1999 Dodge Caravan complaints

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN STOPPED WORKING.*JB

THE FIRST TIME MY VAN WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND WHEN I WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING, THE SMALL WINDOW IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS SMASHED IN. I CALLED THE POLICE, BUT THEY SAID IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE VANDALISM, SO I CHALKED IT UP AS AN ACT OF NATURE. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY SON HOME FROM PRESCHOOL AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE LARGE WINDOW NEAR HIM DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP LIGHT, TAKING THE NORMAL ROUTE AND IT SMASHED INWARD AND GLASS BLEW IN TOWARD MY SON. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THIS KIND OF DEFAULT IN THE GLASS COULD HAVE LEFT MAJOR INJURIES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS IS ADDRESSED IN THESE VEHICLES.*AK

DEALER (COURTNEY DODGE; WATERTOWN, CT; PHONE# 860/945-3633) UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL, NO PARTS AVAILABLE. FEEL TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME VERY TIGHT AND BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AND IN THE SUMMER THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE LOSE THEN TIGHTEN UP. CONTACTED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V268000 NOTICE FOR FUEL RAIL. BE ADVISED THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. CHUCK PATTERSONDEALERSHIP, 200 EAST AVE, CHICO, CA 95926 530 895 1771. MANAGER IS KEN. *AK

I WAS TOLD BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT FIRST DIAGNOSED THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET THAT HE HAD REPAIRED QUITE A FEW OF THESE AND THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER AND ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 8K OUT OF WARRANTY AGREED TO ONLY PAY FOR PART ($5 GASKET) WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR ($600). IF ONE MECHANIC AT A SMALL SHOP HAS REPAIRED MORE THAN 1 OR 2 HEAD GASKETS ON A 1999 VEHICLE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELETATE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NLM

HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIOUNED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 74000 MILES. PROBLEM STARTED ALSO IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE PURCHASED VEHICLE. *AK

ONCE AT A STOP VEHICLE STARTS TO RACE, DEALER WAS CONTACTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A OIL CHANGE, WHILE VEHICLE WAS UP ON GREASE RACK, ENGINE STARTED TO RACE, CAME OFF THE RACK. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ON 24-JUL-2001 DEALERS REPORTED IT AS A SURGING PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE AIS MOTOR, THIS HAS NOT STOPPED THE RACING OF THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND SHE IS A PARAPLEGIC IN A WHEELCHAIR, CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY. *YD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND COULD NOT PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT A PIN IN TRANSMISSION BROKE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. *AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *SLC

WHEN I STRAP MY TWO SONS AGES 3 MONTHS AND 2 1/2 YEARS INTO THEIR CARSEATS EVERYDAY, SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CONSUMERS CAN DO TO GET REPLACEMENTS FOR THE GEN3 SEATBELTS WHICH HAVE BEEN TESTED AS UNSAFE ACCORDING TO THE ABC NEWS REPORT. THE SEATBELTS CAN UNLOCK IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HAVE THESE VEHICLES RECALLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH BRAKES LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT.CONSUMER FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

WHILE STOPPING AT LIGHT VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND MADE A NOISE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. LOST ALL GEARS EXCEPT ONE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE CHANGING GEARS. ALSO, HAS PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. WHEN CONSUMER KEEPS TRYING TO MAKE VEHICLE ACCELERATE IT WILL SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME YOU WENT OVER A BUMP AT A LOW SPEED YOU COULD HEAR IT. TOOK TO DEALER (STOLTZ OF EMPORIUM) BECAUSE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED, AND SEATBELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THERE WERE SEVERAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THERE WAS A NOISE PRESENT WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR AND IT ALSO FELT SLUGGISH, THERE WAS A SHAKE IN THE FRONT END DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING ADJUSTED CORRECTLY, THE TORQUE CONVERTER, OUTPUT SENSOR, INPUT SENSOR, AND SHIFT KIT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER COMING APART, CAUSING METAL TO GO THROUGHOUT THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION AND VALVE BODY. *SLC

A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IS PRESENT WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS BEING USED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I TOOK MY VAN TO CARL GREGORY DODGE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD OF A RECALL DUE TO O RING LEAKAGE. MY VAN HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS OUTSIDE & INSIDE THE VEHICLE & I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN WHO ARE EXSPOSED TO THIS DAILY. THEY SAID MY VIN. NUMBER WASN'T IN THE RECALL & REFUSED TO CHECK MY VAN FOR THIS DEFECT. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING ALSO. OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP IS : CARL GREGORY, 3749 ALTAMA AVE, BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA 31520. THEIR PHONE IS: 912-261-9600. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CLAIM 22-V529-255. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS RESTING ALONG SIDE OF ROAD AND SMELLED SMOKE, UPON STARTING VEHICLE IT IGNITED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INJURING CONSUMER, CLAIM 22-V641-822. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, A POLICE CAR NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT BROKE THE WINDSHIELD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, CLAIM 22-V687-499. *SLC

