2001 Dodge Caravan complaints

STEERING VIBRATION AT LOW SPEEDS AND GRINDING NOISE FROM UNDER FRONT OF VEHICLE.*JB

MY 2001 DODGE CARAVAN SE HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 35,000 MILES.THE VAN STOP ON THE FREEWAY FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THE DEALER FIX IT AND 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT FORM 2ND GEAR. AND THE GAUGES DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS MY 2ND DODGE CARAVAN MINIVAN AND THE LAST ONE .I'LL BUY A HONDA FOR NOW ON WHEN I PAY OR NEARLY PAY THIS ONE. I'M A DODGE MAN , I HAVE 2002 PT CRUISER THAT I HAD A RECALL ALREADY. THESE ARE THE LAST AMERICAN MADE CAR I'LL PURCHASE. I HAD PURCHASE 7 NEW VEHICLES IN THE PAST 10 YEARS(3 DODGE,1 GM, 2 HONDAS AND 1 MAZDA) I WAS VERY SATISFIED WITHIN ALL THE JAPANESE CARS BUT NOT WITH THE AMERICAN CARS.THERE ARE JUNK!!!! *JB

SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTS, AND THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT.*JB. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. *JB

VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND A SEMI TRAILER HIT THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND NONE OF THE FRONT OF SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. TS SCC

THE CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL-WHICH HAD LOCKED UP, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CONTACTED. MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED. STILL UNABLE TO TURN LEFT-NOT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS WARM. THE CONSUMER IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE VEHICLE AND ADDS THAT THE WINDOW MOTORS WERE REPLACED(UNSURE IF PROBLEM), THE BRAKES DONE 3 TIMES, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS STEERING PROBLEMS. SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BLEW OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. *MR

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40MPH HEARD A POP NOISE AND THE GLASS BEGAN TO CRACK. POLICE DETERMINED THAT NO OBJECT HIT THE WINDOW. NLM

FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS I HAVE HAD NO OCCASION TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT IN RAIN USING FULL WIPERS UNTIL AUG. 28, 2002. AT THAT TIME I DISCOVERED THAT THE LOW BEAMS PROVIDED NO ILLUMINATION IN THE RAIN AND I HAD TO USE HIGH BEAMS. ON SEPT. 5, I DISCUSSED THE RPOBLEM WITH DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL AND WAS ADVISED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I SHOULD GO TO WESTERN AUTO AND GET THEM TO INSTALL "BLUE" BULBS. THESE WOULD HELP. THE SAME DAY I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THE LIGHTS MEET "SPECIFICATIONS". MAYBE SO, BUT THEY ARE INADEQUATE AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. IN THE MEANTIME I AM HAVING "BLUE" BULBS INSTALLED SO I CAN SEE WHERE I CAM GOING IN THE RAIN AT NIGHT. IPERS UNTIL AUG. 28, 2002.THE LOW BEAMS PROVIDED ESSENTIALLY NO LIGHTING SO THAT I HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE WHERE I WAS GOING. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON SEPT. 5 TO COMPLAIN AND WAS ADVISED TO GO TO WESTERN AUTO AND GET "BLUE" BULBS WHICH IS WHAT OTHERS WITH THE SAME PRPOBLEM HAVE BEEN DOING. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE THE SAME DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING AS THE LIGHTS MEET "SPECIFICATIONS".*AK

STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN, VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER 4 TIMES BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND.*JB

LEFT FRONT STRUT WAS FRACTURED AND DRAGGING TO THE GROUND WHEN DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVERWAY. TIRE WAS MAKING A GRINDING SOUND DUE TO TIRE RUBBING AGAINST IT. *AK *JB

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. STARTING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE VAN BEGAN ACCELERATING WITHOUT CONTROL. ATTEMPTS TO STOP WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. ACCELERATION STOPPED AS SUDDEN AS IT STARTED. CAR DEALER SAID IT POSSIBLY WAS A BUILD UP OF "CARBON AROUND THE AIRINTAKE FLAP CAUSING IT TO STICK OPEN". PAID $160 FOR MAINTENANCE TO CLEAN THE INTAKE. IT WAS A SCARY INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

