reliable tranny years

[sjr8ut]

Hello,
I am wondering if there are good years for caravan transmissions. I have heard of a lot of repairs being needed on '97-'98 caravan trannies, but what about other years. Do any of you have problems with '99 and up transmissions or trans modules, etc.?
I would like to know as I am in the market for a new minivan, and these seem to be an economical choice.
Thank you.

[vipergg]

Originally Posted by sjr8ut

Hello,
I am wondering if there are good years for caravan transmissions. I have heard of a lot of repairs being needed on '97-'98 caravan trannies, but what about other years. Do any of you have problems with '99 and up transmissions or trans modules, etc.?
I would like to know as I am in the market for a new minivan, and these seem to be an economical choice.
Thank you.

Apparently any year after 2001 for the 41TE has been much better than before that .

[troy1]

none dodge uses the same tranny for all those years minimal upgrades so basicaly they are all the same.

[caravandrvr]

Personally I think the A604 has gotten a bad rap do to the following:

1. People using the wrong fluid – thinking that the Dexron fluid is a replacement for ATF+3 – Mopar Type 7176. I lot of repair stations do not even have the correct fluid in the shop, so if they top off (or worse, change!) your fluid what do they use? For those who think I’m crazy just pull into your garage in your van, point to it and ask them for a quart of transmission fluid for your van. I’d bet money that at best it’s a 50-50 chance you get the correct fluid for your van (ie. something marked Type 7176), or even ATF+3.

2. With all the electronic items on these vehicles, many seemingly unrelated (especially intermittent ones) electrical issues are misdiagnosed as a bad transmission. Typically the shop tells the customer they need a new transmission, the customer either sells/trades the van, or gets a new transmission. Since the problem was never the transmission the original electrical problem was never resolved shortly there after it is again mis-diagnosed the transmission once more. I’ve even heard stories about people being on their 3rd-5th transmission within 100,000 miles. If that’s not an indicator of something other then the transmission itself being messed up I don’t know what is.

3. When you enter into the area of transmission repair/rebuild (just as in any other business so don’t flame me here!) there are many shops with a less then reputable operation. Some may be honest but just not knowledgeable enough about the issues mentioned above, and some may simply be ‘opportunists’. Throw that into the mix and you’ve got a potential for what appears to be a bogus product.

4. I have witnessed many of these well cared for transmissions going to well over 100,000, even up to 200,000 miles. Then a reputable shop rebuilds the transmission and at least another 50-100,000 goes on it. In my experience that is about on par with most vehicles.

[sjr8ut]

Thanks for the replies. I have heard some success stories with these trannies as well. Someone I know has a '99 with all wheel drive and has 219K without ever changing the trans fluid with no problems. I told them to get it changed at a dealership. That is why I was wondering if perhaps something was improved in later year models but maybe it was just luck of the draw.

[evictor]

I have a 97 with 115,000 miles, No Transmission problems (I hope I did not jinks myself) I do have the three spd and not the four speed. I have heard that there is a problem with the four speed.