Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1998)

559 consumer complaints on file.

#10046543November 7, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OPERATE SPORADICALLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045504November 5, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DURING THE COURSE OF A SHORT TRIP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED COMPLETELY. THE FLUID DRAINED FROM THE SYSTEM THROUGH A HOLE CAUSED BY A RUST-THROUGH OF THE STEEL POWER STEERING LINES WHICH ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES, MADE OF STEEL WERE EXTENSIVELY RUSTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046146October 31, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FRONT END VIBRATED STRONGLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND CALIPERS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039836October 23, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ON TWO OCCASIONS, BOTH DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM, THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. THIS CAUSED A LOST OF POWER STEERING, OVERHEATING AND THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE SERVICE COULD NOT FIND A REASON AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON ON THE EAST COST DUE TO THE RAIN AND SNOW. (MODEL/SPORT) *PH *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043099October 17, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE SPORADICALLY ON THEIR OWN; IN ADDTION, THE GAS GAUGE GOES FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK AGAIN SPORADICALLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH POINTS TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS AS THE PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038214October 1, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
RECALL 02V293000 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT REQUIRED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WITH OVER 70,000 MILES.*AK. THE CONSUMER STATED IF IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS DODGE HAD STATED THEN IT SHOULD NOT MATTER HOW MANY MILES A VEHICLE HAS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039529September 25, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING:COLUMN, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BEGAN TO SLIP AND STAY IN SECOND GEAR AROUND 50K MILES. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE COST OF REPAIR IS MORE THAN I COULD EVER AFFORD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS AND THERE IS NOT MUCH VARIATION IN PRICE. GENERALLY THE COST IS GOING TO BE FROM $16,000 TO $2,400. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR EITHER. I AM READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? THE DEALER SHOULD GLADLY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS SINCE THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO ABSORB THE COST THEMSELVES. THEY WILL RECALL SOMETHING SMALL LIKE BRAKES OR FAN BELT. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIP OFF TWICE WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. BOTH TIMES MY ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, BOTH FATALLY SERIOUS PROBEMS. WHAT IS THE DEAL? I DEMAND RELIEF! NO ONE IS GOING TO TRADE THIS PIECE OF JUNK WITH ME. WHAT IS THE DEALER WILLING TO DO?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040678September 25, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ODOR AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039510September 24, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH UNEVEN SHIFTING FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS GRAND CARAVAN. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP TO A HIGHER RPM THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO HIGHER GEAR. INITIALLY WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD ADJUST TO THE DRIVER AND THUS ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT RECENT OCCURRENCES, WHEN IN GEAR, THE CAR DID NOT ENGAGE AND SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE THIRD TIME, WHILE MOVING AND MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND PUT ME IN THE PATH OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THUS NEEDED TO TAKE TRANSMISSION APART. UPON DISASSEMBLY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GEARS HAD BEEN GROUND OFF AND NOT REPAIRABLE AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NO FAULT OF ANYTHING I DID. THE REMEDY WAS A $3000 COST TO PUT IN A FACTORY-REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT EXCEPT THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LATE AT NIGHT ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN TRAFFIC WAS LOW. THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNIQUE TO THIS VEHICLE AS OTHER COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA. THIS GRAND CARAVAN TRANSMISSION DESIGN FLAW NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. THE CAR OWNERS LIVES SHOULD NOT BE PUT AT RISK, NOR SHOULD THEY HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FIXING A PROBLEM WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLAW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033821September 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON 07/05/03, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BROKEN CAMSHAFT AND REPAIRED IT. ON 08/19/03, ENGINE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED FAILURE DUE TO CAMSHAFT BROKEN AGAIN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED A DEFECT EXISTED BEHIND THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT FAILURE.*AK *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038671September 10, 2003
