I WISH TO LOG A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CORPORATION'S DECISION TO NOT VOLUNTARILY REPLACE THE GEN 3 SEAT BELTS IN MY 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND MY WIFE AND I ARE IN THIS VEHICLE DAILY. I CHOSE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE COMFORT AND VERSATILITY IT OFFERED. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SOONER, I HEARD ABOUT THIS ON THE NEWS TONIGHT, I WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN TO BUY THIS VEHICLE. I NOW AM FACED WITH EITHER SELLING THIS WONDERFUL, ALBEIT DEADLY, VEHICLE OR PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE TO HAVE MY DEALER REPLACE THEM WITH GEN 4 MODELS AT FULL-BOAT PRICE! *JB
1999 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1999 record →
FOX 25 DID A SEGMENT ON THE GENERATION 3 SEAT BELTS, I OWN A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAS THESE TYPES OF SEAT BELTS IN IT. I HAVE A 5 WEEK OLD DAUGHTER AND I HAD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED MY MITSUBISHI GALANT. PART OF THE REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT IT WAS A VERY SAFE VEHICLE TO HAVE AND AT THIS POINT N TIME I DON'T FEEL IT IS SAFE FOR MY BABY. THE THOUGHT OF BEING INVOLVED IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT IS SCARY ENOUGH LET ALONE THE THOUGHT OF BEING IN ONE AND KNOWING THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SAFETY BELT I RELY ON TO KEEP HER CAR SEAT IN PLACE COULD COME UNDONE UPON IMPACT. THE POINT OF TELLING YOU ALL THIS IS SO YOU MIGHT PASS IT ON TO CHRYSLER CORP AND STRONGLY URGE THEM TO RECALL THE SAFETY BELTS, REPLACING OUR EXISTING ONES WITH THE SAFEST ONES AVAILABLE. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HOPE THAT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *NLM
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR OWN ITS OWN, WHICH INCREASED SPEED, THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *JB
DRIVERS SEAT-BACK RECLINING LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE SEAT FRAME CAUSING SEAT TO REMAIN IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.*JB
THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. NLM.
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *JB
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *JB THE CONSUMER FELT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLOWING OUT. THE MECHANIC FOUND A PIN THAT HAD FLOWN THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND RIPPED APART. *SCC
POWER STEERING FAILED, CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION AND INJURIES. *AK *JB
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, # 02 V 293 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB *SCC
NHTSA#02-V-293-000: CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, DEALER REPAIRED. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN#. PH
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
INTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED, THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS SCC
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING COD. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SAME AS NHTSA RECALL 02V293000 FOR 1997 & 1998 CHRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLES.
CONTINUOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS/FAILURES DUE TO PITTING & CORRODING OF THE FRONT DISC ROTORS. REAR BRAKE DRUMS NOT ADJUSTING PROPERLY (HAVE NEVER ADJUSTED). ROTORS REPLACED BY DEALER AND NOW REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ENTIRE REAR WHEEL BRAKING SYSTEM REPLACED, STILL NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. VEHICLE HAS NEVER STOPPED CORRECTLY IN FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL #02V293000 AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. TS
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THE AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND VEHICLE HORN WOULD NOT SOUND OFF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTICED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATED THE CLIP ON THE SEAT BELT WHICH LOCKS THE SEAT BELT, ISN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CAR SEAT IN PARTICULAR, THE CONSUMER USES AN ADDITIONAL CLIP TO SECURE THE SEAT BELT. SCC *JB
MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN "AIR BAG" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT MY CLOCKSPRING NEEDED REPLACEMENT, BUT THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE CURRENT RECALL. I FIND THE EXPLANATION THAT MY PROBLEM IS "COINCIDENTAL" TO THE RECALL OF THE 1996-1998 VEHICLES SOMEWHAT DUBIOUS. IF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS INSTALLED OFF CENTER ON THE EARLIER VEHICLES CAUSING A SUBSEQUENT FAILURE, IS IT NOT LIKELY THAT MY PROBLEM WAS SIMILARLY CAUSED, WARRANTING A REPAIR AT CHRYSLER'S EXPENSE?
