Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1990)

55 consumer complaints on file.

#10229439June 1, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR KIND OF SPUTTERED AND THEN CONTINUALLY RUNNING GOOD. AS IF IT ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS SHORT ON GAS. HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. ONCE IN WISC., LUCKILY ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. AGAIN IN ARKANSAS, HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT ON A SUNDAY. STILL HAD PROBLEMS. WOULD RUN A FEW BLOCK AND DIE. ABOUT 4-5 TIMES. WAITED UNTIL MONDAY WHEN DODGE DEALERSHIP OPENED, TOOK IT TO THEM. THEY SAID A WIRE RUNNING TO THE FUEL PUMP RAN OVER THE TRANSMISSION, WOULD RUB AGAINST IT RUBBING IT BARE AND SHORT OUT THE FUEL PUMP. THIS EVENT HAPPENED OUT IN THE BOONDOCKS ABOUT 15-20 MILES. CELL PHONE DIED, FORTUNATELY A STATE PATROL/ SHERIFFS CAR HAPPENED BY AND WAS ABLE TO GET US A TOW TRUCK. THIS WAS ON A SATURDAY LATE DAY. WAS TOWED INTO THE NEAREST TOWN WHERE WAS ABLE TO GET A FUEL PUMP FROM A JOBBER ON SUNDAY, HAD AN INDEPENDENTS MECHANIC INSTALL IT, BUT STILL CAR WOULD NOT RUN RIGHT. ON MONDAY HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRE LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH WAS RUBBED BARE AND SHORTING OUT. THEY SAID A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED TO CUT THE WIRE, SHORTENED IT, SPLICE IT BACK TOGETHER AND TAPE IT UP AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION SO I DOESN'T OCCUR AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE A VEHICLE RECALL I BELIEVE. IN THE FAR SOUTH IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE, A NUISANCE IN THE FRIGID NORTHLAND IT IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN AT 20 BELOW ZERO WITH A 20 MPH WIND BLOWING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY DIES. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON A VACATION IN THE SOUTH AND NOT IN MY NATIVE NORTHLAND. AND I DO SILL HAVE THE FUEL PUMP I REPLACED WHILE I WAS IN ARKANSAS. IT WOULD BE NICE IF INFORMATION SITE AS THIS WERE MADE MORE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 5-6 YEARS AGO THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 3-27-04 I DIDN'T REPORT THIS TO ANY AGENCY BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO REPORT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228212May 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DROPPED ALL BUT 2ND AND 1ST GEAR WAS TOLD AT TRANSMISSION SHOP IT IS KNOW TO DO THAT... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180665January 24, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
FUEL RAIL FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE VAN. I STARTED TO SMELL RAW GASOLINE IN THE CLOSED CABIN, I WAS ABOUT TO PASS MY MECHANICS SHOP, SO I PULLED IN TO SEE WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM. MY MECHANIC AND I WERE BOTH SURPRISED TO SEE THE FUEL RAIL HAD FAILED IN TWO PLACES, AT THE SAME TIME!!!, CAUSING THE RAW GASOLINE TO BE SPRAYED ALL OVER THE HOT ENGINE, (3.3L). I AM SURPRISED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ALREADY ARE HERE ON THIS DATA BASE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, AND REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT THERE WAS NOT!!! THE NEW FUEL RAIL IS $302.00 PLUS TAX, PLUS MY MECHANIC NEEDS 1.9 HOURS OF SHOP TIME TO INSTALL IT, (AT $75.00/HR) PLUS TAX, PLUS A UPPER PLENUM GASKET SET, ($30.00). THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO OVER $500.00, HEAVEN FORBID IF MY VAN HAD ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND I LOST EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING THAT I HAD IN OUR FAMILY VAN! I HAVE ALWAYS HAD GREAT MAINTENANCE DONE AND HAVE ALL OF THE RECORDS. THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH ABUSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT IS JUST A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, PERIOD. I HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER MUCH NEWER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT IT HAS 6 RECALLS ON IT !!!!!!! I AM GOING TO SELL BOTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND GET ME ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS VAN, OR TRUCK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009324February 25, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THE FUEL INJECTION LEAKED FUEL IN TWO POSITIONS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769946November 20, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM TRANSMISSION SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE "LURCHING" MOTION MADE BY THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND REPEATEDLY. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NORMAL AND REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. IN OCTOBER 1991 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE WE WERE IN TENNESSEE AND WITNESSED BY THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN SIEVERVILLE, TN. UPON RETURN TO FLORIDA. THE DODGE DEALER IN CORAL SPRINGS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. (OR SO WE WERE TOLD) THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WORKED FOR 5 YEARS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1996. THAT TRANSMISSION WAS A PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. WHILE IN WASH. DC IN JULY 1997, THE CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT. THE ENGINE KEPT RACING AND ONLY STOPED WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR. THE DODGE DEALER IN WDC SAID THAT BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE WE CLEARED THE COMPUTER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE THIRD TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED AND NOW I HAVE HAD TO HAVE TWO REPAIRS ON THE FOURTH TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE LURCHES AND JERKS SUGGESTING THAT THERE ARE MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR CAR. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764695July 24, 2002
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
THREADED COMPOSITE BLOCK FAILED ON CAR JACK WHILE JACKING UP RIGHT FRONT PORTION OF MINI VAN WHILE OPERATOR WAS SERVICING RIGHT FRONT TIRE. DEFECT CAUSED COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE FAILURE OF JACK AND CAR FALLING TO GARAGE FLOOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760001March 30, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING. MECH SAID THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS-COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE.VEHICLE TOO OLD FOR RECENT RECALL, WHICH COVERS VEHICLES FROM 1995-2000, BUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.PAID $630.76 ON 1/13/01 FOR NEW FUEL RAIL AND O-RINGS. MECH SAID TODAY (3/30/02) THAT MY CAR HAD SAME PROBLEM THAT HE HAD RECENTLY FIXED ON RECALLED VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#884343March 27, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALONG AND RIGHT SIDE BACK PUSHED OUT WINDOW AND SHATTERED IT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING WAS RUNNING AT TIME. DEALERS HAD NO RESPONSE TO HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9001978March 14, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MINI VAN NEEDS FIFTH TRANSMISSION. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON 10/25/91.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733658October 7, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A604 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHIN 3000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. COMPLETELY REBUILT IN OCT., 1997. MILEAGE AT FAILURE, APPROX. 82,000. PRIOR HISTORY UNKNOWN. TRANSMISSION AGAIN FAILED AT A LITTLE OVER 122,000 MILES. AGAIN, COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. SPOKE WITH MANAGER OF TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO INFORMED ME OF COUNTLESS FAILURES OF THIS TRANSMISSION TYPE, AND THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS GOOD FOR HIS BUSINESS, HE KNEW OF MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS WITHIN THE A604, AND ITS SUCCESSOR, A606. IN FACT, HE HAD THREE OTHER VEHICLES, WITH MILEAGES RANGING FROM 32,000 TO 65,000, ALL WITH THE SAME FAILURES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD THE HALF-AXLES REPLACED, THREE TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS TRANSMISSION ON THE INTERNET, IT IS READILY APPARENT THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE HAS A FUNDAMENTAL, KNOWN LATENT DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SPENT MORE ON THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULS ($3000) AND THE HALF-AXLES ($1000) THAN I PAID FOR THE VAN. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT NHTSA AGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE ISSUE OF THIS EXPENSIVE, RECURRING TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN DESIGN FLAWS AND THEIR CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WITH THE MANUFACTURER. INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH DEALERS AND THE CHRYSLER CORP. ARE FRUSTRATING AND POINTLESS. THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A SERIOUS, MULTI-YEAR PROBLEM, AND INDIVIDUALS BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS COSTLY MISTAKE ON THEIR PART. PLEASE NOTE: CHRYSLER'S OVERHAUL KIT FOR THIS TRANSMISSION DOES NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW; IT ONLY PROLONGS THE ISSUE! CHRYSLER CORP., AND ITS DEALERS' ATTITUDE TOWARD ITS CUSTOMERS WITH REGARD TO THIS ISSUE IS BLATANTLY UNFAIR, CRASS, AND AS OF THIS DATE, FULL OF LIES AND DENIALS OF THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724520June 25, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE DOOR HAS FALLEN OUT OF ITS' TRACK. MECHANICS AT MY SHOP CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO DO THIS. SUGGESTED I CONTACT DODGE TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OR IF IT IS JUST AN ANOMOLY OF MY VAN. THEY CAN'T EVEN TELL IF SOMETHING IS WORN OUT AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720846March 31, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP AFTER STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WENT IN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND OUR MECHANIC HAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS QUITE A WAITING LIST FOR THE CASE BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH INTERNAL CRACKS ON THIS CASE. MOST MECHANICS DON'T EVEN WANT TO WORK ON THEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT THEY WORK ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS MORE THAN ANY OTHERS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720329March 19, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 66,000 MILES. I AM THE THIRD OWNER. I WAS TOLD THAT DODGE WAS HAVING TROUBLE, BUT FIGURED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A VERSION # 6 SOLENOID & COMPUTER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I UPDATE TO A VERSION # 10. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $ 1,900. I AM JUST FINDING OUT THAT DODGE IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS 1990 TRANSMISSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. LEROY J. HERSH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#541400March 15, 2000
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
A FAULTY ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE MINIVAN TO SHUDDER/VIBRATE AND LOOSE ALL GEARS WHILE DRIVING. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551400March 15, 2000
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
A FAULTY ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE CONSUMER VEHICLE TO SHUDDER/VIBRATE AND LOOSE ALL TRANSMISSION GEARS WHILE DRIVING. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858282March 10, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO A LOW GEAR AND HAD TO BE RESET BY RESTARTING VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551075February 24, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
RADIATOR LEAKED. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716395December 24, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL RAIL HAS TWO METAL/METAL JOINTS THAT SPRAY GAS ON THE THE ENGINE WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. AFTER THE METAL TUBE FITTING WARMS UP THE LEAK STOPS. THE FUEL RAIL HAS TO BE REPLACED EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS. THE ONLY DETECTION IS WHEN GAS SPRAYS ON THE ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714002October 28, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WENT INTO "LIMP IN" MODE(2ND GEAR ONLY) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST AT THAT TIME. NOW, THIS TIME I PAID FOR THE REPAIR SINCE I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY IN EFFECT. WHAT, IF ANY, IS MY NEXT STEP TO RECOVERING SOME OF MY REPAIR EXPENSE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#850933October 15, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT HOSE THAT DIRECTS TRANSMISSION FLUID FLOW WENT OUT, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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