Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1996)

1,157 consumer complaints on file.

#716312December 21, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SINCE 1996, THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER DEVICE HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES. TWO OF THE THREE TIMES THE BOLT HOLDING THE DEVICE SHEARED OFF AS WELL AS THE DEVICE BREAKING. BOTH THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HAVE PERFORMED THE REPAIRS STATED THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THE CARAVANS. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS THIS ITEM IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF REPAIRS. THIS COMPONENT FAILURE CAUSES GREAT RISK TO THE DRIVER AS IT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING, RADIATOR FAN, WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR. IT HAS BROKEN SO MANY TIMES WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING, THAT I'M GETTING TO BE AN EXPERT AT NAVIGATING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT KILLING SOMEONE. THE THREE REPAIRS HAVE OCCURED ON 7/11/1997, 5/22/1998 AND 9/3/1999. I CAN PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION IF REQUESTED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS APPARENT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854141December 20, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DUE TO THE LOCATION AND THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL LINE VENT TUBE/CLIP AND O RING THE O RING HAS CORRODED, CREATING A FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716200December 18, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
A HOLE DEVELOPED ON TOP OF FUEL TANK. EXACT THING HAPPENED TO FRIEND W/ SAME VEHICLE, SAME YEAR, AND ABOUT THE SAME MILAGE. WOULD LEAK GAS AND CREATE STRONG FUMES WHEN TANK WAS FAIRLY FULL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716121December 16, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH IN THE 3 YEAR TIME FRAMED I PAID FOR THE NEW ONES, THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND THAT THE MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG ALTHOUGH HE COULD HEAR THE SOUND, AND NOW THE CAR WON'T START AND AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF TRYING THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I OBVIOUSLY WANT THE CAR FIXED, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549974December 14, 1999
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE ON IMPACT DURING ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#715918December 10, 1999
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
DEALER STATES THERE IS NO "GOODWILL" WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549892December 8, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL FROM THE SEAM AND IS A SERIOUS DEFECT,BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715787December 8, 1999
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION:FRONT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FRONT ROTORS WARPED OR FLAWED. HEAVY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END VIBRATION DURING DOWNGRADE SLOW BRAKING. FUEL TANK IS COLLAPSED WHICH WILL HOLD ONLY ABOUT 13 GALLONS. WIPERS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND GETS WORSE WHEN CLIMATE GETS HOT. BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHICH CAN HIT AND BREAK THE MAIN CRANKSHAFT PULLEY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715748December 7, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
BELT TENSIONER FAILED AND HIT THE MAIN PULLEY WHICH WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED. BRAKES PULSATED AT AROUND 30K MILES. THEY WERE MAINTAINED BY TURNING THE ROTORS, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AFTER A MONTH. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE PAID OUT OF MY POCKET AFTER I WAS TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715768December 7, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549832December 6, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
PRIMARY FUEL LINE IS LEAKING. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715461December 1, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE IT HIT 24,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY A CHRYSLER SHOP THAT THERE WAS A ROCK IN THE ROTOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY REPLACED THE ROTOR AND PAD ON THE LEFT FRONT THE FIRST TIME. THEN 11,000 MILES LATER I HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ROTORS TURNED . I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE WARPED. AGAIN I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS. AT 49,000 MILES I HAD NO FRONT BRAKES AT ALL, THEY WERE METAL TO METAL. I BROUGHT THE VAN TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HE INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS AND THE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THAT THERE WAS NO FRONT BRAKES AT ALL. HE DID THE WORK AND REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. MY MECHANIC KNOWS OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE AND SAYS THAT IT IS CRAZY FOR ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THESE BRAKES AS MANY TIMES AS I HAVE. HE FEELS THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE IN THE ABS AND THAT IT IS MALFUNCTING. I RECENTLY HAD MY SNOW TIRES PUT ON MY VEHICLE AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK MY BRAKES FOR ME. I WAS TOLD THAT MY LEFT FRONT HAS HALF OF THE PADS GONE AND THAT THERE IS SOME WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED IN JUNE 1999, EVERY 3,000 MILES WHEN I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED I HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED. I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING THESE PADS AGAIN, THEY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON THEM AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MY FAMILY AND FRIEND RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE. IN REGARDS TO MY OTHER COMPLAINTS, I HAVE HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE REPORTED TO DAVE SMITH THE PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THEY WIPE WHEN EVER THEY WANT TO ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD AND DAMP OUTSIDE. I TURN THEM ON THE FIRST CLICK ON THE INTERMINENT AND THEY WIPE 5-6-3-4 TIMES AND THEN SHUT OFF ON THE SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. THERE IS NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT THEM. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715466December 1, 1999
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, CHILD SEAT
THE BUILT-IN CHILD SEAT GETS STUCK WITH THE CHILD IN THE SEAT AND WHEN THE SEATS ARE CLOSE AND THEN A CHILD CANT GET IN THEM. CHRYSLER DID A RECALL AND INSTALLED A SAFTY CLIP TO ADDRESS GETTING THE CHILD OUT. BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES THAT YOU CANT USE THE SEAT WHEN THE GET STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION SO YOU CANT PUT A CHILD IN THE SEAT. ALSO NOTE CHRYSLER HAS CHANGE THE MECHINISM ON NEWER VANS. THEY GAVE A AN ESCAPE ROUTE NOT A FIX TO THE PROBLEM OF THE BELTS GETTING STUCK DUE TO FOOD FALLING IN THE LOCK AREA. REMEBER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD SEAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REPORT I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO UNLOCK THE SEAT BELTS WHEN THE GET STUCK PERMINANTLY CLOSED. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO CALL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH I CALL OVER 25 TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND FROM MY HOME AND WORK ONLY TO RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL EVERY TIME. I ASK THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL SINCE THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER AND THEY DECLINED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS CHILD SEAT SYSTEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715415November 30, 1999
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS ONGOING PROBLEMS ,THE BIGGEST OF WHICH WAS THE ENGINE HEAD FAILURE WHICH COST ME ABOUT A $1,000.00 THATS WITH DODGE PAYING AN ADDITONAL $800.00 FOR THE PARTS. NOW A YEAR LATER, MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. PLEASE HELP I PROMISE NOT TO BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN, I SWEAR. ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NAGGING, BUT TOLERABLE. BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853453November 29, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WENT TO START VEHICLE & THE STARTER FAILED TO CONNECT. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO SHOP. INFORMED BY MECHANIC STARTED BURNED OUT. ALSO, SHOCKS/STRUTS WERE LEAKING FLUID & NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. IN ADDITION, WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715283November 26, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE ABS SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE--NOT THE AIRBAGS!!! WHEN I ATTEMPT TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION OR STOP SIGN THE BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP ON ME WHILE JERKING TO A STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUOSLY COMES ON WHEN YOU USE THE BRAKES. I HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $600. REPLACING PARTS, CHANGING TIRES, ETC. I HAVE BEEN TO 5 MECHANICS INCLUDING THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE ANYTHING OUT. I MUST HAVE AN ANSWER TO WHAT THIS IS BEFORE MY CHILDREN OR MYSELF ARE KILLED BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAIL. I AM SO FRUSTRATED AND AM CURRENTLY NOT EVEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXCEPT TO THE NEXT MECHANIC. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#847526November 23, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO KNOCK. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714992November 19, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER VAN HAD BEEN PARKED ON GARAGE OVER NIGHT. THE TANK WAS ABOUT 3/4 FULL. THE REPAIRING DEALER SAID THE TANK WAS LEAKING AT A VENT TUBE ACCESS PANEL AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714995November 19, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
STRONG GAS SMELL IN GARAGE. TANK 3/4 FULL. DEALER SAID TANK LEAKING FROM VENT TUBE ACCESS COVER AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE TO TANK; LEA CAUSED BY NATURAL FLEXING. MECHANIC SAID HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL TANKS AND NEW TANKS RE-DESIGNED TO SOLVE PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS PROBLEM - FIRE HAZARD. RE-DESIGN INDICATES CHRYSLER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT INITIATED RECALL ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853023November 17, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT ABOUT 75 MPH, CRUISE CONTROL CABLE GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCLERATE. OCCUPANT HAD TO RIDE THE BRAKES FOR ABOUT 4 MILES, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH. DRIVER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP. THIS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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