1999 Dodge Caravan

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.*AK

I HAD BEEN TO A FUNERAL AND WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MILES PER HOUR ONLY MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. I HAD TURNED INTO THE RESIDENTIAL SECTION AND HAD GOTTEN TO MY HOUSE AND SLOWED TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE PART BROKE AT THIS TIME AND ALL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I COULD NOT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME WHAT PART HAD BROKEN. IT ALSO HIT THE PULLEY WHEN IT BROKE AND THE PULLEY AND BELT BROKE ALSO. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A DEALER ITEM; HOWEVER, THEY STOCK IT BECAUSE IT BREAKS ALL THE TIME ON THE 1999 MODELS AND OLDER MODELS ALSO. IF THIS PART HAD BROKEN ONLY MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, DRIVING AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MILES PER HOUR AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER IN MY VAN AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED AND IT COULD HAVE INVOLVED OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO MY LACK OF STEERING ABILITY. I HAVE NOT CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THIS PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED FOR THE NEWER MODELS OR NOT. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM DUE TO THE IMMINENT DANGER IMPOSED BY THIS FAILURE AND THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN.*AK

IN HEAVY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND AIR CONDITIONING ON I LOST THE POWER STEERING WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL.JERRY ULM CHRYSLER DEALER CHARGED ME $208. AND TOLD ME SOMEONE INSTALLED THE WRONG FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR WHICH ISN'T TRUE ANYWAY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAYS HE CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.I'M WONDERING IF ANY OTHER COMPLAINT OF THIS NATURE HAS BEEN LAUNCHED I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR VACATION IN THE VERY HOT WEATHER.

THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT ON MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 35908 MILES AND ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD. IT WAS THE SPEED SENSOR. THE SECOND TIME WAS AT 40,100 MILES AND LESS THAN 20 MONTHS OLD. I WAS TOLD THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAME APRART!! THIS TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY DODGE BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 36,000 MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS LESS THAN 2 YEAR OLD CAR, BUT THE MOST WORRISOME HAS BEEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES BECAUSE THEY HAVE OCCURED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONE AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, LEAVING HER STRANDED. *AK