Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (2008)

1,293 consumer complaints on file.

#10343197July 14, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORN OUT TWICE IN 24K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342632July 12, 2010
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND ACTIVATED THE AIR CONDITIONER, WARM AIR BEGAN TO CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE A LEAK. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A LEAK AND THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM WAS RECHARGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,300. UPDATED 09/29/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342544July 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER DOORS REOPENING THEMSELVES ON THIS VAN. I HAVE HAD ITEMS GET TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE DOORS OF THIS VAN AS WELL. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND OF COURSE COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAD ALSO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR BEING SLUGGISH IN RESPONSE AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THAT PROBLEM EITHER. THEY SAID IT WAS JUST THE COMPUTER TAKING A LITTLE LONGER TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR WHICH I FEEL IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE COMING DOWN WHEN THE REAR DOOR IS SHUT. I DID NOT REALIZE IT HAD COME DOWN ONE TIME AND I CLIMBED INTO THE BACK AREA AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE PLASTIC PART WHICH CAUSED A SEVERE CUT TO MY HEAD AND TOOK A WHILE FOR THE BLEEDING TO STOP. I SHOWED THE DEALER THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID OH THAT'S A PLASTIC PIECE SO IF YOU WANT THAT TO BE RIGHT YOU HAVE TO PAY YOURSELF TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE ITS CONSIDERED "NORMAL WEAR". I FEEL THAT THESE ARE ALL SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341536July 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NOISE STARTED AT 13,188 MILES WITH 2008 CARAVAN. TOLD TO FIX FRONT BRAKES, I DID. STILL A NOISE. AT 30K MILES THEY FINALLY FOUND THAT 1 REAR BRAKE CALIPER WAS STICKING THE OTHER WAS FROZEN. I BELIEVE THIS LED TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE REAR BRAKES ARE ALSO A PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341538July 6, 2010
WHEELS
DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2008. LEFT FRONT HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY BAD AT ~38,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341576July 6, 2010
VISIBILITY
2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DESIGN FLAW CAUSES LINES TO CORRODE DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONING TO FAIL. THE FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DUE TO THE DESIGN FLAW ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NOT WINDOW DEFOGGING CAPABILITIES, THUS IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD. INSTEAD OF HAVING THE REAR AND FRONT WINDOWS DEFOGGED USING THE AC VENTS YOU MUST STOP AND WIPE WITH A CLOTH OR JUST CEASE DRIVING ALTOGETHER; THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE DURING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN. THE DESIGN FLAW CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONING TO FAIL ALSO POSES A HEALTH RISK TO THOSE TRAVELING WITHIN THE VEHICLE IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES SUCH AS ARE NOW BEING EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340322June 27, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE THE REAR HATCH OF OUR 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS CLOSING, OUR DAUGHTER WALKED BEHIND THE VAN. THE REAR HATCH CAME DOWN ON HER AND DID NOT STOP. I HIT THE REMOTE FOR IT TO GO BACK UP AND IT BOUNCED ON OUR DAUGHTER AND BEGAN COMING DOWN AGAIN ON HER. I TRIED TO LIFT IT UP WHILE PULLING MY DAUGHTER OUT AND IT CONTINUED TO COME DOWN. THIS VAN HAS BEEN TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICK DODGE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR THE POWER SIDE DOORS FAILING. THE SIDE DOORS BOUNCE OPEN UPON CLOSING AND WE FIND ONE OR BOTH DOORS OPEN WHEN RETURNING TO THE VAN FROM A STORE, ETC. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO CHRYSLER. WE GET THE SAME RESPONSE EACH TIME, WHICH IS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE MANY WITNESSES WHO HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN, INCLUDING OUR SALESPERSON. UNFORTUNATELY, INSTEAD OF RECTIFYING THE PROBLEM, OUR DAUGHTER NOW HAS A SERIOUS, COMPLICATED NECK INJURY. SHE IS BEING FOLLOWED BY A PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGEON AT PRESENT. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HER PROGNOSIS WILL BE. TO DATE, SHE HAS HAD X-RAYS AND AN MRI AND REMAINS IN A CERVICAL COLLAR. SHE WILL HAVE MORE X-RAYS IN 2 WEEKS. SHE IS A COMPETITIVE GYMNAST WHO NOW HAS NO ACTIVITY. THE POWER DOORS TO THESE VANS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10339298June 21, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DOGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. IN ORDER TO DISLODGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HE WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND AS THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE TO 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD RELEASE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 08/13/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VAN HAS BEEN FIXED. UPDATED 08/23/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339367June 21, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. 3 INCIDENT OF PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE. ROTORS AND PADS METAL TO METAL AT 27250 MILES. REAR BRAKES 90 GONE AFTER 11,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339181June 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS NOTICED THE VEHICLE FELT WITH LESS POWER THAN USUAL. I CAME UP TO A TRAFFIC JAM AND HAD TO REDUCE SPEED TO 0 MPH. AT THIS POINT I NOTICE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL AND BEGAN NOTICING A BURNT BRAKE SMELL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND SAW THE BRAKE PADS WERE SMOKING PROFUSELY. VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED THE ROTOR HAD ACQUIRED A LIGHT BLUE COLOR ALL AROUND. ROTORS AND PADS HAVE LESS THAN 300 MILES SINCE BEING INSTALLED, I HAD INSTALLED AFTERMARKET CERAMIC PADS INSTEAD OF DEALER'S SEMI-METALLIC COMPOUND, NEW ROTORS ARE ALSO AFTERMARKET SINCE I REFUSED TO GIVE DODGE ANY MORE MONEY FOR WHAT I CONSIDERED SUB PAR COMPONENTS SINCE I HAD TO DO A TOTAL BRAKE REPLACEMENT WELL UNDER 30,000 MILES AND MY PREVIOUS REQUEST FOR SERVICING BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY WENT UNANSWERED.. VAN WAS INSPECTED BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS BEFORE BRAKE REPLACEMENT AND BOTH DEALERS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM , THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CALIPERS AND OR OTHER BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. ONCE BRAKE PADS STOPPED SMOKING I RESUMED MINIMUM HIGHWAY SPEED UNTIL REACHING AN EXIT TWO MILES AHEAD. VAN DID NOT FEEL SLUGGISH AT THIS POINT AND BRAKES DID NOT SMOKE AGAIN. THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AGAIN BECAUSE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM PREVIOUSLY AND THEY HAVE NO KNOWN ROOT CAUSE FOR THIS FAILURE. IN MY OPINION THIS HAS TO BE RELATED TO WHAT I CONSIDER A PREMATURE BRAKE REPLACEMENT DONE EARLIER THIS MONTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336490June 15, 2010
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER BUT HOT AIR BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS RECHARGED. THE AIR CONDITIONER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS BEFORE IT FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336554June 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM ENTERPRISE CAR SALES IN MARCH OF 2010. THE VEHICLE HAD 58,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I INITIALLY TOOK THE VAN FOR A TEST DRIVE I HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. THE CAR SALES MAN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. IT IS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NEW BRAKES. SO I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH NO WARRANTY AND ENTERPRISE REASSURED ME THAT ALL OF THERE VEHICLES GO THROUGH A 109 POINT VEHICLE INSPECTION. IN APRIL 2010 I CALLED ENTERPRISE AND TOLD THEM THAT THE SQUEAKY NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER AND NOW WHEN I BACK UP I HEAR A CRANKING NOISE. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO WHEEL WORKS THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ON JUNE 2, 2010 THE SAME PROBLEMS SO I TOOK THE VAN BACK TO ENTERPRISE AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE VAN TO FIRESTONE AND THEY REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE IN BAD SHAPE. IT IS NOW JUNE 15TH AND THE SAME SQUEAKY NOISE IS HAPPENING AND WHEN YOU GO OVER ANY SPEED BUMPS IT SOUND LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE VAN IS GOING TO FALL OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336051June 13, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN PUSHING BUTTON TO MAKE THEM CLOSE. THEY WILL CLOSE THEN REOPEN CONTINUOUSLY. THE DOORS HAVE TRIED TO CLOSE WHEN MY SON WAS GETTING IN THE CAR. THANK GOODNESS I WAS STANDING THERE TO GRAB THE DOOR, BECAUSE IT WOULD OF CAUGHT HIS LEG AND HURT HIM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THESE DOORS, BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336106June 13, 2010
