Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1999)

432 consumer complaints on file.

#10190969May 16, 2007
SUSPENSION
FRONT END WAS HITTING HARD ON EVEN MILDLY ROUGH ROADS. UPON INSPECTION BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE CAUSED BY SEVERE RUSTING OF THE STRUT TOWER MOUNT ON BOTH SIDES. AT THE TIME OF FILING THIS COMPLAINT REPAIRS, COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF STRUT TOWERS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE DUE TO COST , APPROXIMATELY $2800. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 3 DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITIES THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE CARAVANS OF CERTAIN MODEL YEARS! BESIDES THE COSTLY REPAIRS, THIS ALSO PRESENTS A POTENTIALLY A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189314April 30, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STRUT TOWERS RUSTED SIGNIFICANTLY AND MAY BREAK. PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL PROGRAM. REFERENCE ODI CASES 10185700, 10183434, 10145830, 10132914, 10130797, 10117269, 10106788, 10101334, 10065499, 10048107, 10168557, 10079282. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184255March 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, STEERING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
1999 GRAND CARAVAN - SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHEN IT RAINS OR VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THROUGH WATER, EVEN MINOR AMOUNTS. CAUSES SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, ESPECIALLY IF IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING DURING A TURN. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 YEARS AND 125,000+ MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING THE LAST 25,000 MILES BELT HAS COME OFF UNPREDICTABLY 6-8 TIMES IN WET WEATHER. OCCURRENCES STARTED FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF FRONT TIRES AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. DEALERS AND SERVICE STATIONS HAVE BLAMED THE TENSIONEER, A PULLEY, THE BELT ITSELF, AND WATER. REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS DOES NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WHICH OCCURS AGAIN WITH THE NEXT RAIN STORM. SOMETHING CHANGED AT 125,000 MILES THAT CAUSES THE BELT TO DISENGAGE THE PULLEYS AND /OR TENSIONER WHEN WATER IS SPRAYED UP BY THE TIRES IN WET WEATHER. I CHANGED TIRES TO A DIFFERENT TREAD DESIGN AND THIS HELPED FOR A TIME, BUT WITH WEAR THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179437January 23, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I HAVE A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 57000 AT PRESENT. WHEN WE HAD 47000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. UPON TAKING THE VAN TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION TO THE TUNE OF $1350.00 DOLLARS WITH OUT ASSISTANCE FROM CHRYSLER. AT PRESENT WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEM SUCH AS THE VAN WONDERS AND HARD TO STEER. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF AND HAD TO BE REPLACE 5 TIMES AFTER OR DURING A RAIN STORM SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. IT APPEARS A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS, AND ALTHOUGH MY VAN IS A 1999 MODEL I SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 57000 MILES, AND CHRYSLER SHOULD CONDUCT A MASSIVE RECALL TO REPAIR AND CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177164December 27, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WIPERS NOT WORKING ON 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. SURFING THE WEB AND SAW MANY RELATED ISSUES TO THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THERE WERE ENOUGH REPORTS TO REQUEST A RECALL. I CONSIDER THIS SERIOUS ISSUE DUE TO ROAD CONDITION WHEN THE WIPERS ARE NEEDED AND THE VISION IMPACT ALSO. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176254December 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS GRADUAL WORSENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY CHANGED 3 YEARS AGO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174040November 22, 2006
TIRES
I PURCHASED 2 BRAND NEW FURTURA 2000 LTE FROM PEPBOYS DROVE THE CAR MAYBE 5 MILES. THEN SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD 2 FRONT FLAT- BOTH TIRES WERE LEAKING FROM THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173078November 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN KEEPS COMING OFF. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS. THE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE IDLER PULLEY HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE BELT TENSIONER HAS BEEN REPLACED. AN ENGINE BRACKET FOR THE IDLER PULLEY HAS BEEN REPLACED. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF , POWER STEERING IS LOST WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO CONTROL THE VAN. IF I WAS NOT A FAIRLY STRONG PERSON I WOULD HAVE HIT A SEMI-TRUCK AT THE LAST INCIDENT. MY WIFE COULD NOT HAVE CONTROLLED IT. THERE IS AN AFTER MARKET FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THROUGH GOODYEAR OR GATES. CHRYSLER DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR IT. BELOW IS THE LATEST INCIDENT. IT HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173263October 30, 2006
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING RECALL. THE VEHICLES CLOCKSPRING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER PAID CASH FOR THE REPAIR AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *TS *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170761October 13, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON DEC 30, 2004 I PURCHASED 4 NEW COOPER TIRES LABELED SIGMA REGENT (SG00721655). ON JUNE 13, 2006 I REPLACED ONE OF THESE TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION (23,924 MILES). ON OCT 12, 2006 I REPLACED TWO MORE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION (28,405 MILES). THAT IS THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRES THAT DEVELOPED TREAD SEPARATION. FORTUNATELY, I NOTICED EACH EVENT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NONETHELESS, I THINK YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD WITH COOPER TIRES. P.S. YOUR FORM DID ALLOW FOR THE ACTUAL TIRE SIZE I PURCHASED. THE TIRES I PURCHASED ARE: 215/65SR15, 9M65. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169818October 3, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER IS CORRODING AND POPPING THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIRES, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, AND COULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT DANGER IF IT WERE TO RUST COMPLETELY THROUGH. AS DESCRIBED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, THIS ISSUE IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS ITEM WERE TO COMPLETELY FAIL SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169593September 29, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL # 04V480000 REGARDING AIRBAGS. THE RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT, THEN THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE 2 DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG, THE HORN, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD ALL FAILED. THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FIRST, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE REASON FOR DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE SAME OWNERSHIP ANYMORE. THE SECOND TIME, THE GIVEN REASON FOR DENIAL WAS THAT THE RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT IN 2004, BUT THE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED IN 2006. THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME, THE REASON FOR DENIAL WAS THAT THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE REASON THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP AS OPPOSED TO A DEALER, WAS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 11/14/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169265September 25, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BROKE FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. METAL PENETRATED THE CASE, VEHICLE ONLY HAD 38,304 MILES ON IT. IT IS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE. DODGE WOULD NOT COVER IT SINCE THEY BELIEVE IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR. FOR ME THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS WAS AN ACT OF GOD THAT MY HUSBAND WAS NOT KILLED WHILE DRIVING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE EXPRESS WAY GOING TO A WEAPONS TRAINING SITE ON THE WISCONSIN/ILLINOIS BOARDER. WE HAD AAA MOTOR CLUB BUT THE NEXT DEALERSHIP WAS OVER 35 MILES AWAY AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. OUR BILL FROM GURNEE DODGE, 7255 GRAND AVENUE (ROUTE 132), GURNEE, IL 60031 WAS $3499.27. AND OUR TOW WAS $125.00. WE NOT ONLY BABY THE CAR, CLEAN IT AND DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ON IT EVERY 6 MONTHS, IT SHOCKED THE HELL OUT OF ME TO KNOW MY HUSBAND WAS JUST DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON AN OFF RAMP W/ NOTHING BUT A GALLY DROP TO LOOK FORWARD TO. I WAS ANGRY TO SEE THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER WOULD NOT HELP US WITH THIS KNOWING THAT IT HAS A 7 YEAR 70,000 MILES POWER TRAIN WARRANTY (BUMPER TO BUMPER). THIS WAS NOT MY HUSBAND'S FAULT AND HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THANK GOD HE'S A COP AND CAN MANEUVER EVEN FROM THE TOUGHEST SITUATIONS. THE AVERAGE CONSUMER IS NOT MY HUSBAND, SO I WRITE YOU THIS NOTE TO MAKE COMPANIES LIKE DAIMLER CHRYSLER HONOR THEIR WARRANTY AND HELP THE CONSUMER WHEN A FAULTY TRANSMISSION BLOWS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE MECHANISM UP TO THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC AT GURNEE SAID MY HUSBAND WAS LUCKY IT HAD NOT PENETRATED THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE KILLED HIM, CUT HIM IN HALF OR EVEN CAUSED MORE DAMAGE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR HEARING MY VOICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166549August 25, 2006
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A DING DING SOUND WAS HEARD EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE MADE A RIGHT TURN WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE WHERE THE SOUND CAME FROM BUT EXPRESSED THAT NOISE SOUNDED LIKE AN ALARM. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166229August 22, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED ON OUR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THIS VEHICLE HAS ABS. FROM THE ABS UNIT TO THE REAR BRAKE DISTRIBUTION BLOCK, THE TWIN BRAKE LINES ARE A COMBINATION OF STEEL AND STEEL BRAIDED LINES. THE ENTIRE LINES ARE APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET LONG. OF THE 8 FEET LENGTH, THERE IS A SECTION OF FLEXIBLE STEEL BRAIDED LINE APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES LONG. AT THE JUNCTION OF THE STEEL LINE AND THE BRAIDED STEEL LINE, THE LINE FAILED. THERE IS NOT EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE OR ABUSE. THE JUNCTION JUST FAILED. LUCKILY WE WERE JUST PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST WENT TO THE FLOOR. BRAKE POWER WAS COMPLETELY LOST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166273August 22, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN,3.3 LITER ENGINE, STARTED OUT ABOUT ONCE A YEAR THE SERPENTINE BELT WOULD SLIP OFF AND HAVE TO BE REINSTALLED. THEN STARTED EVERY 6 MONTHS, USUALLY DURING WET WEATHER, CAME OFF WITH MY WIFE, SHE WOULD LOSE STEERING ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE WORK AND GO WHERE EVER SHE WAS AND PUT BELT BACK ON. FINALLY NOTICED THE TENSIONER PULLEY LEANING TO THE LEFT ALLOWING BELT TO SLIP OFF. REPLACED PULLEY THINKING PROBLEM SOLVED, BUT ONCE AGAIN BELT WOULD SLIP OFF DURING A RAIN AND WIPERS ON. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY WIFE AGAIN, NO STEERING. TRIED A BETTER QUALITY BELT, SAME THING, BELT WOULD SLIP OFF DURING RAIN. 2 WEEKS AGO IT SLIPPED OFF WITH MY WIFE ON MAJOR FREEWAY IN BIRMINGHAM, AL , I HAD TO GO ABOUT 50 MILES AND PUT BELT BACK ON WITH TRAFFIC SPEEDING BY AND ALL DURING A RAIN STORM OF COURSE. YESTERDAY I DROVE THE VAN TO MY JOB AND ON THE WAY HOME RAN INTO A RAIN STORM AND GUESS WHAT, IT CAME OFF AGAIN, LUCKILY ON THE STREET I LIVE ON. I'VE READ ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VAN. I'VE OWNED THE VAN SINCE THE BEGINNING, LOVED IT EXCEPT FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN BOUGHT A NEW 05 GRAND CARAVAN BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD VANS. I JUST WISH DODGE WOULD ADMIT THE 99 AND SIMILAR YEARS HAD A RECALL ISSUE ON THIS SERPENTINE BELT. OR WHY CAN'T THEY TELL US, THE OWNERS HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163930July 30, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SHOCK TOWERS ARE JUST ABOUT RUSTED THROUGH ON 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. RUSTING STARTED 3-4 YEARS AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163516July 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DESPITE REGULAR (3,000-MILE OR LESS) OIL CHANGES AT DEALER OR CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 3.3 LITER ENGINE DEVELOPED SEVERE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. FIRST INDICATION OF PROBLEM WAS A SOFT CLICKING ENGINE NOISE. CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS OIL SLUDGE, SHOWED US CAKED ENGINE COMPONENTS. REPLACED ROCKERS ARMS AND SOME VALVES AND BEARINGS AND FLUSHED ENGINE. REPAIRS NOT SUCCESSFUL, NOISE CONTINUED. RETURNED TO MECHANIC WHO KEPT THE VAN FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND DID SEVERAL MORE ENGINE FLUSHES AND OIL CHANGES. THIS DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM AND MECHANIC WARNED ME THAT DRIVING WOULD SOON LEAD TO MASSIVE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS AN EXPENSIVE OVERHAUL ($7,000-$8,000) OR A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE ($5,000-$6,000) THAT MIGHT STILL HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH, I REALIZED THIS WAS CHRYSLER PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. NOW MY VAN IS AN EXPENSIVE YARD ORNAMENT--AT LEAST UNTIL I DRIVE IT ONE LAST TIME TO TRADE IT IN. I DO NOT CONSIDER IT SAFE TO DRIVE AS MASSIVE FAILURE COULD LEAD TO FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161384July 4, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
MY CAR WAS REAR ENDED BY A LARGE PICKUP ON THE FREEWAY. IMMEDIATELY ON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK WENT INTO A RECLINED POSITION. THEREFORE, THE ONLY SAFETY DEVICE OPERATIONAL WAS THE LAP BELT AS THE SHOULDER BELT AND HEAD REST DEPEND ON THE SEAT BACK TO BE OF ANY USE AND THE AIRBAG ONLY DEPLOYS IN A FRONT END CRASH. THIS LED TO MY UPPER BODY BEING JERKED ALL OVER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. DODGE'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE SEAT BACK IS SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IN A REAR END CRASH. I FIND THIS RATHER INCREDIBLE AS THAT LEAVES ONLY THE LAP BELT FUNCTIONAL. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10159602June 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE PIN CAME OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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