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Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Minivan Problems & Solutions - READ ONLY

4276 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2006 at 2:11 AM

You are in the Chrysler/Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler Town and Country, Van

Messages Page 19 of 428

#179 of 4276 To #217 by dmori1

Apr 10, 2000 (7:25 am)

I am in the same boat as you are. I purchased a 1999 Plymouth Voyager base with the Mitsubishi 3.0L engine before I found Edmunds and wish I had found this site first. My Voyager/Caravan vehicle has run fine for almost a year. Bought it in May 99 and it now has 12,400 miles on it with no problems except for a vibration on certain parts of the freeway here. So far I'm happy with my mini van. I love the dark tinted security glass. See my posting under category #59 reply #296 and #297. I with more people in the 20,000 to 25,000 mile range would let us know how their vehicles are running.

#180 of 4276 Strange Brake Problem by jwmek

Apr 16, 2000 (8:39 am)

I have a strange brake problem on my '98 T&C Lxi since new: 90% of the time I have to apply much more than normal pressure on the brake pedal to bring the van to a stop. The other 10% of the time only "normal" pressure is required but accompanied by a groaning noise from the front brakes. Brake fluid level is fine.


Had taken the van to the dealership service twice for brake inspection and twice they told me the brakes are working fine and the poor braking is normal!?!


Anyone with this or similar problem and what's the fix? TIA.


Aside from the weak brakes and the useless headlights I am quite satisfy with my T&C.

#181 of 4276 Dc design flaws re transmission by edwardh1

Apr 16, 2000 (8:23 pm)

I posted this in #272
This is an interesting site: www.allpar.com,


                                it talks a lot about the DC transmission problems-
                                and which must exist, for so many people to be
                                complaining about them (three people I know at work
                                with DC minis have had transmission failures),
                                even considering that there are 600,000 DC vans
                                sold per year to 125,000 winstars and 60 or 70 K
                                each Honda and Sienna. Most of the DC failures seem
                                at low miles 40-50K, then again they fail for the
                                same owner 40K miles later. Transmission is a major
                                part that should not fail.


                                If Dextron fluid ruins the transmission, it was a
                                serious design error for DC to market a product
                                with that "risk" as they must have known that most
                                people think there are only 2 kinds of fluid,
                                Mercon and Dextron and that most Jiffy lubes are in
                                a big hurry.
                                Toyotas use dextron without a problem.
                                The toyota forums are full of problems too, really
                                biggies like the brakes squeal or the rear window
                                washer dribbles - quite an order of magniture in
                                inconvience and $$$ from the transmission problems.
                                The other factor seems to be that the factory has
                                not been responsive to a "fix", if the fix has been
                                applied, it has received no publicity. That says
                                either DC does not believe its a problem,
                                (uninformed) or do not care. Why should they?? ,
                                "you" keep buying their products
                                But "you" have stopped buying GM products as much,
                                as there market share goes down each year - so
                                they are getting the message from Toyota et al.
                                Especially Olds, sales of what 1.3 million in 1984,
                                and 200K last year?






#182 of 4276 Cost? by Stratego

Apr 17, 2000 (7:36 am)

Maybe this could be part of the problem, but does the Mopar ATF+3 cost more than Mercon and Dextron? If so, I have no doubt that some shops are cutting corners and saving themselves the extra cost. Maybe even some of the DC dealerships as well.

#183 of 4276 Edwardh1 by egawron

Apr 19, 2000 (4:05 am)

You are correct that the Chrysler 4-speed automatic has a higher failure rate then any other transmission ever designed. It has been that way for over 10 years - and they are still using the same transmission and it will still be the same transmission for 2001. Some improvements have been made to it - it will now last past the warranty period and averages about 50,000 before it self-destructs. This is a well documented and time proven reliability problem. Chrysler is well aware of it, but couldn't care less. Chrysler has learned that consumers are more interested in style/gadgets and will forgive reliability problems - especially when Chrysler had no real competition.


