Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1997)

583 consumer complaints on file.

#10134377August 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1) DRIVING NORMALLY THROUGH WATER SEVERAL INCHES DEEP - CERTAINLY NOT AN UNUSUAL SITUATION CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF AFTERNOON STORMS WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS SUMMER IN MIDDLE GEORGIA. 2) SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS FROM PULLEYS CAUSING LOSE OF POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP, AIR CONDITIONING, ALTERNATOR. ON FIRST OCCASION AND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AVOID A COLLISION. 3) BELT APPEARED UNDAMAGED BUT I REPLACED BELT WITH NEW APPROVED BELT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON AUGUST 22, 2005 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON GEORGIA 87 (RURAL HIGHWAY) IN A SEVERE DOWNPOUR/THUNDERSTORM. THE RAIN AND STORM CONDITIONS WERE SO LOUD I DID NOT NOTICE THE TEMPERATURE GAGE, INDICATOR LIGHTS AND WARNING-BUZZER WARNING ME OF SOME ENGINE FAILURE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO AN INTERSECTION AND PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC, AGAIN WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. ULTIMATELY, PEOPLE WILL LOSE LIVES OVER THIS ISSUE IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE ISSUES POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE PURSUE THIS ISSUE SO SOMEONE'S LIFE CAN BE SAVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130453July 28, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DEEMED TOTALED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF TWO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ONE FOR THE FUEL RAIL AND ONE FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS CONFLICTING INFORMATION ON THE LETTER SENT TO CONSUMER. THIS HAPPENED ON JANUARY 17, 2005 . *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10129044July 17, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THIS IS ON A '97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.8 LITER. 1) ORIGINALLY THE BRAKES WERE TERRIBLE, (HARD FOOT PRESSURE WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.). AFTER 30KMILES, I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC. IN HIS EXPERIENCE, THE DEALER EQUIPPED FRONT DISC "PISTONS MADE OF PHEOLIC MATERIAL" WOULD OFTEN 'STICK'.. AFTER REPLACING W/ "STEEL" PISTONS THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. 2) THE PROBLEMATIC 'CLOCK-SPRING' FAILED RIGHT BEFORE I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE! BUT, AFTER 30K MORE MILES, IT FAILED AGAIN... THIS TIME THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FREE. OF COURSE THE "LEGALLY REQUIRED HORN" IS ALSO NO-FUNCTIONING. 3) THE POWER LOCKS FIGHT ME WHEN OPENING WITH A KEY. ON REMOVING SAID KEY, THEY THEN 'RELOCK' BEFORE I CAN OPEN THE DOOR. I MUST OPEN THE DOOR WITH KEY TURNED IN THE LOOK. (SAFETY, NO, INCONVENIENT YES.) HOWEVER, NOW THE POWER LOCKS "SOMETIMES UNLOCK THEMSELVES" WHEN LEFT IN A LOCKED POSITION, OR WHEN DRIVING. 4) THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN, THOUGH IT COMES ON WHEN THE NEEDED, "SHUTS OFF" WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. SHOULDN'T' IT "STAY ON" TILL THE RADIATOR COOLS A BIT?? 5) THE "ENGINE STALLED" AND HESITATED/MISFIRED?. NUMEROUS TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.. FINALLY AN INDEPENDENT "REPLACED CAM SENSOR". THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR "IMPORTANT SERVICES". SINCERELY, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128830July 14, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT NEARLY EVERY MONTH. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SWAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON FREEWAY OR WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKES. THE EGR VALVE KEEPS GOING OUT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126601June 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, EQUIPMENT
TERRIBLE SQUEALING NOISE IN BELT AREA. DEALER CHARGED ~$250 FOR BELT AND TENSIONER REPLACEMENT AND NOISE WAS GREATLY REDUCED. SEVERAL YEARS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED AND GREW EVEN WORSE. REPLACED THE WORN BELT AND NOISE WAS GREATLY REDUCED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. AFTER THE NOISE RETURNED, REMOVED THE BELT AND CHECKED ALL PULLEYS - FOUND NO PROBLEMS. REPLACED TENSIONER AND IDLER PULLEYS ANYWAY (~$20 EACH FROM DEALER) AND REINSTALLED BELT. NOISE WAS REDUCED FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS. TOOK VAN TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT WAS THE TENSIONER AND WERE SURPISED THAT IT HAD LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP AND TENSIONER. THE NOISE WAS GREATLY REDUCED, BUT RETURNED FULL FORCE WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. IN DESPERATION I TURNED TO BELT DRESSING AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION SINCE I HAD CLEANED ALL OF THE PULLEYS PRIOR TO BELT REINSTALLATION. WHEN THE BELT DRESSING WAS SPRAYED ON THE TENSIONER PULLEY THE SOUND DISAPPEARED FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN RETURNED. BELT DRESSING HAD SMALL OR NO EFFECT WHEN SPRAYED AT OTHER LOCATIONS ALONG THE SERPENTINE BELT.
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
#10115991March 29, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS MULTIPLE TIMES. WE HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE STRUT MOUNT HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE STRUT MOUNT PLATE HAS BECOME OVAL AND NOT ROUND AND THEREFORE IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER GOING OVER LARGER BUMPS....WHAT DO WE DO NOW? I AM A MECHANIC AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO BY ANOTHER AUTO REPAIR. WE ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING SINCE BASICALLY WHEN WE BOUGHT IT ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO AND WOULD LIIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OTHER 97 GRAND CARAVANS. PLEASE HELP. WE HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND CAN NOT BE WITHOUT A VAN. THANKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112180February 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 3.0 6 CYL BELT CAME OFF IN RAIN STORM LEFT ME STRANDED AND MISSED WORK THE BELT WAS IN ONE PIECE AND GOT IT HOME AND HAD A NEW BELT INSTALLED AND PULLEY UPPER FRONT NON GROOVED. AGAIN BELT CAME OFF BRAN NEW BELT NEW BELT PUT ON AGAIN BELT NOW SQUEALING IN THE BACK BELT TENSION ARM NOR SQUEALING BELT RIDES THE PULLEY L/R ABOUT 1/4 INCH THAN BACK. IT SEEMS TO ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110634February 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF IDLER PULLY WHEN DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111002February 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108509February 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VAN WAS SLIPPING NOT GOING INTO GEAR WHEN IT WAS COLD AND NOW JUST WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT HAS TO BE REBUILT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $2300 TO $2800 TO FIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108075January 27, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE STRUT TOWER THAT HOLDS THE UPPER PART OF BOTH FRONT STRUTS WAS RUST OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, THE FRONT STRUT COULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THE STRUT TOWER. CHANCES ARE THIS WOULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (BECAUSE THE FORCES ON THE STRUT TOWERS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST THEN). THIS COULD VERY PROBABLY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT. I FEAR THAT MOST CARAVAN OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE IN NOVEMBER 2004.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107567January 19, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
HEAVY FUEL VAPORS IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, AND UNDER HOOD. OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST BUT THEN WENT AWAY THE NEXT DAY. ALL OCCURRENCES WERE DURING COLD WEATHER (20-30F). DRIVER AND PASSENGERS EXPERIENCED NAUSEA. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE IS MALFUNCTIONING ALLOWING FUEL INTO THE VAPOR CANISTER. THIS SOUNDS ALOT LIKE THE RECALL FOR 1996 MODELS OF THIS VAN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105850January 6, 2005
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS TO FUNCTION WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZINGG; DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPT; BRAKE FREEZES IN LOCKED AND UNLOCK POSITION CAUSEING DAMAGE TO BRAKE DRUMS (LOCKED) AND LOSS EMERGENCY BRAKE (OPEN). *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
#10102497December 10, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE CLEAR PLASTIC LENSES THAT COVER THE HEAD LAMP BULBS HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY CLOUDED AND GREATLY DIMINISH THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT ITS NORMAL. I HAVE NOTICED THIS CONDITION ON MANY OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE CONDITION . THIS CONDITION CREATES AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING BY REDUCING VISIBILITY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE IS NO MENTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE LISTED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF ANY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100112November 17, 2004
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL, EQUIPMENT
I OWN 8 MX4 MICHELIN TIRES I ROTATE AND USE 4 IN THE WINTER AND FOUR IN THE SUMMER. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC BLOW-OUT ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE IM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AND HAVE LOGGED OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES IN COMMERCIAL AND PERSONAL VEHICLES AND I UTILIZE THE SMITH SYSTEM .THE ROAD WAS CLEAR WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC AND NO ROAD HAZARDS PRESENT. TWO WEEKS LATER ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. ANOTHER MASSIVE BLOW-OUT LEFT REAR BOTH TIMES LARGE HOLES IN THE SIDEWALLS ONE TIER MANUFACTURED IN 2000 THE OTHER IN 1999 MILES ON BOTH TIRES 17K TIERS INSPECTED AND CONFIRMED BLOWOUT ORIGINATED FROM THE INSIDE .SIMILAR OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. MY REMAINING SIX TIRES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED FOR SIDE WALL DAMAGE OR UNUSUAL WEAR AND NONE FOUND VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AND NO DEFECTS FOUND.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099556November 8, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096202October 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AS I AM DRIVING MY VAN WILL SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE VAN SUDDENLY DIES. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER MANY,MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN FEB,2004 AND THEY HAVE DROVE IT AND PUT IT ON MACHINES AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT AND WHY IT'S DOING THIS. I JUST FOUND OUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND ORIGINAL ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SO HE GOT RID OF IT.WHEN IT SUDDENLY DIES I HAVE NO STEERING, BRAKES ETC. AND THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVY 4 LANE TRAFFIC AND NO WHERE TO GO. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED AND CORRECTED, I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY AND HOW THIS CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE I OR SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR INJURED. I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY VAN ALOT AND I WONDER IF THAT MATTERS TO YOU IF THEY GET INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE YOU CAN'T OR WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!! I HAVE HAD DODGE VANS BEFORE AND LIKED THEM, BUT I CAN ASURE YOU THAT, IS CHANGING RAPIDLY. I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT'S ON THIS SITE ON THE 97 DODGE CARAVAN'S. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095996October 18, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, AND WHILE I AM DRIVING, THE ENGINE JUST STOPS WORKING AND MY STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO MANUVER. I TOOK IT THE THE CAR DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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