Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints
13,518 consumer complaints on file.
- #10171553October 22, 2006STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE GOT IT, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER 4 VISITS BACK TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK 6 MONTHS LATER THE NOISE IS BACK. I KNOW OF 3 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME MINI VAN AND THEY ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171413October 20, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED FOR RECALLED FAILED BRAKE PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE FOR 6 MONTHS NOW, WHILE THIS PART IS ON BACKORDER. I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN PATIENT IN THIS MATTER CONCERNING THIS ITEM. THE PARTICULAR PART IS COVERED BY A LIFETIME WARRANTY AND WAS REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALSO. I THINK WITH THIS AMOUNT OF TIME, DODGE SHOULD PROVIDE SOME KIND OF REPLACEMENT VEHICLE UNTIL MY VEHICLE IS FIXED. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE VIA EMAIL CONCERNING THE MATTER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171468October 20, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN A YEAR THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS SHREDDED AND/OR FELL OFF. I REPLACED THE TENSIONER THE SECOND TIME. IT LOOKS AS IF THE PULLEYS ARE NOT ALIGNED WITH THE TENSIONER SO THE BELT EVENTUALLY RIDES OFF THE EDGE OF THE TENSIONER. ALL TIMES IT WAS NOT RAINING OR SNOW LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE WEB. DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 107,000 MILES. 3.8L WITH A/C. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171214October 18, 2006SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHENEVER IT WAS DRIVEN OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT SWAY LINKS AND BUSHINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171218October 18, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I HAVE A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.0 L ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE BELT SLIPPING OFF THE TENSIONER DURING WET WEATHER. THE FIRST TIME WE HIT A SMALL (1 - 2" DEEP) PUDDLE OF WATER WHEN TURNING A CORNER. WE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL, INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH 1996 - 2000 CARAVANS. HE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO PRINT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN DETAILING THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, HIT A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER ON A RAINY DAY, LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN. LUCKILY, I WAS GOING SLOWLY BOTH TIMES, BUT WORRY ABOUT A SERIOUS SITUATION OF GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DODGE/CHRYSLER, AND NO "FIX" - ONLY TO REPLACE BELTS AND TENSIONERS. I THEN RESEARCHED THROUGH INTERNET, FOUND SITUATION AS STATED BY FIRST (INDEPENDENT) MECHANIC LISTED ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES BY MANY OWNERS. CHRYSLER IS AVOIDING ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM, YET 2 AFTERMARKET PARTS COMPANIES HAVE DEVELOPED PARTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. BOTH GATES AND GOODYEAR ACKNOWLEDGE A SAFETY ISSUE, SO I BELIEVE CHRYSLER/DODGE SHOULD HAVE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES. THESE ARE MINI-VANS. SOLD PRIMARILY TO FAMILIES. SO, THE TYPICAL SCENARIO IS A MOTHER WITH KIDS STRANDED IN THE RAIN. I NOW FEAR DRIVING MY VAN IN THE RAIN, AND AM PETRIFIED OF DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE RAIN. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10171287October 18, 2006POWER 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
- #10171047October 17, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AND THE PADS WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED BOTH SETS OF PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT WHEELS. UPDTATED 11/03/06. 8JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170746October 13, 2006SUSPENSION: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
- #10170761October 13, 2006TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON DEC 30, 2004 I PURCHASED 4 NEW COOPER TIRES LABELED SIGMA REGENT (SG00721655). ON JUNE 13, 2006 I REPLACED ONE OF THESE TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION (23,924 MILES). ON OCT 12, 2006 I REPLACED TWO MORE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION (28,405 MILES). THAT IS THREE OUT OF FOUR TIRES THAT DEVELOPED TREAD SEPARATION. FORTUNATELY, I NOTICED EACH EVENT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NONETHELESS, I THINK YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD WITH COOPER TIRES. P.S. YOUR FORM DID ALLOW FOR THE ACTUAL TIRE SIZE I PURCHASED. THE TIRES I PURCHASED ARE: 215/65SR15, 9M65. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170766October 13, 2006STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS POPPING NOISE AND A PRONOUNCED VIBRATION WITHIN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE BUSHINGS WERE NOT REPLACED, WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED, THE POPPING NOISE PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED IT WAS BOTH TIE ROD END BALL JOINTS THAT WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170643October 12, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, DURING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION FAILURE, THE ENGINE WAS SLUGGISH AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170646October 12, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ALL POWER ACCESSORIES INCLUDING PW, PL, LIGHTER, RADIO, AND ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS, SHUT-OFF AND USUALLY AFTER A MINUTE TURN BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE JERKS INTO GEAR AT LOW SPEEDS AND SLAMS INTO GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS, TAKING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE FROM 100K TO 60K IN A MILLISECOND. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10170333October 10, 2006FUEL 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
- #10170302October 9, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS FLASH OFF AFTER 5 MIN. OF DRIVING. THEY COME BACK ON BUT HAVE PROGRESSIVELY BEEN GETTING WORSE. FLASHING ON AND OFF THREE TIMES THEN BACK ON OR CONTINUING TO FLASH ON AND OFF. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169981October 5, 2006STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2004. I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS MAKING A HUMMING NOISE. TURNING, AND IDLING. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT WAS SPORADIC AND WOULD GO ON FOR DAYS AND THEN ONE DAY WOULD NOT MAKE A SOUND. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. I CHECKED IT MANY TIMES AND IT WAS FINE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR POWER STEERING TO BE FLUSHED. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS AT ALL!!! WE ARE ABOUT AT 54,000 MILES AND THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO OR SO. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169818October 3, 2006SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER IS CORRODING AND POPPING THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIRES, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, AND COULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT DANGER IF IT WERE TO RUST COMPLETELY THROUGH. AS DESCRIBED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, THIS ISSUE IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS ITEM WERE TO COMPLETELY FAIL SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169868October 3, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER, ILLUMINATION OF ALL WARNING LIGHTS, AND THE RISING OF THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED DUE TO WATER SPLASHING UP INTO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BELT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE SERVICE DEALER MENTIONED THAT A SPLASH SHIELD KIT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169900October 3, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK LEAKS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169668October 1, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE STOPS. MOTOR SHUTS OFF, NO POWER AVAILABLE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS LOSS OF CONTROL IN TRAFFIC! HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES FROM DATE OF PURCHASE MAY 2005 TO AUGUST 2006, BUT ONLY AT START UP IN PARKING LOT. THEN IT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 4 CHILDREN IN VAN AGES 1, 2, 8 AND 10 YEARS OLD! HAVE NO FAITH IN SAFETY OF VEHICLE! DEALER STILL WANTS ME TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THE KIDS IN THIS CONDITION AND I CANNOT PUT MY CHILDREN IN DANGER. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10169593September 29, 2006AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL # 04V480000 REGARDING AIRBAGS. THE RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT, THEN THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE 2 DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG, THE HORN, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD ALL FAILED. THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FIRST, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE REASON FOR DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE SAME OWNERSHIP ANYMORE. THE SECOND TIME, THE GIVEN REASON FOR DENIAL WAS THAT THE RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT IN 2004, BUT THE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED IN 2006. THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME, THE REASON FOR DENIAL WAS THAT THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE REASON THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP AS OPPOSED TO A DEALER, WAS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 11/14/06. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0