1998 Dodge Caravan purchased used from Brandon Honda, Tampa, FL - needed new transmission at 42,000 miles

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on November 27, 2002:

From:

RE: 1998 Dodge Caravan purchased used from Brandon Honda, Tampa, FL - needed new transmission at 42,000 miles

Tuesday, November 26, 2002 Service Manager, Brandon Dodge

9207 East Adamo Dr

Tampa, FL 33619

Via fax: (813) 612-9375

Dear Sir: I purchased a 1998 Dodge Caravan from Brandon Honda on Mon 10/28. Unfortunately, 3 weeks into my experience with this Dodge, the “check engine light” came on. On Wednesday, November 20, after a harrowing drive home from Lakeland, I took the van into Brandon Honda. The van was not shifting properly. IT HAS ONLY 42,200 MILES! It would pop out of gear unexpectedly, leaving me without any forward gear until I shifted to neutral and back to drive. It is an unsafe vehicle to operate on the roadways. The service department at Brandon Honda told me it was “probably a sensor, and would likely cost about $200”. I told them to proceed with the repair. On Thursday afternoon, I received a call, and was told that Brandon Honda could not service the vehicle, and that it was likely something serious. I took the vehicle to Brandon Dodge on Friday evening, and have been told the vehicle needs a new transmission at a cost of $1,600 plus tax. I have since learned that Dodge Caravan’s are notorious for having transmission problems. There are 5 technical service bulletins issued for automatic transmissions on this vehicle for 1998 alone (see attachment #1). Between January 1989 and July 1991, Chrylser tried 28 different changes to deal with transmission problems. The issue of vehicle quality is deeper than I first thought. As I began to research the problem I am having I found the following: "Out of 100 vehicles, we're apt to build 10 that are as good as any that Toyota has ever built, 80 that are okay and 10 that cause repeated problems for our customers." Robert Lutz, President

Chrysler U.S.

Chrysler Times, 17 July 1995 I am requesting that you contact Brandon Dodge in Tampa, FL and authorize a “goodwill repair”. I have owned numerous Chrysler products going back to the ’78 Monaco, and NEVER had such problems as this! In the event you decide not to honor my request, I am prepared to take the following actions immediately: