2000 caravan tranny fails

[maynardmom6]

I am a licensed day care provider who transports several small children daily. My vehicle is a 2000 dodge caravan. On tuesday, my transmission failed without warning while I was on the interstate with five children inside. I was horrified, to say the least. I had the van towed to Lithia Dodge. My transmission needs to be replaced, which will cost upwards of around $2000. I did some research on the internet and I have discovered some disturbing facts. Chrysler vans from 1998-2002 have a reputation of having this type of failure happen. The cause is a differential pin that shoots through the casing of the transmission. There is nothing at all the consumer can do to prevent this. Newer models of the caravan 2003 and later have the same transmissions but they now have metal plates installed which keep the pins from breaking through the casing. I tried to get assisstance from Chrsyler directly, but according to their customer service department, there has been no problem with these transmissions. I asked them why then were there several websites and stories on the internet of customers having the same problem that I just experienced. They replied that there is nothing they can do to help me. I understand when something wears out, I do not understand when something fails. My transmission did not wear out, it failed. The differential pins shot out and broke the transmission casing. An interesting fact is that if you call locally or across the country and try to locate a used transmission for 1998-2002 chrysler vans you will discover that the majority have the broken cases caused by the differential pins. Thus, they recommend replacing with a new transmission that has the corrected plates inside. I also discovered that at Lithia dodge, they have on an average 2 or more of these vans coming in weekly with the same problem, yet chrysler is not acknowledging the problem by helping out the consumer. They charge the customer to replace a transmission that they know has a defect, yet they do not take responsibility for it. I have been a Dodge owner for several years, my parents had a Dodge dart when I was growing up, three of my teens drive dodges....this really upset me today , the more I read online the more upset I got, differential pins blasting thru a casing is not a normal occurance....and then adding safety plates to later models and still saying it is not a defect is not right. I love my van, and I will fix it, I just think chrysler should help me out with this one.

[flash gordon]

welcome to the world of the cracked dashboard....

DCX will not admit there is widespread problems on their own.....not ever. they will only recall something when they are made to recall something by the NTHSA.....or a Federal District Court(see catalytic converters)

unlike say, Honda.....Honda has sold millions of Accords worldwide, but last year they(on their own) discovered many of their 98-01 Accords had automatic transmission problems, they had narrowed it down to just a hand full made at a certain plant MAY have produced these cars with a lower level of quality....can't remember the exact number but it was very miniscule compared to the number of Accords built and sold during that time.....Honda, ON THEIR OWN, placed an ext warranty on EVERY Accord automatic tranny built during that time. It is a full warranty that goes 7yrs/100K miles......Now that is how a car maker takes care of its customers....no hiding, no bs'ing. Just good old quality and pride in what they make.

just think, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF DCX doing something like this?

didn't think so.