Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1996)

1,157 consumer complaints on file.

#10082978July 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERPENTINE BELT OR TENSIONER CLIP HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED 4 TIMES (TOWED EVERY TIME) ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING; TURN THE KEY AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START GOING, TURN THE KEY OFF AND THE WIPERS "KEEP" GOING, TAKE THE KEY TOTALLY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE WIPERS GO AND THE "DINGING" ALARM THAT TELLS YOU THE LIGHTS ARE ON OR THE KEY IS IN, STARTS.(I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THE CAR WAS POSSESSED) OR TURN THE KEY AND "NOTHING" COMES ON EXCEPT THE ENGINE. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 5 TIMES AT LEAST - IT'S USUALLY BETTER W/ A NEW BATTERY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW MOTOR AND ASSEMBLY REPLACED ON DRIVERS SIDE TWICE AND 5 TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MOST RECENT WAS 4/04, WHICH WAS REPLACED 7/04 AGAIN. THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDE DO NOT LOCK, IF YOU PUSH THE BUTTON DOWN, YOU CAN'T GET IT BACK UP. THE REAR HATCH IS DAMAGED FROM CLOSING THE DOOR, LOOKS LIKE I WAS HIT IN THE REAR, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR MONTHS IN FALL '03, NO MECHANIC COULD SAY WHY. WANTED TO GET THE A/C CHARGED BUT IT WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. DEALER COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SAID THE A/C UNIT WAS TOTALLY MELTED. HAD IT REPLACED AND THEN THE COMPUTER RESET. REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 100000, THE "PLANTATARY GEARS" WERE CRACKED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN IN 7/04, FAILED EMISIONS, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, LIGHT STILL ON, TACK STICKS AND CAR WON'T ACCELERATE AT TIMES - I CAN PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T GO?? FEELS LIKE IT'S CHOKING, NO POWER. HAVE A 3.8L, SHOULD HAVE POWER. THERE IS NO PANEL/DOOR FOR PASS. AIRBAG TO COME OUT. IF I EVER GOT IN AN ACCIDENT, WHAT WOULD IT DO...JUST BUST THROUGH MY DASH? OVER TIME, THE DASH ON THAT SIDE HAS GOTTEN SOFT AND MUSHY, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT? MY DAD BOUGHT THE SAME YEAR CARAVAN I DID, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE GRAND CARAVAN LE AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE 3.8L AND HE HASN'T HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM...I GUESS I GOT ALL OF THEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083412July 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
THE STRUT TOWER ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED ON VEHICLE. *MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL USED IS THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079697June 23, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING REGARDLESS THE TIME OF USAGE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079706June 23, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078708June 23, 2004
AIR BAGS
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE DODGE CARAVAN SUSTAINED A HEAD ON COLLISION. 96 DODGE G. CARAVAN. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
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
#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
#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
#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
#10074093May 24, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THEY EITHER QUIT WORKING, WORKED ONLY IN ONE SPEED OR ENGAGED BY THEMSELVES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, WHICH PROVIDED A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073663May 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STOPPED BUT ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PIN SLIPPED OUT AND BROKE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASING. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065613April 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NUMEROUS REPAIR SHOPS REPORT THAT PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A NEAR-CERTAINTY ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR VEHICLE, DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR LUBRICATION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064452April 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
FRONT STRUT TOWERS RUSTING THROUGH. TOLD BY SERVICE 'VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE'. TOLD TO REPLACE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065374March 31, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. ALSO, HORN DIDN'T NOT WORK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065285March 30, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER COMPLAINS ABOUT A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. THE LENS IS NOT GIVING OFF ENOUGH LIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT THE LENS IS FILLED WITH CONDENSATION, AND LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT BEING PROJECTED DURING NIGHT DRIVING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064917March 25, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062547March 18, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOING 65 TO 70 MPH, THE CAR LOSES RPM'S, BACKFIRES, JERKS, LOSES SPEED. I AM UNABLE TO GIVE IT GAS. I HAVE TO PULL OFF INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND IT SLOWS TO A STOP AND STALLS. I CANNOT START IT BACK, HOWEVER IF I SET FOR A FEW MINUTES, OPEN AND SLAM THE HOOD, IT WILL START BACK. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CODE THAT WAS FOUND SAID THAT A MISFIRE WAS FOUND IN CYLINDER 6. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE FIXING THAT PROBLEM, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TRY TO FIX MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS BUT NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP CAN TELL ME FOR SURE WHAT IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS IS AMAZING TO ME, BECAUSE I CAN FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND NOT ONLY WITH 1996 GRAND CARAVANS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN STALLING AT SUCH HIGH RATES OF SPEED. IF SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE RECALLED AND FOUND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FOR SURE WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE AND I LOVE THIS VAN (LESS THIS MAJOR PROBLEM). PLEASE HELP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059528March 17, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 72,691 MILES, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. AT 120,000 MILES TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT MOVE. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063006March 11, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER MANAGED PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060799March 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN
THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME LOOSE MAKING A HOLE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TORQUE CONVERTOR AREA AND THEN ONTO MY GARAGE FLOOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 74,789 MILES. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. HE SAID IT OCCURS WHEN ONE WHEEL SPINS WHILE THE OTHER WHEEL IS STOPPED. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU LIVE IN A CLIMATE WITH SNOW OR ICE, THIS FAILURE CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME TO YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS NOT A DEFECT AND THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DIFFERENTIAL PINS. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, HE SAID THAT HE HAS CERTAINLY SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, BUT SINCE IT OCCURED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, I AM ON MY OWN. THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT SINCE THE REPLACEMENT DIFFERENTIAL IS THE SAME AS BEFORE, A SERIOUS DEFECT STILL EXISTS IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE RETAINED THE WORN/BROKEN DIFFERENTIAL UNIT IN CASE DODGE ENGINEERS WANT TO INSPECT IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Grand Caravan