SEVERE SHUTTERING STEERING WHEEL. *AK

AT 35MPH CONTROL ARM SNAPPED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. . DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE COMING DOWN RAMP, THE DOOR FRAME HAS A PIECE OF METAL THAT STICKS OUT, CONSUMERS CLOTHING GOT CAUGHT ON METAL AND ARM WAS MUTALATED AND FRACTURED. CONSUMER FEELS THIS PIECE OF METAL IS VERY UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

SIDEWALL OF TIRE BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE TIRE HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS INFLATED PER DODGE'S RECOMMENDATION. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE AND IT SHOWS NO SIGN OF A PUNCTURE IN THE TREAD. I E-MAILED GOODYEAR WITH A COMPLAINT BUT HAVE YET TO RECIEVE A RESPONSE. THE DODGE CARAVAN HANDLED VERY WELL AFTER THE BLOWOUT AND WAS EASILY CONTROLLED. *AK

PLEASE NOTE THAT REPAIRS WERE DONE BY PATALANO CHRYSLER IN FRANKLIN MA. 508-520-1550 - GOT A GOOD DEAL AT MOTORQUEST WHICH IS FAR FROM MY HOME....MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THREE TIMES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT NOT GOING OUT AFTER A FEW MOMENTS....THE FIRST REPAIR, WHICH ONLY WORKED FOR A FEW MILES WAS TO THE "WIRING" AND THE LAST TWO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN TO REPLACE A "CLOCKSPRING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN I BELIEVE....MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I TRY TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE (AT APPROX. $300 A POP) THE CLOCKSPRING EVERY 8000 MILES OR SO. I WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE IN CASE THIS IS A MANUFATURER'S DEFECT, AS OPPOSED TO A BIT OF BAD LUCK ON MY PART.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TODDLER THAT WAS SITTING IN CHILD SEAT ON SECOND ROW BENCH OUTBOARD SEAT CHILD SEAT CAME COMPLETELY OFF BENCH SEAT WHILE ATTACHED TO SEATBELT. CHILD FELL NEAR SLIDING DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP AND CHILD IN SAFETY SEAT IN REAR END OF VEHICLE WAS NOT RETAINED DUE TO SAFETY SEAT BELT FAILRE AND WAS THROWN OUT FROM CAR SEAT.*AK

MR.GERALD LOTTO IS AN ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF SHERRI CAPONE STATING THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND MS. CAPONE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FACIAL INJURIES. *TT

WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR SNOW ROADS, BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD WHEN APPLIED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN ON MARCH 28,2002 AT 35MPH, THE DEALER NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND ALSO STATED THAT POSSIBLY ABS ENGAGING AND CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE.*JB

VEHICLE HAS JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE CONSUMER WAS PARKED, AND VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

I SAW THE REPORT ON PRIMETIME ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE GEN3 SEATBELTS. WHEN I CALLED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT I CAN NOT GET THEM REPLACED. I INSIST THAT THEY BE REPLACED!!! THEY ARE UNSAFE AND THEY ARE IN THE SEAT THAT MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN SIT IN AT ALL TIMES. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES CHILD SAFETY SEAT WENT FORWARD DUE TO GEN-3 SEATBELT COMING UNLATCHING BY ITSELF. DEALER CONTACTED.PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

I WANT A RECALL ASAP TO REPLACE GEN-3 SEATBELTS WITH GEN-4 SEATBELTS. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY CHILDRENS SAFTY.*AK

ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS THE MIDDLE LEFT SEATBELT OF MY DODGE CARAVAN HAS UNFASTENED. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPLANATION AT THE TIME AND ASSUMED IT MUST HAVE ACCIDENTALLY BEEN HIT. IT RESTRAINS MY CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS PROPERLY INSTALLED. AFTER VIEWING A REPORT ON PRIMETIME ON ABC, I WAS MADE AWARE THAT MY VAN HAS SEATBELTS IN THE MIDDLE AND BACK SEATS THAT ARE BEING QUESTIONED FOR POSSIBLE FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT I MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOCKS BEING RELEASED DUE TO SENSITIVITY.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL WANDER TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 6 OR 7 TIMES, AND HAS TRIED TO ALIGN VEHICLE AND TIRES. AFTER DEALER FIXED VEHICLE, IT WOULD PULL TO OPPOSITE DIRECTION.*AK CONSUMER HAS FILED FOR ARBITRATION. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.THERE IS REAR BUMPER DAMAGE. THE REAR DOOR IS INOPERATIVE WHEN USING REMOTE OR INTERIOR BUTTON. LEFT SLIDING DOOR RATTLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. DEALER REPLACED SLIDING DOOR PANEL MOLDING AND CLIPS THAT WERE BROKEN. DASH RATTLE IN FRONT DRIVER AREA OVER 40. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. PASSENGER FLOOR GETS WET FROM EXTENDED DRIVE WITH A/C ON. DEALER CLEANED DRAIN WITH COMPRESSED AIR. *TT

THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FAILURE YET BUT ACCORDING TO TESTS THE GEN 3 SEAT BELT WILL FAIL IN A CRASH, I WANT THESE REPLACED WITH A GEN 4 SEAT BELT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER FELT LUCKY THAT VEHICLE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH A CONSTANT RATTLING ON FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO DAMAGED INNER TIE ROD. MECHANIC REPLACED TIE ROD. HOWEVER, RATTLING NOISE STILL OCCURRING AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF NEW TIE ROD . *AK

COOLING FANS SOMETIMES (MOSTLY IN COOL WEATHER) RUN CONTINOUSLY . FANS COME ON WHEN COMING TO A STOP.I BROUGHT THE VAN IN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE WASN'T ANY THING WRONG. MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 10,000 MILES ON 9/11/2001. BRAKE PADS WERE AGAIN REPLACED ON 12/26/2001 WITH APPR. 16,000 MILES ON MY SPEEDOMETER.

REAR SEAT ANCHORS(ISOFIX) STICK UPWARD FROM SEAT BACK. ANCHORS INTERFERES WITH CHILD SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER BENT ANCHORS DOWNWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE FIXED FIRST TIME, THEN HAD NEW ENGINE BY CHRYSLER, NOW BACK AT DODGE DEALER. *AK

RETAINER CLIP ON INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT IS TOO LOOSE, WILL BREAK IF INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. MECHANIC STATED DID 21 POINT TEST AND JIGGLED WIRE TO GET WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON, GAUGES STARTED ACTING UP, AND HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER. ALSO, HAD NO BRAKES, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. HEARD A POPPING NOISE UNDER HOOD. *AK

ALL SEEM TO BE RELATED TO A HANDLING PROBLEM. THE VAN/MOTORHOME VIOLENTLY WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60 + MPH. IT IS EXTREMLY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE. WHEN YOU PAY $60K PLUS FOR A VEHICLE, YOU EXPECT A BETTER HANDLING VECHICLE THAN THIS VAN/MOTORHOME. I'M VERY DISAPOINTED WITH DODGE. THE REAR SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED, BUT WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE HANDLING. THE HANDLING IS EVEN WORSE WHEN THERE'S A SLIGHT SIDE WIND. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE "LEMON LAW" BUT IF I COULD RETURN THE VECHICLE TO DODGE AND GET THE PURCHASE PRICE BACK, I WOULD DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MIGHT TAKE TO FIX THE HANDLING PROBLEM, STRONGER FRONT SPRINGS, DIFFERENT TIRES, DIFFERENT STEERING BOX, DIFFERENT STEERING RODS AND ARMS, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO GET CHANGED AT DODGE'S EXPENSE.*AK

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A GAS LEAK. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE ON TIME AND CRASH INTO REAR OF OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

