Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#10104555December 27, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE SLIDING RT SIDE DOOR HAS OPENED ELECTRONICALLY NUMEROUS TIMES AS THE VEHICLE IS MOVING DOWN THE ROAD. MOTOR WAS REPLACED, STILL CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. LATCH WAS REPLACED, AFTER THE LATCH WAS REPLACED, THE DOOR WILL NOW NOT CLOSE ELECTRONICALLY AND STILL OPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105364December 27, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH ,AND WHILE CROSSING THE RAILROAD TRACKS, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IT CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10104317December 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE DRIVE BELT HAS REPEATEDLY COME OFF RESULTING IN THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP EACH TIME, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A FLEXING ENGINE MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THERE IS A CHRYSLER SERVICE BULLETIN #07-02-99. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED AS A SAFETY RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104217December 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT ABOUT 32,000 MILES I HAD TAKEN MY VAN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THE DODGE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAD BEEN SHIFTING ROUGH OCCASIONALLY, AND THEY LOOKED AT IT, AND SAID IT WAS FINE. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE 10 FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS, THE VAN'S FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND THE VAN SLID SIDEWAYS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE LOOSE, AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND GET THE VAN TO THE SLOW LANE AND PROCEED TO EXIT. I THEN HAD THE VAN TOWED TO DODGE WERE THEY SEEMED SURPRISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. AND NOW I READ ABOUT ON THE INTERNET THAT ITS NOTRIOUS FOR THIS. I HAD A CO WORKER WITH ME AND WE WERE BOTH PHYSICALLY SHAKEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR DEFFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED! PLEASE HELP DO SOMETHING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105149December 21, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND NO DEFECTS FOUND. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101754December 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE CROSS OVER PIPE/EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED UPON TURNING THE HEAT ON. SOME VERY HEAVY EXHAUST FUMES FILLED THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK EXHAUST FILLS THE VEHICLE WHEN THE HEAT OR AIR IS TURNED ON USUALLY WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STAND STILL. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089445December 21, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL INCREASED THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM. VEHICLE WENT IN ACCESS OF 85 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WAS REQUIRED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE OVER A DISTANCE OF ONE MILE. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103065December 16, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 42,000 MILES. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHUDDER, TSB 18-05-94. I HAD BROUGHT THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDER TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION STARTING AT AROUND 32,000 MILES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY RE-FLASHED THE COMPUTER, ETC. VAN WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER TWICE BEFORE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED. BROUGHT THE VAN BACK AT 37,000 MILES TO COMPLAIN AGAIN AND DEALER PROCEEDED TO TELL US THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY PRIOR COMPLAINT REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, THEREFORE THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE US TO RE-FLASH THE TRANSMISSION. (I WILL NEVER LOSE OR THROW AWAY ANY WARRANTY RELATED RECEIPTS AGAIN). AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH AND GETTING NOWHERE WE PAID THE RE-FLASH FEE AND ONCE AGAIN THE THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THEN AT ABOUT 42,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. THIS AFTER THE DEALER TOLD US ON A MINIMUM OF 4 OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. AFTER SOME "POLITE" NEGOTIATION I GOT THE DEALER TO COVER HALF OF THE $1300.00 REPAIR COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PUMP. OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T COVER THE FLATBED & RENTAL CAR EXPENSES. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AND I HAD DRIVEN MOST OF THEM WELL OVER 100,000 MILES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW CHRYSLER CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS. WITH ALL OF THE DISGRUNTLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMERS ON THE INTERNET I CAN'T BELEIVE THE NHTSA ISN'T INVESTIGATING THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. WHO IS PAYING OFF WHO?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103067December 16, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
AFTER APPROX. 15,000 MILES THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING FELT VERY LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM WAS "WORN OUT" IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT CHRYSLER HAD PURCHASED THESE PARTS FROM 2 SOURCES AND ONE OF THE SUPPLIERS PARTS WERE WEARING OUT RAPIDLY. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. AFTER 3 MONTHS AND 6,000 MILES LATER THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS AGAIN WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A VEHICLE THAT COST OVER $30,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103069December 16, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
(1) NO WARNING OF FAILURE.(2) SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BOLT FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING A TURN. NO CONSEQUENCES RESULTED FROM THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AT 5MPH. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES (DOWNHILL ON TIGHT CURVE) THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND PROBABLY RESULT IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL.(3) ANTICIPATE REPLACING THE TENSIONER AND RETURNING VEHICLE TO SERVICE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103075December 16, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
(1) NORMAL USAGE (2) THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT LATCH AND REMAINS OPEN. EVEN AFTER CLOSING BY HAND. A SIDE EFFECT IS THAT IT DOES NOT OPEN WHEN THE CLOSE BUTTON IS PRESSED. (3) TO FIX RIGHT NOW - I HAVE TO STOP THE VAN, GET OUT, AND CLOSE A COUPLE OF TIMES BY HAND. EACH TIME YOU HAVE TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS CLOSED. NOW I AM PAYING $320 TO HAVE THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW LATCH AND ELECTRONIC SWITCH. THE DEALER, JOLLY JOHN, HAD TWO OF THESE SAME FAILURES TODAY! A SEVICE DESK PERSON MENTIONED HE HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE. SEEMS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A COLD PROBLEM, AS OUR VAN IS IN A HEATED GARAGE AND IT OCCURS ANYTIME SINCE OCTOBER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104988December 16, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER PURCHASED BRIDGESTONE BT70Z TIRES, ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE TIRES WERE ALREADY CRACKED. SPECIFICALLY, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. IT HAD A CRACK THAT WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES LONG LOCATED ON THE TIRES TREAD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105546December 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKE HAD WORE OUT EVERY 20,000 MILES, EVEN WHEN FIX WEAR OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN. *BF THE DEALER REPLACED PAD/SHOES AND THE CONSUMER DETECTED NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *SC THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103743December 14, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DURING INSPECTION DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099433December 14, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A RECALL WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RECALL DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SHE WAS HAVING WITH HER VEHICLE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097839December 14, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE HORN NOT WORKING, AND THE BRAKE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. RECALL 04V480000 FOR CLOCK SPRING WAS ISSUED, AND CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10102867December 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
I HAD MY 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN FOR REGULAR SERVICING AND THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS RUST PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER. THE PERSON FROM THE SHOP WHO CALLED ME SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO BE EVALUATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DISCOVERED LATER THAT THE ACTUAL MECHANIC LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM WROTE: "RECOMMEND: GET NEW VEHICLE SOON!"THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT A 1999 WOULD BE SO BADLY RUSTED AND QUOTED ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1300 TO REPLACE THE STRUT TOWER AND TAKE CARE OF THE RUST THAT HAD BEGUN TO EAT AT THE OTHER SIDE. NCE THEY HAD IT IN THE SHOP AND DISASSEMBLED, THEY CALLED TO SAY IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL WEEK OF SERVICE SINCE THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP HAD ORDERED THE WRONG PART. THEY SAID THAT, BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE, THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE REASSEMBLING THE VEHICLE FOR ME TO USE WHILE THEY WAITED FOR DELIVERY OF THE PART. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD. (COMPLAINT NUMBER 10090457 ALSO DOCUMENTS THIS ISSUE.) I AM SURPRISED THAT SOMEONE HAS NOT BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS. MY VAN IS ONLY A 1999 AND THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED NEARLY HALF WAY THROUGH. I HAD MY VAN IN FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND NO ONE HAD NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY INNUMBERABLE FAMILIES DRIVING AROUND IN A SERIOUSLY UNSAFE VEHICLE SIMPLY BECAUSE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. IF THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, IT DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103693December 13, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A TIRE REPAIR SHOP FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH FRONT TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102792December 12, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE SHORTED TO GROUND MELTING THE INSULATION ON THE CABLE AND NEARLY ALL INTERCONNECTED HARNESS WIRES. TOTAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR AND REPLACED DAMAGED WIRES, STARTER, SENSORS, CONNECTORS, ETC: $3,000+. INVESTIGATION STILL ONGOING.. FAILURE RESULTED FROM DESIGN PLACEMENT OF POSITIVE CABLE IN PROXIMITY OF STRUT TOWER BOLT. BATTERY LOCATION FOR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF STRUT ASSEMBLY. THIS CABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY INSULATION SLEEVE (E.G., CONVOLUTED TUBING OR LOOM) AND IS THEREFORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAR AND ABRASION FROM VIBRATIONS DURING DRIVING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102795December 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
FAILURE OF FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT AND AXLE. BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Grand Caravan