WHEELS
I HAVE AT 2008 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT AND EXPERIENCED A WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE BEARING HAD FROZEN I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SAFE STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335977June 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PREMATURE AND IMMEDIATE BRAKE PAD FAILURE. NO INDICATOR WARNING AND SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. ALL BRAKE PADS FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VAN AND STILL NO RECOGNITION FROM DODGE OF MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN IS OF NO CONCERN TO DODGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335834June 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN
2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LEASED. GEAR SHIFT ON THE DASH WENT FROM PARK TO N OR DRIVE BY ITSELF. KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND DRIVER AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335071June 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
PURCHASED 2008 GRAND CARAVAN MARCH 2009 WITH 14,000 MILES. ON MAY 13, 2009 HAD BRAKES CHECKED DUE TO SQUEAKING AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AT DULUTH MINNESOTA DODGE DEALER. TOLD THEY WERE FINE. FOUND OUT THAT FOUND OUT THERE WAS A TSB REPORT ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS AT 18,000 MILES AND I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND HAD ROTORS GROUND DOWN. CALLED DEALER(LUTHER DODGE IN HUDSON,MN) THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM. BRAKES ONLY WARRANTY TO 12000 MILES. CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY BASICALLY LAUGHED AT ME. NOW NEED NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AGAIN. HAVE READ 100'S OF COMPLAINTS AND THE COMPANY ISSUED A TSB KNOWING THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PRODUCT BUT REFUSE TO REPLACE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335085June 7, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. AFTER OPENING THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE LATCH INTERLOCK AREA, IN ORDER TO STOP THE SMOKE, THE CONTACT SPRAYED WATER INTO THE AREA OF THE DOOR WHERE THE INTERLOCK WAS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR REPORTS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 23,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334683June 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WE OWN A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AT 20,000 MILES. TO WHICH THE MECHANIC SAID THAT WAS ABNORMALLY SOON TO NEED NEW PADS. NOW AT 35,000 MILES THE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND IT APPEARS THE ROTORS ARE WARPED. A RECENT DISCUSSION WITH A FRIEND WHO OWNS THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL HAS THE SAME SITUATION OF PREMATURE BRAKE PAD EROSION AND NEEDS A SECOND REPLACEMENT WITH EVEN LESS MILES THAN WE HAVE ON OUR VEHICLE. ORIGINALLY WE BELIEVED WE WERE JUST HARDER ON OUR BRAKES THAN NORMAL BUT WITH TWO REPLACEMENTS AND WARPED ROTORS WITHIN 35,000 MILES WE BELIEVE THERE'S A BIGGER ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE STRANGE NOISES FROM THE FRONT BRAKE AREA AND THERE'S A CONCERN THAT THERE COULD BE OTHER ISSUES. DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND HOW QUICKLY THE 2008 GRAND CARAVAN'S ARE FAILING WE BELIEVE IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE IS HURT DUE TO THIS ABNORMAL CONDITION. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332470May 27, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FELT VERY SPONGY WHEN THE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND WOULD FALL FURTHER ONTO THE FLOOR BOARD THAN USUAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO EXHIBIT THE SAME FAILURE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAD TO BE PERFORMED BEFORE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ASSUMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HE STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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