Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 | 40% | 92,000 miles |
| 2019 | 49 | 20% | 67,000 miles |
| 2018 | 23 | 8% | 49,000 miles |
| 2017 | 37 | 9% | 72,000 miles |
| 2016 | 221 | 22% | 88,000 miles |
| 2015 | 77 | 27% | 94,000 miles |
| 2014 | 19 | 5% | 79,000 miles |
| 2013 | 36 | 8% | 74,000 miles |
| 2012 | 48 | 8% | 76,000 miles |
| 2011 | 43 | 8% | 70,000 miles |
| 2010 | 40 | 5% | 67,000 miles |
| 2009 | 20 | 4% | 71,000 miles |
| 2008 | 68 | 5% | 70,000 miles |
| 2007 | 23 | 13% | 55,000 miles |
| 2006 | 12 | 4% | 68,000 miles |
| 2005 | 22 | 2% | 43,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2003 | 28 | 13% | 26,000 miles |
| 2002 | 42 | 14% | 50,000 miles |
| 2001 | 29 | 10% | 57,000 miles |
| 2000 | 95 | 21% | 51,000 miles |
| 1999 | 72 | 17% | 69,000 miles |
| 1998 | 81 | 14% | 78,000 miles |
| 1997 | 81 | 14% | 104,000 miles |
| 1996 | 209 | 18% | 90,000 miles |
| 1995 | 24 | 22% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On [redacted] after filling van with gas I entered and started my van. I noticed the gas cap was open so I put the van in park, took my foot off the brake, took off my seat belt, opened the door and exited leaving the door open. After a couple minutes while I was putting the gas cap back on, the vehicle started to back up. With the drivers door open, I tried to jump back in to stop it but it was going too fast. I then got caught in the door which dragged me a couple hundred feet before I fell out. It continued in reverse until it hit a huge gas price sign doing over $12,000.00 in damages. I went to the er due to an enormous black bruise on my stomach. The performed 3 ct scans that totaled $19,000.00+. I immediately made an appt with a Dodge dealership to have it looked at, but they couldn't get me in until [redacted]. …
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and leaving the fuel station, it was noticed through the side view mirror that the fuel door was still open and was forgotten to be closed after refueling. The contact came to a stop and shifted into the Park position, she exited the vehicle and left the driver's side door open to quickly secure the fuel door however the vehicle began to roll away at 5 MPH. The parking brake was not engaged at the time of the failure. The contact jumped into the driver's seat to attempt to depress the brake pedal, landing on her stomach on the floorboard, and attempted to use her hand to depress the brake pedal but was unable. The contact's body slid out from the driver's side door and was hit by the open driver's side door. …
The contact leased a rental 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned on and the gear shifter was shifted in park (P), she exited the vehicle while her three children remained inside the vehicle. The contact stated that her son went into the driver's seat and moved the gear shifter. The vehicle then rolled away and came to a complete stop in a ditch. The air bags were not deployed upon impact. The contact's son had a bruise on his head, her daughter had a bruise on her neck from the seat belt and body aches, and her other son had a cut lip upon impact. Medical attention was received for the three children. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop but the contact was unaware if it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal sound, hesitated while responding, and the transmission shifted hard. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at various speeds, and the vehicle felt like it was going to stall. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle jerked, the transmission shifted hard and made an abnormal clunking sound. Additionally, the contact stated that the passenger's side sliding door automatic locking mechanism was inoperable, requiring the contact to manually unlock and lock the door with the interior door lever. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
My report is to hopefully get a recall started on the transmission of my vehicle. I do not yet have 100,000 miles on my vehicle and need a new transmission. I realize now every time that it accelerated strangely or delayed in acceleration that my transmission was defective all along since I purchased the vehicle. I assumed it was me getting used to the vehicle but I now realize since I had my vehicle inspected by 3 different mechanics, 2 of them specialized in transmissions, that it is defective. The two specialists mechanics told me that this is a known problem for this type of vehicle and I beg of you to investigate this matter immediately. Further, the design of my vehicle's transmission is completely enclosed, which doesn't allow it to be repaired without removal and rebuilding. I still owe quite a bit of money on this vehicle, and I cannot even drive it more than a few blocks. …
I had bought my van in August 2022 used from a dealership and was never offered an extended warranty or anything. In January 2023 my 2018 Grand Caravan started making a noise and I thought it was the pulley. Took it to the mechanic and come to find out it was the flex plate inside the transmission. I had that fixed in January 2023 which cost $1000. There was no warning for the flex plate. Then October 18, 2023 my van again started making a noise and driving properly. I had someone look at it and was told it was low on transmission fluid. I checked it fluid on the next day and it was full. Went to drive it on October 20, 2023 and it didn't want to shift and when I was able to go the transmission didn't engage and didn't catch a gear. I was able to get around the corner and I had to pull off the side of the road. As I pulled over the transmission light ha come on. …
The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and coming to a complete stop, the vehicle would shut off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle would restart, however, the vehicle would stall when driving from the complete stop at higher speed. The contact stated that he would shift into neutral (N) while at a complete stop and would then drive at approximately 15 MPH to prevent the vehicle from stalling. The vehicle was taken to two different independent mechanics who diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
On December 29, 2025, my wife put her van in park, turned off the vehicle and proceeded to exit the vehicle. The drive is on an incline after exiting the vehicle it began to roll backwards. She was caught in the door and attempted to press the brake to no effect. She was drug about fifty feet before separating from the vehicle. The vehicle then rolled down a steep embankment and continued another hundred feet or so where it struck a building. Upon entering the vehicle, the gear shift was in the park position and the engine was turned off. The vehicle sustained over $5,000 in body damage from the impact to the building. And an unknown amount of damage to the steering and exhaust system from rolling down the embankment.
Related recalls (1)
Power train › Automatic transmission
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to April 18, 2016, 2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2015, to January 29, 2016, and 2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured August 15, 2016, to April 15, 2016.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission pump, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Grand Caravan years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (221), 1996 (209), 2000 (95), 1997 (81) and 1998 (81) model years. Transmission complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 16V-461 (automatic transmission, Jun 24, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (546 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › park/neutral start interlock switch (47).
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.