1999 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

WHILE MAKING A STOP VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CASE BLEW OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS ABLE TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THE 99 MODELS. *AK

PARKING BRAKE FAILED. YH

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND DRIVERS SEATBACK COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO FALL INTO THE BACK . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER IS NOT IN FAVOR WITH INSURANCE'S DECISION TO REPLACE SEAT INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SEATS. *TT

WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN OVERDRIVE, THERE IS A WHISTLE SOUND WHEN THE TROTTLE IS PRESSED. RELEASING THE TROTTLE STOPS THE WHISTLE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AS WELL AS WITH OUT, CAN BE REPRODUCED VERY EASILY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT IS LOUDER, I.E. IT IS LOUDER ON THE HIGHWAY THAN ON SURFACE STREETS.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE, CLAIM 59-V431-848. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE LOST ALL AIR PRESSURE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER HAS FAILED RESULTING IN GREATLY REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT FOR WELL OVER A WEEK. THIS WAIT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A SHORTAGE OF THESE PARTS POSSIBLY DUE TO A UNUSUALLY HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THIS PART. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT CHANGE IN THE SUPPLIER OF THIS PART TO CHRYSLER. *AK

APPROXIMATEL;Y AN HOUR AFTER MVA (DAMAGE TO FRONT DRIVERS SIDE), I LEFT TO ACCIDENT SCENE. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, SO PULLED OVER AT FIRST AVALIABLE AREA. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. INSURANCE ESTIMATES IN EXCESS OF $6000 OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FORM ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO FIRE. VEHICLE IS TOTAL LOSS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE CRUMBLE ZONES PROPERLY PROTECTED TO FRAME. I DON'T THINK THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. INVESTIGATION OF NHTSA WEB SITE PRODUCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA99013 WHICH PROMPTED CONTACT. *AK

THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY BECAUSE A BAD MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FAIL. YH

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON. HAS HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. DEALER STATED WILL HAVE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRED IN ONE WEEK. *AK

THE ON-THE COLUMN GEAR SHIFT LEVER MAY BE PLACED IN PARK AND NOT LOCK IN THE RECESSED PARK POSITION SO THAT THE LEVER AND TRANSMISSION MAY DROPPED INTO REVERSE SPONTANEOUSLY OR WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR BY PUSH IT WITH A TOOTH PICK. HE HAS A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT. THERE ARE IN ESSENCE 2 PARK POSITIONS THAT THE LEVER WILL REGISTER "PARK" ON THE LED INDICATOR ON THE DASH. ONE OF THEM IS THE "TRUE" PARK WHERE THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUALLY SITS BACK AND MUST BE PULLED TOWARD THE DRIVER BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO BE POSITIONED DOWN INTO ANY GEAR. THE OTHER POSITION ALLOWS THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO REGISTER "PARK" ON THE LED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK WHILE SITTING THERE BUT ANY VIBRATION COULD CAUSE IT TO SPONTANEOUSLY ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. IN THIS VERSION OF "PARK" THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT POSITIONED BACK INTO THE LOCKED RECESS. THE FACT THAT THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS WANTONLY BEING MANUFACTURED WITHOUT AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM, WHICH REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE DEPRESSED PRIOR TO SHIFTING, HAS EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM. HAD IT (AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM) HAVE BEEN ON THE VEHICLE MY WIFE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN HER ANKLE CRUSHED, BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS, BE FACING FURTHER SURGERY AND SKIN GRAFTING AS WELL AS PERMANENT DISFIGUREMENT. THERE IS AR TWO DEFECTS HERE. A DESIGN DEFECT BY NOT HAVING AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM INSTALLED AS WELL AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THAT THE COLUMN REGISTERS 2 PARKING POSITIONS WHEN ONLY ONE SHOULD EXIST SAFELY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

LEFT FRONT STRUT WAS WEAK, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SAG, VERY POOR STABILITY AND VERY POOR HANDLING. LEFT FRONT STRUT WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE REALIGNED, AFTER BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FIVE OCCASSIONS. I HAD TO PUSH TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, AND CONDITION IS NOW CORRECTED.

