1990 Dodge Caravan Consumer Discussions

Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

• Re: Transmission question..... [shipo]

  Written by: chuckls68 on Feb 12, 2010 11:28:05 AM

  1998 Dodge Caravan Sport. Purchased used in September of 2008 from a dealer. They had just done a flush of the tranny. Since then, I have had it flushed twice to keep the fluid fresh. I did a lot of highway driving and pulling the boat no more than 60 miles one way. I was told that this vehicle would be just fine for pulling a boat of the size I ... Read More

2008 Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan

• Re: Purchasing an '08 minivan in 6-8 months. [artgpo]

  Written by: dennisctc on Jan 6, 2008 8:38:20 AM

  Really? And what does that say for Chrysler for offering 0%, a rebate and no payments for six months on its much ballyhooed BRAND NEW minivans? I've seen the posting on 0% etc.....but haven't actually seen it any where else. But rebates and incentives are typical of domestics, but not Honda. People shopping for any car, knows there's dickering, incentives and negotiations for the selling price/trade in. Forever though, to buy ... Read More

2008 Minivans

• Re: Empty nesters and minivans? [dennisctc]

  Written by: artgpo on Sep 29, 2007 6:03:04 AM

  It was my wife's comment "What the heck is with this thing?" when I brought home a Sienna for a test drive. The van bounced and pitched like a small boat on the water. It was not this one single van because I drove several other Siennas. For those of you used to Detroit iron you would probably not find the drive offensive. The Odyssey was (and still is) tight and ... Read More

Caravan/Voyager Warning Lights & Problem Codes

• Help with "Check Guages" light and the Battery Guage

  Written by: van_mann on Aug 21, 2006 9:53:02 AM

  I have a 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3.3l auttomatic tranny. Recently i was just leaving the park in my van and the "check Guages" light came on, immediatly at startup, and the only guage that was low was the battery guage.. i know that my battery was quite old so i replaced it. the problem persists.. i do have an aftermarket stereo system (nothing fancy) and when i drove further i ... Read More

Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

• Which used MiniVans have the BAD transmission ???....

  Written by: overrunmama on May 26, 2006 5:42:16 AM

  I am looking to buy a USED (1990's most likely) Crysler or Dodge MiniVan/Caravan, and want to make sure the one we buy has a Decent transmission, I don't mind if it needs rebuilt because it has SO many miles on it, but I have heard some of those transmissons only last 40,000 miles or less-it was a REAL problem with constant frustation & $$ headaches. Can anyone who knows about ... Read More

Minivans - Domestic or Foreign

• no title

  Written by: marine2 on May 12, 2006 5:24:06 PM

  The Caravan will have roll down electric windows in the sliding doors. It is boxy and has an angular look. Production date is August 2007 and it should be arriving at dealers by September 2007. Perhaps the most important features of this minivan are said to be: Higher quality due to the team-based manufacturing and other new systems Better gas mileage Better acceleration Quieter interior The identifier for the new minis ... Read More

Honda Odyssey vs Dodge/Chrysler minivans

• Re: Most other vans are slow [jordan5cyl]

  Written by: fljoslin on Dec 18, 2005 12:54:20 PM

  During geophysics field school, we took some 2004 Dodge Grand Caravans on our trip. At high rpm, the engine sounds like crap (raspy and weak) and the power drops off rapidly. The same thing happens to my mom's Intrepid. They feel anaemic going up hills. I had to try and redline the thing just to pass on the highway, and I only had one other person in the van. It had ... Read More

• Re: A Guess [hayneldan]

  Written by: socalawd on Oct 31, 2005 1:31:29 PM

  Do you really think a Odyssey owner would rate his or her van lower after having paid a premium price for it over DCX vans. Socalwad excepted because he's convinced he got the best price on his first Odyssey after buying 3 or 4? DCX vans. I have only purchased 1 Dodge caravan(2001) I did it purely for the price, had 2 as company cars(1990,1993), and one given to me (1986) ... Read More

• Self Proclaimed Minivan Expert

  Written by: artgpo on Oct 26, 2005 5:25:29 AM

  I am going to award that title to myself. Since 1983 I have owned: 1983 VW 9-passenger (very rare) Vanagon 1987 Nissan Van 1990 Pontiac Trans Sport 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan 1997 Ford Windstar 2003 Olds Silhouette 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L In between there were a some sedans, all Detroit iron. My experience with the vans was that the VW was far and away the most roomy and comfortable but the ... Read More

• Re: Odyssey automatic transmission plagued with problems [hansienna]

  Written by: socalawd on Oct 15, 2005 6:33:28 PM

  Odyssey automatic transmission has replaced the early DC 4 speed "Ultra-Drive" automatic as the most likely to fail. DC transmission problems have not been very common since the mid 1990's. Even with all the problems with the Odyssey automatic transmission, I would not worry about one if I liked the Odyssey better than the Grand Caravan or Sienna. Honda seems willing to fix the transmissions unlike Chrysler was when the 4 ... Read More

Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Minivan Problems & Solutions

• I am having a problem......help PLEASE!!!

  Written by: amandak on Jul 7, 2005 9:50:40 PM

  Ok...I have a 1990 Dodge Caravan that is having issues! Number one I was driving and it stalled out, before it stalled, I hit the gas pedal and it slowed down faster. After letting it rest for a few minutes, the van proceeded to start. The problem occured a few other times, but it always started. About a week ago it happened again, and it hasnt started since. We were told ... Read More

• 1990 Gr Caravan 3.3 stutters/stalls

  Written by: chubb2i on Apr 21, 2005 10:55:27 PM

  I am original owner of van with 290,000 miles. Very well maintained, and except for known transmission problems, never left me stranded. I have the Dodge service book. Current problem: Intermitantly, when engine is warm (at least 5 miles driven), engine stutters, and may quit, but may recover after stuttering for 5-15 seconds and run fine for another 5 minutes or 2 days. Some days no problem at all. No engine ... Read More

• Re: 1992 caravan tranny problems???? [buymichigan]

  Written by: rfnebraska on Apr 8, 2005 8:41:03 AM

  I've got a 99 plymouth minivan that had a similar problem, as well as a 1990 dodge dynasty that did the same thing. What is happening is the computer is detecting a transmission error and going into "limp in" mode. What this basically means is that the transmission shifts into 2nd gear and stays there. The transmission is electronically controlled transmission, controlled by 2 shift sensors. I'm not exactly sure where ... Read More

Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

• Anecdotal experience with Automatic Transmissions

  Written by: hansienna on Aug 24, 2003 10:20:24 AM

  Only one DC minivan has had transmission failure of the many owned by people I know. That was a 1996 T&C LXi used to tow a large trailer all the time and the transmission failed at 180,000 miles.      Meanwhile, 3 sisters in a family I know had purchased Ford Taurus. The 1990 Taurus transmission failed at just over 100,000 miles, the 1993 Taurus transmission failed at 115,000 miles and most recently ... Read More

• 191,000 miles with one minor problem

  Written by: blk97aurora on Dec 31, 2003 9:37:08 PM

  My wife and I just bought a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT to replace our 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager LE, which has been totaled due to a rear-end collision. The GV (3.3-liter) has 191,000 miles on it; transaxle fluid was changed once at 100,000 miles. The only problem in all those miles was one speed sensor replacement. When I ordered the GV in 1990, I specified the AHT trailer prep package ... Read More

1990 Grand Caravan stalls

• 1990 Grand Caravan stalls

  Written by: shelleybabee on Oct 2, 2003 3:19:38 PM

  I need help! I am at wits end on my caravan. My van stalls, at 1st it was a few times a month & it would restart with no problem. Now it wont make it all of the way out of my driveway. I have taken it to several shops and have also had home mechanic work done but no one can figure out what the problem is. BTW, it's a ... Read More

Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

• Transmission

  Written by: greg116 on May 3, 2001 12:42:03 AM

  Our 1990 Dodge Caravan SE 3.0L 4-speed auto had the transmission problem, right before the warranty ran out. We took it to a repair shop... not sure of the name, think it was a tire place or something... in downtown Victoria, BC. They said they saw what was wrong and could repair it, and they did. The odo just recently rolled over to 170,000KM (can anyone do the conversion to miles ... Read More

Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Minivan Problems & Solutions

• My 300,000 miles 90 Caravan

  Written by: walterchan on Aug 19, 2000 4:10:01 PM

  I have averaged that Chrysler minivans lasted only about 300,000 miles before the car totally extinct. I have a 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan LE that is begining to have engine and other failures every one to three days.

• 1990 Dodge Caravan C/V

  Written by: catalinhank on Aug 2, 2000 5:49:02 AM

  I have a 1990 Dodge Caravan C/V(the cargo van version) - it has 185,000 miles on the orginal motor(a 3.0 liter V-6 - vehicle was bought used at 65,000 miles)- I change the oil & filter every 3000 miles - I've never had any trouble with the engine(yet!)- unfortunately the transmission went out at 90,000 miles - it was rebuilt at a cost of $900.00 & so far it was held ... Read More

• Data

  Written by: egawron on Apr 26, 2000 2:49:54 AM

  If you want data as to Dodge Caravan problems, that includes 1989 through 1998, see the following: http://www.thegrid.net/thedrivetrainpage/whtobuy.htm http://www.lemonaidcars.com/chrysler.htm http://www.autosafety.org/minivan.html http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/chrysler_mini_vans.htm http://www.badtrans.webprovider.com/id17.htm http://geocities.com/Baja/Mesa/7135/ http://www.carcast.com/cc/conference/messages/1247.html There is a lot of good documented historical data. As more 1998, 1999 and 2000 get above 50,000 miles in mileage, they will also be included in the above data showing long term reliability problems. Chrysler has done little to nothing to help improve their proven history ... Read More

• When you aren't happy with the results of a publication's reliability survey...

  Written by: capecodder on Apr 20, 2000 4:23:02 AM

  then attempt to discredit the publication. Usual silliness. Consumer Reports' survey shows Dodge Grand Caravan transmissions rated below average for reliability through 1995 (that's more recent than 1990, swampcollie; don't you think?). Still waiting to see what happens when more recent years rack up higher mileage. This is not "bashing" or "trashing." It's noting the facts, which some choose to hide themselves from. Still waiting for someone to give me a ... Read More

• rocker arm noise -1990 Grand Carvan LE

  Written by: jcho4 on Feb 5, 2000 8:32:00 PM

  I am considering buying a 1990 Dodge Caravan. Overall, it is in good mechanical shape...with one exception: The engine rocker arms are doing a lot of clicking. I've understood this to be "normal" as cars get up into this mileage range (150k). It is not burning oil but I am wondering what problem(s) may be lurking because of the noise and what could be done to elminate or reduce the noise. ... Read More

• carleton1 and thread #123

  Written by: capecodder on Feb 23, 2000 1:08:37 PM

  Thank you, carleton1, for pointing out thread #123, titled "Is there anything GOOD to say about Crysler[sic]/Dodge Minivans." I did the same thing there that I did for the original "Dodge Caravan problems" thread and subsequently described above--went back to 1 Jan 1999 and read all the postings until I encountered the first mention of you, carleton1. Here's what I found. The first posting by a Honda owner was again by ... Read More