Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#10126237June 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL LEADING TO THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED UNDER TO FIND THO PUSH ROD HANGING THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP WITH THE MOTOR REPLACED. WHEN THE TEST DRIVE WAS TAKING PLACE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPUTOR CHIP CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DROP DOWN TO LOW GEAR IN WHICH RAN THE RPM'S INTO THE DANGER ZONE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE COMING APART. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. I MADE ATTEMPT AFTER ATTEMPT TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE AT CHRYSLER AND COULD NOT EVEN GET A RETURN CALL FROM ANYONE OTHER THAN A DEALER. I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT A MOISTER LEAK FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER WHICH MAY LEAD INTO A SHORT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I CALLED THE NUMBER GIVEN ON THE RECALL AND ASKED IF I COULD SPEAK TO SOMEONE AT CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY PHONE #'S. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO CONTACT THIS DEPARTMENT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS CERTAINLY A RISK AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AS WELL AS EXPENSES REIMBURESED BY CHRYSLER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126272June 22, 2005
TIRES, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE, AND CONTACT USED THE SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES IT DONE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IT BROKE SOME OF THE GEARS IN THE TRANSFER CASE, AND POTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VISCOUS COUPLINGS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS GOING TO CONTACT HIM. HOWEVER CURRENTLY THEY WERE TELLING HIM THAT THE CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE WARRANTY WAS NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPARE TIRE WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF USED ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126003June 21, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAULTY TRANSMISSION, TRANS FAILS TO SHIFT AND FAILS TO GO INTO GEAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126132June 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
DT: 1992, DODGE, GRAND CARAVAN, INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, NO POWER ASSIST, THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP VEHICLE QUICKLY ENOUGH. ALSO, RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED AFTER GOING ABOUT 20 MILES IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CONSUMER ALREADY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE AND THE CALIPERS. BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, WHICH ONLY LEFT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT SEE THE PROBLEM, DEALER SAID THAT IF THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY WOULD FIX IT BECAUSE THE ACTUATOR PUMP AND ASSEMBLY MOTOR WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL 96V099000 CONCERNING ABS MODULE CONTROL FAILURE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED THEN. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT SO THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119718June 20, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN PAST RECALL 730 BY DODGE THAT WAS POORLY HANDLED. THE REAR HATCH ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS THE ITEM ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR IN JULY OF 1997 BECAUSE THE BOLTS HAD BROKEN, AND HAD THEM REPLACED. THEN THEY BROKE AGAIN IN AUGUST OF 1999. ON MAY 1, 2005 ONE OF THEM BROKE AGAIN, AND ALMOST BROKE HIS WIFE'S ARM. ON 5-3-2005, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD. THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAID. THE DEALERS RESPONSE WAS INAPPROPRIATE. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH THE DISTRICTS OFFICE AND VALIDATED THAT IT WOULDN'T DO IT. ALSO, THE CONSUMER WAS INAPPROPRIATE. THE THIRD ISSUE WAS THE ADEQUACY OF THE RECALL ITSELF. THE FOURTH ISSUE WAS THAT THE DEALER JUST TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULDN'T FIX BOTH SIDES. *AK THE OIL PAN LEAKED AND THE SERPITINE BELT. RECALL CAMPAIGN#97V079000. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10125170June 13, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I EXPERIENCED RAMDOM FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY DODGE CARAVAN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN". I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE WAS PROBABLY THE "FRONT CONTROL MODULE" BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT POSITIVE IT WAS THE CAUSE, AND BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE PART. AFTER THIS OCCURED THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE MODULE AT A COST OF $307.05. THE REPLACEMENT OCCURED 9/15/2004. I HAVE HAD NO SIMILAT PROBLEMS SINCE THE MODULE WAS REPLACED. I HAD PURCHACED THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WITH THE VEHICLE BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE MODULE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE POLICY. IT COVERS 7 DIFFERENT NAMED CONTROL MODULES BUT NOT THIS ONE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT-#12641005.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125189June 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT
PURCHASED A 2005 DOGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM BOB CALDWELL DODGE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. A LITTLE OVER A MONTH OF HAVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR CONDITIONING JUST STOP PUTTING OUT COOL AIR AND WE NOTICEDS SOME SPOTS OF SOMETHING LEAKING IN THE DRIVE WAY. WE TOOK THE VEHICHLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED AND THEY INDICATED THAT A STONE OR ROCK HAD WENT THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONER'S COMPRESSOR. THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND IT WOULD BE $800+ TO FIX IT. THEY INDICATED ALSO THAT WE WEREN'T THE FIRST AND THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE COMPRESSOR THAT WE WON'T BE THE LAST AND EVEN IF WE FIX IT, IT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. WE CALLED DODGE DIRECTLY AND THEY SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND AGREED THAT THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND DENIED TO COVER THE PAYMENT OF THE SERVICES. WE CALLED AROUND LOCALLY TO OTHER DEALERSHIPS AND THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 5 IN LESS THEN ONE WEEK AND ALL AGREE THAT IS WAS SOME SORT OF DESIGN/PLACEMENT FLAW AND THAT THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. WE COULD ATTACH A SCREEN PROTECTION SOMEHOW TO THE FRONT TO PROTECT THE COMPRESSOR BUT STILL NO GUARENTEES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124552June 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
REFERENCE DEFECT INVESTIGATION EA05009: I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO WORK. A LOCAL MECHANIC (NOT DEALER) TRACED THE PROBLEM TO A SINGLE BROKEN CONDUCTOR IN ONE OF THE WIRING HARNESSES, AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. CAN AND WILL THIS INVESTIGATION BE EXPANDED TO COVER EARLIER MODEL YEARS? THANK YOU. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095456June 8, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *TT *SB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124520June 7, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I HAVE HAD 2 BRIEF HEADLIGHT FAILURES (10 SECONDS OR SO) AND MY HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FLICKER OR DIM. MY LIGHTSWITCH GETS VERY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124226June 5, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
ON MARCH 3RD, OF 2005, WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM AN OUTING WITH MY FOUR CHILDREN, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN OUR 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WITHIN MOMENTS AFTER GETTING THE KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT OF OUR MINIVAN WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BEFORE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD WAS DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW A COMPLETE LOSS. SINCE WE DID NOT CARRY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO ITS AGE, I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES, WHICH CAME TO JUST AROUND $5,300. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SENT AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR TO OUR RESIDENCE TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT. THE RESULTS WERE TURNED OVER TO THEIR CLAIM BOARD AND WE WERE ADVISED ON 3-18-05 THAT THEIR COMPANY REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE THAT NOT ONLY DESTROYED OUR VEHICLE BUT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR OUR FOUR CHILDREN. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS FIRE-RELATED RECALLS ON THE 1997 DODGE MINIVANS. SPECIFICALLY, AN ARTICLE SHOWED THAT A RECALL EXISTED ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL DEATHS WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF FUEL RAIL AND O-RING DEFECTS (DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALL #895). AT NO TIME SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, WAS THERE ANY NOTIFICATION CONCERNING SAFETY RECALLS AND AFTER SPECIFICALLY ASKING A DODGE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT. AFTER RECEIVING THE DENIAL LETTER FROM DAIMLER-CHRYSLER, I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR CLAIMS RESOLUTION GROUP, WHO WOULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON WHY THE CLAIM WAS DENIED AND REFUSED TO SEND ME A COPY OF THEIR INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124772June 3, 2005
SUSPENSION
2001 CHRYSLER GRAND CARAVAN SPORT BALL JOINTS WENT BAD.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123937June 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: HAD THE BRAKES AND ABS UNIT REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND CONSUMER IS VERY AGGRAVATED. TALKED TO CHRYSLER, AND THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123784June 1, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD TURNS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIRBAG, A SENSOR, OR THE WARNING LIGHT ITSELF. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 11/2002 AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD THE AIRBAG REPLACED OR WORKED ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123808June 1, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
STRUT TOWER CORROSION CHRYSLER TSB23-044-02
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123682May 31, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. HE STATES THAT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS ALL THE GAUGES WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING. ALSO, WHILE THIS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING ABS BRAKES FAILED. DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THEY COULD REPROGRAM OR REBUILD IT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TABULATE MILES. HE HAS KNOWN 1994'S TO DO THE SAME THING . THEY REPLACED THE BCM, AND A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. IF CONSUMER TAKES Y FIST AND HITS THE DASH THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON. THIS WORKED FOR A WHILE BUT SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM ANYMORE. HE CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAS SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED BUT UNDER DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY FALSIFYING MILEAGE BECAUSE IT WILL NOT TABULATE THE MILES CORRECTLY. HE HAD THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE 1994 DODGE OWNER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122229May 26, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AT 60,458 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE MOVING IN REVERSE IN A PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE AND KEPT IN GREAT SHAPE. SERVICE RECORDS WERE KEPT UP TO DATE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND NO ONE WILL CALL THE CONSUMER BACK. CONSUMER TALKED TO A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE COULD NOT TALK TO THE MANAGER AT CHRYSLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY AT HEADQUATERS. AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WILL NOT CALL BACK EITHER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122648May 20, 2005
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS EXCESSIVE RUST EATING AWAY AT THE INNER STRUT PLATE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*MR THE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN WAS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON STRUT PLATE. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121295May 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED IT GOES TO THE FLOOR, BRAKING QUICKLY COULD NOT BE DONE IF NEEDED. EVENTUALLY, THE PRESSURE RECONSTITUTES, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NORMAL. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120962May 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2005 DODGE CARAVAN IS 9 MONTHS OLD AND ONE DAY I'M DRIVING AND MY ENGINE STARTS MAKING A TAPPING NOISEAND THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THE NEXT DAY (MONDAY) I TAKE IT TO STAFFORD DODGE DEALER (ROBERT STOCKING). THEY TELL ME I HAVE LESS THAN 1 QT OF OIL IN MY CAR SO I NEED TO HAVE MY ENGINE BLOCK REPLACED. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD MY OIL CHANGED 1 MONTH AGO BY JIFFY LUBE, AND ALSO HAD CHECKED MY OIL 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCEDENT AND MY OIL WAS AT THE MAX LINE. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER (STEVE SHOOF) AND INFORMED THEM ON WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND CHYRSLER DENIED THE CLAIM, THEREFORE, I WAS STUCK PAYING $5,070 PLUS $500 FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING REPAIRED. ACTUALLY I DID FIND OUT WHEN I WENT TO PAY FOR MY CAR A NOTE WAS ON ONE OF THE MECHANICS RECEIPTS SAYING THAT THE CAR HAD THE WRONG DIPSTICK INSTALLED IN MY CAR; WHICH PROBABLY LEAD TO THE OIL AERATION. I WENT BACK TO LOOK AT MY JIFFY LUBE RECEIPTS AND ONE OF THE NOTES IN 10 NOV 04 STATED THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS HIGH WHEN THEY TRIED TO CHANGE MY OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THOUGHT POSSIBLY THAT I MAY HAVE THE WRONG DIPSTICK. THE PERSONNEL AT JIFFY LUBE NEVER TOLD ME DIRECTLY THAT I MAY HAVE HAD THE WRONG DIPSTICK THEY ONLY NOTED IT ON THE RECEIPT. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD I WOULD HAVE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DODGE DEALER. I'M ASSUMING WITH ALL THE TROUBLE JIFFY LUBE HAD TRYING TO READ MY DIPSTICK WHEN IN ALL ACTUALITY THE DIPSTICK WAS 6 INCHES TOO LONG (PER THE DODGE MAINTENANCE MANAGER) THEREFORE IT LEAD TO OIL AERATION AND LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. THE MAINTENACE MANAGER(JOHN VERNE) AT THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME THE DIPSTICK THAT WAS REMOVED FROM MY CAR. MAYBE YOU CAN ASSIST ME IN GETTING THIS MATTER RESOLVED. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN TO SUPPORT AND I HAD TO TAKE THE $5,070 OUT OF MY CHECKING ACCOUNT SO I COULD HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE TO GET TO WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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