Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (2006)

286 consumer complaints on file.

#10378727January 26, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1. NORMAL USE 2. AUTOMATIC CLOSE/OPEN DOORS FAIL EVERY TIME THEY ARE USED. DOOR SLIDES OPEN FULLY, DOES NOT CATCH IN OPEN POSITION, THEN CLOSES ON YOU. THE FIRST TIME OR TWO OUR KIDS ALMOST GOT CAUGHT IN DOOR CLOSING. NOW OPEN MANUALLY ONLY. DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED FIRST AND NOW PASSENGER DOOR. 3. LOOKING FOR OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF MULTIPLE VISITS TO DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380243January 26, 2011
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, I HAVE HEARD A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE, NORMALLY AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MILES. WHEN I SLOW DOWN, THE WHINING LOWERS IN PITCH; WHEN I ACCELERATE, THE PITCH GOES UP. IN RECENT WEEKS, THE WHINING HAS GOTTEN LOUDER. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR UNDER TWO YEARS. IT HAS HANDLED WELL AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, AFTER SPENDING SEVEN HOURS, INFORMED ME THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LOW DUE TO A LEAK AND THAT THE STEERING RACK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1250 PLUS LABOR (IT WOULD BE AN ALL DAY JOB). THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT I WOULD SOON NEED A SERPENTINE BELT, WHICH WOULD COST $125 PLUS LABOR. UPON RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMMON IN 2006 GRAND CARAVAN MODELS BUT THAT DODGE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO RECALL THEM. I HAVE LOOKED AT PRICING OF THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THIS AND FIND THE RACK AVAILABLE FOR A TENTH OF THE PRICE THIS DEALERSHIP (SHELBY MOTORS IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS) WANTED TO CHARGE. I HAVE ALSO READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE SUCCESSFUL REMEDIES THAT WERE USED INSTEAD, INCLUDING REPLACING A FAULTY STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR. THE POWER STEERING HAS NOT WORKED ANY DIFFERENTLY THAT IT DID THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE PITCH IS NOT AFFECTED BY TURNING. I ALSO READ THAT THESE PARTS SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING IN A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF ANY LEAK ON MY GARAGE FLOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376602January 13, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:FRONT, VISIBILITY
BACK REAR WINDOW IMPLODED FOR THE SECOND TIME(FIRST TIME 2009, SECOND TIME 2010), NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR WHY THIS HAPPENS OTHER THAN IT WAS COLD AND SNOWY OUTSIDE SO THE WEATHER MUST HAVE CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR, (THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY) MY FAMILY WAS IN THE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO LEAVE SO I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT "NOTHING" WENT THRU THE WINDOW JUST A MAJOR DEFECT OF DODGE. NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VAN STARTING WHEN VAN HAD 5000 MILES, AIR BAG SENSOR ON, SLIDING DOORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, LOUD SOUND FROM ENGINE, TIE RODS NEED REPLACED FOR THIRD TIME, CONTROL ARM BROKE, LOCKS MAKE A WHINY SOUND, CHECK SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON TOLD 3 TIMES THAT WE NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS . REALLY AT 30,000 MILES. WE CHANGED THEM, LIGHT STILL ON TODAY. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF VAN NOW DEALER SATES THAT THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, EGV VALVE, VALVE GASKET, ALL NEEDS REPLACED AND THE LIGHT ON HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SPARK PLUGS, GO FIGURE. I HAVE SENT DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER LETTERS IN REGARDS TO MY SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS WOULD BE MY FOURTH TIME CALLING CHYRSLER ABOUT MAJOR ISSUES. THEY LACK CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NOTHING EVER DONE. WE PURCHASED NEW AND VAN IS NOW 5 YEARS OLD WITH SAME AND NEW PROBLEMS SINCE 5000 MILES, NOW HAS 77,000. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A DODGE VAN AGAIN!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374057January 4, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. UPON TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS, THEY OCCASIONALLY DON'T WORK. THEY INTERMITTENTLY FAIL COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT NOTICE OR PROVOCATION RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM CONCERNING OTHER YEARS OF THESE VEHICLES ON INTERNET FORUMS. THERE ARE NO KNOWN REASONS FOR THE PROBLEM. I'VE ASKED MY MECHANIC AND A DODGE DEALER AND THEY BOTH SAY IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374607January 4, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON THE 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT STOPPED THE CLOSING CYCLE WITHIN 6 INCHES OF BEING CLOSED. DUE TO THE CYCLE STOPPING, THE DOOR DID NOT REVERSE THUS TRAPPING A 3 YEAR OLD BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE FRAME. THE DRIVER HAD TO WALK AROUND THE VAN AND MANUALLY PUSH THE DOOR OPEN THE FREE THE CHILD. THE DOOR HAS NOT FULLY CLOSED USING THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR FEATURE SINCE THIS OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373575December 30, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING COMPLAINT FOR 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THERE IS A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS AND IS CONSTANTLY REPLACED. PREVIOUS REPAIRS HAVE INCLUDED A REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING FLUID, REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR, AND REPLACEMENT OF FILTER. THE PROBLEM IS FIXED FOR AN INTERMITTENT TIME AFTER EACH REPAIR AND THEN RETURNS. A SEARCH OF COMMON AUTOMOBILE FORUMS FOR "2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN POWER STEERING DEFECT" REVEALS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. IT IS NOTED THAT THE NORMAL RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SET. THIS IS HAPPENING ON VERY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES. MOST ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS APPEAR TO OCCUR ON VEHICLES BETWEEN 40,000 AND 60,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372028December 22, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT. SLIDING DOORS ARE INCONSISTENT WITH OPERATION AND CREATE CONCERN FOR A QUICK EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOORS EITHER WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE REMOTE KEY SET OR WILL NOT OPEN ENTIRELY WITH ANY OF THE DOOR RELEASE BUTTONS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS IMPACTED BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOORS. INABILITY TO OPEN THESE DOORS WITHOUT SUPPORT OF AN ADULT HAS CREATED CONCERN FOR A QUICK EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION FOR ALL PASSENGERS. TO OPEN THESE DOORS WITHOUT SUPPORT OF THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENING SYSTEM IS ALSO VERY HARD. THE DOORS ARE HEAVY AND OFTEN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HOLD THE (BLACK) RELEASE BUTTON DOWN TO OPEN THE DOOR(S). MY CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN DUE TO THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE BUTTON WHICH YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PUSH AND AUTOMATICALLY OPEN THE DOORS (FROM EITHER THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT OR THE BACK TWO REAR PASSENGER BUTTONS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL). FROM MY RESEARCH, OF THE DODGE MINI-VANS, I'M FINDING THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS RESEARCHED TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR SAFETY RECALL ACTION. IF A 9 YEAR OLD CHILD AND CHILDREN IN THEIR EARLY TEENS CANNOT OPEN THESE DOORS ON THEIR OWN, THIS PRESENTS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2006 AND 3 YEARS LATER, THE PROBLEM STARTED IMPACTING BOTH DOORS. I WILL ATTEMPT TO BRING THE MINIVAN INTO DODGE TO INSPECT BUT THE INFORMATION I'VE GATHERED HAS PROVEN INCONSISTENT OUTCOMES WITH DEALER REPAIRS AND EVEN MORE CONCERNING, AN INABILITY TO FIX THIS ISSUE ON A PERMANENT BASIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368000November 27, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MY 2006 GRAND CARAVAN DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY ALLOW THE SLIDING POWER DOOR ON BOTH SIDES CLOSE MORE THAN 1/2 OR 3/4 OF THE WAY. ADDITIONALLY, IF IT DOES CLOSE IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT CYCLE FULLY TO FULLY SECURE THE DOOR. AS A RESULT THE POWER MECHANISM WHICH SEALS THE DOOR WILL CYCLE OVER AND OVER UNTIL SOMEONE MANUALLY OPENS THE DOOR AND THEN PULLS IT SHUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364216November 5, 2010
SEATS
ON THE 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH REAR STOW N GO SEATING, A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT ON ONE OF THE BACK STOW N GO SEATS. THE SEAT APPEARED TO BE LOCKED INTO POSITION. HOWEVER, IN TRANSIT THE SEAT EXPLODED BACKWARDS WITH THE CHILD. THE CHILD HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE BACK DOOR. THE ENDING POSITION WAS THE TAILGATING POSITION WITH THE CHILD'S HEAD CAUGHT ON THE REAR DOOR. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10363413October 31, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 YRS. THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VAN HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. ABOUT 6 OF THOSE 10 TIMES THE PROBLEM WAS THAT I COULDN'T GET THE LIGHT TO TURN ON. THE OTHER TIMES, I COULDN'T GET THEM TO TURN OFF. WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING THE ONLY WAY TO SEE WAS TO MANUALLY HOLD THE LEVER TO TURN THE BRIGHTS ON AND DRIVE WITH ONE HAND ON THE WHEEL AND THE OTHER ON THE LEVER. AS FAR AS THE LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF, I HAD TO MANIPULATE THE SWITCH BY TURNING IT OFF AND ON AND PULLING IT OUT TO THE FOG LIGHT POSITION AS WELL AS BANG ON THE DASH TO GET THE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361468October 20, 2010