NHTSA#15350-02-V-293-000: AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING: CLOCKS SPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. THIS RECALL APPLIED FOR THE 98. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS VEHICLE WITH AIR BAGS. CRUISE CONTROL STEERING WHEEL THIS VEHICLE IS YEAR 1999. TS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE BRAKING HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING, NOTIFIED THE DEALER REPAIRED AND REPLACED ROTORS 5000 MILES LATER PROBLEM RECURRED. TS
TO: WHOM IT MAY CONCERNS: I AM WRITING TO YOU AS A DISSATISFIED DODGE CARAVAN OWNER. I PURCHASED MY VAN BRAND NEW ON MARCH 1999. I HAVE HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT: A) ON JANUARY 24, 2000 WE REPLACED THE , SENSOR, TRANSAX LE, TURBIN INPUT IN THE TRANSMISSION. B) FEBRUARY 17, 2000 WE REPLACED THE BATTERY. C) FEBRUARY 20, 2001. WE REPLACED THE EVAPORETOR, SUCTION LINE, LIQUID LINE AND THE COIL IN THE AIR CONDITION UNIT. D) REPLACED THE WINDOW LIFT MOTOR. E) JANUARY 8,2002 REPLACED SOP BELT TENSIONER COIL . F) JANUARY 4,2002 REPLACE THE BATTERY. G) MARCH 2, 2002 REPLACED WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP. H) JUNE 2, 2002 REPLACED FUEL SEAL. I) NOVEMBER 13, 2002 REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE VALVE OF THE A/C NOW THEY ARE ASKING US TO REPLACE THE EVAPORETOR AND THE COMPRESSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED BY MAROONE DODGE ON FEBRUARY 2001!!! ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE AT AUTHORIZE DODGE DEALER: MAROONE DODGE LOCATED: 21151 N.W 2ND AVE MIAMI, FL 33169 TEL: 305-653-6343. WE FEEL THAT FOR 44,000 MILES CAR WE SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCED SO MUCH PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WITH THE A/C WHICH WAS FIXED IN 2001. WE HOPE YOU WILL CORRECT THE WRONG AND REPAIRED THE CAR WITH NO COST TO US.SINCERELY DAVID AND HONEY BOUGANIM 239 ATLANTIC ISLE SUNNY ISLES, FL 33160 TEL: 305-945-5354
SOMETIME WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP. THE MECHANIC WHO USUALLY WORKS ON OUR VAN (NOT AT THE DEALERSHIP) INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" CONCERNING THE "CLOCK SPRING." I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE AIR BAG CHECKED, & SHOWED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THE CLOCK SPRING WAS, IN FACT, DEFECTIVE. WE OWN A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN.
I HAD A COLLISION WITH A DEER AT 40 MPH AND THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DODGE FOR INVESTIGATION. DT
WHEN ACCELERATING OR LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERES SOME JERKING IN VEHICLE. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDS REBUILDING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
HORN NOT WORKING, AIR BAG AND CRUISE CONTROL MAY FAIL BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. DT
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CONTROL ARM SNAP CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND THE TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
AIR BAG LIGHT ON AT ALL TIMES. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROLS ON THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY DO NOT WORK.
