Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1999)

432 consumer complaints on file.

#10305438February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EVERYTIME I AM GOING DOWNHILL OR STEEP ROADS, I HAVE NO CONTROL OF MY CARS DECELERATION EXCEPT BY USING MY BRAKES. I HAVE NO MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR DOWNSHIFTING OR ENGINE BRAKING. THIS CAUSES MY BRAKES TO OVERHEAT AND FADE. MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOSTICK (MANUAL ELECTRONIC SHIFT), WHICH THE CONTROLS FOR ARE ON THE SHIFTER HANDLE ON THE COLUMN. THE WIRE INSIDE THE SHIFTER HANDLE LOSES ITS CONNECTION OR GETS CUT AT THE PIVOT POINT, MAKING IT NON-OPERATIONAL. I'VE CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER FOR THE PARTS NEEDED (AUTOSTICK SHIFTER LEVER) AND THEY SAID, THAT PART HAS BEEN ON BACKORDER NATIONWIDE. I'VE ALSO WENT ONLINE AND TALKED TO A FEW OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE AND THEY HAD EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THE CUT WIRE BECAUSE THE SHIFTER HANDLE IS A SEALED UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290861November 3, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE REPAIRING A FAULTY STRUT IN THE FRONT END I DISCOVERED A RUSTED THROUGH TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE HOLE IS ABOUT ONE-THIRD THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TOP OF THE TOWER. THE TOP IS ALSO PARTIALLY BENT UPWARDS FROM THE FORCE OF THE STRUT PUSHING UP. IF THIS BREAKS THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION WILL COLLAPSE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DODGE ISSUED TSB 23-044-02 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THE DEALER I TALKED TO, HERB CHAMBERS IN DANVERS MASS., SAID THE RIGHT WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REMOVE THE MOTOR AND WELD IN A NEW TOWER. THIS IS VERY COSTLY, PROBABLY MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE VAN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT DODGE SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276201July 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN THE RAIN , ON OUR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAD GONE THROUGH A PUDDLE AND AS I TURNED A CORNER I LOST POWER STEERING. I MADE IT ONTO THE SIDE GRASS AS I WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. I WAS ONLY A COUPLE FEET AWAY FROM HITTING A BRICK BUILDING. THIS WAS A VERY UNSETTLING EXPERIENCE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268683May 13, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WE BOUGHT OUR DODGE GRAND CARAVAN NEW IN 1999. TODAY (MAY 13,2009) I WENT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE STRUT MOUNT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS RUSTING AWAY. ONE-QUARTER TO ONE-THIRD OF THE METAL SUPPORTING THE STRUT MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. IT WAS LARGE ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD HAVE STUCK YOUR HAND THROUGH IT. I THEN TOOK IT TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP THEY THEN CALLED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP REGARDING ANY HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED A HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND SAID A "KIT" WAS AVAILABLE TO FIX IT. THE BODY SHOP SAID IF THERE WAS A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS THEN THAT MEANS THAT THIS WAS BY NO MEANS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS SHOCKED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268452May 12, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
RUSTING STRUT TOWER 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. RUSTED THROUGH TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266041April 20, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DEAR STAFF MEMBERS: I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 104,000 MILES ON IT. THE FRONT STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTING BADLY AND I WAS TOLD BY A DODGE MECHANIC AT SHERMAN DODGE IN SKOKIE, ILLINOIS (WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN) THAT THE STRUT WILL POP THROUGH THE HOOD ANYTIME AND WOULD CAUSE THE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE DODGE PICK UP SOME, IF NOT ALL OF THE REPAIR COST. I ALSO INSPECT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED PRETTY SERIOUS RUSTING AT VARIOUS STRUCTURAL COMPONENT. DODGE NEED TO SHOW "AMERICAN" RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY ISSUES OF THEIR PRODUCTS. THANKS. *TR WL, CHICAGO, IL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260715March 4, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OF DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. I DRIVE A 3.3L DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I HAD NO IDEA HOW POPULAR THIS PROBLEM IS. CHRYSLER COULD FIX IT WITH A TENSIONER WITH A SIDEWALL OR A RIBBED TENSIONER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257037January 31, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK, WHEN IT SUDDENLY CHANGED TO REVERSE, KNOCKING DOWN AND RUNNING OVER THE DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10252774December 25, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
THREE TIMES IN SIX WEEKS, THE SERPENTINE BELT (WHICH POWERS THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP) HAS SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEYS. IN ONE OF THE THREE INSTANCES, THE DRIVE BELT WAS SHREDDED. AFTER A QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET, LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WERE FOUND. FORTUNATELY, IN OUR CASE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INJURY TO DATE, HOWEVER A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT THE WRONG MOMENT COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. LIKEWISE, LOSS OF ACCESSORIES SUCH AS THE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP COULD LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED. ON THIS VEHICLE, THE BELT TENSIONER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN 1,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252067December 17, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MY 99 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS THE STRUT TOWERS RUSTING AWAY,CREAKING AND POPPING NOISES CONTINUE,NO REPAIR DONE YET,CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY FAIL TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT'S DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248377November 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 99 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WHEN I FIRST GOT IT EVERY THING WAS WORKING FINE. I HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND NOW THE HORN DOESN'T WORK, THE BLINKERS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON WHICH MEANS IT ISN'T WORKING. THESE PROBLEMS ARE DANGEROUS IN ALOT OF WAYS AN AIRBAG FAILING CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. ALSO MY BLINKERS ONLY WORKING SOMETIMES HAVE CAUSED ME TO GET A TICKET AND THE HORN NOT WORKING MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE WIRING IN THE DASH. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THE WHOLE THING REWIRED SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244677October 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HEADLIGHTS TURN ON AT OFF RANDOMLY. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW THE FIX, OR THE CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237505August 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEYSWITCH WILL NOT TURN... SOMETIMES IT DOES FINE, OTHER TIMES IT LOCKS UP. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. FIDDLING WITH IT, OR HITTING IT, WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE IT TO UNLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236500July 31, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING
1- NOISE SERPENTINE BELT. 2- SUDDEN TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. OCCURS EVERYTIME IT RAINS. RESULTING IN TEMPORARY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I AM UNABLE TO STEER EVEN THOUGH I AM A STRONG 350LBS. 3- HAVE CHANGED SERPENTINE BELT SEVERAL TIMES BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232315June 25, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1999, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLAMPS WERE DIM. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY LAUGHED AT HER. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. SHE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED AND RECENTLY HAD THE HEADLAMPS POLISHED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS THE CONTACT'S PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 280,000. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE TAILGATE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE SLIDING DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE CRYSTALLIZED TO THE POINT IT CREATES SHADOWS ON THE ROAD. UPDATED 09/012/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229993June 5, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I HAVE A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 70K MILES. OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED, USUALLY THE LEFT SIGNAL. SOMETIMES THE SIGNALS WON'T WORK WHEN FIRST APPLIED, BUT THEN SUDDENLY START WORKING AGAIN. I FINALLY TRACED THE PROBLEM TO THE "TURN SIGNAL/EMERGENCY FLASHER" MODULE, CHRYSLER PART # 4686190. THE MODULE ITSELF IS FINE, BUT THROUGH ROAD VIBRATION THE MODULE LOSES FULL CONTACT WITH ITS RECEPTACLE. BECAUSE THE MODULE IS PLUGGED INTO A FUSE BLOCK SIDEWAYS, THE PART IS FAIRLY LARGE, AND NOT BALANCED, THE DESIGN CONTRIBUTES TO THE MODULE BREAKING CONTACT WITH ITS RECEPTACLE. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER CHRYSLER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227499May 12, 2008
SEAT BELTS
I WAS TRYING TO INSTALL MY CARSEAT WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE REAR THREE POINT SEATBELTS DON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. YES, YOU CAN BUCKLE UP AND FEEL SECURE BUT WHEN I TESTED THEM I NOTICED THE DON'T LOCK IN PLACE IF JERKED ON OR WHEN PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT. THAT MAKES THEM USELESS TO ME BECAUSE YOU CAN'T USE THEM TO TIGHTEN DOWN A CARSEAT AND THEY WON'T KEEP YOU FROM GOING OUT THE WINDOW IN AN ACCIDENT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WOULD PUT INADEQUATE AND NON-FUNCTIONING SEATBELT IN A FAMILY VEHICLE, BUT I GUESS THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET ROBOTS BUILD YOUR CARS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY RECALL INFO OR ADVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227246May 11, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HAVE A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN AND THE STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTING THROUGH. THEY ARE GETTING TO WHERE THE VAN IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT DODGE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT THEY DID NOTHING. THEY SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THEIR POOR WORK. IF THEY DON'T FIX THIS SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224717April 16, 2008
SUSPENSION
MY CAR WAS JUST IN A MINOR FRONT END ACCIDENT DURING A SNOWSTORM. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINOR FRONT END REPAIRS NOW IS RESULTING IN A BIG ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. MY VAN WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. I AM THE 2ND OWNER. THE MECHANIC, WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, FOUND A BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE SHOCK TOWER. THIS IS DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE SINCE IT IS CAUSED BY RUST AND IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. HAD IT NOT BEEN COMMON, ALLSTATE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS LOOPHOLE AND THE COST TO REPAIR THE SHOCK TOWER WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. I AM FINDING, THROUGH RESEARCH, THAT THIS FLAW IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES IS VERY COMMON, YET HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED BY CHRYSLER. ON THE WEB I SEE BLOG AFTER BLOG ABOUT THIS DEFECT YET CHRYSLER DOES NOT DEEM IT NECESSARY TO RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS REPAIR IS ROUGHLY $3000 EACH SIDE! THAT IS 3/4 WORTH THE VALUE OF MY CAR. I THOUGHT THIS VAN WOULD BE WITH MY FAMILY FOR A DECADE, BUT I ONLY HAD THE VAN FOR 3 YEARS! DUE TO THIS FLAW IN THE VEHICLE, IT WILL BE SOLD FOR PARTS. I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR COSTS. SINCE I AM A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR, JUST LAID OFF TWO WEEKS AGO, THIS "FLAW" OF CHRYSLER'S DODGE GC WILL COST ME MORE THAN JUST ITS REPLACEMENT VALUE. THIS IS WRONG. KNOW OF ANY CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST CHRYSLER FOR THE SHOCK TOWER FLAW? THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB # 23-044-02 ON OCTOBER 14, 2002. SO THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND YET IT CONTINUES. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, LAURA HOSKE *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224173April 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE FAILURE, BUT TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS THE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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