Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1996)

1,157 consumer complaints on file.

#740811February 13, 2001
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
SLOW DRIVING 25MPH THRU 1-4" STANDING WATER CAUSES STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE & HARD TO TURN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740845February 13, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WE PURCHASED A USED 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN DECEMBER OF 1997. IT HAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE. DURING COLD WEATHER, OCCASIONALLY THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING. SOMETIMES FAILURES OCCUR EVERY FEW DAYS; SOMETIMES THEY ARE MORE THAN A MONTH A PART. FAILURES OCCUR FOLLOWING A COLD START AS THE ENGINES GETS CLOSE TO OR REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THE FAILURE USUALLY HAPPENS FROM 9 TO 31 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. FAILURES OCCUR WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE IS BELOW ABOUT 400F. FAILURES MOST COMMONLY OCCUR WHEN THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE THAT IS WARMER THAN THE AMBIENT OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE. THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE AT A STOP, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. SOMETIMES IT RECOVERS AND SOMETIMES IT MUST BE MANUALLY RESTARTED. IT APPEARS THAT IF THE THROTTLE IS CLOSED, THE ENGINE MUST BE RESTARTED MANUALLY AND IF THE THROTTLE IS OPEN, THE ENGINE RECOVERS. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPS RAPIDLY TOWARD ZERO. IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SCHAUMBURG DODGE HAS MADE AT LEAST SEVEN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740775February 12, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
HYDRAULIC PROPORTIONING VALVE LEAKING, RESULTING IN LITTLE TO NO BRAKING CAPACITY. DODGE DEALER IN HOUGHTON, MI SAID HE HAS RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE 4 OR 5 PROPORTIONING VALVE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740754February 11, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE PIN FELL OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AND POKED HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION, RUINING IT. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE REFERRED TO IS THE COST OF A NEW TRANSIMISSION. IT IS LIKELY THIS ONE CANNOT EVEN BE REBUILT, WHICH MEANS IT WILL COST ANOTHER $500 TO FIX IT. SINCE THIS HAPPENED I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE THAT CHRYSLER HAS LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS AND I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL STORIES OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM, INCLUDING A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT TO NHTSA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740674February 9, 2001
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE AIRBAG, HORN, & CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. TOOK TO DEALER - TOLD CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED. WILL COST ABOUT $400 TO FIX. WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT. WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE FROM CHRYSLER. THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR FOR A FAMILY OF SIX. UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740623February 8, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AS EXPLAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT TRANSMISSION BEARINGS WEAR UNTIL DIFFERENTIAL PIN IS EJECTED AND DAMAGES HOUSING. BEGAN WITH CLICKING NOISE (PIN), THEN ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT. PROBLEM FULLY ANTICIPATED AT TIME OF PURCHASE DUE TO COMMON KNOWLEDGE PROVIDED BY OTHER CARAVAN OWNER'S THAT WE KNOW. REASON WHY WE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR APPROXIMATELY $1000. STUCK WITH DODGE AS THEY WERE ONLY ONES ON MARKET WITH DOUBLE SLIDING DOORS AT THE TIME. WE NEEDED THIS FEATURE DUE TO BACK INJURY PREVENTION ISSUES. TRANNIE REPLACEMENT TOOK OVER A WEEK AND COST $2208 (WE PAID THE $50 DEDUCTABLE ON OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY). DEALER REPS EXPLAINED THAT DUE TO POOR TRANNIE DESIGN, THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF REPLACEMENT TRANNY ORDERS NATIONWIDE. WHEN ASKED IF CHRYSLER HAD ENGINEERED THE PROBLEM OUT OF THEIR TRANNIES. THE ANSWER WAS NO. WHY SHOULD THEY, THEY MAKE LOTS OF MONEY ON THIS PROBLEM AS IT ALMOST ALWAYS OCCURS AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES AND OWNERS ARE FORCED TO PAY. I NOTICED THAT OTHER COMPLAINANTS LIST UNEXPLAINED CRACKED TRANNIES. MORE THAN LIKELY THIS DAMAGE IS SAME ENGINEERING DEFECT AND EJECTION OF THE PIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740509February 6, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TWO ISSUES TO DISCUSS. FIRST WINDSHIELD WIPERS APPEAR TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY ON INSTRUCTIONS WHEN ON INTERMITTMENT SETTING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR WHERE THEY WILL STOP. SECOND ISSUE IS THE TENSIONER AND WATER PUMP WITHIN THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM EACH TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879828February 5, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. MECHANIC FOUND ENGINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740473February 5, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