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC OPERATED WINDOW WILL NOT GO UPAFTER BEING PUT DOWN. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WARRANTY 36,000 MILES/3YEARS. DROPPING VAN OFF FOR ROUTINE BRAKE JOB, VAN DIED IN GARAGE PARKING LOT, TEMP GUAGE HAD NO INDICATION ANYTHING WRONG,TAILPIPE SMOKING, , HAD POLICE STOP BY TO SEE, GARAGE LOOKED AT ENGINE FLY WHEEL FELL OFF AND HEAD GASKET MELTED. CAR ONLY HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT. CONTACTED CHRYSLER NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. THE GARAGE I HAVE IT AT IS NOT MORE THAN 5 MINUTES FROM A DODGE DEALER, THEY WOULD NOT EVEN SEND ANYONE TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. CANNOT GET THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS APART AND WILL COST $800 TO PUT THE BROKEN ENGINE BACK IN THE CAR AND THAT AGAIN TO HAVE DODGE TAKE IT APART. IT IS AMAZING THAT THE TEMPRATURE GUAGE WOULD NOT INDICATE THAT MY ENGINE HAD GOTTON SO HOT THAT THE HEAD GASKETT MELTED AND THE FLY WHEEL FELL OFF. THIS CAR HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES ECT AT WALMART. THEY NEVER INDICATED FLUID PROBLEMS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, A POLICE CAR PULLED UP AND NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM22-V687-499. *SLC

FEB 2001 SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER ARM BROKE TEARING UP THE SERPENTINE BELT. ARM REPLACED AND NEW BELT INSTALLED. NO DETERMINATION OF CAUSE GIVEN. DEC 3, 2001 BELT JUMPED OFF PULLEY'S/TENSIONER-DEALER STATES NO PROBLEM FOUND, BELT IN GOOD CONDITION, PROBABLE CAUSE-WATER INTRUDED TENSIONER AND CAUSE BELT TO WALK, RE-INSTALLED BELT. DEC 28, 2001 BELT AGAIN SLIPPED OFF, TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID PROBLEM WAS WATER INTRUSION CAUSING THE BELT TO SLIP, REPLACED THE BELT AGAIN THOUGH. SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS WATER INTRUSION, AND I'VE HEARD THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE/YEAR, SHOULDN'T THEY ENGINEER A FIX BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON THE FREEWAY?*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE THERE IS OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS TIGHTENED UP SOME OF THE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

THE VAN WAS TAKEN IN 2 TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY ATTEMPTED SOME REPAIRES. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD DOCUMENT IT INCASE THERE WERE PROBLEMS LATER.. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL YEAR, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL SO THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

VAN BEGAN LEAKING OIL AND MAKING LOUD RATTLING NOISE. MECHANIC FOUND AIR CONDITIONER FANS TO BE LOOSE AND CLOSE TO FALLING APART. MECHANIC FOUND A HEAVY OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC FELT THIS KIND OF MAJOR REPAIR SHOULDN'T BE NEED FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS YEAR AND MILEAGE. MECHANIC CALLED TO FIND OUT IF ANY RECALLS EXITS FOR SUCH A PROBLEM. (THEY DONT) ALSO CALLED MCKENNA DODGE(PLACE OF PURCHASE) TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A NEW PROBLEM. MECHANIC WAS TOLD THEY WERE SEEING AT LEAST 3 VANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY WEEK. MCKENNA DODGE FELT CHEAP FALTY PARTS HAD BEEN USED AND NOW THE NEGATIVE RESULTS WERE SHOWING UP.

VAN HAS A FOLDER OF REPAIR WORK 2-3 INCHES THICK, AND HAS HAD TIRE FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE RECEIPT AVAIL. AT THIS MOMENT. *AK

CONSUMER STATES HIS 3 YEAR OLD PULLED DOWN ON THE FEAR SHIFT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH THE SAFETY FEATURE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW YOU TO FIRST PLACE FOOT ON THE BRAKE BEFORE REMOVING OUT OF GEAR.*YH

CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE RESTING ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT IGNITED UPON STARTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 22-V641-822. *SLC

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALER INFORMED ME OF UNKNOWN CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS (TRANSMISSION SENSOR) TO GO BAD TWICE, BUT WAS HAPPY TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE (SUSPICIOUS, NOBODY DOES THIS FOR FREE UNLESS THERE IS A PROBLEM). NOTIFIED DODGE SINCE IT WAS NEARING THE END OF WARANTY AND FILED A COMPLAINT.*AK

ROTORS BECAME NOISY AND VIBRATED, NEW PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED TWICE.

TRANMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE WAS FLUID ALL OVER PEDALS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSLERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER FLOORBOARD. *AK

THERE EXISTS A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH IS BEING HONORED BY THE DEALER, HOWEVER, THE LATCHING RECEPTACLE ON THE PASSENGE SIDE HAS FAILED. IT DOES NOT LATCH SECURELY AND WILL RELEASE OF ITS OWN VOLITION. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE FOR A NEW LATCH AND WHILE THE COST IS NOT EXORBITANT, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM AND SHOULD BE FACTORY WARRANTED WITHOUT LIMIT. IF I WERE THE COMPANY I WOULD FAR RATHER REPALCE AN ITEM SUCH AS THIS AS OPPOSED TO BEING SUBJECT TO A LAWSUIT FOR SOMEONE INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO FAILURE.

