Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints

13,518 consumer complaints on file.

#6900663October 9, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4542-179. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733861October 9, 2000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES , WHEN I SIGNAL FOR EITHER A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872551October 9, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INSTRUMENT PANEL EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733658October 7, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A604 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHIN 3000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. COMPLETELY REBUILT IN OCT., 1997. MILEAGE AT FAILURE, APPROX. 82,000. PRIOR HISTORY UNKNOWN. TRANSMISSION AGAIN FAILED AT A LITTLE OVER 122,000 MILES. AGAIN, COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. SPOKE WITH MANAGER OF TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO INFORMED ME OF COUNTLESS FAILURES OF THIS TRANSMISSION TYPE, AND THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS GOOD FOR HIS BUSINESS, HE KNEW OF MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS WITHIN THE A604, AND ITS SUCCESSOR, A606. IN FACT, HE HAD THREE OTHER VEHICLES, WITH MILEAGES RANGING FROM 32,000 TO 65,000, ALL WITH THE SAME FAILURES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD THE HALF-AXLES REPLACED, THREE TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS TRANSMISSION ON THE INTERNET, IT IS READILY APPARENT THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE HAS A FUNDAMENTAL, KNOWN LATENT DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SPENT MORE ON THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULS ($3000) AND THE HALF-AXLES ($1000) THAN I PAID FOR THE VAN. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT NHTSA AGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE ISSUE OF THIS EXPENSIVE, RECURRING TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN DESIGN FLAWS AND THEIR CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WITH THE MANUFACTURER. INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH DEALERS AND THE CHRYSLER CORP. ARE FRUSTRATING AND POINTLESS. THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A SERIOUS, MULTI-YEAR PROBLEM, AND INDIVIDUALS BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS COSTLY MISTAKE ON THEIR PART. PLEASE NOTE: CHRYSLER'S OVERHAUL KIT FOR THIS TRANSMISSION DOES NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW; IT ONLY PROLONGS THE ISSUE! CHRYSLER CORP., AND ITS DEALERS' ATTITUDE TOWARD ITS CUSTOMERS WITH REGARD TO THIS ISSUE IS BLATANTLY UNFAIR, CRASS, AND AS OF THIS DATE, FULL OF LIES AND DENIALS OF THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733611October 6, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN LOW GEAR 1/7/96 (34440 MILES), REBUILT BY CHRYSLER UNDER WARRANTY; TRANSMISSION BANGED HARD ON HIGHWAY (LOST REVERSE, HAD LOW GEAR ONLY AND HAD CLANGING WHILE DRIVING TO DEALER) ON 12/13/99 (71899 MILES), CHRYSLER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER, I HAD TO PAY HALF; LOCKED IN LOW GEAR 9/7/00 (79419 MILES) DEALER SERVICE SAID IT WAS A WIRING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION INPUT SENSOR AND I PAID TO FIX IT. TRANSMISSION NOW FREQUENTLY MAKES SQUEAKY NOISES WHEN SHIFTING, SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE SOMETHING UNDER CAR IS SLAMMING FORWARD WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE AND MAKES LITTLE BANGS/BUMPS WHEN COASTING LIKE THERE IS A BUMP ON THE ROAD AND THERE ISN'T ANY BUMP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733565October 6, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK BY THE DEALER WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR CORRECTION OF A FUEL SYSTEM RELATED RECALL. EITHER THEY CRACKED THE TANK DURING THE REPAIR OR IT WAS ALREADY CRACKED. IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT A GAS TANK SHOULD CRACK. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS DRIVEN CAREFULLY. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY SAID NO. HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING THE TANK REPLACED I FOUND OUT THAT A NEW TANK HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR REPLACEMENT. WHY WOULD DODGE NEED TO REDESIGN THE TANK IF IT WAS DESIGNED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE? IF OTHER TANKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF CRACKING, THERE IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM FOR OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE OCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. THANKS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733580October 6, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ABOUT ONCE A MONTH FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ENGINE RPM GOES WAY BELOW 1000 AND CAR STALLS. CAR RESTARTS BUT CONTINUES STALLING IF PRESSURE IS NOT MAINTAINED ON GAS PEDDLE. CAN BE DRIVEN THIS WAY BUT WILL STALL AGAIN IF GAS PEDDLE IS RELEASED. PROBLEM STARTS TO GO AWAY BY ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES DRIVING OR 30 MINUTES PARKED. BROUGHT TO DEALER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. THEY COULDN'T FIND/VERIFY PROBLEM SO THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. TUNEUPS DIDN'T HELP. HIGH OCTANE GAS DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733585October 6, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE ATTEMPING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. GRINDING NOISES IN THE BRAKES AND UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE IMPACT. REPORT PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY ALWAYS SAY "NO PROBLEMS FOUND".