Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1997)

583 consumer complaints on file.

#10045087October 30, 2003
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CAR SERPENTINE BELT WAS MAKING NOISE. WAS TOLD IT WAS WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT. DROVE CAR IN HEAVY RAIN, SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. TOWED CAR TO DEALER REPLACED BELT AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. SAME DAY DROVE CAR IN HEAVY RAIN, SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. DEALER CHECKED WITH CHRYSLER ON FIXES. INSTALLED A CLIP. THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO SOLVE MY PROBLEMS. NO HEAVY RAIN FOR A WHILE. THEN, DROVE MY CAR IN HEAVY RAIN, SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF AGAIN. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH ALL THEY COULD DO. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR INTO PUDDLES. WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. STATED TO THE DEALER, THAT I DROVE THROUGH PUDDLES WITH NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. THEY DID NOT HAVE A ANSWER FOR ME, AGAIN THEY SAID "YOU SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING IN PUDDLES". I ASKED IF I CANNOT DRIVE IN PUDDLES WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO. THEY SAID TURN AROUND AND FIND A DIFFERENT ROUTE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE. WHAT IF I'M ON A HIGHWAY? SHOULD I TURN AROUND? I'VE DONE SOME SEARCHING ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO OWNS A CARAVAN THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043825October 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT FALLS OFF WHEN WATER GETS ON IT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND AM CONCERNED THAT MY FAMILYS' SAFETY WILL BE IN JEPARDY EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES TO US AND I FEEL THIS WARRANTS A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044823October 27, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043186October 19, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WE HAD PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR BAG LIGHT. WE FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM, AND IT WAS CORRECTED BY THE DEALER. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD AFTER THIS RECALL, OUR HORN WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED BY THE SAME DEALER,(COST ALMOST $200.00). THREE MONTHS AFTER THE HORN REPLACEMENT, IT WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO CHARGE. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT IT SOUNDS TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT WE HAD HORN PROBLEMS AFTER THE RECALL WORK. OUR VAN HAS 61,412 MILES ON IT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042752October 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IN THE PAST THREE YEARS CONSUMER CHANGED FOUR TIMES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037484September 8, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF STREET WATER, I.E. WATER-FILLED POTHOLE, CURB WATER DRAINAGE, ETC GETS SPLASHED UP ONTO THE VEHICLE UNDERSIDE THE POWER STERRING ASSIST DISAPPEARS FOR A SHORT INTERVAL, 10 TO 20 SECONDS. DURING THAT PERIOD I, A 200 LB MAN WITH REASONABLE BODY STRENGTH, CAN BARELY CONTINUE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS. I HAVE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE CURB THREE TIMES ALREADY. I AM ARETIRED MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH EXTENSIVE "DO IT YOURSELF" EXPERIENCE AND I PERCEIVE THAT WATER IS SPLASHING UP ON THE SERPANTINE BELT AND THE BELT FRICTION IS CHANGED ENORMOUSLY WHEN WATER GETS SPLASHED ON THAT BELT. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE IS NO SPLASH GUARD OR DEFLECTOR TO PROTECT THE BELT FROM WATER BEING SPLASHED UP BY THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. MY ENGINE IS THE LARGEST DISPLACEMENT V6. I HAVE HAD MY BELT TENSIONER CHECKED AND IT IS PERFORMING PROPERLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031197August 10, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. STARTED VEHICLE AND LET IDLE WHILE IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE APPEARED TO FORM VAPOR LOCK AND STALLED. TRIED RESTARTING. NO EFFECT. SMELLED FUEL. LOOKED OUTSIDE AND FOUND VERY LARGE FUEL SPILL ON SIDE OF VEHICLE. EVACUATED VEHICLE AND CALLED 911 IN CASE OF FIRE. FD REPORTED SEPARATION OF FUEL LINE FROM FUEL TANK. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. AWAITING PARTS AND REPAIR INFO. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031611July 30, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LINE, LOCATED NEAR THE GAS TANK, HAD CORRODED RESULTING IN THE BRAKE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030478July 30, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIPPING. SOMETIMES TAKES A FEW MOMENTS FOR IT TO 'CATCH' FIRST GEAR TO GO FROM A LIGHT OR SHIFTS 'HARD' WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO, DOWN SHIFTS 'HARD' WHEN DECELERATING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029111July 24, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR 1997 DODGE CARAVAN WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE OVER TIME. THE LOCAL DEALER BELIEVES THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $200. THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND AN ANNOYANCE AND I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD COVER THE COST TO REPAIR IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029799July 22, 2003
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029509July 11, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN, AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TENSIONER ASSEMBLY FAILED, HORN WAS INOPERABLE, AND THE WATER PUMP LEAKED. AS CORRECTIONS, ALL DEFECTIVE COMPONETS WERE REPLACED. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025394July 3, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT CAUSING THE GEAR SELECTOR, ABS, AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023975June 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SINCE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT, THE SERPENTINE BELT REGULARLY SLIPS OFF WHEN SPLASHED WITH WATER. - CAME OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. - DEALER TRIED REPLACING TENSIONER (WHICH I HAD REPLACED 6 MONTHS EARLIER) - NO LUCK - WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO SOLVE WITH DEALER. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024705June 23, 2003
PARKING BRAKE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT STAY ENGAGED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021852May 29, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020487May 23, 2003
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WATER THE VEHICLE WILL LOST STEERING ABILITY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018907May 19, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE WAVERS AFTER FILLING UP. WHEN THERE IS LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS IN CAR, THE GAUGE READS CORRECTLY. BUT WHEN FULL, THE GAUGE GOES FROM EMPTY TO FULL CONSTANTLY AND THE BELL "DINGS" WHEN THE NEEDLE GETS TO EMPTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017108May 6, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON 04-26-2003 MY FAMILY AND I WERE LEAVING THE DETROIT METRO AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE. WE HAD JUST LEFT OUR PARKING SPOT WHEN WE PASSED OVER WHAT I ASSUMED WAS A SPEED BUMP GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH HEADING TOWARD THE TICKET BOOTH WHICH WAS JUST AHEAD. AS WE PASSED THIS SPEED BUMP OUR AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE AIR BAGS GOING OFF AS THEY DID. WE HAVE INFORMED OUR DEALERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM, AS WE FEEL THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FAULTY, AND THEY ALSO AGREED AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX] AT THE M-59 DODGE DEALER WHO SAID THAT WE WOULD BE CONTACTED AND THE MATTER INVESTIGATED. I SPOKE TO A [XXX]. , WITH THE CHRYSLER INVESTIGATIONS DEPT WHO STATED TO ME THAT THEY DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM IMPACT WITH A SPEED BUMP AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. WE FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND AT THE LEAST HAVE THE CAR FIXED, AS OUR DASH BOARD IS ALL TORE APART AT THIS TIME, MAKING THE CAR VIRTUALLY UNDRIVABLE. WE HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AS THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN A WORSE SITUATION IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PASSED A BUMP OR HIT A POT HOLE AND THESE BAGS HAD DEPLOYED,CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT/FATALITY. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, VIN # [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10016542April 26, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 48 HOURS WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE ENGINE AREA WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES, IT HAD NOT BEEN STARTED OR USED AT ALL SINCE IT WAS PARKED. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. OUR COUNTY ARSON TASK FORCE INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED IT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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