2001 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING: HEADLIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE/BRAKE PULSING, RADIO FAILURE, SEAT BELT CONNECTOR FAILURE. *JB

THE REGULATOR ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ARE FAULTY. MY VAN WAS BUILT IN CANADA AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON TRAIT OF THOSE VEHICLES. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES. I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. NOW BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS WINDOW ARE ACTING UP AGAIN. I HOPE I CAN GET SOME HELP. *NM

RADIO HAD FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN A RECALL NOTICE. DODGE CLAIMS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL INTO RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. RADIO FAILURE WAS SUCH THAT IT DRAINED BATTERY IN 24 HOURS. DODGE REFUSES TO HONOR RECALL ON VEHICLE. *NM

AFTER LOWERING THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW COMPLETELY, IT DOES NOT GO UP ON COMMAND. AFTER WAITING A MINUTE OR TWO, IT RESPONDS TO A NEW COMMAND AND GOES COMPLETELY UP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURERE WERE CONTACTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 04V480000 REGARDING AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW DOESN'T WANT TO GO UP ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES FOR IT TO GO UP AGAIN. *NM

I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE UNDER MY 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I TOOK IT INTO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A REAR COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM PIPE THAT HAD RUSTED AND WAS CAUSING MY ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK OUT AND NOT PROPERLY CIRCULATE IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT DODGE HAD A RECALL SO I CONSULTED MY LOCAL DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR 2004-2005 MODEL YEARS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR MY VEHICLES PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE SAME EXACT ONE THAT WAS ON RECALL FOR THE NEWER VEHICLES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHILE HAVING TO FILL THE RADIATOR WITH A GARDENHOSE EVERY TIME I TOOK IT OUT BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED MY RUSTED STEEL PIPE WITH THE NEWER DESIGNED ALUMINUM PIPE THAT DODGE IS NOW USING IN THE VEHICLES. THIS COST $300 TO REPLACE. *NM

I HAD A SINGLE HEADLIGHT FAIL ON MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. IT WAS SUNDAY, AND I HAD A LONG DRIVE HOME. I HAD THE INTENT OF REPLACING THE BULB THE NEXT DAY. AS I NEARED MY HOME, IT BECAME DUSK. I TURNED ON MY ONE WORKING HEADLIGHT. AS IT GOT DARKER, I NOTICED THAT MY WORKING HEADLIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF STEADILY. I TRIED TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND OFF, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. IN FACT, THE HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF AT ALL! I WAS IN A REMOTE AREA, AND DROVE THE ABOUT 30 MINUTES HOME WITH ONE HEADLIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF. I GOT HOME, TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHT AND THE IGNITION. THE HEADLIGHT KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF! THE ONLY WAY I GOT IT TO STOP WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE NEXT DAY, I BOUGHT 2 NEW HEADLAMPS AND REPLACED THEM, WHICH SEEMED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. A VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE ON A SINGLE HEADLIGHT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *JB

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW OF MY VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, OR WHEN SALT BUILDS UP DURING THE WINTER. THE WIPER BLADE IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW, OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. *JB

WELL MY VAN ALL OF A SUDDEN DECIDES , NO REVERSE, AND THEN LIMP MODE, AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. CANT GET PAST 30 MILES HR, MY VEHICLE UN SAFE TO DRIVE, SO I GUESS TRANSMISSION OR TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULAR GOING BAD OR POWER TRAIN MODULE. THE 2 DEALERS I WENT TO THE FIRST DIDN'T SCAN FOR CODE THEY JUST SAID YOU NEED A NEW TRANNY, B/C OF NO REVERSE THEN OPEN DAY MY REVERSE CAME BACK AND NO LIMP MODE, SO THAT EVEN MADE ME WONDER I NEED A TRANNY BUT NOW IT WORKS, EXCEPT IT START TO LIKE MAYBE SHUDDER, NOT SURE. WELL THE OTHER DEALER CHARGE ME 80.00 CAME BACK AND SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WOULD TRY CHANGE FILTER AND UPDATE SOFTWARE, AND I SEEN THE CODES 1790-1791- AND I SAID I JUST CANT YOU JUST REPROGRAM IT TO SEE IF IT WORKS AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND SAID NO THERE NO UPDATE THAT CAN BE DONE OR NO BULLENTINS FOR MY VEHICLE AND I SAID YES THERE IS I READ ON THE COMPUTER AND THEY GO WE DON'T HAVE THEM. SO I SEE A LOT OF THE TCM AND PCM GOING BAD AND THEY WONT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IF IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THEN HOW CAN ONE GO BAD IF YOU HAVE IT SERVICE RIGHT. SO I DECIDED NOT TO FIX IT B/C I NO THEY LYING AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT OR TAKE CARE OF IT B/C ALL THEY OFFER WAS AND FILTER CHANGE AND THEN AT THE END THE GUY GOES OH I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT MONEY IN THAT AND IT DON'T WORK, WHY DON'T YOU JUST BUT A TRANNY. THIS IS SAD YOU CANT FIND NO ONE HONEST TO TELL SOMEONE WHAT WRONG WITH THE VAN BUT WANT TO SAY THIS AND THAT AND NO PROPERLY DIAG OR DO AND ONLY G

WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM FLORIDA TO PENNSYLVANIA WHEN WE WERE TOLD THAT ONE OF OUR HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT. WE PURCHASED NEW BULBS AND REPLACED THEM, THEN AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION REALIZED THAT WHEN THE DAYLIGHTS WERE ON, ONE LIGHT WAS ON AND ONE OFF, WHEN WE TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE OPPOSITE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ONE THAT WAS ON FOR DAYLIGHTS WENT OUT, THEN WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED ON THE LIGHT THAT WORKED SWITCHED SIDES AGAIN. THE NEW BULBS DID NOT FIX IT, SO WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME WITH ONE LIGHT, ONCE IN AWHILE BOTH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED. THE WORST PART WAS THAT THE CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED 14 MONTHS PRIOR BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM (WORSE, THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS!)! THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE TO WHY THE CONTROL MODULE WENT AGAIN. I'M HOPING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN ANOTHER 14 MONTHS (THERE IS ONLY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY ON THE PART)! *JB

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. BOTH POWER WINDOWS HAVE STUCK DOWN OVER THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS. DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT WINDOWS SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND REPLACED THE REGULATOR IN THE PASSENGER WINDOW BUT IT DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME STILL AND THEY CHARGED ME OVER $500 TO FIX. SLIDING DOORS SEALS HAVE BUCKLED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS HAD 2 FAILURES AND A FUSE REPLACEMENT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON THE LIGHTS FLICKER ON-OFF RANDOMLY. *JB

ON APRIL 22, 2006, MY 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS EN ROUTE FROM WILMINGTON, NC TO WARREN, MI. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND ALSO THE FOG LAMPS BOTH IN OPERATION. WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY OPERATOR ERROR, ALL FRONTAL LIGHTING WAS TURNED OFF. BOTH THE LOW BEAMS AND FOG LAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE. NORMALLY, THIS WOULD NOT BE SO MUCH OF A CONCERN, BUT I HAPPENED TO BE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON A VERY DARK LOCATION OF THE INTERSTATE. I QUICKLY (WITHIN 2 SECONDS) CYCLED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH FROM THE FULL ON POSITION TO THE FULL OFF POSITION AND BACK AGAIN TO THE FULL ON POSITION. THE LOW BEAM AND FOG LAMP FAILURE REMAINED. DURING THE CYCLING OF THE SWITCH, I NOTICED THERE WAS A FLASH OF LIGHT IN THE SECONDARY POSITION (PARKING LAMP ONLY POSITION). I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE SWITCH TO THIS SECONDARY POSITION AND PULLED OUT THE SWITCH TO ENABLE THE FOG LAMPS (THE FOG LAMPS ARE OPERATED BY EXTENDING THE SWITCH TOWARDS THE DRIVER AND ARE RESET TO THE OFF POSITION WHEN THE SWITCH IS ROTATED TO THE OFF POSITION). THE PARKING AND FOG LAMPS DID OPERATE CORRECTLY IN THIS POSITION. I THEN NAVIGATED THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO A LOWER SPEED AND OUT OF THE WAY OF ANY OTHER SURROUNDING VEHICLES. IN THE RIGHT LANE AT A SLOWER SPEED, I ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO TOGGLE THE SWITCH TO THE LOW BEAM POSITION. AGAIN, ALL LIGHTING FAILED TO OPERATE IN THE FULL ON POSITION. I THEN SWITCHED BACK TO THE PARKING (AND FOG) POSITION. I TESTED THE HI-LO BEAM SWITCH. THE FLASH TO PASS FEATURE WORKE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE TUBING FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE REAR HEATER HAD ROTTED THROUGH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED.

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE POWER WINDOWS ON MY 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. IN EARLY 2005, MY POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD PERIODICALLY GO DOWN AND NOT GO BACK UP UNTIL YOU WAITED FOR 5-10 MINUTES. AFTER TIME WENT BY WITH THIS CONTINUING TO DO THIS, I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP ON WILLIAM FLYNN HIGHWAY IN GIBSONIA, PA. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTED CASES IN THE CHIP THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING AND SINCE IT WAS WORKING, I WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT TOTALLY DID NOT WORK UNTIL I COULD GET IT FIXED. THEY CHARGED ME A $35 +TAX DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND NOTHING WAS DON. NOW, ON 3/1/06, IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, BUT IT IS NOT STAYING DOWN COMPLETELY. SINCE THEY BLEW ME OFF THE 1ST TIME AND THIS IS THE CLOSEST DODGE DEALER TO MY WORK, I AM AFRAID THEY WILL DO THE SAME AND CHARGE ME TO DO NOTHING. I FEEL THAT THIS DEALERSHIP DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ME BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN AND "I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT". PLEASE RESPOND TO ME IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEALERSHIP. I HAD ANOTHER EXPERIENCE REGARDING A ROUGH "GRINDING" SOUND WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED. I TOOK IT UP AND ASKED THEM TO LISTEN TO IT. THEY SAID, "OH, THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUT." I WAS NOT CHARGED A FEE, BUT THE SOUND IS STILL HAPPENING AND 2 EXPERIENCE MECHANICS, WHO LIVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT PARTS OF PA, WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER, TOLD ME THE SAME THING FROM THE SOUND. THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR STICKIN

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION ON 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN UNRELATED TO A BULB FAILURE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE IMPACTED THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ONLY RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AND NO REPAIRS MADE.