CONSUMER SATES WHEN BACKING UP OR DOWN THE HILLS VEHICLE WOULD STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOME SOFT AND GOES TO TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED ON A INCLINED POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY AND JUMP. MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS IN VAN. DT
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WHICH OPERATES ALL DASH BOARD WHICH IT CAUSED THE ODOMETER, SPEEDDOMETER, GAS GAGE, AIR ACCOINDITION TO GO DOWN CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MAIN ELECTRICAL COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTED. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE BACKING DOWN AN INCLINE , THE BRAKES GRADUALLY GOES OUT. THE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. HAD BRAKES BLEAD 4 TIMES, PROBLEM STILL ACCURS. TS
CONSUMER STATES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK SEAT BELTS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT HER CHILD WAS ABLE TO TAKE CAR OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UP HILLS VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND SOMETIMES CUTS OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER HAVING VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR OVER HALF AN HOUR WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL REPAIRS. *MR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE, REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT RECEPTICLE, BROKE DURING USE. THE RECEPTICLE WOULD NOT LOCK THE BUCKLE INTO PLACE. THE SEAT BELT HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED. NLM
CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT ADDRESS OUR FAMILIES CONCERNS, SUGGESTED IF I COMPLAINED FURTHER THEY WOULD PRESS HARRASMENT CHARGES. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALSO, VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A CRACKED MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *JB
THE REAR SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT CATCH WHEN PULLED OUT QUICKLY. THE FRONT SEAT BELTS CAUGHT NORMALLY WHEN JERKED HARD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A WRITTEN REPLY. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING ALL DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT OUT, DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2002, SENSOR WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED AT 20 MPH. CONSUMER NOTICED A BELT HANGING FROM UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK
WE HAVE LEASED THE VEHICLE SINCE MAY OF 1999. WE HAVE REPLACED THE INPUT SPEED SENSOR TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME, THE PARTS AND LABOR WERE FREE UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THIS TIME, BOTH THE INPUT AND THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS WENT. AFTER RESEARCHING ON YOUR WEBSITE, I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON OTHER 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVANS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE PART OR SO MANY PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, I DON'T BELIEVE A PART SHOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN 2 1/2 YEARS TIME. THE SECOND REPAIR I HAD DONE ON 8/13/02 FOR BOTH SENSORS. MY MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS 41,615. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU..*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERATIVE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WE WERE ON THE WAY TO OUR VACATION DESTINATION ON 7/30/02 AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY FOR GAS. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AS SOON AS WE PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION. ONCE WE WERE ON THE ROAD AGAIN, THE VAN WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR. WE WERE THEN FORCED TO STOP IN A PARKING LOT AND GOT DIRECTIONS TO THE CLOSEST FULL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. (THIS ALL TOOK PLACE AT 8:15PM IN BARSTOW, CA) THE MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VAN AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE SENSOR BUT WOULD HAVE TO RUN MORE TESTS THE FOLLOWING MORNING. WE WERE, AT THAT POINT FORCED TO STAY IN BARSTOW FOR THE NIGHT. WE CALLED THE MECHANIC IN THE MORNING AND GOT THE UNBELIEVABLE NEWS. AFTER RUNNING MORE DIAGNOSTICS HE FOUND TWO ADDITIONAL ERRORS IN THE TRANSMISSION RELATED TO A PRESSURE PROBLEM AND INFORMED US OUR TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO ORDER A FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND WE WERE CHARGED A MERE $2,750.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. IN THE MEAN TIME WE HAD TO RENT 2 CARS TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION (NO VEHICLES WERE AVAILABLE TO FIT 6 PEOPLE). WE HAD TO STAY AN ADDITIONAL NIGHT IN A HOTEL, AS OUR VAN WOULD NOT BE READY UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT. OUR VAN HAS LESS THAN 43,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE RELIABLE THAN WHAT IT WAS. WE NOW HAVE THE FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION, PROBABLY FROM SOMEONE ELSE VAN AND THEREFORE CANNOT BE TRUSTED. WE DO NOT FEEL THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS RELIABLE AND NOW WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECE
DRIVER'S SEATBACK LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE SEAT FRAME, CAUSING THE SEAT TO STICK IN UP-RIGHT POSITION. *AK CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SEAT IF EVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *SCC
WHILE IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING APROX.35MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO LOWEST GEAR,RPMS SHOT UP,SPEEDOMETER FAILED,SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY WHERE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY DODGE CARVAN TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER.I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND DON'T KNOW IF THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND PERHAPS THATS WHY HE TRADED IT WITH ONLY ABOUT 40K MILES ON IT?DEALER SAYS PROBABLY A SENSOR,CAN'T FIX TODAY - COME BACK MONDAY.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan → · Every Grand Caravan year → · How the figures are calculated →