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2006 GC SXT 3.8 ENGINE, HAD WHINING IN POWER STEERING FROM COLD START DAILY FOR FIRST FEW MINS, THEN QUIET. AT 80,100 HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION, AT 117,500 HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP, HOSE AND RESEVOIR, AT 151,000 HAD TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WHAT'S NEXT? NEITHER POWER SLIDER WORKS, BOTH STOP ABOUT 6 INCHES FROM CLOSING, AND WILL NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY. SHOULD I KEEP GOING TIL 200,000 OR GET RID OF IT NOW? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360275October 13, 2010
STEERING
RACK AND PINION LEAKING ON MY 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN I ALREADY HAD A TIE BAR REPLACED AND NOW THE R&P IS LEAKING WHICH WILL COST $500 TO 1000 TO GET IT FIXED AS PER QUOTES FROM SEVERAL SHOPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357458September 25, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AUTOMATIC PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR SHUT COMPLETELY WITH EITHER BUTTONS OR FOB. WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED MANUALLY THE DOOR CYCLES TO "PULL" ITSELF SHUT. MY CHILDREN NOTICED THIS ALSO STARTING ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR AS WELL. WE BELIEVE A WIRE IN THE PLASTIC BLACK CASING HAS SHORTED OR BEEN SEVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356204September 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ALL OF SUDDEN DID NOT START. THE FAILURE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE A COMPUTER THAT WAS PUT ON BY DODGE AND CHRYSLER ,THAT IS MALFUNCTION ON ITS VEHICLE.THE PRICE TO REPLACE THIS COMPUTER IS AROUND 700.00. IT HAS ALSO FAILED IN THE TOWN AND COUNTRY MINI VAN AND THE DODGE DURANGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350758August 20, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V008000- AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE) YET HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,946. UPDATED 12/30/10*LJ UPDATED 04/06/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347228August 4, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR LOCK FAILURE ON 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. SLIDING DOOR IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY OR WITH ELETRONIC BUTTONS. BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF A CHILD OR PASSENGER IS IN THE BACK OF VAN AND YOU COULD NOT GET THE DOOR OPEN TO GET CHILD OR PEOPLE OUT IF AN ACCIDENT WAS TO HAPPEN!!! VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I CANNOT AFFORD AN $100 CHARGE TO A DEALERSHIP JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345980July 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SOMETIMES MY HEADLIGHTS TURN ON SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THE SWITCH IS FINE AND THE FUSES ARE GOOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345415July 26, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN REAR ENDED A CAR PARKED AT THE STOP LIGHT. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES BECAUSE HER HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CRASH WAS ALMOST STRAIGHT ON. IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THERE WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ANY INJURIES LIKE SHE IS SUFFERING NOW. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE VAN, IT IS THE SAME AS WHEN WE BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10343746July 17, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343349July 14, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
POWER DOORS AND LOCKS NOT WORKING ON 2006 DODGE CARAVAN. AUTOMATIC QUIT WORKING A YEAR AGO HAD A VERY HARD TIME EVEN GETTING DOOR CLOSED.. THEY ARE VERY HEAVY OR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE MANUALLY. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T UNLOCK TO EVEN OPEN MANUALLY FROM THE OUTSIDE AND CANNOT OPEN THEM MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE --A REAL PAIN. BOUGHT THIS VAN OFF SHOW ROOM FLOOR FOR ALL THE FEATURES --NOW CAN'T EVEN GET MY GRANDKIDS IN AND OUT WHEN TAKING THEM SOMEWHERE. AND OF COURSE WARRANTY WAS JUST OFF WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. HAVE FOUGHT WITH THIS OVER A YEAR NOW-CAN HARDLY AFFORD THE PAYMENTS LET ALONE REPAIRS...VERY DISSATISFIED! WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE VAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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