Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (2012)

584 consumer complaints on file.

#10583766April 20, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NO ACCELERATION WHEN GAS PEDAL PUSHED, RPMS RACED BUT NOT ABLE TO PROCEED. WARNING LIGHT INDICATING ELECTRONIC THROTTLE PROBLEM. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, SAT FOR 5 MINUTES. RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOLD THEM TO CALL ME WHEN IT WAS CORRECTED. FORTUNATELY, I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS MINIVAN DUE TO HAVING HUGE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE TECHNICIAN WHO TORE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE APART FOUND FIBER IN IT. THE RADIO WAS ALSO NOT WORKING BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A WIRE THAT CAME LOOSE. RADIO NOW WORKING AS WELL AS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. NO CHARGE BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. UPON READING OTHER ELECTRONIC THROTTLE PROBLEMS AT THIS SITE I FELT COMPELLED TO JOT DOWN MY EXPERIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578463April 9, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZE UP CAUSING EARLY DISK AND PAD DAMAGE. THE DEALER SAID THE CALIPERS ARE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT THE PADS OR DISKS. I HAVE THE MINIVAN SERVICED REGULARLY AND THE BRAKES WERE OK. THERE WAS A POP SOUND WHEN THE CALIPERS RELEASED, BUT THE PADS AND DISKS WERE BADLY DAMAGED. I NOW HAVE A $1000 BRAKE PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CALIPER THAT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR OR MY FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577640April 5, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
THE BRAKES CALIPERS/BRAKES ARE SEIZING UP, AFTER COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS, THIS PROBLEM RECURRED IN LESS THAN 5000 MILES, AT THE SAME TIME, THE AXLE BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND THE CAR BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577014April 3, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT 11:30 PM THE CAR ENGINE STARTED (THE KEYS WERE IN THE HOUSE),HORN WAS BLOWING, HEAD LIGHTS WERE ON, WIPERS GOING AT FULL SPEED FOUR WAY FLASHER GOING THERE WAS A RED GLOW UNDER THE CAR AND SMOKE WAS BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE CAR AND THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. WE WERE ABLE TO GET A KEY FROM THE FOB AND UNLOCK THE DOORS,AND UNLATCH THE HOOD SO WE COULD OPEN THE HOOD. ALL THE WIRES, ALTERNATOR, FUSE BOX AND BATTERY WERE CHERRY RED. USING SOME CLIPPERS WE WERE ABLE TO CUT THE BATTERY CABLE AND EVERY THING STOPPED WE COOLED THINGS DOWN WITH SOME SNOW.ALL THIS ONLY 3 FT. FROM OUR HOUSE DODGE ESTIMATED ABOUT $1800.00 TO FIX WHAT COULD BE SEEN AND MOST LIKELY MORE WOULD SHOW UP LATER. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL ON THIS CAR. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH DISABLED AND I NEED A VAN TO CARRY MY WHEEL CHAIR WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTOR,ETC.WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE CAR AND STILL MAKE PAYMENTS I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT THEY SAY IT IS OUR PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573994March 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING FROM ONE DESTINATION TO THE OTHER AND WHEN I GOT TO MY OTHER DESTINATION I SMELLED SMOKE. I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICE THE CIGARETTE PORT WHICH WAS EMPTY WAS SMOKING, I PULLED MY GERBER OUT AND PULLED THE PORT OUT AND THERE WAS A FIRE. I ALERTED A CO WORKER AND THEY GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WE MANAGED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. BUT CONSOLE IS COMPLETELY GONE. THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN 15 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566825March 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THERE IS A LOUD "THUD" WHEN IT IS PUT INTO ANY GEAR, AND YOU CAN EVEN FEEL IT. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION BOGS DOWN A LOT AND DOESN'T LIKE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING, IT'S VERY SLUGGISH. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE WE FIRST TRIED IT OUT. WE EVEN HAD IT REPROGRAMMED BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SERVICE BULLETIN, AND THAT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561284January 24, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE DODGE GRAND CARAVANS. I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 GRAND CARAVAN FROM A DEALERSHIP. ON JULY 31, 2013, QUIRK DEALERSHIP IN BRAINTREE, MA REPLACED REAR ROTORS ON THE VAN AT 17,000 MILES BECAUSE "REAR ROTORS WERE VERY MARKED UP AND HAD RUST RINGS." ON JANUARY 18, 2014, SAME DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT ROTORS WERE PITTED AGAIN AT 27,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $502.00 (OUT OF POCKET). WHEN I PROTESTED THAT MOPAR PARTS SHOULD NOT FAIL IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS, THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT "DODGES ARE KNOWN FOR THESE PROBLEMS." I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TOTAL RUN AROUND. CHRYSLER OFFERED ME $60.00 OFF THE PRICE OF THE BRAKE JOB BUT I DECLINED BECAUSE FACTORY PARTS SHOULD NOT FAIL SO QUICKLY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET (LEMON LAW BLOG, CAR COMPLAINTS, ETC.) AND FOUND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE FOR PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE IN 2006-2012 CARAVANS & TOWN AND COUNTRY'S. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS TRYING TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRING THIS KNOWN DEFECT BY PASSING THE COST ON TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS. A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED FOR THESE VEHICLES BASED ON PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE THAT CHRYSLER IS DELIBERATELY IGNORING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560806January 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I PURCHASED THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE 08/18/12 WITH APPROXIMATELY 17,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES, I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. NOW, AT 60,000 MILES, I'M BEING TOLD, ONCE AGAIN, THAT THE BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER OWNING MULTIPLE VEHICLES THROUGHOUT MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE (28 YEARS), I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED. EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THE MAJORITY OF DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY AND VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AS WELL, AND I WOULD IMAGINE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT YOU'VE SEEN REGARDING THIS ISSUE? I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE BRAKE WORK DONE AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES WAS DONE BY A FAMILY FRIEND WITH OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR INDUSTRY, DUE TO AN EXTREMELY HIGH ESTIMATE FROM THE SHOP I CURRENTLY USE. (IN EXCESS OF $650.00). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557827December 30, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IT'S NO GOOD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS BUT, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP ON PAYING A CAR NOTE FOR A CAR THAT IS GOING TO GIVE OUT AND ANY GIVING TIME. IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST LONG. I WANT A NEW CAR FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552774November 18, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WIFE WAS MERGING ON TO HIGHWAY AND THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS ALSO STUCK. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH AND WAS HITTING 5000 RPMS. SHE HAD TO STICK HER FOOT UNDER PEDAL TO LIFT IT AWAY FROM FLOOR AND GET THE CAR TO SLOW. THIS PROBLEM NEARLY RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AS IT WAS A BUSY TIME OF MORNING. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A DEALERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO BEING LOOKED AT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552465November 15, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
THE REAR BRAKES ON THE DODGE MINIVANS WERE DESIGNED POORLY. THE CALIPERS DO NOT RELEASE PROPERLY, AND THE CLEARANCE ON THE BRAKE PADS IS TOO TIGHT AND CAUSES THE PADS TO GET STUCK. LAST NIGHT WE HAD THE BRAKE HANG ON ONE OF THE REAR BRAKES AFTER USING THE PARKING BRAKE. THE PADS STAYED CLOSE TO THE CALIPER AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE ROTOR TO HEAT UP FROM THE EXCESSIVE FRICTION. PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED LAST WEEK, FULL BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT DONE AT DODGE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK. EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT, NOW CALIPER IS JAMMED. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS ARE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE 2008 - 2012 (AND SOME 2013+) MODEL GRAND CARAVANS DUE TO POORLY DESIGNED REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534816August 12, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524177July 10, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE
PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR RATTLES AS IF OPEN DEALER REPLACE DOOR PANEL DID NOT FIX SAID LEFT SIDE TAILLIGHT WAS CAUSE REPLACE IT DID NOT FIX SAID MANUFACTURER LEFT BRAKE CLIPS OFF BRAKE PADS REPLACE STILL RATTLES TOLD KNOW ITS MY IMAGINATION ALSO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS MASH GAS EASY TO MAINTAIN SPEED HAVE TO KEEP MASHING ALMOST TO FLOOR BEFORE ANY THING HAPPENS THEN IT DROPS DOWN INTO PASSING GEAR ALMOST MAKING YOU REAR END VEHICLE AHEAD OF YOU SOMETIMES ON TAKE OFF WILL START GOING THEN HESITATE CAUSING A POSSIBLE CRASH SITUATION DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED COMPUTER UPDATE THIS MADE IT WORST PUT TWO MORE UPDATE STILL NOT SHIFTING RIGHT HAVE MADE MANUFACTURER AWARE HAVE OPEN STAR CASE WITH THEM STILL CAN NOT GET PROBLEMS RESOLVE HAVE PARKED VAN AT 15685 MILES I FEEL THAT ITS UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE AN GRAND KIDS TO BE IN ! I HAVE SEVERAL MECH DRIVE IT THEY SAY SOMETHING WRONG ALSO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523266July 5, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED OPEN NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES WHERE THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520083June 17, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,419. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514327May 30, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE AND INTO DRIVE, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502120March 8, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND SHE HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FARTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493748January 22, 2013
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO KH25 TIRES, SIZE 235/60R/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT AND REAR TIRES FLATTENED WITHIN A WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE TIRES AND STATED THAT AIR WAS ESCAPING FROM THE SEAMS ON THE SIDES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER RETURN THE TIRES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A CREDIT. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE DOT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491567January 6, 2013
ENGINE
DRIVING IN A SMALL TOWN, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS. I AM A MEDICAL COURIER AND WE HAVE 4, MAYBE 5, GRAND CARAVANS OPERATING OUT OF OUR FACILITY. TWO HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEADS REPLACED, BOTH WITH THE PENTASTAR V-6. I HAVE THIS ENGINE IN MINE AS WELL . I WAS TOLD BY THE DRIVERS OF THOSE TO WATCH FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, AND LAST NIGHT IT DID. SO NOW, IT SEEMS I MAY BE NUMBER THREE. I WOULD CONSIDER MY DRIVING HABITS IN THE DODGE "EASY", PROBABLY 90% OF THE TIME I AM DRIVING RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATE. THE WORKDAY IS ABOUT 380 MILES DRIVEN. I DRIVE VERY LITTLE STOP AND GO. I CAN GET 90K MILES OUT OF ORIGINAL BRAKES AND TIRES. I DO USE A VARIETY OF BRANDS OF GAS, BUT I WOULD CONSIDER THEM ALL "BRAND NAME". WE SERVICE OUR VEHICLES AT PROPER INTERVALS, ALL CARAVANS ARE ORDERED TO THE SAME SPEC, BUT THIS CAN DIFFER SLIGHTLY WITH MODEL YEAR. WHILE SEARCHING THE NET, I'VE READ WHERE CHRYSLER IS QUIETLY REPLACING HEADS WITH PROBLEMS. ONE OF MY FELLOW COURIERS RECENTLY HAD THE HEAD WORK DONE AT 80K+ ON HIS DODGE. YOU CAN SEE I AM NOW AT A SIMILAR MILEAGE. OUR FLEET MAN TOLD ME THERE WAS NO INVOICE AND THE ENGINE WAS FIXED FOR FREE AT A CHRYSLER DEALER. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN- A CYLINDER HEAD SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACEMENT AT 80K+ ON A PROPERLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS BECAUSE CHRYSLER IS STATING THIS IS SOME SORT OF RARE (LESS THAN 1%) OCCURRENCE DUE TO AN ODD COMBINATION OF FACTORS, INCLUDING BAD FUEL. I BEG TO DIFFER AS WE HAVE HAD 2 PENTASTAR CARAVANS FIXED AT WORK, AND IT'S LIKELY MINE WILL BE NUMBER 3. THIS IS QUITE REMARKABLE, AND CAN'T BE DISCOUNTED AS SOME SORT OF FLUKE. IT'S NOT COINCIDENCE, IN MY VIEW. IT'S A FLAWED HEAD DESIGN, OR POOR MANUFACTURING. THERE SHOULD BE CORRECTION BEYOND THE FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485331November 20, 2012
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO POSITION THE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT UPRIGHT, THE HEAD REST SLAMMED DOWN AND INJURED A CHILD PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Grand Caravan