Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#10150883February 22, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON MY 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AWD 3.8 LITER 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE,SPEEDOMETER,ODOMETER QUIT WORKING AND THE GAS GAUGE IS WACKY. HAD THE CODES READ AND THEY CAME BACK AS SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND TCM NOT COMMUNICATING WITH PCM. I CHANGE THE SPEED SENSORS AND THE TCM AND PAID A DEALER TO DO A "QUICK LEARN PROCEDURE"AND DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE PROCEDURE WON'T WORK BECAUSE ONE OF THE COMPONENTS WON'T COMMUNICATE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURED WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH A CANYON IN UTAH ON HIGHWAY 6 KNOWN AS "ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS HIGHWAYS IN UTAH"WHILE MY 4 CHILDREN AND WIFE WERE IN THE VEHICLE.IT HAS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE DEALER AND I HAVE NO WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO FIX MYSELF IF SOMEONE AT CHRYSLER WOULD AT LEAST TELL ME WHAT TO FIX! THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE SPEEDO GOING OUT AND THE TRANNY NOT SHIFTING!!! THIS HAPPENED AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON UNTIL AFTER IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150492February 17, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LEFT SIDE PASSENGER DOOR CAME OPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN 6 MONTHS FIRST TIME SEPT. 2,2005 SECOND TIME JAN. 12,2006 I REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150528February 17, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A COW. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING AND THE IMPACT WAS ON THE GRILL. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150531February 17, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. CAR SPUTTERED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE LOSING ALL HYDRAULICS, THANKFULLY. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER THAT MY FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND THAT THE VAN RAN OUT OF GAS. MY GAS GAUGE WAS GIVING A FALSE READING. THEY ARE REPLACING FUEL PUMP. WE'LL SEE IF THIS PROBLEM SURFACES AGAIN. I HOPE NOT. THIS WAS DISTRESSING TO ME BECAUSE, IF I WASN'T ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL POWER CONTROL OVER BRAKING AND STEERING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS A "VENDOR" PROBLEM WITH THE FAULTY PART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150454February 16, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE HYDRAULIC LIFT SNAPPED. THE REAR HATCH DOOR CAME DOWN AND HIT THE CONTACT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10150457February 16, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEAD LIGHT-INTERIOR FLICKERING TO WHICH THE DEALER CANNOT SOLVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150298February 15, 2006
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING MY 2000 GRAND CARAVAN. THE LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, BUT AT TIMES IT STAYS ON FOR A WHILE, THEN GOES OUT; THEN AT TIMES IT STAYS ON FOR A WHILE, AND THEN GOES OUT. NO SET PATTERN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150319February 15, 2006
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY SECURE A CONVERTIBLE CARE SEAT IN THE REAR FACING POSITION IN THE STOP-N-GO SEATS, EVEN UTILIZING THE LATCH SYSTEM. I HAVE TRIED TWO DIFFERENT SEATS. I CAN NOT GET THE SEAT TO THE REQUIRE LEVEL WITH THE GROUND AS INDICATED ON THE SEAT AND CANNOT GET IT SECURE ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE SEAT FROM MOVING MORE THAN AN INCH.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150344February 15, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE OXIDIZING CAUSING ONLY 40 PERCENT OF THE NORMAL LIGHT OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151897February 14, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1999 CARAVAN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED. *TS THE AIR BAGS SHOULD ONLY HAVE DEPLOYED DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WROTE THE CONSUMER EXPLAINING, THAT BASED ON THEIR INSPECTION, IT WAS REVEALED THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150211February 14, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
I HAVE HAD TWO FLAT TIRES ON MY MINI VAN IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. THE VAN IS 4.5 YEARS OLD AND I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH THE MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDED TIRES A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. IN BOTH OF THE CASES MY TIRES HAD RIM LEAKS WHICH I HAVE NOW DISCOVERED OCCUR ON MANY CHRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLES. THESE LEAKS ARE A RESULT OF CORROSION ON THE RIM (AND IN THIS LAST CASE MY RIM WAS CRACKED) THIS DEFECT IN THE RIM DESIGN IS SERIOUS AS IT LEADS TO UNDER INFLATED TIRES WHICH THE DRIVER MAY BE UNAWARE OF. BECAUSE THE LEAKAGE IS SLOW IN NATURE AND THERE IS NO WARNING IN THE HANDBOOK THAT RIMS NEED TO BE REPLACED/INSPECTED REGULARLY THERE MAY BE LITTLE OR NO WARNING. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE MINI VANS AND CARRY MANY CHILDREN TO AND FROM PLACES. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO CHRYSLERS ATTENTION THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS. THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE ISSUE OTHER THAN TO SELL ME A NEW SET OF RIMS FOR OVER $2000. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT NEED NEW RIMS...AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE ARE THOUSAND/MILLIONS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROADS THAT MAY HAVE CORRODING RIMS AND UNDER INFLATED TIRES. CAN YOU HELP? GIVEN WHAT WE LEARNED IN THE FORD EXPLORER INVESTIGATION I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE WISE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150225February 14, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN FIRST GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHICH REPLACED THE VEIL BODY. TWO YEARS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE IDLING. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ALTHOUGH THE RPMS INCREASED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. LATER, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS. AFTERWARDS THE TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPAGE AND WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. EVERY INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 40 MPH OR LESS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 03/09/06
