Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#10078643June 22, 2004
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS BEEN A HEADACHE SINCE I GOT IT. RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET MY DASHBOARD FIXED BECAUSE ALL MY GAUGES QUIT COMPLETELY. NOW MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THEY ARE OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES OR UNLOCK THE DOORS OR OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE IT PUT ON A TESTER AND THEY CANT FIND WHY ITS ON. THE REAR END RATTLES PRETTY BAD ALSO AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO PICK UP AND GO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073562June 22, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 00V268000 CONCERNING FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE PROPERLY. ON MA 3, 2004 WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONSUMER THEN TURNED ON THE VEHICLE BACK ON AGAIN RETURN BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANICS IDENTIFIED THAT THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE ORIGINAL FUEL RAIL. THE GAS LEAK WAS STILL PRESENT AND COMING FROM THE BUSHINGS. *SC THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079548June 21, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES . AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079471June 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
THE STRUT TOWER RUSTED . AS A RESULT THE STRUT PUSHED THROUGH THE HOOD, AND THE FRAME COLLAPSED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078350June 16, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VAN HAD 40K HIGHWAY MILES; THIS IS JUST A FEW K MILES SHY OF THE WARRANTY. AFTER CHECKING THIS WEBSITE I SEE THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL HERE? REMEMBER THESE VANS ARE USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN AND AN EARLY OR LATE FAILURE OF THESE AIR BAGS COULD BE DISASTEROUS. MY FAMILY WILL GET THE $200 BACK IT COST TO REPLACE THE "CLOCKSPRING" BUT I HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE A DEATH OR FIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076153June 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DEALER REPLACED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT 37,000 MILES. THEN, TRANSMISSION FAILED, AGAIN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075361June 14, 2004
SEATS
ON 6/13/04 WE TEST DROVE A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE STOW AND GO SEATS. THE BACK SEAT HAS A 60/40 SPLIT AND THE 40 SECTION WAS DOWN WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON THE LOT. WE PULLED THE SEAT UP FOR MY FOUR YEAR OLD TO SIT IN WITH HIS BOOSTER. AS MY HUSBAND ACCELERATED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY THAT SECTION OF THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS. THE SALES REP. UNBELTED MY SON AND PULLED THE SEAT UPRIGHT AGAIN. HE HAD TO POUND ON THE LEG OF THE SEAT TO GET IT INTO PROPER POSITION. DODGE NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS OR AT LEAST WARN CUSTOMERS!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076210June 14, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE CLOUDY. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075288June 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY VEHICLE HAS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ABNORMAL BRAKE WEAR. AT 17000 MILES THE BRAKES HUNG UP. THE FRONT LEFT ROTOR WAS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY. NEW PADS AND ROTORS. RIGHT FRONT CALIPER NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND WAS REPLACED. PRIOR TO THIS I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND BRAKES CHECKED 1500 MILES EARLIER--I HAD NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS VARYING AND IT WAS TAKING LONGER TO STOP THE CAR. MECHANIC HAD STATED THAT LEFT FRONT HAD A LITTLE OVER HALF OF BRAKE SURFACE LEFT. SECOND BRAKE FAILURE AT 34500 MILES. AGAIN, LEFT FRONT HUNG UP. TOOK THE CAR TO ARRIGO DODGE AND WAS TOLD I WAS LYING ABOUT FIRST INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH I HAD RECEIPTS. SERVICE REP TOLD ME BOTH BRAKES COMPLETELY WORN AWAY, EVEN THOUGH AGAIN THE PROBLEM PRESENTED WITH THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HANGING UP. WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT BRAKES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. CAR PULLED TO RIGHT AFTER BRAKE REPLACEMENT WHEN I CALLED DEALER AGAIN WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BRAKES BEGAN SQUEALING - MOST NOTICEABLY LEFT FRONT AGAIN - WITHIN 500 MILES OF REPLACEMENT. LEFT FRONT BRAKE STICKS WHEN STARTING OFF, BRAKES SQUEAL, BRAKE FLUID SEEN LEAKING FROM RIGHT FRONT, BRAKE PEDAL ALREADY HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT, TAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE TO STOP EVEN WITH STRONG FORCE APPLIED TO BRAKES. I HAVE NARROWLY MISSED HAVING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. CALLED DEALER, AGAIN TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT -- DRIVER HABITS THEY CALL IT. IN THE 25 YEARS I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN VEHICLES, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES BEFORE 38000 MILES OR HAD ANY PROBLEMS REMOTELY SIMILAR TO THIS. P. 245 OF OWNERS MANUAL STATES "IF EITHER OF THE TWO HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS LOSE NORMAL CAPABILITY ...THERE WILL BE SOME LOSS OF OVERALL BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. THIS MAY BE EVIDENT BY INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL DURING APPLICATION, GREATER PEDAL FORCE REQUIRED TO SLOW OR STOP..." WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTLY ADDRESSED -- PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE OF THIS BRAKE FAILURE?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075291June 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT 7,600 MILES IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE. SINCE THEN THE SPEEDOMETER READS INCORRECTLY. AT LOWER SPEEDS IT READS UNDER BY 4 TO 7 MPH, AT HIGHER SPEEDS -- 60 MPH IT READS 15 - 20 MPH UNDER. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN ON A ROAD TRIP I WAS STOPPED FOR GOING 85 WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS GOING 68 IN A 70MPH ZONE. I THOUGHT THE POLICE OFFICER WAS CRAZY -- EVEN PROTESTED AND HAD HIM VERIFY THE CALLIBRATION OF HIS RADAR. HIS READING WAS CONFIRMED WHEN I PASSED A ROADSIDE SPEED INDICATOR, AND WAS STOPPED AGAIN. SPEEDOMETER WAS REPROGRAMMED AT A DEALER IN MICHIGAN AFTER WHICH IT READ 4 MPH UNDER FOR THE MOST PART. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY DEALER IN FLORIDA AGAIN IN APRIL 2004, THEY REPLACED A SENSOR. SINCE, IT AGAIN READS 4 TO 10 MILES UNDER AT LOWER SPEEDS -- E.G. WHEN I THINK I'M GOING 35, I'M REALLY GOING 42 OR 43, AT 65 MPH ACTUAL SPEED IS 76MPH. DEALER SAYS ITS "THE WAY YOU'RE DRIVING" -- A POOR EXCUSE FOR SHIFTING THE BLAME AND NOT MAKING THE REPAIR CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD AND SAFETY ISSUE NOT JUST FOR MYSELF BUT FOR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DRIVE THE VAN AND PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075234June 11, 2004
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
NO EVENTS LEAD TO THE FAILURE, JUST AN IMMEDIATE FAILURE OF MY HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND AIR BAG SIMULTANEOUSLY. I HAD THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075902June 8, 2004
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING/IDLING THE HORN/CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075809June 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 96V099000 CONCERNING BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:ANTI-SKID SYSTEM. AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS DONE THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. MECHANIC REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074889June 6, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH SEVERAL ELECTICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT RESET. ALL OF THE FANS FOR THE HEATER AND A/C DOESN'T WORK. THE REAR WIPER IS CONTINUOUSLY WORKING. WE HAVE HAD THE VAN TO THE MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES(TOO MANY TO COUNT) AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE COMPANY REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074898June 6, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK I WILL LOSE MY DASH GUAGES. THE LIGHTS AND UPPER DASH LIGHT WILL STILL WORK BUT GUAGES WON'T. AFTER NO SET AMOUNT OF TIME IT WILL POWER BACK UP AND DOORS WILL LOCK DOWN, SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL COME ON AND VAN WILL ACT LIKE IT JUST STARTED (GOES THROUGH INTIAL START UP SEQUENCE). SOMETIMES THE VAN WON'T START. KEY WILL BE TURNED AND VAN WILL START UP AND IMMEDIATELY STALL. THIS WILL HAPPEN THREE TIMES AND THEN DOESN'T ROLL OVER OR ANYTHING. LATELY VAN WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK ITSELF CONTINUALLY WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES UNLOCKING ITSELF AFTER ALARM HAS BEEN SET RISKING THE LOSS OF VALUABLES IN THE CAR WHILE WE ARE AWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY AND WE TAKE IT INTO DEALER AND THE COMPUTERS AREN'T COMMUNICATING SO THEY REPLACE WIRES, ETC AND FIXES FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT DOESN'T FIX THE STALLING PROBLEM, ETC. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG AND SUGGESTED REPLACING ALL WIRING AT $2000 BUT NO GUARANTEE THIS IS CAUSING PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT CLOSE TO $700 ON NEW STARTER, ETC. TO NO AVAIL. ON MESSAGE BOARD SOMEONE SUGGESTED WHEN IT DOESN'T START BEFORE IT COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OVER TO TURN THE KEY OVER AND HIT THE DASH AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND IT WORKED....STARTED RIGHT UP. SUGGESTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS BAD. WHY CAN'T THE DEALER FIGURE THIS OUT. STILL COSTS $500 TO FIX. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PUTTING INTO VAN....WE JUST BOUGHT IT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO...BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW EITHER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075724June 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF THE FAN CONTINUES TO RUN. CONSUMER DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY SO IT WOULDN'T BURN OUT THE MOTOR. THIS OCCURS BECAUSE THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY DOES NOT TURN THE COOLING FAN OFF OR ON, WHICH IS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM DEALERSHIP HAS TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY, AND REPROGRAM THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074805June 4, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HORN STOPPED WORKING. WAS TOLD IT WAS A CLOCK SPRING AND NEEDED REPLACED SO BOTH WOULD WORK PROPERLY. ALSO NOTICED DODGE HAD A RECALL ON THIS ITEM FOR YEARS 96-98. WELL THE PROBLEM STILL EXSISTS ON THE 1999.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073619June 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR A CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. HOWEVER, PARTS ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. *AK THE CRUISE WAS INOPERATIVE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. RECALL#02V293000 AND RECALL#96V215000. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074713June 3, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE MILEAGE AROUND 128,000 MILES. STARTING IN APRIL , WE SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD . WE TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AT THAT TIME USING THE DIAGNOSTICS. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON STEADILY AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN AT THAT TIME EITHER . THE *CODE* THEY FOUND SAID *OXYGEN SENSOR* BUT THEY RESET IT . FOUR DAYS LATER, WE WERE HEADING BACK TO CHARLESTON (100 MILES) AND HAD MADE IT AROUND 40 MILES ON INTERSTATE GOING AROUND 65-70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN, WITHOUT NOTICE, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER . WE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAIT UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD TOW US BACK TO LEXINGTON ... THE VAN WAS TAKEN AGAIN TO NASCO WHERE THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRING SO THEY CHANGED ALL THAT OUT TO THE TUNE OF $400.00 PLUS THE $80.00 FOR TOWING... THEN....TWO DAYS LATER THE VAN WAS DRIVING AGAIN TO CHARLESTON ON INTERSTATE AND AT ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SPOT --IT CUT OFF AGAIN !! THE VAN HAD TO GET TOWED YET AGAIN TO ORANGEBURG ( CLOSER TO WHERE IT CUT OFF ) AND THE MECHANICS THERE COULD FIND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN !!! IN TOWN, THE VAN DOES FINE ...BUT WHEN YOU ARE ON INTERSTATE AND GOING A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME ...AND IT CUTS OFF ---SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE VAN !! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AT SUCH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THEN LOSING POWER ..AND MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS !! LAST WEEKEND , MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VAN ON THE INTERSTATE AGAIN TO TRY IT OUT AND SURE ENOUGH AROUND 50 MILES OUT IT CUT OFF YET AGAIN WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON .I NOTICE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE GRAND CARAVANS AND THINK IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075570June 2, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
CONSUMER STATES FUEL RAIL IS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, FUEL FUMES SEEP THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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