUE ? THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS AN EXTREMELY HARSH 21 DOWNSHIFT. IT ALSO EXHIBITS A MILDLY HARSH 12 UPSHIFT. I SUSPECT SOLENOID AND/OR VALVE BODY DEBRIS IS PRESENT CAUSING DELAYED/HARSH SHIFTS. THERE IS ALSO A MODERATE AMOUNT OF TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP CLUTCH SLIPPAGE IN THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN THIRD GEAR UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. DURING THIRD GEAR TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP MODE, ENGINE SPEED FLUCTUATIONS ARE VISIBLE ON THE TACHOMETER. THE ENGINE SPEED CHANGES ARE AUDIBLE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (ATF) LEVEL AND COLOR. THE LEVEL IS CORRECT AND THE FLUID DOES NOT SMELL OR APPEAR BURNT (FLUID IS RED IN COLOR). *TR

NHTSA ID

10208527

Incident

Oct 7, 2007

Mileage

250 mi

ON 8/4/07, MY 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE CAR WENT DOWN THE HILL, INTO OUR WOODS, AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR WAS IN PARK THE ENTIRE TIME. AFTER THIS, I HAVE SPENT NUMEROUS HOURS CONTACTING CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER DID SEND OUT A MECHANIC AND THEY DID ADMIT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MECHANICAL - TRANSMISSION DID NOT HAVE THE 'PARKING PIN'. I WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE. AT THIS POINT, CHRYSLER WANTS TO REPLACE MY OLD VAN WITH A NEW ONE AND ME TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE. I AM NOT AGREEING TO THIS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207952

Incident

Aug 4, 2007

Mileage

662 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARD AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,028.

NHTSA ID

10203409

Incident

Jul 15, 2007

Mileage

150 mi

WE PURCHASED AN 07' DODGE GRAND CARAVAN JUNE 07 AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS W/ IT SINCE SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND IS CONTINUING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN WE HAD IT IN THE LAST TIME WE WERE TOLD CHRYSLER WAS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND WOULD HAVE SOMETHING DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST ... WELL I PHONED SEPT 11 12:15 PM AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THEY STILL HAD HEARD NOTHING IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE. IT STARTED OUT THAT THE VAN WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP ... FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO DROP OUT AT TIMES. IT THEN MOVED TO DOING THIS WHILE IN MOTION AS WELL ... THE DEALER ASSURED US THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN IT IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER IS WORKING ON. THERE ARE OTHER KNOWN CUSTOMERS W/ THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN WE HAD IT IN THE SHOP THE FIRST TIME A DX WAS RAN ON THE COMPUTER TO RESET EVERYTHING ... DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. HAD IT BACK IN A WEEK LATER FOR 9+DAYS AND AT THAT TIME THEY DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION OUT AND REPLACED THE CLUTCHES AND SOMETHING ELSE TOO. AS SOON AS WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IT WAS BACK TO SQUARE ONE. MY KEY HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION ONCE SO FAR ... DIDN'T TAKE IT IN BUT DID PHONE TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE. THAT HAPPENED DURING THE MONTH OF JULY .... NOW MY BACK AUTOMATIC DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE SWITCH LOCATED NEAR THE DOORS, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN YESTERDAY (09/15/07) AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK UP. I DID FINALLY GET IT UP BUT SCARED TO TRY AND ROLL IT DOWN AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10203123

Incident

Jun 19, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF PARK AND IT ROLLED INTO A POND. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGES. THERE IS A FEATURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE FEATURE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 24,049 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,152.

NHTSA ID

10196057

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

23,152 mi