1990 DODGE CARAVAN Power Train Problems

I STARTED NOTICING A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE 1 WEEK BEFORE THE FAILURE. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS COLD AND ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BAD U-JOINT. ON THE MORNING OF 2-16-07 8:15 AM I WAS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. IT CHEWED UP ONE OF THE BEARINGS (WHICH A MECHANIC LATER TOLD ME WAS NOTORIOUS FOR GOING OUT) AND DROPPED THEM ALL OVER THE ROAD. I WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WAS ALSO UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH HAD AN INCLINE TO IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE DRIVETRAIN AND PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK HAD NO EFFECT. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY AND LEAVE IT THERE WITH A ROCK IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. I DID HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BUT I WAS NOT GOING TO TOTALLY TRUST IT TO KEEP THE VAN STATIONARY. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE VAN. IT IS A 1990 WITH ONLY 87000 ORIGINAL MILES. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND ONLY PUT 2000-3000 MILES A YEAR ON THIS VAN. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS LESS THAN 25000 MILES ON IT. *NM

Mileage: 87,534

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AT 48,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, GLENN E. THOMAS DODGE IN SIGNAL HILL. THEREAFTER, EVERY 15,000 TO 25,000 MILES OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, PROBABLY 5 TIMES NOW; THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANS HAS FAILED TWICE, THE MOTOR COMPUTER FAILED 2 TIMES, THE POWER WINDOWS BROKE OFF THEIR TRACKS, THE SLIDING DOOR JAMMED SHUT AND WOULDN'T ALIGN. NOW THE PAINT JOB ON MY WHITE 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WITH WOOD TRIM) IS PEELING OFF, MOSTLY ON THE ROOF (WHERE IT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE, DOWN TO THE PRIMER, RUSTING THROUGH TO THE ROOF METAL) AND ON THE HOOD AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS. THE PAINT WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED TO THE PRIMER UNDERCOAT OR THE PRIMER WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED SO AS TO ADHERE TO THE TOP COLOR COAT. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER CARAVAN'S OF THE SAME MODEL WITH THEIR PAINT COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY PEELED OFF AS I HAVE DRIVEN AROUND. IT IS A VERY OBVIOUS DEFECT OF THE PAINT--THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THIS KIND OF PAINT FLAKING AND PEELING PROBLEM TO THIS EXTENT. THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WOOD TRIM IS ALL FLAKING AND PEELING OFF AS WELL. IT MAKES THE CAR LOOK "SHAGGY!" WHAT A MESS. THIS CAR REALLY NEEDS A PAINT JOB TO BE PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE PAID OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR TRANSMISSIONS TO BE REPLACED. I AM ON A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY WITH DODGE FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER THAT WARRANTY! THE OVERDRIVE UNIT IS FULLY DEFECTIVE AND THE COMPANY WILL NOT UNDERTAKE TO FIX IT. THE CAR WILL FAIL AND THE TRANS WILL JUST SPIN WITHOUT ENGAGING ANY FORWARD GEAR OR IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR OVERDRIVE. THE SPEED SENSOR UNIT IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND FREQUENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHAT A MESS OF A TRANSMISSION! I HAVE IT REGULARLY SERVICED AND I DON'T DRIVE IT HARD OR ABUSE THE TRANS. HELP.

Mileage: 140,000

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR/ STARTED JERKING, AND LOCKED IN PARK. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

FRONT END LOCKED UP AFTER SNAP RING BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

I KNOW OF 3 OTHER FAMILY'S THAT HAVE THE SAME YR., MAKE & MODEL OF VAN WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

THIS SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE . I FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS CONSIDERING THAT THEY KNOW THE ARE BAD . PEOPLE SHOULDNOT HAVE TO GO TO COURT FOR DODGE TO PAY UP.THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL AS THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON FILE .THE TRANSMISSIONS LOCK-UP WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN BE A MAJOR CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. THEN WHAT WILL BE DONE?*AK

MY 3.0 L 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 1990 DODGE CARAVAN RECENTLY BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE. IT SHIFTS INTO 1ST, 2ND, THEN 3RD, BUT AS IT TRYS TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE IT BUCKS THREE TIMES THAN ABRUPTLY SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR SURGING THE PASSANGERS FORWARD. I MUST THEN SHUT OFF THE VAN AND RESTART IT FOR IT TO BE DRIVABLE. I NORMALLY DON'T TAKE THIS TYPE OF ACTION BUT THROUGH MY RESEARCH HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. WHEN I FOUND AN ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS (OCTOBER 1999) WHERE THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL I DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION.

PAINT PEELED OFF ALSO. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE NO REVERSE / NO FIRST GEAR. *YC

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. MJS

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND, TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. RESTARTING ENGINE WILL ALLOW VEHICLE TO DRIVE IN FIRST ONLY. ATTEMPTS BY VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND WILL THROW TRANSMISSION IN TO NEUTRAL. HOWEVER, IF THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO SIT FOR 1/2 TO 2 HOURS, THEN TRANSMISSION OPERATES NORMALLY. PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AFTER DRIVING FOR 1/2 HOUR OR MORE AND/OR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I HEAR THAT THIS OR VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED TO MANY OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? *AK

THE SHIFTER IS VERY HARD TO PUT INTO GEAR. THE SHIFTER LOCKS IN WHATEVER GEAR IT IS SET IN. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES IT RELEASES. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AT THIS TIME. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP IN LOW GEAR. CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NO SUMMARY

