19th Sep 2007, 20:12

Hello all, I'm back... Gilbert.

I have encountered the most disappointing news... I have taken our Dodge Caravan to a local transmission shop.

But before I did, I went to a local Autozone, I got the codes for the check engine light. They are as follows: PO700 - Transmission Control system malfunction, PO740 - Torque Converter clutch, circuit malfunction, and PO755 - Shift solenoid B malfunction.

I gave these to the tech. I leave the van, he calls me back in an hour. Then tells the DREADED words I DID NOT want to hear: You need a new transmission!!!

UNBELIEVABLE I say. It is UNBELIEVABLE just after JUST buying the van, and driving it ONLY 500 miles, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! A VERY, VERY disappointing experience, and at ONLY 97000 miles, GEE.

Now this is to show all of you what happened to me! DON'T YOU GO THROUGH WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH... DON'T BUY ONE OF THESE DODGE'S; YOU'LL REGRET IT! Trust me!!

Well anyway, the tech tells me, it's going to be $1700 to do it, and will take 3 days.

I wonder, how could the trans need to be replaced when it was running perfectly (no slipping, noises, "the works"). It was running perfectly when the van SUDDENLY went to "limp mode". I wonder if they are NOT telling me the truth? I'm thinking about getting a second opinion before replacing the trans. One thing I know, I DON'T THINK IT TAKES THAT LITTLE TIME to replace the trans.

I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO YOU GUYS (Carsurvey.org reviewers!). I SHOULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE!!!

With things the way they are for me, I think I'm going to have to fix it. They offer a 1 year, 12000 mile warranty. I was thinking after fixing, I keep it till the warranty expires, and BEFORE the warranty expires, I'LL GET RID OF THIS THING... BUT knowing my luck, I wouldn't be surprised if the engine, or power steering AND EVERYTHING ELSE would fall apart just before I get rid of it!!! I think I'll fix it, then sell it right away!!

I DON'T THINK I could drive a single mile in this "Pic N Save" quality product without worrying what will break NEXT... FORGET IT, I'm NOT going to KILL myself worrying too much, I'm been diagnosed with anxiety as it is, I DON'T NEED THIS!

And for this matter, I can tell you, this is the WORST vehicle I've ever owned.

I'M GOING BACK TO JAPANESE!! Any Japanese name car that has the letter "J" as the first letter of VIN number, that's how I know it's Japanese or not. Because many Japanese name car are NOT all made in Japan. Including many Toyota's and Nissan.

OR BETTER YET, I'LL RESEARCH, on the CARSURVEY.ORG website

NOW YOU GUYS, LISTEN to what your reviewers are TELLING YOU, thanks, and good night (for me, it will be a nightmare!).

It was anxiety NOT depression (from my last post).

NEVER AGAIN, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!! Thumbs DOWN for Dodge yeah!

22nd Jan 2008, 17:26

My daughter has drove mine the past 2 weeks because her Mazda 626 broke and won't start, and now she is telling me that it is taking her 3-4 tries to get my van to start.

8th Dec 2008, 11:43

We bought a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport in 2003 with only 40k miles. We treated it very well, changed the oil every 3000 miles. Had it tuned up. We were very careful with it. But still it was a LEMON!!!

A few months after buying it our AC condenser went out, then after fixing that the compressor went out (wish I would've known it was recalled).

After getting that fixed the rear wiper stopped working, the passenger window stopped working (not fun in below freezing temps and you roll down the window to talk to someone and it won't go back up).

After getting those fixed, we too, had computer problems, the gears would get stuck. I lost power in my speedometer, my radio would go on and off of it's own volition. It would start when it felt like it, sometimes at night the exterior lights would automatically go off. And once while I was going 60 mph on the highway it tried to shift into reverse! We spent a ton of money having it checked at the shop where several different mechanics, even the deal could not find a thing wrong with it... It would only act up for me!

We finally got rid of the psycho van, but only after putting more money into it than it was worth at Blue Book value.

On top of this, my best friend, who thought I had a flukey van, and who takes meticulous care of her 2001 Grand Caravan is now having the exact same troubles. You CANNOT tell me that this is all a coincidence! You CANNOT just sit and say "well take better care of your vehicles!"

Those of you with Caravans, watch out! If you don't have problems yet, you will just give it time. And when they happen they will not be regular wear and tear, but really expensive scary ones. My advice is to get rid of your Dodges while you can still get something out of them and NEVER buy a Dodge/Chrysler product again!

P.S. My mom had a Chrysler Sebring with very similar problems... 3 computers and thousands of dollars later she gave up and bought a Toyota.

7th Jan 2009, 20:10

FREE FIREWORK/LIGHT SHOW!

And you don't have to wait til 4th of July!

Hello all. I am Gilbert from CA USA. I'm the one with the WORST luck with the transmission. One week after I bought.

As of right now, I had the 01 Grand Caravan for a total of 1 year and 3 months. I have driven 14,000 miles since the new trans. I have 113000 miles. I don't use the van too much. No problems yet.

As of now, the only problem I had was the blower fan for A/C stopped working. It's just one speed. It was just a small $20 part behind the glove compartment. I had some issues with the speedometer operating erratically. It moves and points at 40- 50 - 60mph for a second. And I had the service engine soon light coming on 1 week after the transmission. It's to do with the evaporator canister.

Well evidently, I GET TO SEE A LIGHT SHOW, every time I drive the van. It's the instrument panel that gives me the show with ALL those check engine, ABS, air bag light flashing day and night!

21st May 2011, 11:05

I owned a 01 DGC for about 2.5 years. I purchased it with 29K miles on it, and traded in with 90K.

The first 60K were relatively pain free. After that the nightmare began. It has been a lot of years, so I do not want to remember (too painful) the entire list, but after 2 AC condensors, multiple electrical problems and other issues, the van felt like it was in need of its fourth transmission. At that point I dumped it. Yeah, I know, what took me so long?

Most everyone I know told me not to buy a Chrysler product, but I did, and what an enormous mistake.

Total garbage. This was and will be my only Chrysler product EVER.

12th Jul 2011, 15:22

Hello all. Gilbert again.

I now had the van for 4 years! Have driven a total of 35k miles. My van has been OK since the transmission. Later I had a problem on the trans again. Just a sensor. $200. OK again.

Just 6 months ago, the ECM died on my van. I diagnosed myself using the OBD2 scanner I have. ECM dead! Got the new part at Kragan Auto for $310 incl tax. Had a shop put it on. $120. OK now. But have a check engine light, this ECM maybe bad again. Can't seem to get RID of that pesky check engine light.

But surprising I have NOT had any other problems like others posted. My A/C never gave me problems in the 4 years I owned the van. BUT I'm wary about wanting to keep the van for too long. I think I should sell it before the BIG ONE happens! (The engine or trans again, with my luck), because then I would LOSE! And get NOTHING when trying to sell then!