Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#10175324December 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME HOWEVER; THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174906December 1, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT TO THE POINT OF ALMOST LOCKING UP. EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, ACCOMPANIED BY A NOISE AS IF THERE WAS PLASTIC FRACTURING INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE HORN, THE RADIO CONTROLS, THE AIR BAG, THE TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH, AND THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE PEDAL DISTANCE ALL DISENGAGED AT ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD DETACHED. THE FIRST 3 TIMES THIS HAD OCCURRED, THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE FOURTH TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CLOCKSPRING WERE REPLACED. THIS WAS THE FIFTH OCCURRENCE. IN THIS INSTANCE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED IN SPITE OF ALL THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174819November 30, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 5 OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER AND WAS TAKEN TO A STORAGE YARD. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT) UPDATED 01/09/07. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
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
#10174553November 28, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER BEING TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL AT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED A NHTSA RECALL # 00V268000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS STATED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 02/16/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174583November 28, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH. AFTER BEING TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BENT, AND CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER TRIED USING THE BRAKES WITH NO SUCCESS, THE CONSUMER FINALLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONSUMER USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSIONS IN TO LOW. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174614November 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF TENSIONER PULLEY IN WET CONDITIONS. TOTAL POWER STEERING FAILURE AND VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174376November 27, 2006
SUSPENSION
BOUGHT MY 2005 GRAND CARAVAN IN JULY 2006 WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT. AT 41,000 HAD THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS REPLACED, COVERED BY DEALERSHIP WARRANTY. THIS IS THE THIRD CARAVAN THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE 2001 AND EVERY ONE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174419November 27, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY
WATER LEAKS ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR FROM THE HVAC DURING AC USE AND IN HEAVY RAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174492November 27, 2006
AIR BAGS
I WRECKED MY 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN INTO A HILL SIDE AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE POLE IN TWO. MY AIR BAG SYSTEM DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID OVER $6000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VAN BUT NO AIR BAGS. I HAVE HAD THE VAN SERVICED TWICE IN THE PAST FOR THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT COMING ON. I AM WORRIED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS FAULTY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174265November 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY PASSENGER AND DRIVER POWER WINDOWS STOP WORKING, SOMETIMES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN FROM IT'S LOCKED POSITION (STEERING WHEEL IS "NOT" LOCKED) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174291November 26, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS GAUGE FAILURE ON 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. GAGE READS FULL WHEN VEHICLE IS SERVICED WITH GAS AND TANK IS FILLED. AS GAS IS USED THE GAGE WILL DECREASE CORRECTLY UNTIL 1/4 TANK IS REMAINING. GAUGE THEN HANGS UP, SHOWING 1/4 TANK, AND DOES NOT DECREASE AS GAS IS USED BELOW 1/4 TANK. THIS RESULTED IN MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE IN HEAVY EVENING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE FOUND OUT FROM RELIABLE SOURCES (AUTHORIZED DODGE REPAIR SHOPS) THAT THIS GAS GAGE FAILURE IS COMMON AMONG THE DODGE CARAVAN'S AND GRAND CARAVAN'S. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RECALL TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174293November 26, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, SUSPENSION
REFERENCE TO CASE WITH SWAY BAR BUSHING PROBLEM REF. NUMBER 10173990 . I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 GRAND CARAVAN WITH 25000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED IT NO PROBLEM AT NO COST. THEN ON 23 NOV 2006 MY VAN JUST DIED. BATTERY WAS DEAD. WOULD NOT JUMP START AT ALL. TOWING SERVICE COULD NOT JUMP START IT EITHER AND SAID SOMETHING MAJOR WAS WRONG. THEY TOWED TO DEALER IN SHREVEPORT ON FLAT BED WHERE THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS BAD. BUT THE GOOD NEWS THEY SAID IT WAS ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AND THEY ALSO TOLD ME EVERYTHING FROM FRONT BUMPER TO REAR BUMPER IS 100 PERCENT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEALERS ARE SO INCONSISTENT IS WARRANTY REPAIRS. IT STATES IN THE MANUAL WHAT IS AND IS NOT COVERED AND TO SUM THAT UP ANYTHING THAT SHOWS ANY SIGN IF HITTING A HAZARD IN THE ROAD IS NOT COVERED. MAYBE WE SHOULD START A CLASS ACTION HERE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174222November 25, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
FRONT END WAS MAKING CLUNKING NOISES SINCE ABOUT 24,000 MILES,EACH TIME I WENT TO THE DEALER SINCE THEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP, BUT NOTHING FOUND BY THEM. FINALLY AT 44,070 THEY LOOKED ONCE AGAIN AND (NOW THAT MY WARRANTY WAS OVER) THEY FOUND THAT MY FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS WERE BAD AND REPLACED. CHRYSLER DID GOODWILL THE REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY $100 FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE (WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER MY PREVIOUS WARRANTY WORK WHEN I PAID THE $100 AND THEY DIDN'T DO THE WORK UNTIL I CALLED CHRYSLER AFTER I ALREADY LEFT AND HAD TO GO BACK). I DO THINK IT WAS WAY TOO SOON TO HAVE FRONT END SWAY BAR PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174224November 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
METAL COOLANT LINES GOING TO REAR HEATER FAILED. COMPLETELY ROTTED/RUSTED OUT ($400 IN PARTS/LABOR). VEHICLE ONLY HAD 41931 MILES ON IT. SOULD BE FILED UNDER AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER, VENTILATION BUT THERE WAS NO CAT. FOR IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174226November 25, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
SINCE 8/25/04 30153 MILES I HAVE HAD LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEMS. FIRST IT WAS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS THAT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME. DEALER SAID SWITCH WAS WORKING NORMAL.(IT WAS LIKE AN OLD RADIO VOLUME SWITCH THAT MADE NOISE, IF YOU KEPT MOVING THE SWITCH IT WOULD BET BETTER FOR A WHILE AND THEN START UP AGAIN)THEN 2/14/06 41931 MILES MY HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER WHEN I HAD THE LIGHTS ON (THE HEADLIGHT AND DIMMER ARE ALL IN ONE UNIT) AND THE DEALER DID TSB 08-005-04 (WHICH DOESN'T EVEN APPLY TO MY VEHICLE) AND CHARGED ME $41.50. FINALLY ON 9/7/06 46022 MILES IT STARTED AGAIN AND I DROVE RIGHT DOWN SO THE DEALER COULD ACTUALLY SEE IT WHILE IT HAPPENED AND THEY DID WITNESS THE PROBLEM AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. OF COURSE THE TECH. THAT WITNESSED IT WAS ON VACATION WHEN IT WENT IN FOR THE APPT. AND THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH AND CHARGED ME $100 FOR MY DEDUCTIBLE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER MY REGULAR WARRANTY IF THEY FIXED IT RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE BACK IN 2004 OR EVEN IN 2006 THE 2ND TIME IT WAS IN AND ALSO PAID THE $100 FOR OTHER WARRANTY WORK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174040November 22, 2006
TIRES
I PURCHASED 2 BRAND NEW FURTURA 2000 LTE FROM PEPBOYS DROVE THE CAR MAYBE 5 MILES. THEN SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD 2 FRONT FLAT- BOTH TIRES WERE LEAKING FROM THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE TREAT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173990November 21, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WHICH HAS 38500 MILES ON VEHICLE. THE FRONT SWAYBAR BUSHINGS ARE WORE OUT AND IT NOW MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EVERY TIME IT GOES OVER A BUMP . DODGE SAYS IT IS A WEAR ITEM AND WILL NOT REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EIGHT YEAR/80000 MILE WARRANTY. IF THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS I WILL SAY THIS IS THE LAST AMERICAN CAR I WILL BUY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173745November 17, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, STEERING