TRANSMISSION IS MAKING LOUD NOISE. ALSO, VEHICLE LURCHES FOWARD WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML

INDICATOR LEVEL NOT SHOWN IN PROPER POSITION WHENEVER GEARS ARE SHIF. CONSUMER ALSO INDICATED THAT WHEN HE TIGTHENS THE CABLE LINE THE CABLE WOULD LOOSEN, AND CAUSES THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR. *AK

PUMP BUSHING DISINTEGRATED. THIS CAUSED THE TORQUE CONVERTOR TO BE DAMAGED. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED. WAS PULLING AWAY FROM STATION WHEN A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AUGUST 1995. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FOUR TRANSMISSION REPLACMENTS, AND HAD TWO OF THEM REBUILT. HOWEVER, IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SLIPPING/JERKING INTO GEAR, AND TRANSMISSION STALLING WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION. *AK

REAR AXLE BROKE EIGHT TIMES FOR NO KNOWN REASON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE GOING ABOUT 5MPH. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. VEHICLE TESTED AFTER BEING REPAIRED. 3 MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AGAIN. THIS TIME AT DEALER'S, BUT NOT REPAIRED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE AND YEAR.

TRANSMISSION IS NOISY AND HAS HARSH DOWNSHIFTS. TRANSMISSION HAS CONSISTANTLY BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASED NEW. NO KNOWLEDGE OF SERVICE BULLETIN: HL-09-91

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURNS THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS THEN LURCHES FORWARD. TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER REPLACEMENT.

WHEN TRAVELING 60 TO 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VERIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONETS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT END COLLASPED, CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT AXLE TO BREAK. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS INTO LOW GEAR AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF LOW GEAR. SOMETIMES IS WILL DOWN SHIFT AND UP SHIFT BACK AND FORTH.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.

DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION NOISE.

TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER U-HAULED.

TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED DUE TO VARIOUS PROBLEMS(SHUDDERING, JUMPING OUT OF GEAR, LEAKAGE ETC.)

TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE.

AT HIGH SPEED 50-60 MPH, THERE IS A NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

THE THIRD OWNER, THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR . PLEASE DECSRIBE .*AK

ON FIVE OCCASIONS THE CV JOINT FELL OUT, PLEASE DESCRIBE *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT AND IT JUST QUITES WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

TRANSMISSION COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR, CAUSING IT TO FAIL TWICE. *DSH

TRANSAXLE REPLACED 3 TIMES. *SD

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHILE DRIVING,THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AT 63,000 MILES. TT

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *DH

AUTO-TRAN: WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE OVERHEATED, LOST DRIVE AND SECOND GEAR; NOT CHANGING GEARS; VARIOUS SPEEDS. TT

POOR PERFORMANCE ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES. TT

PURCHASE TRUCK USED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . TT

PURCHASE CAR NEW AT 12,000 TO 20,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACE . TT

THE TRANSMISSION CAME APART FROM THE CAR . TT

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ERRATIC FUNCTION OF TRANSMISSION, DEALER INSTALLED 3 TRANSMISSIONS, HAVE FAILED, ON FOURTH TRANSMISSION. TT *JB

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR THERE MAKING A TURN CAR HESITATES. TT

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VAN DOES NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND CAUSED THE TRUCK TO STOP MOVING 5 TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS ON THE FREEWAY WITH FIVE CHILDREN . PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS SOMETIMES AND GETS STUCK. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE CAR AND THEN IT WILL WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 76,000 MILES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR, VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. *AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AW

TRANSMISSION LEAKS. *AW

TRANSMISSION LEAKS, ALSO SLIPS GEARS IN VERY HOT WEATHER.

PURCHASE VAN USED WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION VAN IS NOT RUNNING RIGHT. TT

VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT SLOW SPEED, DURING THE TIME OF DOWN SHIFTING, NO PROBLEM WITH FIRST TRANSMISSION, PROBLEM STARTED WITH REPLACEMENT. TT

CONSUMER PURCHASE BRAND NEW HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ONCE AND HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. TT

TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *SKD

AUTO-TRAN: WHILE DRIVING, ANY SPEED, GEAR WILL DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST GEAR ON ITS OWN; LOCKS UP; ABRUPTLY SLOWS DOWN VEHICLE; COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. TT

TRANSMISSION WON'T CHANGE GEARS/LOCKS INTO LOW GEAR. *AK

CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AFTER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *SKD

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, HAS BEEN REBUILT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. TT

CV JOINTS FAILED.

AUTO-TRAN 4SP: AFTER 36,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL; WOULD NOT DOWNSHFT; AT TIMES VIOLENTLY DOWNSHIFT; VARIOUS SPEEDS. TT

AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AFTER 36K MILES. TT

AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, HAS REBUILT AND REPLACED FIVE (5) TIMES SINCE PURCHASING NEW IN 1990. TT

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY DUE TO TORQU CONVERTER FAILURE. *AK

TRANSMISSION; THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED VAN AT 84,000 MILES PURCHASE VAN USED. TT

ULTRA DRIVE TRANS AXLE; WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CEASE TO MOVE EVEN WITH MOVING GEAR SHIFT. WHEN RESTARTED TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED THROWING FRAGMENTS. TT

SPINDLE BROKE AND BEARINGS OVERHEATED. *SKD