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 1999 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the serpentine belt failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. The serpentine belt was replaced however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer a third time where the serpentine belt was replaced again however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified the third time. Additionally, The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V268000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that a friend had jumped his vehicle due to the battery had failed when gasoline started to spill onto the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. …
I notified the first incident to the dealer about its speed sensor, over the phone, which blew away just after the two weeks of buying this car from his showroom. Last month, the break went bad and were not covered under the warranty, I had to end up replacing the rotor and complete brake set, paying around $300 from my pocket, from a midas in pennsylvania. The third incident was most dangerous, and don't know how I saved the life of my two little kids including the one with 11months infant baby, the automatic transmission blew away while driving normally and lost control on the downhill, in the city of norristown, since its break and the entire system went off due to the failure of automatic transmission and I eventually took a great risk of pulling the car all be myself on the sidewalk and somehow protected each of my family members. …
Preparing to exit a parking lot, the gear shift was accidentally caught by my sleeve and pulled down to the "drive" position. The vehicle was not running, but it began to move forward. Being on somewhat of a slope, the vehicle pulled onto a busy street. I grabbed the wheel to turn the van away from traffic, but it hit and scraped against a high curb, flattening 2 tires, damaging the wheels/rims of those tires, bending a strut and other damage to the suspension (I got a repair estimate from Firestone, which totaled over $1,900.00). I didn't think it was possible for the gear shift to move without having my foot on the brake, but move it did and so did the van. Other than being frightened and shaken, we were fortunate that no physical injuries occurred. …
1999 Dodge grand Caravan had recall in 2004 to replace a clockspring, but dealer avoided this after customer's 3 or 4 tries in 2004. On 06-16-2010 when the vehicle was put in reverse, (all [redacted] broke loose!) the motor hit high revolutions, the steering wheel and the brakes immediately "locked" up and could not be moved as it traveled backwards and finally hitting and totaling 2 vehicles at over 50 MPH.note: since about 2007 a brake light has been on and the cruise control was not working.
Wife was loading grand kids into minivan, grandson crawled across drivers seat and grabbed the shifting lever, which the caused van to go into reverse and back up into step wall, we realized you do not have to put foot your on the brake to shift into gear when engine is running.
Our belts sips off during wet weather"five times we replaced the "s" belt and the tensioners,waterpump,overheating our 2nd yr of owership.now the 3rd yr of transmissions leaking,the ABS light came on while driving at 35mph w/children in car ,starting to brake causing to slow way down in traffic and made a chime sound,the horn went off and it got hot fast causing the car to shut down. Thank god there was room to get over. All the lights were flickering all over the dashboard. The car just leaks everywhere,water,oil,trans. Something needs to be done about these cars. I cant even get mine smog because I have to keep unplugging my battery because now we have a short in the electrical system somewhere. I brought a lemon.....oh yeah! I called the dealer, they cant replace the cruise control unless the ABS light stays on. …
I was driving down a major road (m-59) and my minivan made a popping noise (my initial reaction was my tire blown) and came to an abrupt stop and engine cut off. I was able to restart and pull into a parking lot near by. I noticed transmission fluid leaking(which left a trail and a decent puddle when stopped). After speaking to 6 different transmission repair shops they all stated that there is a pin that is know to slip and shoot out causing the gears to slip out that has been know with the 99 Dodge Caravan .two mechanics believed there had been a silent recall because it is the most common problem with the transmission and Dodge was aware of this problem. After reviewing online it seems that this is the biggest complaint. There is a bracket that now fixes this problem. I am grateful what happened didn't cause my 6 yr old daughter and I to get into a collision. …
Driving 20 miles an hour under normal conditions. My transmission fell apart in my 1999 Dodge grand Caravan se 3.3 automatic transmission. There is a pin inside the transmission that simply breaks apart. You receive no warning of the defect. When this happens your vehicle seizes and stops. I was lucky I was close to home. When the pin breaks it destroys the case as well. In researching this defect I found out it also happens in 1999,2000, and 2001 Dodge caravans, Plymouth voyager and Chrysler town and country vans. This breakage can occur at any speed. It seems to happen at around 100,000 miles. Again in my research came across a person who replaced the transmission 5 times in one year and another who was going 60 miles an hour when it happened luckily they gained control of the vehicle and no one was hurt. …
Last week my wife was coming home from work when she thought she ran over something. She said that the steering wheel shuttered and it scared her a lot. I'm just thankful she was not on the interstate when that happened because it could have put her life, as well as others, in danger. She was turning a corner after the light changed for left hand turns as was only traveling around 25-30 MPH. When she looked she did not see anything in the road. The Caravan suddenly stopped. She got off the road. She was able to restart the car and make it home, about 5 miles. I had the Caravan towed to a transmission repair shop. They told me that this problem is very common with Dodge Caravan's with an engine rating of 3.1 to 3.8 litter and the 41te transmission. I need the car so I had it fixed for $2,265. F Dodge (Chrysler) knows about this problem, why is it still happening to owners of this vehicle?
Transmission needed to be replaced/rebuilt because it was leaking. Had problems with it shifting to neutral while driving with my 3 kids. Now, it is lurching forward by itself while slowing down at a stop light or going in reverse. It is back at the mechanic and they are stating there is 1 or 2 faulty solenoid packs and something about a sensor and not reading correctly. The van had only 50,000 miles on it when this problem first started happening. Spent $2400.00 1st time at mechanic, other 2 times are for free. Let's face it, people don't normally drive vans because they like them, they drive them because they have young children. This car is not safe in my opinoin at all and I will never buy a Dodge or any of its 'cousins' again. Why hasn't Dodge had a recall for the numerous problems I have read about? Oh, and by the way, where is my recall for the airbag light problem?
Transmission complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1999 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 96 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1999 Dodge Caravan, 17% of the model year's 555 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (74 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Caravan transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1999 Dodge Caravan, though it has 5 recalls 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 1999 Dodge Caravan transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 5 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.