SINCE PURCHASING IN 2004. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE BACK THE VAN NUMEROUS TIMES TO COMPLAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT NOISES WHILE DRIVING IN THE STEERING BRAKES AND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BASE AREA. BRAKES POPPING AND SCRUBBING, WHEEL BASE MAKES A SCRUBBING/CRACKING NOISES, AND THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE WHILE SLOWING AT STOPS AND IN PARKING LOTS. THEY HAVE REPLACED A MAP LIGHT. MY SLIDING DOORS HAVE STOPPED WORKING ONCE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. AT A RED LIGHT WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I WENT TO GO AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME AND NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ON A HILL AND ABLE TO ROLL TO THE SIDE AND PUT THE VAN BACK IN PARK TO RESTART. 08/11/05 TOOK TO DEALER SHIP AND THEY PERFORMED A COMPUTER FLASH UPDATE AND LISTED A LABEL AUT AND LABEL GEN PART. HERE ARE THE SERVICE DATES WHEN I TOOK IN IT EACH TIME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT STEERING AND DRIVING NOISES. 08/04/05 TOOK TO DEALER ORDERED PARTS SERVICED ON 08/11/05 REPLACED POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. 11/17/05 REPLACED RACK AND PINION. 08/16/06 TOOK IN BRAKES STARTING MAKING NOISES TOLD WE HAD 20% LEFT AT 16,812 MILES THEY TOLD US TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. 08/16/06 ALSO HAD THEM LOOK AT THE SAME NOISE AS BEFORE AND THEY LUBED/GREASED STRUT DUST COVERS. 11/08/06 TOOK BACK FOR SAME NOISES AND THEY REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS FOUND MY STEERING FLUID LOW, REPLACED FLUID AND STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CRACKS/LEAKS. I AM STILL HEARING NOISES COME FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEELBASE. THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAS FIXED THE WHINING NOISES AS OF TODAY. THE BRAKES ARE NOT POPPING. THEY SAID THE SWAY BAR LINKS FIXED THE POPPING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173674November 16, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 4 TIMES. FIRST TIME, I HIT A POCKET OF WATER ON A SMALL HIGHWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA. DROVE VEHICLE TO A SAFER LOCATION, LEFT MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT WHILE I WALKED A MILE HOME IN THE RAIN TO GET MY FORD RANGER TO LOAD ALL 5 OF US IN TO GET HOME SAFELY. HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER AND BELT. SECOND TIME, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, MY WIFE HIT WATER WHICH ALSO KNOCKED THE BELT OFF AND STRANDED HER AND MY 3 CHILDREN 15 MILES FROM HOME. BROTHER IN LAW WAS ABLE TO COME AND SPENT AN HOUR OF GUT WRENCHING LABOR TO PUT THE BELT BACK ON. THIRD TIME, A MONTH LATER IT CAME OFF AGAIN SHREDDING THE BELT AND LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED BY HERSELF AFTER DROPPING MY KIDS OFF FOR SCHOOL. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP WHO SAID IT NEEDED ANOTHER BELT TENSIONER AND ASSURED ME THE NAPA PRODUCT WOULD PERFORM BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE. HE TRIED TO SEE IF A KIT WAS AVAILABLE FOR OUR LARGE 6 CYLINDER ENGINE BUT COULD NOT FIND ONE. FOURTH TIME, ONE MONTH LATER AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 2 OF MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN THE RAIN, THE BELT CAME OFF AGAIN BUT THIS TIME SHE DIDN'T HIT ANY WATER. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THEY CHECKED ALL COMPONETS CONNECTED TO THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TRIED FOR 30 MINUTES TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BY POURING WATER OVER THE BELT, ETC. WITH NO SUCCESS. OWNER SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH HE IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR DODGE VANS. QUESTION: IF THIS IS SUCH A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AS SHOWN BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS WEBSITE WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL TO CORRECT WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM? ANSWER: BECAUSE IT WILL COST DODGE/ CHRYSLER TOO MUCH MONEY. SOLUTION: UNLESS YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE A DODGE VAN ON WARM SUNNY DAYS DON'T BOTHER BUYING A DODGE VAN. ESPECIALLY IF YOU VALUE YOUR FAMILY'S SAFETY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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