MY COMPLAINT IS BASED ON THE IIHS CRASH TEST SHOWING GAS LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE FATAL FIRE UPON A 40 MPH COLLISION. MANUFACTURER HAS A RECALL ON HOLD. I WANT IT TAKEN CARE OF ASAP. THEY SAY YOUR REPORTS SHOW NO SUCH PROBLEM. CAN I HAVE A COPY OF YOUR REPORTS REGARDING THIS AND EXPLAINATION OF WHY 2 OF THE DODGE'S TESTED CAME UP WITHT HE SAME NEGATIVE RESULT. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BACK SLIDING DOOR POPPED OPEN WHILE CONSUMERS CHILD WAS SITTING IN BACK SEAT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS RECALL ON VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM, 01-I-003-000. *AK

1)ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE WHEN COLD START. 2)RUBBING NOISE JUST BEHIND STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING SOP RACK. 3)RECALL DOOR LATCH.*AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON DURING OPERATION; THE DELAER HAS BEN TRYING TO REPAIR FOR 5 WEEKS; HAS NO IDEA OF CASUSE. THEY ALOS DON"T KNOW IF THE BAGS WILL DEPOLY IN THE EVENT OF CRASH OF IF THEY MIGHT DEPLOY ACCIDENTLY WITHOUT A CRASH. *AK

THE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) GAVE THE 2001 DODGE CARAVAN A "POOR" RATING BECAUSE OF LEAKING FUEL DURING A CRASH TEST. THE PRESIDENT OF THE IIHS, BRIAN O'NEILL SAID THAT ANY FUEL LEAK CAN BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF FIRE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER SAYS THE LEAKS ARE FREAK OCCURRENCES, BUT HAS REDISGNED THE FUEL SYSTEMS FOR THE 2002 MODELS. IF IT IS NOT A DANGER, WHY REDESIGN IT? THEY ARE REFUSING A RECALL OF WHAT COULD BE A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM AND THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. A RECALL IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK OF THE MINIVAN AND FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL FAMILIES. DAIMLER CHRYSLER'S INNACTION IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND SHOWS CONTEMPT FOR ITS CUSTOMERS.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY SRS IMPACT SENSOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WHEN SENSOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING SRS SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY ANOTHER DEALER.*JB

WHILE DRIVING UP A DRIVEWAY AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, ONE OF THE TWO BOLTS FELL OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISLODGING IT FROM THE SUSPENSION FRAME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE, DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT SWAY BAR LINK AND INSTALLED A RIGHT CAMBER BOLT. *SLC

DESIGN OF CONTROLS: THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IN ANY POSITION LOWER THAN D BLOCKS THE DRIVER'S KNEE WHEN MOVING FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING LOW RANGES IN DESCENDING A GRADE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PHYSICAL REASON NOT TO HAVE ANGLED THE TRANSMISSION LEVER HIGHER TO LEAVE CLEARANCE. THE EFFECT OF THIS POOR DESIGN IS THAT ONE DOES NOT USE ENGINE BRAKING ON A GRADE, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF BRAKE FAILURE.*AK

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED CARBON MONOXIDE COMING IN FROM AIR VENTS. CONSUMER HAD ORIGINALLY PURCHASED A 2001, PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER NOTICED AIR CONDITIONER FILTER WAS MISSING , ADDED THE FILTER ,AND RETURNED VEHICLE SAYING IT SHOULD BE FINE. BUT, CONSUMER WAS STILL ABLE TO SMELL CARBON MONOXIDE. CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE THEN INSTRUCTED DEALER TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK, AND CONSUMER PICKED THIS VEHICLE. WAS TOLD IT HAD A AIR FILTRATION ODOR PARTICLE REMOVER AS AN OPTION. CONSUMERS WIFE IS 6 MONTHS PREGNANT, AND GETS ILL DRIVING VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER APPLIED EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING WASHED. WHEN BRAKE WAS RELEASED LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS OFF. HOWEVER, FRONT AND REAR WHEELS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO RUST BULD UP BETWEEN PADS AND CYLINDERS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK