Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1997)

583 consumer complaints on file.

#10177014December 26, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE DULLED TO THE POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOTICEABLY DIMMED TO THE POINT THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROADWAY AT NIGHT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174501November 28, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE HABIT OF TURNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON BY THEMSELVES ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. WHILE THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED TO WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM, I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT OTHER CARAVAN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH MUCH EXPENSE TAKEN TO FIX AT NO AVAIL. I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT A FAULTY WIPER SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MFG. TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IF THIS IS INDEED AS RAMPANT A COMPLAINT AS IT SEEMS TO BE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171287October 18, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOOK OFF FROM STOP LIGHT TRANSMISSION FAILED HAD BEEN SLIPPING FOR A WHILE BEFORE. ALSO SHIFTED HARD INTO GEAR. ALREADY HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACE DUE TO OVERHEATING PROBLEMS AT THE COST OF $1,000.00 NO THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO REPLACE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170746October 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
MAKE : DODGE MODEL : CARAVAN YEAR : 1998 MANUFACTURER : DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION SERVICE BULLETIN NUM : 2304402 DATE OF BULLETIN: OCT 14, 2002 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10000317 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY SUMMARY: COSMETIC CORROSION OR PERFORATION AT UPPER STRUT TOWER/S USUALLY BETWEEN THE STRUT AND UPPER LOAD PATH BEAM INNER PANEL (INNER FENDER). *TT *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170333October 10, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE INJECTION RAIL AND THE O RINGS. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 98V184000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163047July 21, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP, SUSPENSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RPMS DROPPED TO ZERO, THE VEHICLE JERKED, AND THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 10 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. UPDATED 08/15/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162109July 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 1997 GRAND CARAVAN AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CUT THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT DID START BUT THE CUT OFF. THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. NO DASH LIGHTS ANYTHING. I WAITED ABOUT 3 HOURS AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND THE DRIVER GOT IN AND TRIED TO START IT, AGAIN IT WAS TOTALLY DEAD. HE LEFT THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION WHILE WE TALKED AND THEN ABOUT A MINUTE LATER THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND HE STARTED IT. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ON THE WAY TO WORK ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASH AND I PULLED OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155928April 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, INTERIOR LIGHTING
1. WIPERS TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY - USUALLY WHEN A TURN SIGNAL IS ON. 2. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON FREQUENTLY WITH P1698 CODE AND NO OTHER PENDING CODE. PRESENT INTERVAL AT AN AVERAGE OF A WEEK. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THIS INCIDENT IS VERY COMMON AS DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL CHATROOMS. INCIDENT USUALLY STARTS WITH ABS LIGHT ON THEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIES, FOLLOWED BY AIRBAG LIGHT THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. AT INCIDENT, POWER DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK. AT INCIDENT, SOMETIMES ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AFTER S SHORT DRIVE THEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL WORK. 3.REAR INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN LIT EVEN WHEN DASH SWITCH IS OFF AND NO DOOR AJAR. SOMETIMES A SINGLE INTERIOR LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN STARTING ENGINE AND REMAIN LIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153128March 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT
I PURCHASED THE 1997 GRAND CARAVAN IN JANUARY 1998 AT THE MARLOW HEIGHTS DEALERSHIP IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MARYLAND. THE FIRST TIME I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS 5/1999 AT 24,006 MILES VEHICLE HAD LITTLE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING, TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE RECONDITIONED. IN 12/1999, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUSING A VERY STRONG NASTY ODOR. CARPET HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION TO MY FAMILY ESPECIALLY MY KIDS HAVING TO BREATH IN THIS FLUID. 3 /2000 SAME FLUID LEAKED AGAIN IN AUTO BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE HEATING COIL. THEN AGAIN IN 8/2001 THE LEAK HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER IN NORTH CAROLINA AND COMPLAINED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WHAT THEY CALLED ONE CONSUMER REPAIR PER CUSTOMER PER VEHICLE. IN 11/2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DUE FOR EMISSIONS TESTING AND DID NOT PASS THE TEST BECAUSE OF A CYLINDER MISFIRE CODE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THE FUNDS FOR REPAIR, IN 5/2004 @ 118,668 MILES, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AND THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. SO I PAID $114.24 TO REPLACE THE 6 .SPARK PLUGS, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED I ENDED UP PAYING $3,758.82 IN 7/2005 TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEADS, TIMING BELT, AND WATER PUMP . THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED. RECENTLY, IN 3/2006, OIL LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH VC GASKETS, CAM PLUGS, BOTH FT CAM SEALS AND REAR CAM SEALS AND TIMING BELT ONCE AGAIN FOR THIRD TIME. THIS COST TO ME WAS $2,677.50. NOW THE OIL LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151571March 1, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
IN DRIVING MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL EPISODES WHERE IT STALLS WITH NO WARNING. THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED WAS AFTER STOPPING AT A TOLL BOOTH AND IN PULLING OUT FROM THE BOOTH IT JUST DIED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AS MY HUSBAND AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN WITH ME AT THE TIME. HAD IT BEEN DURING RUSH HOUR OR THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS JUST IN A HURRY, THIS INCIDENT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE QUITE TRAGIC. MY VAN HAS ALSO STALLED SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SEVERAL TIMES DRIVING DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREETS. WE CAN NOT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS O.K. AFTER SEEING A NEWSCAST TONIGHT THAT SPOKE OF THE SAME STALLING WITHOUT WARNING ISSUES IN OTHER VANS I AM HAVING MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THIS NEWSCAST SAID THE ISSUE WAS WITH ONLY 1991 - 1995 CHRYSLER/DODGE MODEL VANS. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT IT COULD BE RELATED TO NEWER MODELS AS WELL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151114February 24, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTO SHOP FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC ALERTED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT A POSSIBILITY OF A LEFT SPRING SUPPORT MAY BECOME FRACTURED DUE TO HEAVY CORROSION. THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE OWNER THAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150454February 16, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE HYDRAULIC LIFT SNAPPED. THE REAR HATCH DOOR CAME DOWN AND HIT THE CONTACT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10148388January 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. IN FEBRUARY 2005 WE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED, AND ALL PARTS RELATED TO IT ADJUSTED AND CLEANED. THIS WAS DONE DUE TO A HORRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND. IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF DURING A PERIOD OF COLD & RAINY WEATHER, AND LEFT ME WITHOUT STEERING OR COOLING FANS. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER. THE BELT WAS REPLACED. SIX WEEKS LATER, AGAIN-IN COLD AND RAINY WEATHER. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND TODAY, 3 WEEKS LATER, YES, COLD AND RAINY WEATHER IT HAS HAPPENED FOR A THIRD TIME. MY GARAGE IS SET TO REPLACE THE STEERING FLUID PUMP, THINKING IT MIGHT BE LEAKING ON IT, THE BELT, TENSIONER AND A PULLEY. HOPING IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, THIS WILL BE A $500 BILL AT LEAST. HOWEVER, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL, CROSSING SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. I CONTACTED DODGE, WHO TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT WITHOUT A RECALL, BUT AGREED THERE HAVE BEEN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) REGARDING THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM I DID RESEARCH ON THESE TSBS, AS WELL AS VARIOUS WEBSITES WHERE AUTO MECHANICS POST, AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SINGLE REPAIR THAT WORKS IN EACH VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. THIS BELT CONTROLS THE STEERING, THE ALTERNATOR AND THE FANS. THIS IS A MINI-VAN, MADE FOR FAMILIES. I AM FEARFUL OF ALLOWING MY THREE CHILDREN TO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE NOW, KNOWING THAT EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS COMING UP THIS WEEK, THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE FIXED. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DANGER WHICH COULD OCCUR , LOSING STEERING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN POOR CONDITIONS, I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BECOME A RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147330January 10, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. BOTH FRONT STRUT TOWERS WERE RUSTED AND WORN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145258December 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK INTO IT AND REPLACED A RELAY OR SWITCH THAT BELONGED TO THE BLOWER MOTORS (FANS BY RADIATOR). THE LIGHTS SEEMED TO GO AWAY UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE ABS LIGHT RETURNED AND THE BRAKES ACT AS THOUGH THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE OUT AT ANY TIME. THEY HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED FOR QUITE A LENGTH OF TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE IS ALSO A WEIRD SOUND OF AIR OR AS IF AIR WHERE COMING OUT WHEN THE BRAKES GET DEPRESSED. I HAVE HAD TO ADD FLUID ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC BUDDY THAT THERE IS VERY GOOD CHANCE ITS THE BRAKE BOOSTER DUE TO THE SOUND OF AIR. I WENT ONLINE AND NOTICED THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS IN A COUPLE OF GRAND CARAVANS BUT MY VIN # DOESN'T FALL INTO THE SUGGESTED VIN RANGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143551November 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SERPENTINE BELT REPEATEDLY COMES OFF ITS PULLEYS, NECESSITATING A TOW, ON-THE-SPOT REPAIR JOB, OR DRIVING UNDER UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR A SHORT DISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143388November 21, 2005
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
NO AIRBAG, NO HORN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140224October 19, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DT: 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1996. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO FIXED THE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE THE LIGHT TO AIRBAGS STAYED ON. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON OCCASIONALLY. WHEN SEEING THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THE CONSUMER COULD LOOK AT THIS AS A WARNING, BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS GOING OR HOW MUCH GAS THERE WAS IN THE GAS TANK. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IN 2003, AND THEY CHANGED THE CLOCK SPRING. ALSO, THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. FIRST, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF, NOW ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT NOTHING WAS WORKING ON DASHBOARD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136185September 12, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: THE CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 25 MPH AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER CHILD. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WILL NOT CATCH. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO IT. THE DAUGHTER CHIPPED A TOOTH AND WHERE IT HIT HER HEAD, THERE WAS A BRUISE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10135849September 8, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT: THE OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE NO LONGER TRANSPARENT, BUT WERE TURNING OPAQUE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC COMPONENT. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE REPLACED BUT AT T CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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