Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The gear shift indicator and the emerg. Brake failed on a hill. Accident was reported to the waltham police ept. In waltham, ma incident took plce on 07/27/2001. There were no people in either vehicle. A dog with idiopathic epilepsy was in the back of the Caravan. The vehicle had been repaired for this defect at brookfielfd motos in brookfield , ma on 07/23/2001. The vehicle was towed to brookfield motos on 07/21/2001 for the airbag light being on and for the problem with the gearshift indicator. The van rolled unattended except for a dog in the very back of the vehicle down a hill into a parked vehicle. It was towed to peter fuller Dodge where the service mgr. Kristin callan said that there were no problems.in addition to the body damage to both vehicles,the insurance agent estmates a surcharge of 900$ per year to me for both vehicles in the state of ma. …
While traveling east on hwy 70 (between morehead city & havelock nc.) my vehicle (1995 Dodge Caravan se) I was struck by another vehicle on the right front side of my vehicle. The impact was such that the axles were knocked out. My passengers air bag deployed and my bag failed to deploy on impact. The bag compartment open after my chest struc the steering wheel. My impact with the wheen was lessened as I was wearing my seat belt (as was my passenger) there was a witness to my air bag failure. The highway patrol were told of the failure by myself as well as by the witness. I am currently ubder a doctors care for extencuve soft tissue damage to the area of my breast bone (internally). My dogdge was totalled out by the nationwide insurance adjuster.
On August 11 ,2004 our 1995 Dodge Caravan failed to pick up speed on the nj turnpike, while going to newark airport. Although there were no injuries or accidents, it was stop and go on the way home at night. The car was purchased in July 1995 from suburban Dodge in metuchen, nj. I took the car to the dealer (now mcdonagh Dodge) to have the vehicle diagnosed. They said that it was a transmission failure. The car does not run properly now. I have not had it repaired because it is an expensive repair. In addition the ac compressor also needs to be replaced. According to the dealer if the compressor is not replaced a belt May break and I could lose power to the steering. These problems should not happen for a vehicle that has only 94,000 miles.
Dt*: the contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle transmission began to slip. There was a squealing noise coming from the rear passenger side wheel. The vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic.
After driving about 350 miles back from a trip, transmission failed. Was driving down the interstate when traffic started to slow down and come to a stop (this was not a sudden stop). I tried to slow down but the vehicle lurched forward and started making grinding noises. I had to steer to the side of the road to avoid hitting the car in front of me. There was no indication of trouble prior to this during the trip. While in idle, there was no grinding noise. When we started to move again the engine would not shift and started making grinding noises. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer who told me the entire transmission was ruined and needed to be replaced. There is only 67,000 mile on the vehicle. Dealer charged almost $3,000 to put in a rebuilt transmission. When I picked it up, the service shop was very rude. …
Our family is a second generation consumer of the Chrysler coporation's products. This vehicle has proven such a lemon, we really doubt that we will ever buy another chrylser/Dodge product. Within a month of our purchase, we had a recall on the liftgate latch, that was fixed. We are currently having our transmission inspected by a licensed Chrysler dealer, and will submit to the corporation. We have had the seat belts not retract on the driver's and passengers side for years, which catch in the doors constantly. The power windows in the rear had a motor go out, the universal joint fell off while the car was sitting in the drive, and the most ungodly act was when someone was closing the sliding passenger door, and it totally slid off the car. Luckily, no one was injured. …
I have replaced the transmission with Chrysler remanufactured units twice in 11 months. The units were over their 12,000 miles/12 month warranty. I know that Chrysler gives such a low warranty because their transmissions aren't lasting. Every transmission shop that I spoke with knows the unit # in their head and claims that they willn't rebuild them because of the problems associated with them. The only way that they will work on them is to replace them with the factory remanufactured units. My original trans went out at 52K , then the replacement unit went out at 92K ( was serviced at 77K). Don't you feel that a major part of a vehicle like the trans should last longer than 40 to 50K miles? Any help that you can assist me with will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, derf martin
I have taken my vehicle to the Chrysler dealer ten times for the same repair, yet it has never been repaired,about 90% of the time the vehicle will not shift out of second. This forces me to stay on city strrets and prohibits me from using the highway. Each time the dealer says that it is fixed I pick it up and it eventually does the same thing again. We picked the vehicle up last Friday and it didn't shift on our way home. I took it back this Monday. They did put in in a rental but my point is I have a van that cannot be fixed and is unsafe to drive.I called Chrysler and they didn't seem to careat all. I still owe 6,000 on the van and I can't trade it in when it doesn't shift. I am afraid to drive it and fear it will end up leading to an auto accident. What do I do?.
In May, 200l, at 51,365 miles the van's transmission would not upshift all of the time. I took it into stan mcnabb dealer service and was told they could not find the problem. Although they did change fluids and adjust the linkage charging me $100.18.this seemed to help until July when I took it back to the service dept. And they could not find a problem. On oct 31, 200l, the car would not upshift when I was pulling onto a busy highway. I was almost in an accident with my son as a passenger. On nov. 1, 2001, at 56,058 the service manager with stan mcnabb said that the transmission had failed and they replaced it charging me $1,762.72. I feel Dodge knew about the faulty transmission when they built my vehicle and they should have to recall these transmissions!!!
We bought this vehicle new, only to have the transmission fail in our second year of ownership. We complained to the dealer, but were told they couldn't help us. Two years later the transmission broke down again. When we initially approached the salesman regarding purchasing a "new" Caravan, we were especially concerned about the transmission and informed him of this. He assured us that the "bugs" had been worked out of the 1995 model vans (we were trading in a 1990 Dodge Caravan with a faulty transmission). I feel we have bought a faulty vehicle and have suffered financially because of this. It disturbs me that Dodge is not willing to back their product.
Transmission complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1995 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 93 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1995 Dodge Caravan, 19% of the model year's 489 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (78 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Dodge Caravan transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1995 Dodge Caravan, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1995 Dodge Caravan transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.