*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733604October 6, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS BEEN IN A SJOP SPECIALIZING IN TRANSMISSIONS DEFYING ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE THE SECOND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED JANUARY, 1999. THE MECHANICS ARE AT A TOTAL LOSS TO EXPLAIN WHY A SIMPLE THING LIKE A TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY IN JANUARY, 1999 AND HAS BEEN EFFECTIVELY DESTROYED BY SOMETHING UNIDENTIFIABLE NOW. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED ON AUGUST 3, 2000 AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE TO THIS WRITING. THE CAR WOULD STOP AT HIGH SPEED IN HIGHWAYS TRAPPING ME AND MY CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, LIETRALLY TERRORIZING ME AND MY CHILDREN. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AFTEN AND THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE OCCURRED EARLY WHNE THE COLUMN-MOUNTED SHIFT WOULD WITHOUT WARNING POP OUT OF GEAR, LEAVING THE CAR EITHER IN NEUTRAL OR WITH THE ENGINE TURNING OFF. ALL THIS WAS VERY TROUBLING BUT CHRYSLER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL." THAT SUMMARIZES MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TOTALLY DANGEROUSLY UNRELIABLE VEHICLE. THE ONLY THING THAT HASN'T FAILED HAS BEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT I OR ANY PASSENGERS OR OTHER DRIVERS (MY OLDER CHILDREN DRIVE) COULD HAVE DIED IF THE GAS IGNITED WHEN I FOUND THE DISCHARGE OF GAS AS INDICATED BY THE RAPIDLY DROPPING GAS GAUGE INTO THE ENGINE CREATING AN INCREDIBLY NOXIOUS ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ALERTING ME TO THE POTENTIAL HAZARD. CHRYSLER SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED TWO RECALLS ON THIS FAILED FUEL SYSTEM. I HAVE JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER- THIS AT FOUR YEARS OLD. CLEARLY CHRYSLER KNOWS A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS, DEADLY VEHICLE THAN IT IS ADMITTING THROUGH THESE RECALLS AND I AM RIPPING MAD. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733424October 4, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL, THE MINIVAN ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN TO OVER 90 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL CANNOT BE DISENGAGED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES NOR BY PRESSING CRUISE BUTTON OR CANCEL. IF PUT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE RACES TO OVER 7000 RPM. THE VAN MUST BE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THEN THE CRUISE/THROTTLE CAN BE MANUALLY DISENGAGED UNDER THE HOOD. ON 6/23/98, THE CABLE-THROTTLE CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE FAILED AGAIN REQUIRING REPLACEMENT A SECOND TIME ON 10/03/00 AT FAMILY AUTO CENTER, MUSKEGON, MI. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED TO INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION AND HOPEFULLY A SAFETY RECALL. INSTEAD, I WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. MR. MARC GOSS, SERVICE MANAGER AT FAMILY AUTO, IS PLANNING TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH A CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE LATER THIS MONTH. HE IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS SHOWN ANY CONCERN TO THIS POINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733428October 4, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (#24-06-97) INDICATES CONNECTOR 'CORROSION' PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSES FRONT HVAC BLOWER(FAN) TO NOT OPERATE ON SOME OR ALL SPEEDS EXCEPT 'HIGH'. WHILE REPLACING RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR (PER THE BULLETIN) I FOUND THEY WERE NOT ONLY RUSTED TOGETHER, BUT THE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED AT ONE OF THE CONTACTS (FROM THE RESISTANCE CAUSED BY THE RUST) INDICATING A HIGH POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE OCCURRING FROM THIS COMMON PROBLEM. I HAD TO WORK VERY HARD TO PRY THE CONNECTOR FROM THE RESISTOR SO I IMAGINE MOST TIMES THIS PROBLEM IS SERVICED THE CONNECTOR IS JUST CUT FROM THE WIRING HARNESS AND DISCARDED WITH THE RESISTOR STILL CONNECTED SINCE BOTH ARE TO BE REPLACED ANYWAYS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE POSSIBLE MELTING OF THE CONNECTOR NOT TO BE NOTICED OR REPORTED IN MANY CASES. 'UNDERHOOD' MAY BE MISLEADING IN THIS CASE ALSO, AS THE RESISTOR IS MOUNTED THROUGH THE FIREWALL INTO THE VEHICLE AND IT'S VENTILATION SYSTEM !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872279October 4, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
