Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (2001)

298 consumer complaints on file.

#10019106May 22, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT APPROX. 59,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STARTED LURCHING AND SLAMMING WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEAR. AFTER ONLY 1 1/2 DAYS OF MINOR OCCURRENCES, BEFORE WE COULD HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. FORTUNATELY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO GEAR TO GET IT OUT OF THE STREET, BUT IT WOULD NOT GET INTO GEAR AT ALL AFTER THAT. WE HAD TO TOW IT. WE ARE NOW HAVING TO PAY $2000 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR FOR CARRYING OUR TWIN TODDLERS, AND THIS IS THE SECOND CHRYSLER VEHICLE WE HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE BEFORE 70,000 MILES. MY BEST FRIEND ALSO HAD TO GET RID OF A CHRYSLER LEBARON WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS, AND IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT IS SOLD TO CONSUMERS. IF WE HAD BOUGHT THIS VAN NEW INSTEAD OF 1 YEAR OLD, I WOULD BE FINDING A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020252May 21, 2003
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE FUNCTIONS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016835May 1, 2003
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2001. MY MODEL HAS THE SEATBELT STYLE OF GEN 3 ON ALL OF MY SEATS. WE WERE UNAWAREOF THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES BEING RAISED ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR SEATBELTS. WE BECAME AWARE FROM THE NEWS. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS MY 2 YEAR OLD HAS BEEN UNBUCKELING THIS VERY SENSITIVE TOUCH SEAT BELT. NOW I KNOW WHY THIS IS SO SENSITIVE. WE ALSO OWN A 1997 DODGE DAKOTA WITH THE SAME SEAT BELTS. I FEEL WITH AS MANY DEATHS RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR SEATBELT DAIMLERCHRYSLER NEEDS TO PROVIDE A RECALL ON ALL GEN 3 SEATBELTS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN UNDER 6 AND I WANT SOMETHING DONE!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017960May 1, 2003
SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLES SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK AND WOULD UNLATCH AT ANY TIME. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017897April 30, 2003
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS UNBUCKLED WHILE RESTRAINING A 2 YEAR OLD IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. BELTS ARE THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER GEN III MODEL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017918April 30, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED, THE LEFT SIGNAL CAME ON INSTEAD AND VICE VERSA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013629March 29, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES THAT HAS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS HAD GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AREA PRIOR TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT THE POWER STEERING WAS SO TIGHT I HAD TO FIGHT TO TURN LEFT ONTO MY STREET. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT EVEN WHEN THE ROAD DIDN'T. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE I HIT THE CURB. ON THE SECOND INCIDENT, AGAIN I WAS TURNING AT A SLOW SPEED, THIS TIME RIGHT, AND AGAIN HAD A LOCKUP OF POWER STEERING. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AGAIN. THIS TIME WITH FRIGHTENED PASSENGERS AS THEY WATCHED ME STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET US OUT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ON THE LAST INCIDENT, AGAIN FIGHTING TO TURN ONTO MY STREET, I DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO TURN INTO MY GARAGE. I PARKED ON THE STREET AND CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. I WANTED IT TO BE CHECKED OUT. I WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY WITH 44,716 MILES ON IT, BUT I TOOK IT AND THE DEALER STATED THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE AND MADE SEVERAL TURNS AND FOUND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME, SO I PICKED UP MY VAN AND I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST TO FIND AND I WOULDN'T HAVE INCONVENIENCED MYSELF 2 DAYS IF THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM. I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED MORE COMPLETELY. MANY PROBLEMS DON'T SHOW UP UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND PEOPLE IN THE REAL WORLD HAVE DRIVEN SOME MILES. UNDER REAL LIFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND ANY FLAWS. I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY GET HURT OR KILLED IF THE POWER STEERING UNPREDICTABLY CONTINUES TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10012421March 25, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL THE LIGHTS FLICKERED WHILE IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM AFFECTED ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011027March 25, 2003
SEATS
THE LOW-BACK BUCKET SEATS IN THE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ARE VERY HIGH AND TILTED (HIGHER AT THE KNEES THAN AT THE SPINE) TO THE POINT THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR AN AVERAGE-HEIGHT WOMAN TO REACH THE ACCELERATOR WITHOUT MOVING THE SEAT ALL THE WAY FORWARD. (AT WHICH POINT THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALMOST TOUCHING THE BODY, THE ELBOWS ARE PRESSED INTO THE SEAT BACK, AND THE KNEES HIT THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN BRAKING). WHEN THE SEAT IS AT A COMFORATABLE DISTANCE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, I CANNOT REST MY HEEL ON THE FLOOR, BUT HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY TOES ONLY. THE HIGH-BACK BUCKET SEATS I TESTED DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY WERE LOWER IN THE FRONT (PERHAPS OVERALL). THE SEAT IS SO HIGH THAT I (AT 5'3") MUST DUCK MY HEAD IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HITTING IT ON THE DOOR FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011959March 18, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED DUE TO THEM OVER HEATING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008173February 27, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
THE POWER STEERING STARTED MAKING NOISE WHEN OUR 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS AT ABOUT 50000 MILES. WE TOOK IT TO 2 PLACES AND BOTH SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING. WE HAD IT REPLACED BUT IT STILL MAKES NOISE, STILL SHUDDERS WHEN GOING LOW SPEEDS, ETC. WE NOTICED THAT SOMEONE ELSE ON YOUR WEBSITE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY CHRYSLER WOULDN'T FIX IT. WE AGREE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX IT! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009180February 24, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE REMOTE OR INTERIOR BUTTON WAS USED TO OPEN THE SLIDING ELECTRIC DOOR, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN INCOMPLETE OR POPPED OPEN AND THEN CLOSED IMMEDIATELY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001489January 13, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE, THE WIPER BLADE WAS OFF TRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH CAUSED A DEEP SCRATCH TO BECOME EMBEDDED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS DEFECT WAS REPAIRED. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE WIPERS STARTED TO HIT EACH OTHER ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WINDSHIELD, THEY WOULD BIND, GET STUCK AND LIFTED ABOUT 1/4 OF AN INCH. ONCE LOOSE THEY CONTINUED THEIR OPERATION. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WIPERS BINDING AGAIN AND THE POTENTIAL OF ANOTHER SCRATCHED WINDSHIELD. *JG *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000691January 2, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES WITH STOCK 17 INCH WHEELS. POWER STEERING GROANS AND VIBRATION IS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT REQUIRED NEW BRAKES (DUE TO MILLAGE BEING 42,205) AND BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO A REPAIR SHOP FOR THAT PURPOSE. BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO NOT NEED SERVICING YET. THEN BROUGHT CAR TO LOCAL DODGE DEALER (WHERE PURCHASED) FOR INVESTIGATION. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $60.00 TO TELL ME THAT IT HAS A TSB (19-001-02) ON THE POWER STEERING AND REFUSES TO COVER COST OF CORRECTION DUE TO CAR BEING 6,000 MILES OUT OF BASIC WARRANTY. I CLAIM THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AS DODGE WANTS TO REPLACE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND POWER STEERING RETURN LINE AS WELL AS CHANGE THE FLUID NORMALLY IN THE RESERVOIR FROM POWER STEERING TO ATF FLUID!!! I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CONSUMER LINE AND ONLY GOT THEM TO AGREE TO SPLIT THE COST (THEY PAY FOR PARTS AND I PAY FOR LABOR).THEY WERE NOT SYMPATHETIC AT ALL BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE BASIC WARRANTY WINDOW. CONSUMER LINE PERSON WENT ON TO SAY THAT IT WOULD BE MY FAULT IF POWER STEERING FAILED FOR NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER TO DO THE CORRECTIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND I WOULD GET A CALL WHEN THEY GET A CONFIRMATION FOR THE PARTS!. I FEEL THAT CHRYLSLER IS NOT ADMITTING TO A DESIGN DEFECT AND FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THEIR PROBLEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY IF THE POWER STEERING FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022805November 15, 2002
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE RACK AND PINION SNAP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766701September 4, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
THE ENGINE FAN COOLING SYSTEM HAS CREATED A CONSTANT VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT WITH BRACKETS, BUT IT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN TEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY BASICALLY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO OTHER FIXES FOR IT. THE VAN VIBRATES IN PARK, OR WHEN IDLING WITH THE BRAKE ON. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE AIR IS RUNNING. I WENT TO AN ARBITRATOR AND WAS TOLD EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES, THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY REPAIRED ONCE! THEY ONLY OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT NO COST TO ME. I JUST WANT THE VIBRATION TO STOP. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. AFTER SPENDING ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE, I WOULD LIKE A SMOOTH RIDE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016958August 22, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE DIES AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. ENGINE NEVER CAME ON BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMOVED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015982August 12, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL, HAVING EVERYTHING SHUTDOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015075July 30, 2002
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
REAR SEATS TRACKING AND ANCHOR SYSTEM WILL LOCK OR STICK, CAUSING SEATS TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER HAS SERVICED REAR SEATS ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, HOWEVER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM . TRACK WAS WEARING DOWN, UNABLE TO KEEP SEAT IN TRACK.*AK *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762844June 9, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR SOMETIMES ROLLS FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN IN GEAR AND RUNNING (IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE ENGAGED GEAR). FOR EXAMPLE, OUR DRIVEWAY SLOPES DOWNWARD, AWAY FROM THE STREET AND TOWARD OUR HOUSE, REQUIRING US TO BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY TO REACH THE STREET. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND PUT INTO REVERSE, IT SOMETIMES WILL ROLL FORWARD UNTIL THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. CONVERSELY, WHEN THE CAR IS IN FORWARD GEAR AND IS STOPPED (AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN) ON AN INCLINE WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAR BEING HIGHER THAN THE REAR, THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES ROLL BACKWARD UNTIL THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD US THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" AND THAT IF THE ENGINE RPM IS NOT AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, GRAVITY WILL PREVAIL OVER THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE THIS SEEMS NORMAL IF THE CAR HAD A STANDARD TRANSMISSION, THIS SEEMS QUITE ABNORMAL SINCE IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC. WHENEVER WE ARE ON AN INCLINE, I MUST KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND REV THE ENGINE PRIOR TO TAKING MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE OR RUN THE RISK THAT THE CAR WILL ROLL FORWARD INTO OUR SWIMMING POOL AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, OR BACKWARD INTO ANOTHER CAR WHILE IN TRAFFICE. IT'S LIKE DRIVING MY OLD VW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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