Automatic Transmission problems of the 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan

The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan. While checking the transmission under the hood with the engine running, the contact's granddaughter was able to shift from neutral to drive. The engine revved and the vehicle moved forward, knocking the contact underneath the vehicle. When the vehicle suddenly stopped, she managed to get up from under the vehicle and turn off the engine. The contact was the only one injured. The paramedics had been called and the fire department filed a report. She was then transported to the hospital. Chrysler stated that it was impossible for the gear to be moved out of position without depressing the brake pedal. They offered no assistance and the contact is concerned that the failure may recur. The failure mileage was 124,000 and current mileage was 124,784. Updated 05/13/08.

I picked up on a matter of safety with my 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan se, when the vehicle is turned on, and running the vehicle can be shifted from park to other gears without the break pedal being depressed. This issues continues to happen. I spoke with the dealer about the issue, and was told that in the 2000 model it wasn't required to press the brake pedal to shift the vehicle. I as the consumer do not think this the case. I can make it happen time after time, and can show you it happening. Could result in property damage, and or crash.

While driving on a major interstate the transmission in my 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan locked up with only 87403 miles registered. After having it towed to a reputable transmission company I found that the entire transmission was damaged for no apparent reason and had to be replaced. While repairs were being made I investigated to see if there was a recall for this vehicle for transmission problems and found that many individuals have had problems with this particular vehicle but there have been no recalls to this date. All parts including gears were replaced at my expense of $2221. 58. It is my understanding that the transmissions in this vehicle should not have problems and especially should not have to be replaced until at least over 100,000 miles.

: the contact stated while driving 35 mph, the wheels locked up. The vehicle slid off of the road and was towed to an independent repair shop. The repair shop determined a pin in the transmission came out, causing the wheels to lock up. Updated 3/17/2006 - the transmission had to be replaced. The pin broke through the housing of the transmission. The manufacturer is aware of the problem and explained to the consumer that they now have a retrofit kit to lock the pin in. The manufacturer refused to provide the consumer with any assistance.

2000 Dodge Grand Caravan se has no shift lock. 2 year old child was able to shift transmission from park to drive without depressing the brake pedal. $1800 damage to caravan and $2300 to another customized van; all in the expanse of 50 feet and 1 minute in a flat and level private school parking lot.

2000 Dodge Grand Caravan, vehicle put into gear without foot on brake. Dodge does not have safety switch on brake to prevent gear shifting. This should be illegal. This should be illegal. Let's do the right thing, if this is not illegal the government is not doing their job.

Vehicle was being maintained by an aftermarket auto shop where it was discovered that there was a quarter size hole that went completely through the transmission. The owner then contacted the manufacturer who stated that the vehicle was out of warranty and that the vehicle was manufactured in canada and that there was nothing they can do. Provide further details.

2000 Dodge Grand Caravan: I shifted the vehicle into reverse and it started to reverse but then jerked, placed in park, and again attempted to reverse but experienced the same results. Placed in neutral and rolled out of driveway into street and noticed transmission fluid had blown, pulled forward and parked. Towed to dealership and they are telling me that the transmission housing cracked and that the repair/replacement cost will be $3500.

While driving 35 mph without warning the vehicle shifted into neutral. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but the mechanic can not duplicate the problem.

While driving 60 mph transmission locked up. Consumer was forced to pull over. Consumer had the vehicle towed to dealer, but dealer was not able to resolve the problem.

Last night my transmission blew up for the 2nd time. The first time the van was a year old. This time I am past my warranty, but the brakes locked up on me & 2 of my children almost ended up in the pompton water falls. The dealership and manufacturer basically told me "OH well--your on your own. " this should not have happened twice in three years. . This is a dangerous situation and I hope you can help prevent this from happening to others. . . My van was meticulously cared for. . . This should not have happened!! thank you for any help you can give me. .

I have owned a 2000 Grand Caravan for 6 months and it has 40 thousand miles on it and I am already having transmission problems. This is the 4th time I have had to take it to be looked at about the transmission, now the dealership says it needs a totally new transmission this van is not that old and does not have that many miles on it. I am starting to think I made a bad choice trading my Ford in for a Dodge van.

Pinion pin of the automatic transmission came out and destroyed the transmission. A standard pin retaining clip would have precluded the problem.

The vehicle lurched forward when it was put into gear, the dealership indicated it was caused by the transmission cylinder pack, however the part was on national back order.

