Bought a 2004 Dodge Caravan in August 2006, first vehicle ever purchased from a dealer. Used. Big mistake and should have known better, especially as it was clocked at 114,000 km... after the first month water pump went (replaced under warranty - $100), second month heater core went (replaced under warranty - $100), but also told me I had rad fluid in tranny and tranny fluid in rad. (read... freaking out here...) so they replaced the rad (dealer wanted to repair/rebuild it and i told them where they could go...) and "rebuilt" the tranny (still wondering...) and i was on my way... back 2 days later with problem with right front tie rod... sigh... getting to know mechanics on a first-name basis... ANYWAY... the latest problem is with transmission... not engaging into gear. Slips out of gear when driving, then completely gives up. No reverse, no go... stopped on the hill and died... had my girlfriend's truck push it into the ditch where it sat for about a week till we towed it... Van from hell has been parked for the past month in my barn as I am so sick of looking at it (but miss my sound system...). No warning, no bunny-hopping, etc. Slipping out of gear on way home from friend's place, not engaging. Still unsure if it is the transmission, or the torque converter or maybe even a couple of bolts missing from the flex plate... could be anything. Anyone else with similar problems??????
About 3 times now, the transmission has not engaged while pulling out of my driveway. Prior to this, I took the van to the dealer to have it looked at, as the tranny was doing weird things. Erratic movement while accelerating, clunking into gear while pulling away from a stop etc. The dealer of course said nothing was wrong. It is still doing this. I haven't been to the dealer in awhile, since last April, as I am so pissed off with them. I even refused to pay the last bill of $179 because they didn't fix the problem that it was there for. All I can say is, if you are looking for headaches, buy a van like mine!
It's only slander if its a lie, and this ain't no lie!!!!
- Jason S.,
Port Elgin, ON, Canada
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Bought a 2004 Dodge Caravan in August 2006, first vehicle ever purchased from a dealer. Used. Big mistake and should have known better, especially as it was clocked at 114,000 km... after the first month water pump went (replaced under warranty - $100), second month heater core went (replaced under warranty - $100), but also told me I had rad fluid in tranny and tranny fluid in rad. (read... freaking out here...) so they replaced the rad (dealer wanted to repair/rebuild it and i told them where they could go...) and "rebuilt" the tranny (still wondering...) and i was on my way... back 2 days later with problem with right front tie rod... sigh... getting to know mechanics on a first-name basis... ANYWAY... the latest problem is with transmission... not engaging into gear. Slips out of gear when driving, then completely gives up. No reverse, no go... stopped on the hill and died... had my girlfriend's truck push it into the ditch where it sat for about a week till we towed it... Van from hell has been parked for the past month in my barn as I am so sick of looking at it (but miss my sound system...). No warning, no bunny-hopping, etc. Slipping out of gear on way home from friend's place, not engaging. Still unsure if it is the transmission, or the torque converter or maybe even a couple of bolts missing from the flex plate... could be anything. Anyone else with similar problems??????
- Debbie K., Ardoch, Ontario, Canada