350 MILES AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM TILLERY CHEVROLET THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO OUT. TILLERY CHEVROLET HAS OFFERED TO COVER 50% LIKE THE CONTRACT COVERS BUT I BELIEVE THAT DODGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% BECAUSE OF THE MANY 4 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS THAT FAIL AT ABOUT 50K MILES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE CHRYSLER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE ($1200) REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879676February 2, 2001
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
CHILD SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACK WHILE CHILD WAS LOCKED IN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INOFRMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879120January 26, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ONLY GOES INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS WHICH PREVENT VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING OVER 40 MPH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879040January 25, 2001
AIR BAGS
PE00-032, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739892January 24, 2001
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
DIFFERENTIAL PIN BROKE OFF AND SHATTERED THE TRANSMISSION CASING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739847January 23, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN AUGUST OF 1998. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO "MACK DODGE" ON 8/31/98 , DEALER REPLACED MALFUNCTIONING "MULTI SWITCH" PART NUMBER CMC 05012382AA. I NOTICED WIPERS PERFORMING INCORRECTLY IN NOVEMBER, 2000. I SPOKE TO A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MACK DODGE AND WAS TOLD THE PRIOR REPAIR WAS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. ON JANUARY 21, 2001 I WAS DRIVING THE VAN WITH MY FAMILY IN THE RAIN AND THE WIPERS STOPPED. I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE SWITCH TO GET THEM TO RESUME WORKING. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION , WHICH WAS NEVER CORRECTED PROPERLY WHILE THE VAN WAS COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR/ 36,000 MI. WARRANTY. MACK DODGE IS LOCATED ON ROUTE 37 EAST, TOMS RIVER, N.J. PHONE: 732-349-7474 . THANK YOU FOR RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISING ME OF MY OPTIONS IN HAVING THIS RESOLVED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878736January 22, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 18 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING, JUST QUIT WORKING. WHEN LIFTED UP BY TOW TRUCK COULD SEE PART OF TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739563January 17, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS AND THEN THE VEHICLE DIES. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE FIRST GEAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF FIRST GEAR IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING. HOWEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO DOWN SHIFT WHEN IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO FIRST GEAR IT BEGINS TO JERK, HESITATE AND THEN THE ENGINE DIES. THIS PROBLEM ALSO EXISTS IN REVERSE, OVERDRIVE, THIRD GEAR & LOW GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 26000 MILES. I SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION EVERY 25000 MILES THEREAFTER. WITH ONLY 58000 ON THE "NEW" TRANSMISSION THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND FRONT PUMP HAVE FALLEN APART. IS THERE ANYTHING ON THIS VEHICLE THAT IS NOT A PIECE OF JUNK? OTHER PARTS REPLACED ARE AS FOLLOWS: WATER PUMP, BOTH FRONT DOOR SEALS, TURN SIGNAL ARM, DRIVERS SIDE VISOR, BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BOTH REAR SHOCKS, FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REBUILT, A COMPLETE REAR BRAKE JOB (DRUMS,WHEEL CYLINDERS,SPRING KIT & SHOES),FAN SWITCH RESISTER IS GOING BAD, ANTIFREEZE LINES GOING TO REAR HEATER CORE, BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS, BOTH SIDE DOOR POWER LOCK MECHANISMS,SPARK PLUGS ONCE BY THE DEALER AND MOST RECENTLY ME, A COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM POWER FLUSH BY THE DEALER,BATTERY,FAN RELAY SWITCH(RECALL), AND THE VAN IS CURRENTLY ON ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION, BELT TENSIONER,PASSENGER SUN VISOR, SERPENTINE BELT, (,PCV & AIR) FILTERS ARE REPLACED EVERY YEAR & THE FUEL FILTER EVERY TWO YEARS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. IT IS BEING REPLACED TODAY. THE DEALER ALSO RECOMMENDED ANOTHER FLUSH OF THE FUEL RAILS AND TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. LEST I FORGET THE ABS RELAY/SOLENOID.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#559003January 16, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V268 AND WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS COMPLETED, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL COULD BE COMPLETED DUE TO THE FUEL TANK BEING WARPED, CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULTY FUEL TANK. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877687January 8, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN O-RING FUEL LEAKAGE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877540January 5, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
VENT TUBE HAD A FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738726January 3, 2001
AIR BAGS
CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED PREVENTING DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS, HORN OPERATION, AND CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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