SHIFT GEARS CAN BE EASILY MOVED INTO GEAR FROM THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733330October 3, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
THE TURN SIGNAL IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN WITH THE VAN SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. THEY JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN WON'T WORK. NO LIGHTS, NO FLASH, NO NOTHING. THEN FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THEY DECIDE TO WORK. WE JUST BOUGHT A 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING AND MY WIFE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. HER DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SEBRINGS TURN SIGNAL EITHER. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE ONLY BECAUSE, DURING A RAIN STORM I COULD NOT SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS OF MY INTENT TO CHANGE LANES BEFORE I GOT TO MY EXIT. THIS WAS NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. AND YES, YOU GUESSED IT, THE NEXT DAY THEY WORKED FINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#872102October 3, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES, PEDAL BECOMES HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE ABS; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733186October 2, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
INADEQUATE FORWARD VISIBILTY, RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISION AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY IN FLORIDA.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#871936October 2, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, SMOKE CAME FROM BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, WHEN GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732940September 30, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
SOUNDS FUNNY, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, MICE GET INTO OUR VAN. AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE!! WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR IN, THE DEALER TOLD US THEY HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS, OUR CASHIER EVEN TOLD US HER VAN HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. OUR KIDS ARE ALWAYS GETTING SICK AND THERE IS MOUSE DROPPINGS ALL OVER THE CARE ALL THE TIME. NONE OF OUR OTHER CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ALL THE WINDOWS /DOORS ARE CLOSED, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS FRESH MICE DROPPINGS IN THE CAR (WE LIVE NEAR A FIELD, SO YES FIELD MICE ARE NEARBY) IT'S GOTTEN REALLY BAD AS OF LATE, AND I'M AFFAID OUR KIDS ARE GOING CATCH SOMETHING. AGAIN, THE DEALER HAS SAID OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED, BUT THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MICE ARE GETTING IN. PLEASE HELP, AS WE FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE (YES IN A DIFFERENT WAY, THEN MOST OF YOUR COMPLAINTS). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733038September 30, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PURCHASED VAN 1998; 1ST FAILURE FEB. 26, 1998 ABS BRAKE FAILURE; MILEAGE 65,928; REPLACED PUMP AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY; 2ND BRAKE FAILURE JULY 1998; MILEAGE 75,991; REPLACED ACCURATOR PISTON AND PISTON PACKAGE; 3RD BRAKE FAILURE MAY 25, 1999; MILEAGE 87,880; REPLACED MODULE ABS CONTROL ASSSEMBLY,MODULE ECU; 4TH BRAKE FAILURE SEPT 23, 2000 AND NO REPAIR SO FAR DUE TO BEYOND 100,000 MILE EXTENDED HIDDEN FACTORY WARRANTY AND NO CONFIDENCE IN IT BEING EFFECTIVELY REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732838September 29, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF UPON OPENING -- 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS. MANUFACTURER STATES THIS IS ACCEPTABLE "WEAR AND TEAR". INJURIES WERE AVOIDED, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE HAD MY 3 YR OLD CHILD BEEN THE PERSON OPENING THE DOOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732761September 28, 2000
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING IN THE PHOENIX AREA MAKING A NORMAL LEFT TURN AT A STREET INTERSECTION, SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL JAMMED, SO THAT I WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN UP AT THE END OF THE TURN AND HAD TO BRAKE SHARPLY AND STOP, ELSE HIT CARS ON THE LEFT WAITING FOR THEIR LIGHT! IN THE FEW SECONDS OF THIS PROCESS I FELT A "CLICKING-GRINDING" OF WHAT SOUNDED LIKE BROKEN PLASTIC INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING. HAD I BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DEFECTIVE PART AND JAMMED STEERING WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR FATALITIES. INSPECTION SHOWED A BROKEN WHITE NYLON OR PLASTIC PIECE IN THE NAMED TURN-SIGNAL SWITCH MODULE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE. PART.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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