2016 Dodge Grand Caravan · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 42owner reports
- 78,600median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
220 of the 1,001 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 42 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 42 reports
Transmission shudder on other Grand Caravan years
No other Grand Caravan model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Grand Caravan year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The transmission pump may seize causing a loss of hydraulic pressure.
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Grand Caravan
Trans park system failure. Closed dec 31, 1991.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 59,000 and 94,618 miles, from the 33 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
What owners wrote
“Transmission shuddering while accelerating and intermittent code for "low pressure" this vehicle checks as not being a part of recall despite the issue similar to the recall.”
Filed Sep 28, 2025
“Transmission slipping in first gear. Codes from dealership. P0944 LOSS PRIME P0868 LOW PRESSURE”
Filed Aug 29, 2025
“evap purge valve replaced still having issues. Also, today out of no where my vehicle started to slip when it was shifting gears, the engine is making a weird sound and slow when trying to give gas.”
Filed Oct 24, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 42 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Sliding door won't open, close or latch 395 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 108 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 71 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 51 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 32 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 30 reports