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149939February 10, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC PROPORTIONING VALVE RUSTED THROUGH, LEAKING AGAIN. REPLACED THE SAME ITEM ON 2-21-01 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. RESULTING IN LITTLE TO NO BRAKING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149615February 7, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
ON JANUARY 12, 2006 MY VAN STARTING MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN WOULD SUDDENLY JERK AND PULL THE VAN TO THE RIGHT. I SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY. WHILE IN ROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE VAN CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AS WELL AS WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VAN THERE WAS NO CONTROL IN THE STEERING. THE VAN SLID UNTIL STOPPING. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AS I HAD JUST STARTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE OUTCOME WAS THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL ARM IN PLACE BROKE IN HALF. THERE WAS RUST IN THE CENTER ON THE BROKEN BOLT. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED. IT TOOK ABOUT ONE WEEK TO REPAIR. DODGE WAS NOTIFIED BUT HAS FAILED TO CALL ME BACK IN REGARDS TO THE LETTER I SENT THEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149630February 7, 2006
STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 GRAND CARAVAN THAT I PURCHASED NEW. THERE WAS SPORADIC SHUDDERS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM WHEN NEW AND AT LOW(PARKING LOT) SPEEDS. NOW AT APPROX 62000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE TUNE OF APPROX $1100 (NOT COMPLETED AT THIS TIME) THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS FAILURE. THIS FAILURE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE CANNOT BE NORMAL WARE AND TEAR. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149600February 6, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
AT 3851 MILES ON MY 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, THE MOTOR ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, IN THE MIDDLE OF A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR, WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL. I WAS ABLE TO, VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY, DRIVE THE CAR BACK HOME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149265February 2, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH THE VAN DOWN SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR WITH A JOLT. FOLLOWING THE OWNERS MANUAL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE MINI VAN IN PARK. RESTARTED THE VAN PUT IT IN GEAR AND STARTED TO MOVE AND HEARD AND FELT THE TRANSMISSION GRINDING. CALLED A TOW TRUCK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149234February 1, 2006
AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT HAD ABOUT 32000 MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 40000 MILES THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AND THEN GO OFF ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. AT ABOUT 41500 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON MOST OF THE TIME. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE DIAGNOSIS COST $88.00. THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT PART COST ABOUT $10.00. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE PART COST ABOUT $213.00. TOTAL COST ABOUT $310. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM IN THE CHRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SYSTEM, BECAUSE THE PART CARRIED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2002-2006 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS NOT A WEAR ITEM, BUT INSTEAD IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM AND/OR IT'S CONNECTORS. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OF GOOD QUALITY AND EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT ARE RELIABLE AND WELL CONSTRUCTED. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148822January 27, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED AND MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT BOLT, AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT FIXED I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE SAID IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS AFFECTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE CRADLE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2001 MODEL. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. AFTER CONTACTING DAIMER CHRYSLER TOLD ME THE SAME THING ,AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT AND SUGGESTED I SHOULD HOLD ON TO MY RECEIPT BECAUSE ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN THERE MAY BE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE? THEY REFERRED ME TO JONATHAN SANDERS, SENIOR STAFF OF GLOBAL RELATIONS AND HE SAID THERE IS NOTHING DAIMER CHRYSLER WOULD DO BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WASN'T IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. I OF COURSE AM HAVING THE MECHANIC FIX THE VEHICLE FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148349January 23, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET AND COLD, THE REAR BRAKES FREEZE. THE BRAKES DRAG HARD AND THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT TURN. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS A BUILD UP OF BRAKE DUST. UPDATED 02/27/06
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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