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Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

2067 messages,  Last post on May 12, 2013 at 11:00 AM

You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum.

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


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Messages Page 149 of 208

#1475 of 2067 Re: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan [tom166] by ondaman

Sep 26, 2007 (10:18 am)

Replying to: tom166 (Sep 26, 2007 5:41 am)
Thanks Tom for the advise. Makes sense.. very unethical practice how a corporation would sell a big $$$ item product with known defect to families such as a car/van. Automobiles such as vans are essential to all parents, esp. to moms and grandmas who would be stalled in highways alongside with their kids in the van. This also pose safety concerns for infants in cold winters or summer heat. I wonder how this corp. could get away with this practice for decades...

#1476 of 2067 Re: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan [shipo] by brokenspoke

Sep 26, 2007 (6:26 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Sep 26, 2007 5:49 am)
I consider my transmission "bad" because a $30,000.00 van should not be "annoying" or "not comfortable" the $12,000.00 KIA i rented last week shifted smoooooth as silk every time, i guess im just expecting too much from my $30,000.00 Chrysler.
 
Best Regards,
Brokenspoke

#1477 of 2067 Re: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan [shipo] by tom166

Sep 26, 2007 (7:14 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Sep 26, 2007 5:49 am)
Shipo; your right, I don't know if it will go the distance but as of this date they still don't have a fix for the transmission. I shouldn't have to wait this long for a repair on a new vehicle.So if they can't fix the problem that I and several others have, i would say it's bad!

#1478 of 2067 2002 Grand Caravan Transmission Issue??? by classic7

Sep 29, 2007 (11:35 am)

Replying to: shipo (Sep 26, 2007 5:49 am)
Hey, slightly off subject but it seems a few of you might know what you're talking about so I have ask!
 
Our 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport is leaking trans fluid and the tranie has slipped a few times. Like shifted up late or shifting down harshly.
 
My husband is about to throw the car away as he's heard of so many trans problems. Our warranty has run out as we're at 85000 miles.
 
Although my husband usually know what he's talking about, most of his experience is with old muscle cars and classics and he wants a 4wd so his opinion might be tainted .
 
Does anyone think these symptoms warrant concern? Anyone have experience with this or know where to send us for more information?

#1479 of 2067 Re: 2002 Grand Caravan Transmission Issue??? [classic7] by shipo

Sep 29, 2007 (1:41 pm)

Replying to: classic7 (Sep 29, 2007 11:35 am)
Given the fact that you have a leak, the transmission might be slipping due to low fluid and nothing more. Were I in your shoes I'd take it to a dealer and have them give it a good look-see. A simple pan gasket leak is exceedingly simple to repair, however, if the leak is coming from some of the other seals, they're more expensive to repair but still WAAAAY cheaper than a new car. In fact, even in the unlikely event that you have to buy a whole new transmission (about $2,600), that's still way cheaper than buying another car.
 
The good news about these vans is that, aside from what appears to be a slightly higher incidence of transmission repairs than most other brands (except apparently Honda), the rest of the vehicle is quite robust. FWIW, our two Grand Caravans (one older than yours, one newer) have a combined 250,000 miles on them and they run as well today as they did when they were brand new.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1480 of 2067 Re: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan [brokenspoke] by tom166

Oct 02, 2007 (8:55 pm)

Replying to: brokenspoke (Sep 26, 2007 6:26 pm)
I've driven a Kia as a rental and was quite pleased with it. If a dearlership was in my town , I would have bought one. Wish that I had gone the extra 45 miles to buy one

#1481 of 2067 Re: 2002 Grand Caravan Transmission Issue??? [shipo] by classic7

Oct 03, 2007 (8:59 am)

Replying to: shipo (Sep 29, 2007 1:41 pm)
Thanks. We owned a Crysler Plymoth Voyager that had about 250,000 miles on it, about 5 years ago. It did have one engine rebuild and 1 tranie replacement but it was a good car, nonetheless.
 
I think I'll suggest having the Caravan checked out before we go the new car route...
 
Thanks Shipo!

#1482 of 2067 1998 plymouth grand voyager, transmission problem by intraspec

Oct 07, 2007 (2:21 pm)

I just bought a 1998 plymouth voyager and the transmission doesn't shift properly.
 
It shifts ok when taking off but once it goes through all the gears it will down shift and stay like that until I
 
come to a stop and then it starts all over again.
 
Sometimes it will shift normally while getting on the highway but then downshift and stay there
 
but then nothing it's like it's in neutral what can this be???

#1483 of 2067 Re: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan [brokenspoke] by twocycle2

Oct 07, 2007 (7:06 pm)

Replying to: brokenspoke (Sep 26, 2007 6:26 pm)
I consider my transmission "bad" because a $30,000.00 van should not be "annoying" or "not comfortable" the $12,000.00 KIA i rented last week shifted smoooooth as silk every time, i guess im just expecting too much from my $30,000.00 Chrysler.
 
I have had similar exeriences, and I have to agree and disagree with you....my 2006 Caravan (3.3L) has the same "annoying" characteristics as my parent's 94 T&C and 91 Dodge Dynasty. It absolutely amazes me that this transmission still stumbles on the 1-2 upshift after nearly 20 years of production. However, I have found that this is not necessarily a cause for concern about longevity....both of my parent's transmissions lasted 90k miles with no problems at all, though both units started to fail at 90k. My wife has a Hyundai Sonata (which uses a transmission of similar design) and it shifts flawlessly every time....smooth as silk every shift. Overall, I love my Caravan and view the transmission as adding personality to it, but quite frankly, there is no excuse for Chrysler to still be having these issues with a 20 year old design. Maybe the new 6 speed will be better....
 
Twocycle2

#1484 of 2067 Re: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan [twocycle2] by brokenspoke

Oct 08, 2007 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: twocycle2 (Oct 07, 2007 7:06 pm)
this is not a stumble from 1 to 2 it is a thump hard enough to rattle the dash, i agree it probably will not effect longevity but it will effect resale value, how do you explain this poor shifting to a potential buyer who is probably already cautious of these transmissions? and a trans failing at 90K is not acceptable to me
 
Brokenspoke

Messages Page 149 of 208

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