1998 Dodge Caravan Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 629 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Dodge Caravan overview page.
What owners report
“WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE PIN WENT TROUGH THE CASE AND CAUSED THE FRONT END TO LOCK UP AND THE VAN WENT SKIDDING DOWN…”NHTSA complaint 735011 — filed 10/24/2000
“ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. ALSO, COMPUTERIZED TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED INTO SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. FOUND BROKEN WIRE IN…”NHTSA complaint 861514 — filed 05/05/2000
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, FELT LIKE SOMEONE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR END, BUT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING…”NHTSA complaint 858525 — filed 03/14/2000
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the most-reported problem area on the 1998 Dodge Caravan: 82 of 629 complaints on file (13%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have in total?
629 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 45 involved a crash, 23 involved a fire, 37 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
