2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The van started to make a loud whining sound while going down the highway around 60 miles an hour. When we slowed down and turned onto a smaller road and tried to accelerate the rpm’s went to around 5,000 and it was barely moving. Had to stop for a long time and was able to drive it the last couple of miles home very slowly. Several children in the car were at risk if someone had hit us at hwy speed

My report is to hopefully get a recall started on the transmission of my vehicle. I do not yet have 100,000 miles on my vehicle and need a new transmission. I realize now every time that it accelerated strangely or delayed in acceleration that my transmission was defective all along since I purchased the vehicle. I assumed it was me getting used to the vehicle but I now realize since I had my vehicle inspected by 3 different mechanics, 2 of them specialized in transmissions, that it is defective. The two specialists mechanics told me that this is a known problem for this type of vehicle and I beg of you to investigate this matter immediately. Further, the design of my vehicle’s transmission is completely enclosed, which doesn’t allow it to be repaired without removal and rebuilding. I still owe quite a bit of money on this vehicle, and I cannot even drive it more than a few blocks. Two days ago, while waiting for the drawbridge by my home to go down, I put the vehicle in park. When it was time to go, my vehicle would not go out of park for about 30 seconds and then would not move once in drive for another 30 seconds. My engine light came on a while ago, which is what led me to have it checked out. It has always gotten very bad gas mileage since I bought it used. When I bought the vehicle, it was during Covid when there was a chip shortage, so there were no affordable new cars on car lots. There should be some recourse for this problem.

The vehicle began to shake and sputter on the highway. We were lucky enough to be able to pull over safely. This could have caused a major accident on a very busy highway. The check engine light came on. Called roadside assistance and had car towed to a mechanic. The mechanic shop said there was a recall on the vehicle and I needed to take it to the dealership. The car was towed to the dealership and the dealership said while there is a "general" recall, the recall was vin number specific and my vin number was not included. The recall number is 18v-524 related to the PCM Voltage. This is a KNOWN defect but Dodge did not include all vin numbers. The recall needs to be expanded to include this vehicle.

Keep getting cylinder 2 missfire code I have changed everything it saids, I see this is a on going issue for years that people have reported yet its still not fixed and is costing us money because dodge don't want to take responsibility for thier mess up.

Transmission failure

I had bought my van in August 2022 used from a dealership and was never offered an extended warranty or anything. In January 2023 my 2018 Grand Caravan started making a noise and I thought it was the pulley. Took it to the mechanic and come to find out it was the flex plate inside the transmission. I had that fixed in January 2023 which cost $1000. There was no warning for the flex plate. Then October 18, 2023 my van again started making a noise and driving properly. I had someone look at it and was told it was low on transmission fluid. I checked it fluid on the next day and it was full. Went to drive it on October 20, 2023 and it didn't want to shift and when I was able to go the transmission didn't engage and didn't catch a gear. I was able to get around the corner and I had to pull off the side of the road. As I pulled over the transmission light ha come on. I had it towed to the mechanic shop and he confirmed that the transmission is shot and needs to be replaced.

The transmission spontaneously went out and vehicle stopped accelerating on the highway. There were no indicators or warning signs that the transmission was bad or going out. The vehicle only has 90k miles and we need a brand new transmission

Vehicle requires repair for Transmission part failure at 69,000 miles. Multiple mechanics and online complaint records show transmission issues as a common problem for this make and model. Owners should not be facing a major engine repair of over $3500 when the vehicle is 5 years old and just past the power train warranty period.

My POWERTRAIN/TRANSMISSION failed. I have 91,000 miles on this vehicle. the vehicle began to accelerate on its own while in traffic. I had just dropped my children off at school luckily. I was able to get the vehicle out of traffic safely. As I tried to turn around and go home it accelerated again. There were no warning signs, lights, or malfunctions prior to this happening. I called roadside to come get the vehicle. I am waiting for a diagnosis now. I have spoken to dodge and they are aware this happened. I accidentally misquoted the mileage at 97,000. It has 91,121.

Check engine light came on. Vehicle would shake and have trouble accelerating when I put my foot on the gas pedal, it was worse if gone above 45 MPH. Vehicle was sent to mechanic for diagnosis and repair. P0302 code was read for #2 fuel cylinder misfire. PCV valve, Coil pack, All spark plugs, & Fuel injector were replaced. Check engine light is still on. Vehicle cannot be operated under mechanics safety recommendation. There is still a cylinder 2 misfire. Car can stall at anytime if operated. Dodge dealership have been notified and said there are no recalls. Warranty only covers up to 60,000 for power train issues. I’ve called another shop as well for a 3rd opinion, the engine has been failing in many vehicles with the same code.

Transmission leak leading to transmission needing to be rebuilt

Transmission just stopped on the freeway... No warning or lights came on.

Stalls out randomly rear caliper keeps failing and leaking break fluid transmission will not shift properly up or down shifting which makes had to stop everything the the recalls for USA model has this Canada model has going right with it

I have a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan I bought used from a CDJR dealer. I went on a 2,500-mile road trip in July 2021. The engine began running rough for about the last 500 miles. When we got home there was about 63,000 miles on the vehicle. I took it to a local mechanic at home in August and he said I had bad fuel so he put in a fuel treatment and had me fill up with premium fuel one to two times. This seemed to help only marginally. A month later I took the van to another mechanic and he determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. He performed a relative compression test and said the engine will need to be disassembled and inspected. He called a local dealer and found the warranty was 5 years/60,000 miles. He suggested I call my dealer because this shouldn't be happening even outside of the warranty. I did. They offered no solutions. Very frustrating.

We have a 2018 dodge caravan with 69,000 miles on it - the check engine light showed a misfire on cylinder 5, after taking it to multiple mechanics they all have told us its an issue with the head gasket or possibly needs a new engine. This should not be happening with such a new vehicle with so few miles on it. after doing some research I have learned this is a common problem with this year, make and model.

I WAS DRIVING UP A BUSY INTERSECTION AND MY 2018 DODGE CARAVAN STOPPED RANDOMLY IN ON GOING AND ON COMING TRAFFIC AND I COULDN'T START IT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 8 MONTHS AND I KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE. MY FAMILY WAS AFRAID BECAUSE CARS WERE DRIVING UP FAST BEHIND US IN A NARROW TWO WAY STREET.

POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE CAUSES CAR TO IDLE ROUGH AND ALMOST STALL. PROBLEM HAPPENS IN PARK AND DRIVE AS WELL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE SEEN THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR VAN FOR THIS PART AS WELL.

MOTOR KNOCKING, LIFTER FAILED CAUSING MAJOR MOTOR DAMAGE. NO WARNING LIGHTS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON MOTOR WITH REGULAR SERVICE.

BOUGHT THE VAN IN DECEMBER OF 2019. A FEW MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE VAN WASN'T ACCELERATING/SHIFTING WHEN GOING UP HILLS. IT DELAYED STARTED ONE NIGHT AND I HAD TO SHIFT IF OFF AND RESTART IT. MY FRONT A/C STOPPED WORKING AND KICKS ON RANDOMLY. THE DOORS DON'T AUTOMATICALLY LOCK UNTIL A FEW MINUTES AFTER BEING PUT INTO DRIVE. BACK RIGHT DOOR DOESN'T LOCK. RECENTLY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS BURNT WIRING AND POSSIBLE PLUGGED CAD. CONVERTER. *TR

ON THE FILLER NECK, WHEN I PUT THE FUEL NOZZLE IN TO FILL UP MY VAN THE FILLER NECK IS LOOSE. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM. ON THE POWER TRAIN ,WHEN CLIMBING A HILL IT SLOWS DOWN AND I GO TO GIVE IT GAS AND IT BOGGS DOWN, LIKE SPUTTERS. IT MAKES LIKE A CLUNCKING IN THE BACK OF THE VAN. ALSO THE HOOD HAS COME UP ON ME 3 TIMES. THIS LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY DID NOT CHECK IT OUT. I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE LATCH POPPED LOOSE AND MADE THE HOOD COME UP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR.