Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#10184078March 2, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR A COUPLE OF CONTINUOUS HOURS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT A CONSTANT SPEED AND MILD HILLS. WHEN I WENT TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ON A LEVEL AREA OF FREEWAY THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WANT TO DISENGAGE. AFTER APPLYING VERY STRONG FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR A SECOND OR TWO (AND BEING IN SHOCK BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING AND I WAS FAST APPROACHING A LARGE TRUCK IN MY LANE) I FINALLY DISENGAGED IT BY PUNCHING THE OFF BUTTON ON THE STEERING COLUMN. IF THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT DISENGAGED OR IF TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE BEEN HEAVIER AN ACCIDENT MAY HAVE HAPPENED AT THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT OF 75 MPH IN A REMOTE AREA WITH ALL OF MY FAMILY ABOARD HEADING ON VACATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183967March 1, 2007
AIR BAGS
MALFUNCTIONING CLOCKSPRING IN AIR BAG. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183636February 27, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION SEALS LEAKING DEALER REPLACED RACK & PINION 2/21/06 RACK AND PINION SEALS LEAKING AGAIN, CAR REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT AGAIN 2/2007. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183517February 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 38,000 MILES. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS CLEARLY A FAILURE THAT STARTED BEFORE THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. TRANSMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON, AND UPON INSPECTION AT 2 CERTIFIED MECHANICS, I WAS SHOWN BLACK TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND SCANNER SHOWED MAJOR TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183573February 26, 2007
TIRES, WHEELS:RIM
THE FRONT TIRE ON THE VAN STARTED LOSING AIR. I CHECKED TO SEE WHERE THE LEAK WAS AND FOUND TWO CRACKS IN THE WHEEL THAT WERE LEAKING. THERE IS NO SIGN OF IMPACT ON THE WHEEL AND THE CRACKS ARE NOT PARALLEL TO THE BEAD. THE CRACKS RUN 90 DEGREES FROM THE WHEEL BEAD. THESE ARE THE 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS. NO DAMAGE CAUSED BUT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHEEL AT A QUOTED COST OF $625.00. I HAVE NOT CHECKED THE OTHER WHEELS YET.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183481February 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF CALLS ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE SOMETHING HEAVY AND TAP ON THE KEY SO THAT THE CYLINDER COULD CONNECT WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY URGED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59800 ,AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59700.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183219February 22, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE OWNED A USED 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SINCE AUG. 2005. IN DEC. 05 THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IN JAN. 06 A FRONT SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. YESTERDAY, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND I AM ASSUMING A FRONT SENSOR WILL AGAIN BE AT FAULT. I AM REPORTING SIMPLY TO ADD ANOTHER NAME TO THE FILE FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM (EA06003). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183236February 22, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN 422 AWAY FROM 76. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TURN OFF ON TO TROOPER ROAD IN NORRISTOWN WHEN I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. I THEN TURNED THE RADIO OFF AND IT WAS PRETTY LOUD. IT GOT LOUDER THE MORE I PUSHED ONTO THE GAS PEDAL, AND STOPPED WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF. IT WAS SLIGHTLY UPHILL FOR A FEW HUNDRED FEET AND I KNEW IF I JUST MADE IT TO THE TOP AND HOPED FOR 2 GREEN LIGHTS I MAY BE SAFE. I STARTED GOING UP AND MADE IT TO THE SECOND GREEN LIGHT (THANK GOD) BUT MY ENGINE JUST CUT OFF AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BREAKS. I HAD TO FORCE MY CAR TO TURN AND ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE THE TURN IN TIME. I THEN HAD TO COAST 1/4 MILE TO GET OFF THE ROAD TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE MY CAR SAT UNTIL IT WAS TOWED. THIS WAS ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, WHERE I WAS LATER PLOWED IN AND HAD TO DIG MY WAY OUT OF 3 FEET OF SNOW TO GET IT TOWED. IT WENT TO THE SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. LUCKILY NOTHING BAD HAPPENED OUT OF THE WHOLE THING, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183138February 21, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HUMMING AND LOW GRADE VIBRATION THAT ONE HEAR COULD WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THEREWAS A DEFECT IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE THIS VEHICLE HAD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80000 , AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183045February 20, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THIS IS AN ABBREVIATED COPY OF THE SECOND LETTER I HAVE SENT TO DODGE THE FIRST LETTER WAS SENT IN SEPT, 2006. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT RAINS. UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. FEB 20, 2007 DODGE CUSTOMER ASSIST CTR POWER STEERING FAILURE DUE TO RAIN 2005 DODGE CARAVAN VIN: [XXX] THIS IS THE 2ND ATTEMPT TO GET DODGE OR CHRYSLER TO CARE ABOUT THE VEHICLE BUILT THAT HAS A POWER STEERING FLAW. IT IS APPARENT FROM YOUR LACK OF CORRESPONDENCE OR COMMUNICATION THAT YOUR COMPANY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CUSTOMER??S SAFETY. UPON YOUR ADVICE, I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTER, AUTOWAY IN CLEARWATER, FL. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL CHRYSLER COMES UP WITH A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. AS I HAVE STATED IN PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE, MY WIFE DRIVES THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE 99% OF THE TIME. SHE LOVES THE CONVENIENCE, PERFORMANCE AND MOST OF THE TIME THE HANDLING OF THE VAN. HOWEVER, WHEN IT RAINS, WHICH IS OFTEN IN FLORIDA, THE POWER STEERING CEASES TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AS SHE IS DRIVING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MY WIFE IS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURS. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO TARPON DODGE FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST NINE MONTHS. THE LAST TIME, JAN 2007, I WAS TOLD EACH TIME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO EXCEPT AVOID THE RAIN. NOT ACCEPTABLE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS GOING TO GET WITH CHRYSLER TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. TO DATE NO PHONE CALLS. I PREVIOUSLY CALLED TARPON DODGE SER. & SPOKE TO A MR. LITTLEJOHN. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL CARAVANS WITH THE SAME POWER STEERING PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO GET SOME ANSWERS FROM CHRYSLER. MY WIFE ON FEB 13, 2007 WAS TAKING HER FATHER TO LUNCH WHEN A MAJOR RAIN STORM OCCURRED. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT 6 DIFFERENT TIMES AS SHE WAS TRYING TO GET HOME. *NM *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182973February 19, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
I AM CONCERNED WITH OVERALL QUALITY CONTROL ON THIS VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND COMFORT FOR MY GROWING FAMILY. I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE VEHICLES PERFORMANCE AND GAS MILEAGE DURING THE FIRST SEVERAL WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR UNITS THAT THEY SAID WHERE DEFECTIVE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER WENT OUT. NEXT WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. NOW WITH LESS THAN 28.000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WAS SOAKED, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING UNUSUAL SOUNDS WHEN TURNING AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY. AT THE DEALERSHIP I FOUND OUT THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT HAD FAILED ALONG WITH THE THE CABLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ON INVESTIGATION OF THE WATER LEAK THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE PILLAR HAD NOT BEEN SEALED PROPERLY TO THE ROOF CAUSING WATER TO RUN INTO THE VAN AND ROT THE CARPET. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN FOR REPAIRS THE DEALERSHIP IS ALSO REPLACING THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER WHICH IS MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182804February 16, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN A VEHICLE HIT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A RAILROAD STOP WAITING FOR A TRAIN TO PASS WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACTS VEHICLE TO HIT THE VEHICLE THAT WAS SITTING AT THE RAILROAD CROSSING IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HIT THE VEHICLE WITH A HARD FORCE THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRASH RESULTED IN ALL PASSENGERS HAVING BOTH BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHE AND HER 3 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES WHICH SENT THEM TO THE HOSPITAL. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN THE PASSENGERS . THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE FELT THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER OR DRIVER . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34618.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10182175February 10, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I HAVE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY/TENSIONER ASSEMBLY ON MY 2000 GRAND CARAVAN 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE DESIGN IS FLAWED AND MUST BE FIXED BY DODGE. I HAVE USED BOTH DODGE REPLACEMENT AND NAPA REPLACEMENT PARTS TO NO AVAIL. I CAN NOT TRUST THIS VEHICLE FOR A LONG DISTANCE WHICH IS WHAT I BOUGHT A VAN FOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182096February 9, 2007
AIR BAGS
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 7, 2006 WHEREIN HER 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO PUSH HER VEHICLE INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. DESPITE THE DEGREE OF IMPACT, WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO TOTAL HER MINI VAN, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS RELEASED. I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHY THIS WAS THE CASE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10182115February 9, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
REAR POWER LIFTGATE ON 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FREEZING IN OPEN POSITION. 1ST HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE WAS 6 MO. OLD. DODGE REPLACED LATCH AND RESET DOOR MOTOR. 2 1/2 YRS LATER SAME PROBLEM AND SAME RESOLUTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181850February 7, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT PROBLEM EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. WHEN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON, JUST THE LEFT LIGHT ILLUMINATES. WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, THE LEFT ONE GOES OFF AND THE RIGHT ONE GOES ON. WHEN BRIGHTS ARE ON, THEY SWITCH - LEFT GOES ON AND RIGHT GOES OFF. ONLY ONE LIGHT IS ON AT A TIME. I HAVE HAD THIS IN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED LAMPS, SWITCH, AND FRONT CONTROL MODULE TO NO AVAIL. NOW THEY SAY I NEED TO REPLACE THE FUSE BLOCK AND BODY CONTROL MODULE, AT A COST OF OVER $800.00. I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE, OVER 20 OTHERS HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/DODGE-GRAND-CARAVAN/TFGKS9O3LLH1ABOBM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181931February 7, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED OUR 2005 GRAND CARAVAN NEW TWO YEARS AGO. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO I FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER IT. IT HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WERE INFORMED THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. JUST LAST WEEKEND I CAME HOME AND FOUND ANOTHER PUDDLE UNDER OUR VAN. WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND WERE TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR THIS TIME. AFTER THE WORK WAS FINISHED I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE POWER STEERING RACK AND HE STATED THEY HAD REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 100 OF THEM THIS WINTER. HE SAID HE COULD NOT BELIEVE DODGE WAS NOT LOOKING INTO THIS MORE THOROUGHLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID NOT TAKE THIS INFORMATION AS VERY CONVERTING KNOWING MY WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE IN ABOUT 4,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181067January 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LOCKED UP WITH ONLY 87403 MILES REGISTERED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION COMPANY I FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHILE REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE I INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND FOUND THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS TO THIS DATE. ALL PARTS INCLUDING GEARS WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE OF $2221.58. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS AND ESPECIALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL AT LEAST OVER 100,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180964January 29, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ON NOVEMBER 20TH, A MODULE (PART NUMBER 5144579-AC) WAS REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHTS. JANUARY 8TH, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE DURING OPERATION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. TODAY, JANUARY 29TH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED THREE TIMES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND TWICE THE HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHT SWITCHED TO LOW-BEAM WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING FROM THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. *NM SEE ALSO 10175309. **DSY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180949January 28, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
REPLACEMENT OF BOTH LINK SWAY ELIMINATORS AND BUSHINGS AND NUTS ALL WERE LOOSE AND WORN, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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