Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1998)

559 consumer complaints on file.

#750755August 19, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
SERPENTINE BELT FAILED X3 OVER 3D INCL. ON HWY -> LOSS OF POWER. STEERING, ALTERNATOR AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750443August 14, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET FOR THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A HAIR LINE CRACK WHICH LEAKS ANTIFREEZE DOWN THE BACKSIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER STANDARD WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH A MILAGE OF ONLY 57000 MILES. THE LEAKING CREATES AN ODER FROM THE EVAPORATION OF ANTIFREEZE WHICH IS CLEARLY DETECTABLE FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE CAB. THIS PROBLEM EQUATES TO AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $1000.00+. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS AN EPEDEMIC TYPICAL OF THIS ENGINE. THE AUTO MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS DONE NOTHING, THAT I'M AWARE OF, TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS APART FROM MAKING THE OWNER REPAIR THE DEFECT AT THEIR EXPENSE (WITHOUT HAVING PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY). I'M DEEPLY DISGUSTED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS ATTEMPT TO IGNORE THIS DESIGN FLAW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562416August 6, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A DRAGGING SOUND, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED, IT WAS FOUND BY THE DEALER THAT A COMPONENT BROKE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION AND CAME THROUGH THE CASE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749677August 2, 2001
TIRES
TIRE IS BEING FED SENT TO YOKOHAMA IN FULLERTON CA 8/3/01 FOR THEIR ENGINEERS TO EXAMINE FOR DEFECTS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: CCKWCA5317 TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749602August 1, 2001
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER ADVISED NOT A GOOD IDEA TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. ALSO, THE HORN NOT WORKING WAS A HAZARD. ALTHOUGH WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ADVISED THE MATTER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE HAD PURCHASED. THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS $223.16. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A SAFETY ITEM AND NOT AS A WARRANTY ITEM. PLEASE HELP ! TFSINISDWAS RDU N. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749302July 27, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
KNOWN CHRYSLER MINIVAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748187July 10, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN FAILED, WOULD NOT SHUT-OFF, THEN JUST "DIED". DEALER WANTS NEARLY $500 TO FIX - REDICULOUS!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891239June 26, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
LOSS OF BRAKING OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891068June 25, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH FOUR KIDS INSIDE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN DRIVEWAY INTO A HOUSE. EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. CONSUMER STATED THAT INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHIFT INTERLOCK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890549June 18, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VEHICLE CAN GO INTO ANY GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890531June 18, 2001
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON/ HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HAD STOPPED WORKING. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746863June 14, 2001
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SLIPED INTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT, I HAD OPENED THE SIDE DOOR TO PUT HER IN HER CAR SEAT AND IN A MATTER OF SECONDS SHE SLIPPED INTO THE OPENED FRONT DOOR WHERE I HAD JUST TURNED ON THE AC TO COOL THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN I WENT TO TAKE HER OUT OF THE SEAT SHE GRADED THE GEAR SHIFT AND WITH ME HOLDING ONTO HER AND THE STEERING WHEEL I WAS DRAGGED BY THE MOVING VEHICLE UNTIL WE RESTED UPON THE FENCE THAT SURROUNDS MY SIDE/REAR YARD. SHE WAS NOT INJURED BUT I STRAINED MY BACK BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE TO MOVE SO EASILY AND WAS WITHIN ARMS REACH THE ENTIRE TIME. I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY BUT NO POLICE WERE INVOLVED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#890415June 14, 2001
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AS LONG AS LIGHT IS ON. DEALER STATED THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND PART IS IN STOCK, BUT NO RECALL ISSUED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890141June 11, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING AT 30-40MPH. VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH CHRYSLER, AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT WILL CONTACT THE CONSUMER TO COME OUT AND INSPECT.*AK TOTAL DAMGE DONE TO VEHICLE WAS $6700, CHRYSLER INVESTIGATOR STATED IT WAS JUST HIT IN THE WRONG SPOT. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#746625June 9, 2001
AIR BAGS
THE PROBLEM/COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO AN ARTICLE I SAW IN 'AUTOMOTIVE NEWS' PUBLICATION ABOUT A NHTSA PROBE INTO DCX MINIWAN WIRING CAUSING AIRBAGS TO FAIL. BEGINNING LAST FALL SOME TIME, WE BEGAN NOTICING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. AT FIRST IT WAS VERY INTERMITTENT-ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS OR SO. NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT BUT STILL HAPPENING RANDOMLY. SOME DAYS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY AND OTHER DAYS IT DOESN'T COME ON AT ALL. BUT ANYWAY, WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE, THE DESCRIPTION SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746589June 8, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 48,000. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE MANAGER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM OVER THE TELEPHONE. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG, HIS RESPONSE WAS " HAPPENS ON THESE VANS ALL THE TIME, IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM". WHEN I ASKED WHY DODGE DIDN'T DO A RECALL AND FIX THEM ALL, HIS RESPONSE WAS "WE WOULD RATHER HANDLE THEM ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS". I'M SURE IT'S A COST FACTOR. MY POSITION IS THAT DODGE, (CHRYSLER), HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON THEIR VEHICLES, THEY KNOWINGLY INSTALLED THEM ANYWAYS AND HAVE DECEIVED THE PUBLIC. IF A SURVEY OF DODGE OWNERS WAS CONDUCTED, I'M SURE THAT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WOULD BE FREQUENT. DODGE SPLIT THE COST OF A RE-BUILT TRANMISSION WITH ME WHICH COST ME $864.00. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE COSTS SPLIT LIKE ME, HAD THE WHOLE THING TAKEN CARE OF AND THOSE WHO SUFFERED THE BURDEN OF PAYING FOR THE ENTIRE COST. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER OWES ME $864.00 AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR PUTTING "BAD" TRANSMISSIONS IN CARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746277June 1, 2001
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT - "NEUTRAL" ONLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745971May 27, 2001
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
I WAS WALKING ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR COMING AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WALKING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO ENTER THE CAR AND LEAVE ON AN ERRAND. WHEN I WALKED BY THE POWER MIRROR ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, MY LEFT ARM BUMPED THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY AND I HEARD A SNAP, LOOKED BACK AND SAW THE MIRROR WAS NO LONGER IN ITS PROPER POSITION. THE MIRROR HAD RELEASED AND ITS REFLECTIVE SURFACE WAS NOW FACING PERPENDICULAR TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR INSTEAD OF TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO REPOSITION THE MIRROR TO ITS PROPER PLACE BUT IT WOULD NOT SNAP INTO PLACE AND WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONERY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT IT WAS ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY. I WAS QUOTED ABOUT $300+ FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR OF THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY. THE MIRROR BROKE VERY EASILY AND THAT IS VERY DISTURBING...NOT TOO MENTION THAT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE USED A LOCKING, PLASTIC FASTENER TO SECURE THE MIRROR IN ITS PROPER POSITION AND PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS METHOD FOR THE TIME BEING. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN ENGINEERING OR STRUCTURAL FLAW AS IT REQUIRED ONLY A VERY MINOR BUMP BY SOFT TISSUE TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED BY THIS EVENT AND THE QUALITY FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888714May 21, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
LEFT REAR ROW AND LEFT MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES LOCKED UP, AND REQUIRED CONSUMER TO CUT BELTS TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF VEHICLE. BOTH BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES LOCKED UP, AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888591May 18, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELTS HAVE COME OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, IT RESULTED IN COSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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