Two problems related to transmission solenoid have been reported for the 1999 Dodge Caravan. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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?.
The transmission does not downshift out of overdrive. At 43-47 mph, the car lurches and acceleretion is impossible. The first incident occured on April 14 when the car would not accelerate up a hill. Everytime the car was slowing down from 50 mph while going up a hill, the car would lurch and acceleration was impossible. The car came back to the dealership the week of April 23rd but the dealership could not reproduce the problem. A monitor was placed on the car over memorial day weekend but nothing showed up. Again, I brought the car in but the dealership could not reproduce the problem. June 18th I drove with a mechanic and reproduced the pattern within ten minutes after leaving the dealership. The chief mechanic for palmen said it definately was the transmission and replaced the transmission solenoid pack. The problem continued the follwing week when we were on vacation. I brought the car back in and the manager kept it from July 3rd through the 5th. No repairs were made but the put on over 100 miles confirming the problem. They said it was electrical. I was to hear back from them on Monday, July 9th but I had to go in July 11th to find out that they had no results. In the meanwhile, I had driven to louisville and back in the car only to have the same problems continue while I was stuck in a dangerous weather situation(high winds and rain). The car bucked at 42 mph and I could not accelerate. This is a potentially dangerous situation if I cannot get the car to accelerate when the transmission "gets stuck". Please help.