As to why Chrysler designed a transmission that needed a special fluid, the answer is they didn't. The 4-speed automatic was designed to and was using Dextron. But after major problems with the transmission dying after 30,000 miles, Chrysler "fixed" the design flaws by developing a new transmission fluid Mopar ATF-3. With ATF-3 and other "fixes" Chrysler achieved their goal of getting it to last past the warranty period. Also Chrysler dropped the 7 year 70,000 mile power train warranty they use to offer - it was costing too much. That still leaves a transmission with major long-term reliability problems.


All of the above can be verified by talking to any independent transmission repair shop.




 

#184 of 4276 oh.. by swampcollie

Apr 19, 2000 (4:41 am)

can you explain my 93 with 110k?.. and where is this well documented documentation at?... just exactly what is the norm?.. would there really be the number of repeat buyers if what you say is true?... i know that the 89-90 trannys were a problem. and you complain about the chrysler warrenty... doesnt it match everyone elses?... why don't the rest have the 7/70?
you say they average 50k..exactly where is that statistic from? I am sure that you did not just pull that number out of the air. You surely have some kind of data.
tell you what. I have a 99. I will put up a $1000 that my tranny goes past what you call average. that would be even money since if 50k is average then half would fail prior to that and half after. well that is not exactly right. vans like my 93 would raise the average quite a bit..
how about it?..wanna put your money where your keyboard is?..

#185 of 4276 Glad you are still here swampcollie by carleton1

Apr 19, 2000 (5:16 am)

    to refute the old, tired refrain about how bad Chrysler transmissions are. Rather than repeat the old wives tales of Chrysler problem transmissions, people would be wise to read of NEW
vehicles transmission problems in another brand ...especially if the vehicle has a V6 engine in either a sedan or minivan configuration. Check for yourself right here in the Edmunds Town Hall.

#186 of 4276 Unreal by 2rcs

Apr 19, 2000 (7:06 am)

People, People, People...


My Wife and I have been shopping for a Mini-van for about four weeks now. Opinions about who makes the best ones are as varied as the makes themselves, but I have come to one conclusion. THERE ARE NO GREAT MINI-VANS!


If you believe everything that you read Dodge, Chrysler, and Ford all have MAJOR engine problems. Mercury, Mazda, and Oldsmobile STINK in crash tests. Toyota is too expensive for what you get and Honda (and this is personal experience talking) is a mini-van that you can't even look in, let alone test drive, because all of them are supposedly spoken for already.


I am beginning to look at this like the upcoming Presidential election...There is no good choice...only a better choice.

#187 of 4276 SWAMPCOLLIE by 2rcs

Apr 19, 2000 (7:11 am)

Can you tell me what Dodge has done to fix the problems with their transmissions...this is the first that I have heard about it and you stated in earlier posts that there was a prob. I am curious what they did to fix this supposed defect.


Thanks

#188 of 4276 nope.... by swampcollie

Apr 19, 2000 (9:29 pm)

just knew people with an 89 and they had a problem..fixed under warrenty.. i have no data whatsoever.... people I know with newer ones have not had any trouble... so you make a good point.. I have no place to refer you for any valid data. pro or con. I wish I did. I can only go by personal experience and that of people around me. You are right..this is a hard place to get good info... I started looking for a new van last summer and came here. Finally just went with test drives and what I felt was the best for the money. Actually, there are a lot of good vans. What you see here is the same people over and over bashing certain brands. I have even got to the point that i think maybe they are hired guns. I have friends with Windstars, Ventures, Villagers, and DCs. none have had any major problems. I am sure the Ody's and the Sienna's are fine also. You get a real exagerated view of problems in here. and you have no idea as to the validity of any statements. One thing you can pick out is that new models, while technilogically on the cutting edge, have more reliability problems. wish I could be more help, but you have reached the same point I did some months back. One piece of advice...pick a good dealer.

Messages Page 19 of 428

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