Rear End in 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan

25

Asked by LCCopley7 Nov 06, 2017 at 10:32 AM about the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

The rear end feels very loose and sometimes feels like it
loses traction like you would on a wet road but the roads
are completely dry. There is a noticeable wobble in the
rear as well when going low speeds and all tires are new
and have been checked. The transmission also doesn’t
have the power it once did and my vehicle feels like aim
four wheeling at all times. Please help! Dealership says
this is normal! What? On a brand new vehicle with less
than 10,000 miles?

10 Answers

330

At 10,000 miles, the car should still be under warranty. I'd take it to another dealer for a 2nd opinion. Be sure someone from the dealership drives the car and can experience what you are experiencing.

2 people found this helpful.
330

One more thought: several years ago, I had a rear tire with a broken belt that made the car wobble at low speeds. It felt like the tail was wagging the dog. I know the tires in this case are new with only 10,000 miles on them, but even though they "have been checked", something might have been missed.

25

The tires are brand new. Newer than the vehicle. But I’m willing to have anything and everything checked out because I have gotten to the point of being afraid of my vehicle. And luckily it is still under warranty which is great but also frustrating when the dealership is trying to convince you that this is normal. If I had known this was considered normal I wouldnt have bought it. I have 3 little girls that ride in this car so I need it to be as safe s possible. Thanks for your advice guys. I’m the woman who knows nothing about cars so this has been a ridiculous battle. The dealership treats me like I am very dumb. Yes, I am clueless when it comes to vehicles but I do know it’s driving totally different than it did when we took it off the car lot.

25

Also, there is a noise in the back when taking a left turn or accelerating going straight in certain gears. The transmission also shudders like you are going over a grate and you can feel every crack in the road.

330

Just a suggestion: It might help if you had a male friend who knows a little about cars accompany you the next time you visit a dealer about this problem. Also, if this is a new vehicle with less than 10,000 miles, why did it need a new set of tires? The original tires should last at least 30,000 to 40,000 miles (my guess).

1 people found this helpful.
157,115

My guess is that they replaced the tires to try to fix the issue. I am curious as to what make and model of vehicle you drove before you got this Caravan?

25

We got a new set because we recently moved across country and it made my husband feel better to have a new set on just in case since we have three small children. We still kept the other set as well and they are still in good condition but our new set is Michelin and still appear to be in mint condition. It started to drive a little odd before this but we were told that it’s nothing more than the car being totally computerized and often needs updating yet no updates were needed at the time. Since then all of this has happened and there have been no accidents or anything. And I had a 2014 Ford Explorer and we still have a 2015 Toyota Camry. Before our daughters we had a Jeep Wrangler that was lifted and it drove smoother than this! I knew better than to do the whole van thing, lol!

330

Regarding your initial posting where you stated the transmission didn't appear to have the power it once did - has the transmission fluid ever been changed on this vehicle? Using a fluid not recommended by the manufacturer (see owner's manual) could cause problems. Also, if you don't get any satisfaction trying to get your problem fixed through the dealer, I suggest you do an online search, such as: "how to resolve issues with a new Dodge vehicle". There is at least one good site that will take you through the process needed to get a better dealer response and there are also sites that list common problems reported with your particular vehicle.

1 people found this helpful.
25

Thank you for your help. And to answer your question about the fluid... yes, it has been changed and it was done by the dealership. We are current on all oil changes and services needed and they were all performed by the dealership so I’m hoping they used the correct products. But you never know. I’m just concerned about the safety of the vehicle. That’s my main issue. I can be patient until we figure out the problem as long as it is safe.

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