Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (2002)

290 consumer complaints on file.

#10153065March 17, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED DOWN HILL THE MANUAL SLIDING DOORS SLAMMED SHUT. THE DOOR GOES INTO THE LOCK POSITION BUT, THE PLASTIC MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE DOOR LOCKED HAS A CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR TO SLAM SHUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10152231March 8, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE MY BRAKES LOOKED AT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NEED REPLACED AND I AGREED TO THE SERVICE. I MENTIONED TO THEM THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKE BUT WENT OUT ABRUPTLY AFTER THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THEY WENT AND CHECKED THE BRAKES CAREFULLY AND FOUND NOT ONE BUT TWO BRAKE CALIPERS WERE EITHER CRUSHED IN PIECES OR BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS AROUND 45,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD BY THIS SHOP AND THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I CALLED THEM THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. I WAS GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AND WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN TO THE REMAINING TWO CALIPERS. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON IT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM THIS WENT BEYOND A "WARRANTY" ISSUE INTO A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PART WAS NOT WORE OUT, IT WAS DEFECTIVE (NOT ONE BUT TWO OF THEM) AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151181February 25, 2006
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT
ACCIDENT, GRAND CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. VAN FLIPPED, EXTENSIVE FRONT END, FRAME, SIDE, ROOF, ETC, DAMAGE. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NOR DID THE SIDE AIR BAGS. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS, INCLUDING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, INDICATE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME DISENGAGED DURING THE ACCIDENT (AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BELT TANG AND ANCHORAGE BUCKLE).*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10150457February 16, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEAD LIGHT-INTERIOR FLICKERING TO WHICH THE DEALER CANNOT SOLVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149265February 2, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH THE VAN DOWN SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR WITH A JOLT. FOLLOWING THE OWNERS MANUAL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE MINI VAN IN PARK. RESTARTED THE VAN PUT IT IN GEAR AND STARTED TO MOVE AND HEARD AND FELT THE TRANSMISSION GRINDING. CALLED A TOW TRUCK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149234February 1, 2006
AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT HAD ABOUT 32000 MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 40000 MILES THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AND THEN GO OFF ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. AT ABOUT 41500 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON MOST OF THE TIME. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE DIAGNOSIS COST $88.00. THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT PART COST ABOUT $10.00. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE PART COST ABOUT $213.00. TOTAL COST ABOUT $310. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM IN THE CHRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SYSTEM, BECAUSE THE PART CARRIED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2002-2006 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS NOT A WEAR ITEM, BUT INSTEAD IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM AND/OR IT'S CONNECTORS. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OF GOOD QUALITY AND EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT ARE RELIABLE AND WELL CONSTRUCTED. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148083January 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION JERKED THE VEHICLE AS IF IT WERE STALLING. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED, ALTHOUGH REGULARLY SERVICED, DUE TO AN UNKNOWN INTERNAL PROBLEM, NOT IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *NM UPDATED 2/28/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147428January 11, 2006
AIR BAGS
CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WOUND INCORRECTLY IN AIR BAG AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO RECTIFY THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE IN THE AUTOMOBILE. THEREFORE, I WAS CHARGED NEARLY $200 TO REPAIR THEIR FAILURE TO PROVIDE A SAFE CAR. THE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE YEARS 1995-2000 WERE ALL RECALLED FOR THIS SAFETY FAILURE, IT SEEMS THEY NEVER ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS STILL CONTINUING IN MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146645December 31, 2005
STEERING
POWER STEERING WAS LOCKING IN COLD WEATHER DURING INITIAL START UP. FIRST REPORTED 4/05, DEALER STATED IT WAS CAUSED BY PROBLEM WITH HOSES WHICH HAVE A RECALL, RECALL PERFORMED, AND VEHICLE RETURNED. (NOT FIXED), RETURNED VEHICLE AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM STILL AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP *DUE TO LOW PRESSURE". I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, SINE THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED IN COLD WEATHER THROUGH THE SUMMER IT WAS FINE UNTIL EARLY DECEMBER AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE, THIS TIME IT WAS ALSO HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER "OF COURSE IT WAS NOW OUT OF MANUFACTURE WARRANTY", HOWEVER DEALER AGREED TO FIX PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD PRIOR HISTORY. THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM BY SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC THE DAY I BROUGHT IT IN, HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THEY HAD MY VAN FOR 3 WEEKS, DURING THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH IT BUT WERE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. I EVEN TRIED TO GET CHRYSLER INVOLVED AND THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK EVEN THOUGH I LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES AND WAS PROMISED A CALL BACK. FINALLY THE DEALER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT STEERING RACK. I GOT IT BACK, IT WAS FINE FOR 4 DAYS AND PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND WOULD LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO WAS HANDLING MY CASE. IT HAS NOW BEEN 4 DAYS AND NO RETURN CALL. MEANTIME IM DRIVING AROUND AND UNSAFE CAR, PAYING OVER $600.00 A MONTH. IM VERY UPSET THERE ISN'T MORE THAT CAN BE DONE AGAINST THESE COMPANIES PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146036December 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 69,500 MILES. TRANSMISSION MADE A JERKING AND DID NOT WANT TO SEEM TO SHIFT. TOOK TO DODGE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THEY ALLOWED SERVICE MAN TO DRIVE HOME AND DROVE APPROX. 100 MILES. THEY CONCLUDED NO PROBLEM THEY COULD FIND. 3 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING SAME SYMPTOMS AND THEN LOUD CLUNK BUT THIS TIME WAS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CALLED DODGE 800# TO OBTAIN WARRANTY INFO. DODGE INFORMED ME IT WAS IN WARRANTY. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND SET UP APPOINTMENT TO FIX. THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID DODGE WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT. I THEN CALLED DODGE 800# BACK AND TALK TO THEM. I ASKED WHY LESS THAN 2HR AGO MY VAN HAD A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY ON IT AND NOW IT DOES NOT HAVE A WARRANTY. THEY INFORMED ME THE VAN DID NOT HAVE A WARRANTY AND THAT I HAD NEVER CALLED THEM (THEY RECORD AND COMPUTER SHOWS IF YOU CALL, BUT DODGE CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO RECORD I CALLED). I INFORMED THEM I CALLED THEM LESS THAN 2HR BEFORE AND THEY REPLIED I WAS MISTAKEN. MY PHONE RECORDS INDICATE DIFFERENT THAN THEIRS. ANY WAY THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED. TOOK TO LOCAL TRANS SHOP AND FOUND HE HAD TWO OTHER CARAVANS WITH COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAITING IN LINE TO BE FIXED. THE SHOP OWNER SAID HE HAS FIXED MANY MANY OF THESE TYPE TRANSMISSIONS. HE SAID IN HIS OPINION THAT THESE WERE VERY POOR PERFORMING TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT THEIR TRACK RECORD OF FAILURES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145535December 18, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
POWER STEERING PUMP MAKING LOAD NOISES AGAIN. HAD HOSES REPLACED DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144061November 30, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V386000 REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS THERE HAS BEEN A SHUDDER IN THE STEERING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144301November 29, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO MOVE THE LEVER A FEW TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM SHE WAS EXPERIENCING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED IN THE 2 WEEKS THE MECHANIC HAD THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO ONE SIDE AND VIBRATED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. THE EMISSION HOSE AND GAS CAP WERE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STAYING SHUT. THE OIL PAN GASKET AND AXLE SEAL WERE LEAKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142042November 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. TURNED ON THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO GET HOME. DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141434November 1, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. THIS APPEARED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 02V293000 FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT NOT FOR THE MODEL YEAR. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - THE HEADLAMPS CUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FCM WAS REPLACED BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH FLICKERING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131557August 30, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
DT: CALLER STATED A METAL STRAP RUSTED AND CAUSED THE HEATER HOSE RUST. CALLER SAID HE NOTICED A LEAK AND FOUND THE RUSTED HOSE AND STRAP. CALLER HAD IT REPAIRED UNTIL HE COULD GET HOME TO LET DEALER SEE IT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134582August 29, 2005
SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT
WE'VE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MIDDLE ROW INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS. SEVERAL TIMES, THE TENSIONER ON THE SEAT WOULD NOT WORK, AND I HAD TO POP THE END OF THE SEAT BACK COVER OFF TO ACCESS THE MECHANISM TO FREE WHAT THE BELT WAS CAUGHT ON. I DIDN'T COMPLETELY REMOVE THE COVER SO I COULD SEE EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE BUCKLE WILL NOT SECURE THE BELT PLATE. IT WILL SECURE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND WE'VE RECENTLY NOTICED THAT IT WORKS BETTER IF WE LATCH A PARTICULAR SIDE FIRST, THEN THE OTHER SIDE (5 POINT HARNESS). I DON'T KNOW IF THE MECHANISM STICKS OR IF FOOD OR SOMETHING GOT FORCED INSIDE. THESE HAVE BOTH BEEN RECURRING PROBLEMS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129739July 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE BACK END OF THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING DROPPED. CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS EN ROUTE TO AN EVENT WHEN THE PARKING LOT ATTENDANT THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT BECAUSE THE WAY THE CAR WAS PULLING IN A JERKING MOTION. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION FLUID AT THAT TIME. LATER THAT EVENING THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AAA CAME AND TOWED VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP BUT WAS LATER TOWED VEHICLE TO A SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AS OF YET. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. CONSUMER CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHRYSLER, WHO INQUIRED IF SHE NEEDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND THEN BEING ON HOLD THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129622July 21, 2005
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR IN 2004 RESULTED IN NO PROBLEM FOUND, BUT THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM PERSISTED. SECOND ATTEMPT AT REPAIR SHOWED A BAD CLOCK-SPRING FOR THE AIRBAG THAT COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE TO OPERATE PROPERLY DURING A COLLISION (ESPECIALLY IF THE CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ACTIVE). OTHER MODELS OF DODGE PRODUCTS HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE 200 GRAND CARAVAN EX (NOTE THAT MY VEHICLE IS HIGH MILAGE WITH OVER 50K MILES).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128865July 15, 2005
EQUIPMENT
THE AIR CONDITIONER FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. ALL OF THE USUAL ITEMS WERE CHECKED, I.E. COMPRESSOR AND LINES CHECKED FOR LEAKS, SYSTEM CHARGED. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE PART THAT THEY NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS, IN HIS WORDS, "ON DOUBLE SECRET BACK ORDER". HE SAID THAT THE STAR MASTER TECHS AT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WILL NOT RELEASE THE PART YET BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT DONE CHECKING IT OUT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THEM. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS A STACK OF WORK ORDERS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM, ALL WAITING FOR THE A/C CONTROL MODULE (WHICH IS THE PART NEEDED APPARENTLY). NORMALLY IT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT MY WIFE DRIVES THE GRAND CARAVAN AND NORMALLY HAS OUR SONS IN THE CAR AND THE TEMPERATURES LATELY HAVE BEEN VERY HIGH CAUSING UNDUE STRESS ON HER AND THE CHILDREN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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