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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 89 of 429

#873 of 4276 DC Minivans by 4aodge

Nov 06, 2001 (8:15 pm)

While Chrysler has and continues to have their fair share of mechanical problems with their minivans, the rate of problems has dramaticly decreased since the 1999 model year. Our 2000 Town & Country now has almost 31k miles on it and hasn't had any significant mechanical problems. Carelton is not alone when he says he knows of many people who have trouble-free DC minivans. There are three other DC minivan owners on my court and none of them have had any problems with their vans. In fact, one of my neighbors has a 1997 Town & Country LXi with over 70k miles on it and when I asked him how he liked his car he replied, "i like it, it hasn't given us any problems, and we have just about 70k miles on it."
 
Not many Honda Odyssey owners can say that. Especially those who have 1999 Odysseys. I wouldn't exactly call having to have my transmission replaced THREE times good reliability. If you read through the Odyssey problem forum it's littered with posts of people who have had transmission, break, and quality issues with their vans. As far as I can tell, the Odyssey doesn't exactly represent the great Honda engineering and quality I have heard about.
 
I'll continue to drive my trouble-free 2000 Town & Country LX and laugh at those who think buying a DC minivan automaticly means mechanical trouble. This is our second DC minivan and both have performed very nicely with ZERO problems.
 
-Adam

#874 of 4276 1999 Odyssey... by dave210

Nov 06, 2001 (9:23 pm)

While some people may have had transmission problems in their 1999 Odyssey's, what about people I know in their Chrysler vans that have gone through numerous transmissions in there 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996 vans?
 
It is still unsure if Chrysler has fixed the problem with their 4-speed auto that has dated back to 1989, although post 1997 vans seem to be doing better.
 
I can't really vouge for the bad transmissions (thank goodness) since I had the 3 speed in the '88 Voyager, and the '96 T&C 4 speed only got up to 37,000 miles until I traded it in. Although, one of my friend's Chrysler only got to 22,000 miles until it was kaput, so I guess I'm just plain lucky (knock on wood).
 
I guess what I'm saying is, Chrysler has a very spotty past, although they seem to be much better. But Honda seemed to had fixed their transmission problems in one model year, where Chrysler had how many years to address the problem? Exactly. Plus the Ody has a new transmission now anyway.

#875 of 4276 Chrysler Minivan Transmissions by dmathews3

Nov 07, 2001 (3:58 am)

If Chryslers have such good transmissions why is there a site here just for trans problems? Don't see any Odyssey site just for trans problems. How about the 2100rpm noise? How about those mushy armrests?

#876 of 4276 I see... by scanner

Nov 07, 2001 (10:08 am)

the Odyssey owners are still trolling the DC topics.

#877 of 4276 I see... by scanner by dmathews3

Nov 07, 2001 (11:02 am)

When you have nothing wrong with your van theres only one place to go to hear about problems.

#878 of 4276 Re: Chrysler Minivan Transmissions by dave210

Nov 07, 2001 (3:39 pm)

Since when did I say they had good transmissions? I was the one talking about how my friends have had problems with their transmissions.
 
But I've been one of the lucky ones, and I will continue to support Daimler-Chrysler. Other than my first Chrysler van, my 1996 and 2001 were and are mechanically perfect, with the 2001 also being quality perfect.
 
I'm not the only one who is in the niche that wants luxury and utility, because the LXi pre 1999 used to account for nearly 80% of the T&C sales. Now I'm not sure now what the figures are since with the demise of the Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler is now stacking rental lots with stripped base T&C's...something I DON'T agree with.
 
Anyway, until Honda comes out with an Acura van or Toyota ups its size and luxury content, I'm sticking with Chrysler. I've had good luck with them, and if you can believe, I LIKE the gizmos, gadgets, style, and utility.
 
That's great the some people think minivans should be modestly equipped with bad styling, but remember the days when SUV's were REAL trucks, and not luxury-like vehicles with such names as Mercedes, BMW, or Lexus gracing the hood?
 
For now, I'm going to take my automatic triple zone air over a folding magic seat, but maybe in a couple of years, Honda and Toyota will realize there are people like me who would be happy to buy from those brands if they added just a little more luxury. I'm guessing that day will eventually come, most likely in the new 2003 Sienna. Just a guess.

#879 of 4276 Chrysler Transmissions by crkeehn

Nov 07, 2001 (4:16 pm)

Based on what I was reading on other internet sites, especially the Allpar site, they stated that a large number of the transmission problems were the result of using the wrong fluid. Apparently the 4 speed transmissions are very sensitive to the ATF used and the wrong one will really damage the unit. 2000 model year and newer should only use ATF+4.

#880 of 4276 Wrong Fluid by dkrab

Nov 07, 2001 (7:46 pm)

I have a '91. Replace tranny at 58,000 miles. Serviced it regularly, never put anything in it but Mopar trans fluid as specified. Also had to have rings replaced at 58,000 because it was burning a quart of oil every 800 miles (3.3L). Chryslers 7/70 powertrain warranty saved me thousands of dollars. I wouldn't own a DC product without an extended warranty, period.
 
Now have 137,000 on replacement trans, and it still seems fine. I'm getting rid of it while it still drives good. It will likely be fine for years to come; not every single Mopar tranny is bad. But it sure seems like too many of them are. I sure wish they would get rid of that tranny, but they are still using it in the new vans today. Maybe it's better now, but I would not bet 25K to find out.

#881 of 4276 odssey by 4aodge

Nov 07, 2001 (11:53 pm)

it is really a shame how the odyssey owners come into forums that have nothing to do with their vehicle and bash DC minivans left and right. i don't believe there has been a dc van owner come into the odyssey PROBLEMS (yes thats right, the flawless odyssey has problems as well) and bash the owners and their cars.
 
no one here has said that chryslers transmission have had a perfect or even good reliability history. not even dc van owners like myself.
 
however, there are many owners out there with dc minivans that have never experienced and serious mechanical problems, myself included. we have owned two of these vans and both performed flawlessly. not all odyssey owners can say that, even those who own 2000 and 2001 odyssey vans.
 
if you like boaring, boxy, blan cars...go with the odyssey. if you want a car that is fun to drive, looks good, has plenty of features and creature comforts, go with the dc minivans. the choice is up to the consumer and most still go with the dc minivans.
 
-adam

#882 of 4276 odssey by 4aodge by dmathews3

Nov 08, 2001 (4:25 am)

4aodge says: it is really a shame how the odyssey owners come into forums that have nothing to do with their vehicle and bash DC minivans left and right. i don't believe there has been a dc van owner come into the odyssey PROBLEMS
You shouldn't make a statement that you can't back up. Ask carlton1 or a few others who are always there doing what we are doing back in self defence. Yes we have problems too, but not nearly as many as you do. Sounds like the new Caravans are better than old, except for a couple of big ones, really big ones, like leaking gas, but only time will tell.

Messages Page 89 of 429

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