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THIS WAS SENT TO DODGE'S WEBSITE EMAIL CONTACT. I AM SENDING IT TO YOU FWIIW JUST IN CASE ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS. I REALLY DON'T EXPECT A REPLY. I JUST WANT TO DOCUMENT MY PROBLEMS WHICH ARE: 1. AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR GOING OUT AT 58298 MILES 2. MOTOR PUTTING A CONNECTING ROD (WE THINK) THROUGH THE CRANKCASE AT 62,500 MILES. THE MECHANICS I KNOW SAY THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN DOWN, RATHER STRANGE THEY SAY. I WANT TO SEND YOU MY GRIPE SO THAT IT IS DOCUMENTED. AFTER BEING TOWED 130 MILES HOME AND TALKING TO 2 TOW TRUCK OPERATORS, A JUNK YARD MECHANIC(EX-DODGE WRENCH), AND A PATRON AT MY WIFE'S RESTAURANT, I LEARNED THAT NO ONE WAS SURPRISED THAT THIS MOTOR DIED WITH THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. THEY HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN TO OTHERS OR HAD IT HAPPEN TO THEM AT NEARLY THE EXACT MILEAGE. THIS MAY BE, AND PROBABLY WILL BE, THE LAST CHRYSLER I EVER BY. HONDA AND TOYOTA ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW. SOOOO, IF YOU HEAR ENOUGH GRIPES, MAYBE YOU WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTY, YES I WAS OFFERED IT, BUT REFUSED BECAUSE IT IS EXPENSIVE AND IT SHOULDN'T BE NEEDED. SEE HONDA/TOYOTA QUOTE. THE HEAD MECHANIC AT MY SHOP, WITH A FLEET OF DOZENS OF VEHICLES OPINED THE SAME REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTIES, THEY ARE AN UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. EVERYONE KNOWS EXTENDED WARRANTIES ARE A MONEY MAKER FOR THE SELLER, OR ELSE IT WOULDN'T BE SOLD, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INSURANCE. MY 2CENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037530September 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2001. AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT, WHICH BROKE AS SOON AS I TURNED A CORNER,(WE WERE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP, MAROONE TOYOTA IN WESTON, FL SOULD SEE NOTHING WRONG) WE THEN HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AS OUR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE) WITHIN THE NEXT 2 YEARS OF HAVING THIS CAR, WE HAVE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT 4 ADDIOTNAL TIMES, WE HAVE HAD THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVER DOOR BREAK AND WE CANNOT GET THAT WINDOW DOWN, WE HAVE THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM (WHICH I JUST NOTED IS A RECALL ISSUE THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE), WE HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED THE A/C BREAKING DOWN, WICH LOOKS IN TURN THAT THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PULLEY OR SYSTEM IT IS ATTCHED TO ( A COIL PROBLEM). WE HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND I MUST ADMIT THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED WITH A USED VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT COMPLICATIONS WITH THIS VEHICLE - I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED THEVEHICLE AND COUNT MY BLESSINGS, I'M AFRAID THE NEXT TIME SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE - IT MAY COST US OURLIVES. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CONTACT ME AND TELL ME MY OPTIONS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037325September 6, 2003
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SEATBACKS ON MIDDLE ROW CAPITAINS SEATS ARE CONSTANTLY COMMING LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS ON SIDE NEAR FOLDING HINGES COMING LOOSE! VERY UNSAFE AS BACKS OF SEATS CAN FALL OFF OR RECLINE FULLY BACK RENDERING SEATBELTS WORTHLESS!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037326September 6, 2003
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER A/C FAILED DUE TO PROBLEMS AT REAR A/C SYSTEM. DEFROSTING/FOGGING PROBLEMS WERE A CONSEQUENCE AND CREATED A VISABILITY PROBLEM!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033069August 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THE RADIATOR RELAY SWITCH ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN KEEPS GOING OUT, CAUSING RADIATOR FANS TO NOT RUN AND VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THIS IS THIRD TIME. ONCE IN APRIL, JULY AND NOW AUGUST. DEALER REPALCES RELAY EACH TIME AND MOVES IT ON SECOND TIME WITH NEW GROUND. FAILED A THIRD TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032367August 7, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
THE REAR LIFT GATE LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE WHILE BEING USED. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030823August 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE 1998 GRAND CARAVAN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALL IDLER PULLEYS, TENSIONERS ETC MULTIPLE TIMES TRYING TO GET RID OF THE SQUAKING NOISE AND THE BELT FALLING OFF WHEN YOU GET IT WET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030883August 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TRANSMISSION IN 1998 GRAND CARAVAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE A BROKEN DIFFERENTIAL PIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032019August 4, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR COMPRESSOR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER ALSO, HORN IS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR AIR BAGS IS ON AT ALL TIMES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031792August 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHEN IT RAINS HARD THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND OVERHEATING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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