4th Sep 2005, 22:47

I also have a Chevy Caprice, an '87 with 165,000 and a '93 van with 130,000. We bought the van lightly used in April '94 and hardly had any problems with it, sounds like you've got a bad one. Parts are expensive for both cars if you go to the dealer.

The A/C needed recharging a few times, new trans in '95 and a few switches here and there, but other than that it's as reliable as the Caprice. I hope our van doesn't get like yours when it gets that mileage. The paint sucks on it, as does the black painted trim (now faded gray) it wasn't very shiny when it was new and now it peels, but everything else held up well.

25th Sep 2005, 14:11

YOU chose to get an automatic transmission van.

YOU chose to get a V-6 van.

Both are known to be problematic. Why not do research first?

I did. My '92 has a 4 cylinder engine and a manual transmission. 167k, no major (hardly any minor) failures. Still on it's original clutch. Head has never been off.

27mpg on the highway doesn't suck at all.

Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

6th Oct 2005, 07:41

I know someone who has a 92 Caravan with the 4 cylinder and an automatic transmission. How hard is it to find the manual transmission to do a swap?

7th Dec 2005, 13:00

Here's my story:

Bought my '93 Grand Voyager with 130k on it for $3600. Now it has 187k and I have only had to replace a water pump. It's been out west (we live in WI) 4 times including a trip up Pikes Peak. Don't know how bad you guys' vehicles were beat before/during your ownership, but sounds like you just were unlucky. If mine disintegrated today, I can say I definitely got my $'s worth.

4th May 2006, 16:28

To the reviewer: Chrysler mini-vans have always been problematic to say the least. My folks drive a '93 Grand Caravan they bought in '95. From the get go, the van had all kinds of little niggling electrical problems. Then the transmission problems kicked in. Chrysler has known about their faulty transmissions for YEARS. To this day the very same design is put in every Caravan. My folks' van currently has 140,000 miles on it. My Dad's pretty ferocious about regular maintenance, but you can't prevent faulty parts from failing. Right now the van has no instruments or lighting due to a bad computer module. The transmission shifts pretty clunkily. Other than that, the van still runs pretty good and serves as a get around town back up vehicle.

4th Aug 2006, 12:52

You can say what you want about this van and that. the very bottom line is the asian companies can make vehicles that get better mileage and last twice as long under the same conditions. It's a supply and demand market, as long as the new car buyer in the USA keeps buying this junk, the big 3 will keep making it. That's it and that's all. Chrysler has had the most popular minivan for 20 years running and it happens to have the worst transmission. Eell, that just tells them that consumers must like to replace trannies. Why would they change a vehicle that sells like mad? They wouldn't and haven't.

21st Aug 2006, 23:16

I have had three vans. One a 1990 Dodge Caravan with a 4cyl. auto. The thing was gutless and it had chronic steering column problems. I was so happy to unload that van. Not learning my lesson I bought the first of two 1992 vans. A Dodge Caravan and a Plymouth Voyager. The Caravan was new and had a V6 auto. The speedometer stuck from day one. Other than that it did fairly well until around 78k miles. The motor on the driver's seat burned out. Most the plastic internal pieces began to warp and crack. Even tho the van was always garaged. I began to get all sorts of electrical glitches and sensor misinformation. The overdrive in the tranny went out and thus took out the entire tranny to the tune of $1600.00. Just today my other 1992 van dropped the overdrive and will need a tranny overhaul. It has an easy 112k miles. I am done with Chrysler vans.

19th Oct 2006, 22:25

I got a 1991 229000 miles on it and runs like new. I all so a 1992 that has give great service. U just got a lemon.

9th Nov 2006, 17:14

I bought a 92 caravan 2 years ago. It had 298,000 k (200,000 miles). have driven it problem free since that day. everything works like a charm. all I put into it was spark plugs, regular oil changes, and a couple of new tires. have had it on several long distance trips and it never let me down (granted it does not get the best mileage, but it's a van, not a scooter!) I'm sorry for all your problems, but I really do think you must have got a real lemon because I know a couple other caravan owners and they're basically happy with its performance also. by the way, I now have 322,000 k (215,000 miles) and continue to have no problems.

15th May 2007, 15:48

Help! 1992 Dodge Caravan 3.3 V6 - electrical problem causing transmission to go in "limp mode". Has anyone ever had same problem - where was electrical problem? If anyone knows, please email jondrucks at msn dot com.

Thanks.

16th Jul 2007, 09:03

1992 Plymouth Voyager 3.0 V6 Auto/OD Transmission with 234,000 owned it since 80,000 had all routine maintenance done at 5,000 before recommended, finally will have to put a water pump and head gasket. Wife has never been stranded, water pump let go in the driveway after driving from Seattle to Spokane and back, looking the engine over I've noticed a small ext coolant leak from the head on the rear of the engine. Not bad for $4600 in 1996.

3rd Sep 2007, 16:15

I agree that these vans have problems, especially with the transmissions. But I have to wonder - how many people that have had tranny problems regularly changed their tranny fluid and filter???

This is one of the leading causes of transmission failure with these vans. The transmission fluid and filter need to be changed and the bands adjusted every 15000 miles. Another leading cause of failure is using the wrong fluid. DO NOT USE anything, but ATFIII or IV!! DEXTRON is NOT the type of fluid you want in this transmission!

I had to chuckle at the comment about "typical American junk" and the fact that there aren't a lot of forums dealing with repairing Hondas and Toyotas. The simple fact is that most owners of these makes DON'T REPAIR THEIR OWN CARS! While Toyotas are quite reliable, most of the hype with Hondas are far from the truth. Unfortunately, American cars got a lot of bad press due to changes in the way cars were made in the '70s and '80s, with manufacturers quickly redesigning cars to be more fuel efficient. The cars were not thoroughly tested, and "bugs" appeared in the marketplace due to design flaws that were not spotted until the cars were released for sale (not unlike the many updates for Microsoft's operating systems).

The truth to the matter is that any vehicle (with the exception of "lemons") will perform much better if the owner regularly maintains the vehicle. Look at fleet vehicles - these are regularly serviced and are reliable American made vehicles.