SMELL GASOLINE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK, A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS WAS LEAKING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK, DUE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE WAS LEAKING ON THE FUEL TANK, REPLACE FUEL TANK.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND NOT GO INTO GEAR. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE VEHICLES HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ENGAGED. *YH

MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN VAN. HE WAS IN FRONT SEAT AND FOR SOME REASON HE PULLED ON THE COLUMN TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. HE IS NOT TALL ENOUGH TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHENEVER HE PULLED THE HANDLE THE VAN WENT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED APPR. 60FEET INTO THE NEIGHBORS MOTOR HOME. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER AND TO THE TAILGATE AND THE QUARTER PANEL. THE MOTORHOME ALSO HAD FENDER DAMAGE. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE BOB ALLEN DEALERSHIP IN DANVILLE KY. THEY ARE WAITING FOR A CHRYSLER REP. TO COME AND VIEW THE VAN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE. ALL OF THE COMPONENTS ARE THERE BUT NOT WORKING. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AT THEIR COST BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

AT 36,150 MILES SERPENTINE PULLEY BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

FIRST TIME CAR STALLED ON LOCAL STREET ON 27TH MAY 00 AFTER FEW ATTEMPTS, IT START AGAIN. DEALER COULD NOT FIGER OUT, IT STALLED AGAIN ON 06/11/00 ON HIGHWAY SO SCARRY, THEN THEY CHANGED COMPUTER PC IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 07/23 &07/28, 01 WHICH TEY BLAMED CARBON BUILD UP WHICH I DON'T TRUST THEM BECAUSE ONLY 23400 MILES AND I NEVER HEARD THAT CAR TURNED OFF DUE TO THAT REASON DURING NORMAL SPEED. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN. IT WAS INTERMITTENT. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, AND THEN THEY WOULD NOT COME ON. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT ADJUST. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HEADLIGHTS MIGHT GO OUT WHILE ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

1999 GRAND CARAVAN PURCHASED NEW , TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH APPROX 10000 MILES REPAIRED, STILL NOT RIGHT DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CAR CAN LUNGED FORWARD WITH VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TAKEN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE BY INDEPENDENT STATION, FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING SAID POSS SEAL WORN AT 17000 MILES.CAR HAS VERY UNUSUAL ACCELERATION PATTERNS I AM THE FULL TIME DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND AFTER TWO YEARS I STILL AM UNSURE ON HOW TO HANDLE IT WHEN ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE SEEN WITH IT IS THE BRAKES. WE HAD IT BACK TO DEALER AT 10K MILES FOR NOISE FROM BACK WHEELS, THEY TOLD US IT WAS A LOOSE CAR SEAT , WHAT DO THEY THINK WE ARE STUPID. THE WHISTLING HAS BEEN CONSTANT , EVEN AFTER TELLING THEM TO LOOK INTO IT THIS TIME THEY SAID THE HUBCAPS WERE BENT AND THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THAT, THEY NEVER CHECKED THE BRAKES ,LOW AND BEHOLD, WE NOW NEED A $400 PLUS FULL BRAKE JOB. I AM SO FED UP WITH THIS DISASTER OF A CAR.ANY INFO ON BULLETINS IN. *AK

YOUR LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CRASH OF A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN AND THE FIRE PROBLEM DUE TO A CRACKED COMPONENT. SINCE PURCHASING MY DODGE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS STRONG GAS SMELLS IN THE CAB OF THE CAR. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING. THIS STRONG GAS SMELL DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT INTERMITTENTLY. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR MAYBE A FIRE OCCURING. WHERE IS THIS STRONG SMELL COMING FROM? I CALLED THE CHRYSLER ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY WORD AGAINST THE DEALERS AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. I HAVE SERVERAL WITNESSES TO THE STRONG GAS SMELL. WE REMAIN CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY SINCE NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE JUST WONDER IF THERE IS A SIMILARITY TO THE RECENT PROBLEM YOU HAVE REPORTED. WE WANT THIS CORRECTED, BUT HAVE HIT A DEAD END EVERY WHERE WE TURN. WE UNDERSTAND IT IS HARD FOR A DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM WHEN IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PATTERN AS TO WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE IN OUR CAR. TO US, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF YOU NEED TO CALL BEFORE JULY 29, WE WILL BE AT THE FOLLOWING PHONE NUMBER UNTIL THEN. 864-638-7338. AFTER JULY 29, WE WILL BE AT THE NUMBER GIVEN IN THIS QUESTIONAIRE. THANK YOU.*AK

WE WERE ADVISED THAT COMPONENT WAS REDESIGNED DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET SEAL BREAKING AND LEAKING OIL. *AK