1996 Dodge Grand Caravan LS review from North America

Water pump needed replacement.

Tensioner needed replacement, along with serpentine belt.

Leaks transmission fluid.

Driver side power window not working.

Air conditioner not functioning.

At first, the van drove smoothly and was very reliable. However, that all changed when I first started to notice the transmission fluid leakage. I took the van to the dealer and was told that it was oil, not transmission fluid. What??!! I believe I know the difference between transmission fluid and engine oil. Anyway... in the mornings, I will have to let the van warm up for about ten minutes before driving. Otherwise, the van wouldn't move, for it will not go forward. At least this is not the total cause of my heartache.

Last week, my wife noticed the oil light flickering. She mentioned that to me, so I checked the oil level. The oil level was fine. A couple of days later, she said the oil light stayed on and heard a chime. I called my mechanic and he told me that the oil pressure was low and the oil pressure switch needed replacement... a $60 job. No problem, right?? WRONG!! On the way to the mechanic, the van broke down. I had it towed to the mechanic. A couple of hours later, he confirmed my worst fear, the engine was dead. It would cost me $2,100 to fix the van. What's worse, I have but a few more months to pay on the vehicle and the value of the van is probably less than the repairs it needs. What gives??

I guess I can say that I received my money's worth. After all, we did put 85,000 miles on the van, right? (129,000 minus the 44,000 that was already on the van when we bought it.) Yet, when I think about my two previous vehicles (1990 Honda Prelude and a 1988 Toyota Camry) and the amount of miles we put on those cars before they began to falter (209,000 on the Prelude and 184,000 on the Camry), I really cheated myself. I won't make the same mistake again. No more Dodge vehicles for me... after I get rid of my '98 Dodge Intrepid!!!