Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (2008)

1,293 consumer complaints on file.

#10482217October 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE CABIN AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOSIE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECCURRED APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481561October 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
UPON ENTERING VEHICLE PRESSING KEYFOB TO UNLOCK ANY DOOR OR HATCH THE HORN WOULD START TO SOUND, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR) WOULD START TO GO ON ITS ON INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID AS WELL, LIGHTS WOULD START TO FLASH AS WELL. I WOULD HAVE TO OPEN UP THE HOOD AND HIT THE FUSE BOX LOCATED NEXT TO THE BATTERY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FIREWALL JUST TO GET IT TO STOP. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS TO NO AVAIL BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NOW I AM OUT A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $94.00 X2 AND THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR BOTH TIMES FOR MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN BECAUSE MY 100% FULL WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF THE RENTAL BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. AFTER SEARCHING AND READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE HAVING WITH THIS CARA VAN I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED BY THE CARAVAN DOING SOMETHING THAT IT WAS NOT ASKED TO DO!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480098October 15, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY FROM AN OFF RAMP, THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE FRACTURED. THE FUEL TANK THEN DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479844October 11, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THERE IS A HEATER HOSE ASSEMBLY LEADING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE TO THE HEATER CORES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. A HOSE COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE AND INTO A Y-COUPLING, WHERE IT SPLITS INTO TWO HOSES. ONE HOSE LEADS INTO THE FIREWALL AND THE FRONT HEATER CORE. THE SECOND GOES UNDER THE VEHICLE TO THE BACK HEATER CORE. A COOLANT LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE Y-COUPLING, LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE EXHAUST. AFTER LEAKING FOR SOME TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE LOW COOLANT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AS A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH TURNS UP MANY RESULTS LIKE THIS: HTTP://DODGEFORUM.COM/FORUM/DODGE-CARAVAN/275625-2008-GRAND-CARAVAN-COOLANT-LEAK-3.HTML EITHER THE Y-COUPLINGS ARE DEFECTIVE, OR ARE NOT DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE STRESS AND HEATING/COOLING CYCLES INHERENT IN CARRYING HOT COOLANT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479565October 10, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
PURCHASED USED 2008 GRAND CARAVAN 2/12/10 WITH 29,695 MILES, ALL FOUR ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY 39,471 MILES ON 03/23/11. NOW AT 52,500 MILES AND 10/10/12 ALL ROTORS AND PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BRAKES SHOULD NOT WEAR LIKE THIS. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479294October 8, 2012
ENGINE
I BOUGHT A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN XLT ON FEBRUARY 3 OF 2012 FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN MILWAUKEE, WI. ON THAT TIME THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES. TWO MONTHS AFTER I HAVE THE CAR WE SAW THE OIL CHANGE LIGHT COMING OUT ON THE SCREEN WHICH WAS UNUSUAL FOR US WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE LIGHT. TWO MONTHS AFTER I SAW THE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE SCREEN, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEEP THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS WHILE THEY MADE A REPAIR THAT COST ME $850.0, I MADE THIS PAYMENT BECAUSE I TRUST THEM WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE ONLY REPAIR. WEEKS AFTER I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY AND I SAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND WE PERCEIVED A STRONG BURN SMELL, THE MILEAGE ON THAT TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000, WE JUST MADE IT TO ARRIVE TO THE DEALER SERVICE AND THEY FOUND A VERY LOW COOLANT LEVEL WHICH MEANS THAT THE OVERHEATING WAS RELATED TO THE COOLANT LINE. NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE, THE CAR WAS THERE FOR 7 DAYS AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDS AN ENGINE CHANGE WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT ALL I RECEIVED FROM THEM WERE 8 OIL CHANGES. I RECEIVED AND OFFER TO HAVE ANOTHER CAR BUT THE TRADE VALUE FOR MY CAR IS VERY LOW COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL PRICE I PAID AND THE NEW MONTHLY PAYMENT IS OUT OF MY POSSIBILITIES. I'M DRIVING THIS CAR TAKING THE RISK FOR MY FAMILY WITH THE WINTER COMING. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT I'M NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF A 2008 GRAND CARAVAN WITH A POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING AND FIRE ON MY CAR. I NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THIS CASE. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478462October 3, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE SECOND GEAR FAILING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477989September 30, 2012
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
WHILE DRIVING TO THE MARKET MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN SHUDDER IN THE STEERING/BRAKES PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE TOWARDS THE SHOULDER. SHE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP OF THE SHOULDER. SHE NOTICED THE ESP/BAS WARNING LIGHT AND THE SLIPPERY ROAD/TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT HAD BOTH ACTIVATED ON THE DASH/INSTRUMENT PANEL. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED US THE STEERING ANGLE/CLOCKSPRING SENSOR WHICH ACTIVATES THE DRIVERS AIRBAG HAD FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE ITEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND REPAIR WOULD COST A TOTAL OF $508. DODGE RECALLED CARAVANS 1996-2000 FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE BRAKES, FOR WHAT WAS TERMED PREMATURE WHEREOUT, AT APPROX 22,000 MILES. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC KEYS WHICH BOTH CRUMBLED AFTER THE 3RD YEAR. WHAT'S NEXT???? ANY HELP IN THIS SITUATION WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477086September 25, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VAN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. WOULD TURN KEY AND VAN WOULD CLICK ONCE LIKE SOLENOID WAS ACTIVATING BUT STARTER WOULD NOT TURN ON. TURN KEY A SECOND TIME AND VAN MIGHT START. ON ONE OCCASION, VAN WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. JUMP STARTING WOULD NOT WORK. BATTERY TESTED OK. REPLACED STARTER, AFTER COUPLE DAYS VAN AGAIN WOULD NOT START. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED STARTER. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, VAN IS AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY NOT STARTING. WE HAVE DISCOVERED IF SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED INTO NEUTRAL, VAN WILL START. THIS EVENING (9/25/12), MY WIFE WENT TO TURN ON THE HIGH-BEAMS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT CUT OFF. THE LOW-BEAMS REMAINED ON, BUT HIGH-BEAMS AND THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT TURN ON. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR TEN MINUTES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE WHEN I RECONNECTED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476510September 20, 2012