NO SUMMARY

DURING RECALL REPAIR DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER OF ADDITIONAL WIRING REPAIRS NECESSARY FOR THE REAR WIPER THAT WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (99V-113). MJS

UPON SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN ABS PUMP STARTED RUNNING AND BRAKE PEDEL WENT TO FLOOR CAR FAILED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN AND PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION ABS LIGHT CAME ON

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL JUST JUMP OUT OF GEAR ON ITS ON AND GO INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPING DISTANCE. *AK

BRAKES FAILED DURING PANIC STOPPING, PEDAL TO THE FLOOR THEN PEDAL BOUNCED BACK RESULTING IN BROKEN BONE IN DRIVER'S FOOT, FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION. MJS

DRIVER WAS REARENDED WITH A 40 MPH IMPACT WHEN DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES. *AK

ABS BRAKES FAILED CAUSED COLLISION, PEDAL WENT BACK AND BRAKE DRIVER'S FOOT. YH

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INSPECTOR SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *AK *ML

OUR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS MODIFIED FOR MY WIFE WHO IS DISABLED AND CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR. THE MINI VAN WAS CONVERTED BY VANTAGE MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL (VMI) IN PHOENIX AZ. DURING THE MODIFIACATION, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS RE-ROUTED AND DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, CAUSED THE MUFFLER TO MOVE AND SEVER THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE FLUID LINE AS WELL AS THE ABS ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER LINE. THE MOVEMENT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ALSO PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE REAR OF THE MUFFLER THAT WOULD HAVE ALSO PRESENTED A CARBON MONOXIDE SITUATION. IF I HAD NOT HAD MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER LOOK AT MY VAN ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS COMPANY PROVIDES THESE VEHICLES NATIONWIDE AND THIS SITUATION COULD CONTINUE TO PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER OWNERS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED DURING COLLISION CAUSING PASSENGER TO BE TROWN ONTO THE FLOOR HITTING HIS/HER HEAD ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WORKED PROPERLY, BUT DRIVER EXPERIENCED UPPER THIGH / GROIN AREA PAINS AND BRUISED FROM SEAT BELT. AFTER COLLISION A LARGE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE SPILLED OUT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN POSSIBLE FIRE / EXPLOSION. *YC

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 45 MPH WHEN SHE SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC, PULLED INTO THE GARAGE THERE WAS SMOKE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE IN THE TIRE AREAS, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TEST DRIVEN AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SINCE JUNE 1ST PROBLEM COMES AND GOES, SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THAT THE BOOSTER BRAKE WAS OUT, AT THIS TIME THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS.

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IT DID NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER REPALACED THE TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

DEALER CLAIMS GASKET WAS NOT INSTALLED IN FUEL LINE. GASKET IS NOT AVAILABLE SEPARATELY, SO ENTIRE TANK ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. DEALER OPTED TO SQUIRT SEALER INTO LINE FOR REPAIR. DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR RATTLES BADLY. DEALER ADJUSTED STRIKER, DOOR GOT WORSE. TECHNICIAN CLAIMS RATTLE IS NORMAL.

EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AFTER USE. WHEEL SKIDDED ABOUT 3 FEET WHEN DRIVER DECIDED TO BACK-UP TO ATTEMPT RELEASE. WHEEL RELEASED WITH A LOUD BANG. OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT LIST CAPACITIES FOR OIL, COOLANT ETC... CALLED CHRYSLER, THEY CLAIM CAPACITIES ARE ON BACK COVER OF MANUAL. CHRYSLER VERIFIED MANUAL REAR COVER IS BLANK. CHRYSLER TO COPY 1998 MANUAL BACK AND SEND TO CUSTOMER. CHRYSLER CLAIMS 1998 CAPACITIES ARE UNCHANGED FOR 1999.

TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE, THEN JUMPED BACK INTO REVERSE, BACKED UP AND HIT A TREE. IT IS VERY EASY TO PUT THE SHIFTER IN A POSITION THAT LOOKS LIKE PARK BUT IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED. *AK *ML

ABS LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKS OUT. PROBLEM OCCURRED TWO TIMES. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK