Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#10062690March 20, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN OUR '97 DODGE CARAVAN HAS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. INDICATIONS ARE THAT IT IS DUE TO AN INTERMITTENT CLOCKSPRING WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, MEANING THAT THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. IT APPEARS THIS CLOCKSPRING FAILURE MODE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER TO FIX IT (AROUND $200). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062658March 19, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING ON 95 IN VIRGINIA IN 1998 GRAND CARAVAN LE (80,000) , AND I HEARD A BANGING NOISE. IT SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE THE ENGINE WENT FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A PUFF OF SMOKE IN BACK OF ME, AND THE CARS BEHIND ME BACKED OFF. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A FRIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL US. WE CALLED THE STATE POLICE AND THEY PROCEEDED TO CALL AAA WHERE THEY TOWED US INTO WHITTEN DODGE. ALL OF THE FLUIDS HAD COME OUT OF THE CAR AND THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP. SEEING AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO FLORIDA ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON OUR ONLY OPTION WAS TO BUY ANOTHER DODGE. WE PURCHASED A 2004 GRAND CARAVAN. I HAVE A DIARY OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO MY VAN. IT WAS VERY WELL KEPT. JOSH A MACHANIC WITH WHITTEN DODGE WENT OVER THE WHOLE CAR AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION DIFFERENCIAL PIN (THAT HOLDS THE SPIDE GEARS) IN THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. THIS PIN ALONG WITH THE SPIDER GEARS TOTALED THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. DUE TO THIS UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT WE GOT NOTHING FOR THE CAR. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE WERE SO LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT SMEARED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT MAJOR RESTITUTION IS DUE IN THIS SERIOUS SITUATION. NOW I HAVE A 04 GRAND CARAVAN, SHOULD I BE WARY OF THIS VAN? WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK
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
#10062321March 16, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AT 35 MPH THE CAR WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT AND INSTEAD BEGAN FISHTAILING AND SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD UP AN INCLINE WHERE IT CAME TO REST. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS PERPENDICULAR TO CAR WITH TIRE HANGING OFF OF RIM. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS I MUST HAVE HIT A VERY DEEP POTHOLE, BUT WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH OCCURRENCE. NO DEEP POTHOLES EXISTED ON AREA OF ROAD WHERE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. ALSO, THE TIRE RIM WAS NOT DAMAGED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062326March 16, 2004
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON A 4 LANE ROAD AND WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH WHEN SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH ALMOST NO BRAKING INVOLVED. NEITHER THE DRIVE OR PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THIS WAS A MAJOR SELLING POINT WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE SINCE WE WOULD BE USING IT TO TRANSPORT OUR FAMILY. IF THESE DO NOT WORK THEN THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD DO EVERYTHING TO THE BEST OF IT'S ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT ANYONE THAT BUYS THEIR PRODUCTS SHOULD GET WHAT THEY HAVE PAID FOR. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10063214March 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE SHIMMIED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER RESURFACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. EVERY 14,000 MILES THE DEALER WAS REPLACING THE ROTORS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063226March 15, 2004
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
ONCE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK STEERING WHEEL DID NOT LOCK. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063233March 15, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
DRIVER SIDE FRONT STRUT IS RUSTED. VEHICLE IS PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT, MAKING TURNS TO THE LEFT VERY DIFFICULT. ALSO, TURNS TO THE RIGHT ARE EQUALLY TOUGH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062280March 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE OF SECOND ENGINE IN VEHICLE WITHIN 55,000 MILES. I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE IN MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT 37,000 MILES DUE TO A LIFTER FAILURE OCCASIONED BY WHAT WAS DESCRIBED BY THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AS "SOFT METAL." A LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED AND NOW AT 55000 MILES I AM TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAS A "BAD LIFT" AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THUS, I NOW HAVE HAD TWO ENGINES IN THE SAME CAR EACH OF WHICH HAS FAILED IN ABOUT THE SAME WAY. I HAVE A WARRANTY CLAIM PENDING BUT FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I ASSURE YOU THAT THE CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR AND THAT ALL REQUIRED SERVICE WAS MET OR EXCEEDED. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS NOT ONE OF WHICH HAD ENGINE FAILURE EVEN AFTER A HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND MILES AND CONSIDERABLY LESS METICULOUS CARE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062002March 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DIFERENTIAL BROKE IF BROKE DURING DRIVING MAY HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063117March 12, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON LIGHTS DIMMED, AND THE HEAT FROM THE AIR VENTS TEMPERATURE DECREASED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, OR IF CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MODULE/ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, AND THE MAIN COMPUTER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062043March 12, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN 1997 DODGE CARAVAN AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, FRONT SEAT RECLINER ASSEMBLY WENT BACK, THROWING DRIVER TO BACK, CAUSING HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10061902March 11, 2004
SEATS, CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
WHILE STRAPPED INTO A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN'S MIDDLE CAPTIANS SEAT,MY SON WAS IN HIS CAR SEAT THAT WAS USING THE LATCH SYSTEM. THE MIDDLE SEAT OF THE VAN PIVOT TO GIVE ACCES TO THE REAR SEATS. IN DUING SO THE MIDDLE SEAT COULD SIT BACK IN THE PROPER POSITION WITHOUT LOCKING DOWN INTO THE FLOOR. IT WILL LOOK LIKE IT IS LOCKED BUT COULD NOT BE. SINCE THE ANCOR AND TETHER FOR THE LATCH CARSEAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT AND NOT TO THE FLOOR OR ROOF OR CAR. WHEN THE MIDDLE SEAT PIVOTS THE CARSEAT GO WITH IT. SO WHEN MY SON WAS STRAPPED INTO HIS CAR SEAT AND THE MIDDLE SEAT POVITTED DURING A STOP. MY SON WAS THRUSTED INTO THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. HIS FACE WAS CUT AND BADLY BRUISED DUE TO THE DRIVERS SEAT'S HARD PLASTIC BACK. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY DONT THEY HAVE THE LATCH SYSTEM ATTACHED TO THE CAR AND NOT THE SEAT AND WHY DOES THE MIDDLE SEATS SIT LIKE THEY ARE LOCKED DOWN EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT BE. I DID CONTACT DODGE THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
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
#10061684March 9, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING REAR RIGHT AUDIO SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A LARGE BURLAP BAG. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061732March 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
LEFT FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. IT SOUNDED LIKE METAL RUBBING AGAINST METAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061744March 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WAS HARD. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT SKIDDED, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A PART OF THE ABS MODULE NEEDED REPLACING. THE PART WAS NOT ON RECALL OR UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060705March 8, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:COMPRESSOR
WE PURCHASED A 2002 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT USED. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VAN AFTER GETTING SOME RECALL WORK DONE AT THE DEALER, I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDIONER AND THE MOTOR DIED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 70,000 MILES BECAUSE THE DRYER IN THOSE VANS IS KNOWN TO FAIL AND LOCK UP THE A/C COMPRESSOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS MORE THAT A PARTS ISSUE SINCE THE LOCKED COMPRESSOR KILLS THE MOTOR WHICH KILLS THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. DURING STOPPING OR IN AN INTERSECTION, THIS COULD BE QUITE HAZARDOUS. ALL THESE DRYERS AND POSSIBLY COMPRESSORS SHOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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