Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 | 26% | 85,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 10% | 80,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 7% | 61,000 miles |
| 2012 | 3 | 3% | 3,000 miles |
| 2011 | 5 | 6% | 67,000 miles |
| 2010 | 14 | 8% | 36,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% | 61,000 miles |
| 2008 | 11 | 4% | 78,000 miles |
| 2007 | 9 | 11% | 57,000 miles |
| 2006 | 13 | 8% | 60,000 miles |
| 2005 | 13 | 2% | 33,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 6% | 32,000 miles |
| 2003 | 22 | 11% | 18,000 miles |
| 2002 | 27 | 11% | 56,000 miles |
| 2001 | 19 | 7% | 52,000 miles |
| 2000 | 86 | 18% | 64,000 miles |
| 1999 | 96 | 17% | 66,000 miles |
| 1998 | 103 | 16% | 73,000 miles |
| 1997 | 133 | 19% | 71,000 miles |
| 1996 | 185 | 13% | 88,000 miles |
| 1995 | 93 | 19% | 90,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Car was sitting in park and stationary with engine on in our home flat driveway and driver got out of car to return to house while car was in park. The driver was gone for 20 seconds and as driver was returning to car the car started rolling backwards in driveway for 150 feet until it hit tree and stopped. When driver returned to driver seat the gear shift was in reverse.
Takata inflators. I was driving down us 41 at a speed of approximately 50 MPH when my van suddenly revved very loudly and all systems seemed to begin shutting down. I removed my foot from the gas and it continued to climb in RPM's and would not accelerate. I was almost directly in front of a car repair shop so I basically coasted in there and was told I had to be towed to a transmission shop. I did and was told that the torque converter and transmission pump had likely failed and that the extent of the damage could not be determined until the transmission was opened up but that it would likely require a new transmission. I had a second opinion at a different shop and was told the same thing. The shop owner advised me of recall s44. Upon contacting the dealership they say my VIN does not appear however the issue is exactly what is happening with my vehicle. …
The problem with my 2012 Dodge Caravan is driving along easily on city streets because with this problem it cant be put on the interstate, when getting ready to go up a hill and it goes out of gear, the RPM hand goes as far as it can go, sometimes easing of the gas the RPM hand will go down to 1 and the transmission will knock, check engine like will come on and it'll go back into gear, but sometime you'll have to pull over and put it in park and turn it off and start all over again, just for it to do the same exact then, and remind you, you can't go over 50mph if 50. I've had the transmission sensor flashed and that didn't help, I had it put on a machine and it reads 6th gear out of ratio
The problem is autonomous acceleration. When my car is moving slowly at idle speed while I'm pulling into or out of a parking space or my home garage and I apply pressure to the steering wheel to guide the car, the engine RPM speed surges by about 400 rpms causing the car to suddenly accelerate forward or backward, depending on the gear selection. This has caused a number of near accidents, including nearly striking children at an elementary school when I was picking up my granddaughter. I reported the problem to the local Dodge dealer, but the dealer found no problem after checking the car. Yet, the problem persisted intermittently, but I learned to "live with it." however, the autonomous acceleration is now suddenly growing more frequent. My fear is that this autonomous acceleration problem is a precursor to someday my having a runaway car that results in serious injury or death.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caravan. While driving 50 MPH, the engine stalled without warning and was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (garden city Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram, 283 n. Franklin street, hempstead, ny 11550), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer where the win module and power train control module were determined to be the failed components. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. It was then diagnosed that the TIPM failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost of the repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 8/16/18
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caravan. While starting the vehicle, the shift lever became stuck in the park position. The contact mentioned that the instrument panel displayed that the transmission was in the reverse position, but on the shift lever the vehicle was in the park position. Once the contact exited the vehicle, it started to roll away. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the shift lever needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000. Ma 10/1 the dealer replaced the shifter cable. Updated 03/31/16.
Bought the van from cooks Volkswagen on May 7th, 2018. In the first 3 mths of me owning it I had to get 2 motor mounts and a starter put in. Then from that point it was all down hill! It has had 3 transmissions(cooks has done 2 and I took the van to thompson for them to do the third), hub assembly, welded the core support, power steering pulley and baring, struts for the truck hatch, I had to pay for out of pocket for power steering pulley and baring and one day of rental for a rental car! I have already called my lawyer and to have Chrysler/Dodge sued for selling an uninspected vehicle and filing a civil suit against your company!!!! …
The car started shutting off in the middle of an off ramp or just going down a street or coming to a stop. Left me without power steering or brakes. Very scary. I have taken it into the dealer and at first they said it was a gunky throttle, but paid for it, brought it home and it died again that same day. Mechanic took it out and he said he was going 30 miles an hour and it died on him and he almost wrecked my car. No codes are showing or no check engine light, so they have not been able to figure out what is going on with it. Plus the transmission slams into my front end if I am going normal speed and come to a stop at the bottom of my hill and told them about this last year and was told that was normal for that car(I don't think so). I am at a loss and on a fixed income. Where do I go from here?
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Caravan years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (185), 1997 (133), 1998 (103), 1999 (96) and 1995 (93) model years. Transmission complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Dodge Caravan transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Dodge Caravan model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Dodge Caravan transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 34% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (605 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › park/neutral start interlock switch (49).
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.