My car just died in the middle nowhere on route 42 on the way to work. Only to find out that the transmission needs to be replaced. The caravan I own has only 42,000 miles on it. I do not even own it for 2 years. It was a buy back from the dealer. The warranty was only for 3 years of 36,000 miles. I was told by the mechanic from the dealer I purchased the vehicle from that this should not have happened. Now I am forced to pay over $1100 for a new transmission. I was told that they have agreed to split the bill of approximately $2200. I feel I should not have to pay anything as this should never have happened and is a defect from the Chrysler manufacturer. I am not the only one complaining. There is a whole web site dedicated to complaints by consumers which I have down loaded and is over 11 pages long.

Vechile will shift into reverse or drive without brakes applied. Any child could shift while engine is running and could cause fatal accident.

The automatic transmission pan was leaking. Consumer had vehicle checked by a mechanic, who indicated that this was a result of the transmission pan being made with silicone. The mechanic also stated that this is a common problem with these make/model vehicle. Please provide more details.

The transaxle in the transmission blew apart in the gear case at 76,000 miles on our 2000 caravan and nine days after this the left front axle assemble was shot and had to be replaced.

The vehicle can be shifted into reverse of drive from park without applying the brake.

When driving at 5-10 mph transmission is jerking, vehicle is at dealership at this time. Please provide additional information.

Van drops into nuetral when driving, dealer can't find anything, Dodge won't do anything. Been in shop repeatedly. Not repaired gointto kill someone nearly rearended.

While traveling at approximately 25 mph vehicle suddenly threw itself into park and brought vehicle to a complete stop. Dealership could not reproduce problem with vehicle, and informed consumer they could find nothing wrong. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Consumer is able to shift through all gears without putting foot on brake. Test drove other 2000 models on dealer lot, all do that, 2001 models don't.

Our vehicle is on transmission #3 and it is less than 7 months old. It also has a front end suspension problem they haven't been able to fix. It has been in the shop a total of almost 30 days and out of commission for about 37.

Hi, my name is joanmarie timm, I live in bradley, IL. In June of 2000, my husband and I purchased a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan from, taylor Dodge in kankakee, IL. On October 20, 2000 with only 4500 miles on it the van began slipping into neutral while driving. This van has been in over and over to that shop. I have been with out my van on a regular basis, with out resolution. The owner of the dealership, dave taylor, was in the van - in his shop and the van dropped into neutral when he put it into drive. (not moving). After many visits of we cannot duplicate the problem, the Chrysler corp was contacted by Dodge. A return fax to the prior service manager doug becker , told them not to do anything until the problem is duplicated. I have talked to dave taylor asking him to replace this van, of course he cannot do that. I have emailed Dodge corp asking them to fix or replace as this is a safety issue. A couple of weeks ago they replaced the transmission, within 2 weeks the van was doing this again. I called and was told they would get back with me. I had to call them back. The resolution this time was bring it in will take it for a drive. Which of course I did, of course in a 10 minute drive it did not do this. The bottom line is, I cannot manipulate the van to do this and when you are driving 45 miles pr hour and the van drops into neutral it is a safety issue. We have had many close calls with this van in being rear end. I have put large size lemons in my windows and pained on the van, 3 years and Dodge cannot find problem, I have only 35,000. 00 miles and have had problems since 4500, I purchased the extended warranty about 15 months ago due to these issues. Today Dodge tells me that until a certified service person, experiences the problem first hand, nothing will be done. I asked dennis (service manager, does that mean someone has to die in this van before it is fixed, he stated they have made an honest effort to try and fix the van -that is all they can do. ).

When consumer put vehicle in revers it would not move, other times it works, this has happened when putting it in drive, as well. Currently, transmission is leaking. Not taken to dealer yet.

2000 Dodge caravan jumped from drive to neutral while driving 35 mph. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer over five times for this problem.

Intermittently and without prior warning transmission locks up while driving due to a weak pin within transmission. Dealer is repairing transmission. Please provide any further details.

Vehicle can be shifted into gear without depressing brake pedal. Manufacturer has been contacted. Please provide further information.

The gears on the vehicle can be shifted without applying the brakes. Owners manual states that gears should not be able to be shifted without application of brakes. Dlr has no recourse.

While driving the gear shifter shifted into neutral and as a result the vehicle would not accelerate. This also happened while stopped in traffic. The consumer has several witnesses to the problem but the dealer mechanic could not duplicate or determine the cause of the problem. Please provide any additional information.

When the vehicle was in second gear, it became stuck. The dealer informed consumer, the transmission needed to be replaced.

Vehicle went into safe mode while diving causing it to stop. Dealer has repaired vehicle. Please provide further information.