ENGINE
MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A FAMILY TRIP WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY THERE WAS ENOUGH TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD THAT ONLY ALLOWED US TO TRAVEL AROUND 25 MPH AT THE TIME THE VAN STALLED. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS, PUT THE VAN IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE VAN. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A COINCIDENCE BUT THE VAN STALLED AS SOON AS MY WIFE UNPLUGGED THE IPHONE FROM THE AUXILIARY PLUG OF THE VAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475014September 11, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
THERE WAS A SMELL OF HOT COOLANT ANYTIME WE WERE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS BAD CONNECTION ON THE HEATER HOSE ASSEMBLY AND IT WOULD BE $525 TO FIX. UPON INVESTIGATION IN THE DODGE FORUMS, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS DUE TO THE HEATER HOSES BEING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST COLLECTOR AND IS CAUSING THE RUBBER TO FAIL AND THUS CAUSING COOLANT LEAKS. BEST CASE IS IT SMELLS WHEN THE COOLANT IS LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST, WORST CASE IS PEOPLE ARE GETTING STRANDED DUE TO OVERHEATING. DODGE CLAIMS THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474453September 10, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474299September 8, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN WE WERE GOING 50 MPH THE ACCELERATOR STUCK DOWN TO THE GROUND WOULD NOT STOP AND WE ALMOST CRASHED IN AN INTERSECTION. WE HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474283September 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE FROM A STOP (BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE). ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN INDICATING THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING ITSELF APART. TWO REPAIR OPTIONS WERE GIVEN - REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ENTIRELY OR HAVE IT REBUILT AT THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE INTERNALLY, WE OPTED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TO ENSURE SAFE AND RELIABLE OPERATION IN THE FUTURE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES, HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN ROUGHLY, AND IS NOT USED FOR TOWING OR HAULING HEAVY LOADS. ESSENTIALLY, THERE IS NO REASON THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE SELF-DESTRUCTED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473990September 5, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS INTERMITTENT TROUBLE STARTING. THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND THE WIN MODULE (AND KEY) HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING, BUT NEVER DUPLICATES FOR THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR COMPUTER SCAN BRINGS UP NO ISSUES. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION. IT DOESN'T MATTER THE TIME OF DAY, OR DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES, THE VAN WILL NOT ALWAYS START. IT WILL HAVE ONE CLICK (AND I CAN CLOSE THE WINDOWS, TURN ON RADIO) BUT THE VAN WILL NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473792September 4, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE ARE A USED CAR DEALERSHIP THAT RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 118,000 MILES ON IT. A CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AND PLACED IN THEIR GARAGE, THE CUSTOMER NOTICED SOME SMOKE/STEAM COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE CUSTOMER ASSUMED IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE ONLY TO RETURN A MOMENT LATER TO CHECK ON THE VAN AND AT THAT TIME NOTICED A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CUSTOMER QUICKLY BACKED THE VAN OUT OF THE GARAGE, TURNED IT OFF AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MADE THE BRIEF TRIP TO THE CUSTOMERS' HOUSE, THE VAN WAS COMPLETELY BURNT. THERE IS SOME DAMAGE TO THE SIDING ON THE HOUSE AS WELL. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE CUSTOMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VAN OUT OF THE GARAGE. EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY BURNT IN THE VAN-EVEN THE GLASS CURLED AND MELTED BECAUSE OF THE HEAT. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473207August 31, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472740August 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471513August 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE WITH A NEW KEY FOB HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. AFTER THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TAP THE FUSE BOX TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEN ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WITH WIPER FLUID GUSHING OUT. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY AS THE HORN SOUNDED INDEPENDENTLY AS WELL. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TAP ON THE FUSE BOX TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HORN STOP. THE FUSE BOX WAS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,496.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471143August 16, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WENT TO TURN MY LIGHTS ON AND THEY TURNED ON THEN OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND THEN OFF. AND NOW THEY WILL NOT TURN ON. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS, PARKING LIGHTS, DIMMER ETC. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RUN AND IT SHOWED THE FOLLOWING TROUBLE CODES: B162F,B,C ; B1633, B1634, B1637. WHICH ALL POINTS TO THE TIPM CONTROL MODULE. SO I CALLED THE SHOP, THEY CALLED TO FIND THE PART AND THERE IS NONE AVAILABLE. THERE ARE ON BACKORDER, ABOUT 800 OF THEM TO BE EXACT. SO THAT MEANS THAT I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS UNTIL 800 OTHER PEOPLE GET THERES. NEXT THING TO GO IS THE WIPERS, HORN AND THEN THE CAR TO SHUT OFF AS I'M DRIVING. OBVIOUSLY IF 800 OF THESE ARE ON BACK ORDER THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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