1993 Dodge Grand Caravan SE from North America - Comments

Where to begin?

3 transmissions in 4 years.

Passenger door and sliding door handles fell off.

Rear view mirror fell off.

Horn would stick on.

Interior lights would short out.

Visor light took weeks to be repaired by dealership.

I went to a dealership that sold Toyota, Dodge, and Mazda. (Knowing that if I traded it in, they couldn't tell me what a pile it was since they sold those cars) Looking at the car, the dealer told me they would give $9000 for the trade-in. After driving it, they rescinded the offer and gave $1000.

I own a 1998 Toyota Sienna and have not had a problem with it in the 7 years I've owned it.

Never again.

Your problem is that you owned a Toyota and a Honda before. I always owned American cars, and the 93 Grand Caravan has been the best of the lot. Yes, I've had 3 transmissions too, and now the paint is peeling off the roof, but other than that the car has been remarkably service-free over 12 years and 125k. One tune-up, new water pump, 2 starter motors, radio booster amps failed. Other than that -- no problems. We still keep the car in the family, but now I drive a Toyota Matrix.

It's amazing what the American buyer will put up with: Three transmission replacements? But otherwise it ran well...correct? My father's 1993 Caravan had transmission failures as well... and I'd never apologize and call this van "reliable".

I drive a 1993 Dodge Caravan, one transmission and 217000 KM later, have one problem that is going to cause me to sell my Van, this is it during wet weather you could be driving along the highway going 80 KM and the car will just stop no brakes, no power steering etc. Have taken it into many mechanics and they cannot locate the problem, great in the summer, but that's it wish, someone could help, the peeling paint does not bother me, but this dangerous problem does.

Explain to us again how "the best of the lot" could need 3 transmissions?

To the person from February 13th: it sounds like the car has been very good to you in other respects. It seems a shame to get rid of it over this one problem. Often when a car quits only in the rain, it's an indication that moisture is shorting out the spark somewhere. I would suggest installing new spark plug wires, new spark plugs, and a new distributor cap and rotor. Also make sure that your coil wire is fitted snugly to the coil, and perhaps even smear a little gel around the outside to seal out moisture. Old spark plug wires that have become cracked with heat and dry rot can allow moisture to seep into the coating, increasing the resistance to the spark plugs and from the coil. The moisture can also coat the inside of the distributor cap and short out the spark. The quick fix for that is to spray silicone spray (i.e. WD-40) in the cap and wipe it around. The same thing applies to the spark plug wires, since the spray displaces water. That's for emergencies, but it's best to replace with new parts.

Too bad that there is no dist cap or rotor on these vans lol.. and from what I see from most people is that you have to maintain machines, not just fill em with gas and wash em.. hell all I own is used, and paid for cars, key word, paid for. I've owned all types of cars, one right now is a 86 fifth ave. no rust, great engine, comfortable. Yeah it uses up more fuel than most, but keep your foot out of it and maintain it and no problems. and when there is a problem the parts are far cheaper than any foreign car and I'm not afraid of killing myself in your standard japanese, or korean kill box. If you don't know how to do general maintainence and your the person that whines about the cost of wiper blades, then you sir or madam need to burn your license and go buy a bike, better yet, walk and never drive again.