I HAVE HAD TWO FLAT TIRES ON MY MINI VAN IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. THE VAN IS 4.5 YEARS OLD AND I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH THE MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDED TIRES A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. IN BOTH OF THE CASES MY TIRES HAD RIM LEAKS WHICH I HAVE NOW DISCOVERED OCCUR ON MANY CHRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLES. THESE LEAKS ARE A RESULT OF CORROSION ON THE RIM (AND IN THIS LAST CASE MY RIM WAS CRACKED) THIS DEFECT IN THE RIM DESIGN IS SERIOUS AS IT LEADS TO UNDER INFLATED TIRES WHICH THE DRIVER MAY BE UNAWARE OF. BECAUSE THE LEAKAGE IS SLOW IN NATURE AND THERE IS NO WARNING IN THE HANDBOOK THAT RIMS NEED TO BE REPLACED/INSPECTED REGULARLY THERE MAY BE LITTLE OR NO WARNING. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE MINI VANS AND CARRY MANY CHILDREN TO AND FROM PLACES. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO CHRYSLERS ATTENTION THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS. THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE ISSUE OTHER THAN TO SELL ME A NEW SET OF RIMS FOR OVER $2000. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT NEED NEW RIMS...AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE ARE THOUSAND/MILLIONS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROADS THAT MAY HAVE CORRODING RIMS AND UNDER INFLATED TIRES. CAN YOU HELP? GIVEN WHAT WE LEARNED IN THE FORD EXPLORER INVESTIGATION I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE WISE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. *NM

WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED AND MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT BOLT, AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT FIXED I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE SAID IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS AFFECTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE CRADLE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2001 MODEL. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. AFTER CONTACTING DAIMER CHRYSLER TOLD ME THE SAME THING ,AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT AND SUGGESTED I SHOULD HOLD ON TO MY RECEIPT BECAUSE ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN THERE MAY BE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE? THEY REFERRED ME TO JONATHAN SANDERS, SENIOR STAFF OF GLOBAL RELATIONS AND HE SAID THERE IS NOTHING DAIMER CHRYSLER WOULD DO BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WASN'T IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. I OF COURSE AM HAVING THE MECHANIC FIX THE VEHICLE FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET AND COLD, THE REAR BRAKES FREEZE. THE BRAKES DRAG HARD AND THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT TURN. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS A BUILD UP OF BRAKE DUST. UPDATED 02/27/06

1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: EACH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED AFTER OR DURING A SUMMER VACATION TRIP THAT INCLUDED 700+ MILES. USE OF THE AC USUALLY CONTINUES ON LOW FAN SPEEDS (1 OR 2). 2) FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: FIRST FAILURE WOULD BE THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD BEGIN NOT TO WORK. SECOND A RELAY FUSE WOULD GO BAD. THEN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE FAN SPEEDS WOULD SHORT OUT ONLY ALLOWING FOR HIGH FAN SPEED ONLY. 3)HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE SWITCHES DUE TO DEALER CHARGING HIGH RATES JUST TO LOOK FOR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE FAULT AND STILL WANTING $70+/HOUR BEFORE ANY REPAIR WORK IS STARTED. WE HAVE OWNED A 1996 CARAVAN AND 2001 GR CARAVAN AND THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH VEHICLES. *JB

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - 41TE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT AFTER 64,000 MILES WITH NO WARNING. GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES FOR TRANSMISSION DEFECT INFORMATION: HTTP://WWW.ALLPAR.COM/FIX/TRANS.HTML HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/PLUMRAPTOR/ HTTP://WWW.DAIMLERCHRYSLERVEHICLEPROBLEMS.COM/. *JB

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THE DATABASE ABOUT HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THEN AFTER 1 OR 2 SECONDS COMING BACK ON AGAIN. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ALSO SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS, THE DATE I ENTERED IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE 2003. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS HEATED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JULY 1, 2003 BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEREFORE NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. ON DECEMBER 27, 2004 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A FAILED CLOCK SPRING BUT THE REPAIR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. THERE WAS CONCERN THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED OR, CONVERSELY, IT WOULD DEPLOY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HE INDICATED THAT A SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS I WAS LOOKING INTO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM, I NOTICED THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO RECALL, THERE WERE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS. WHY IS THIS DEFECT ALLOWED TO CONINUE TO GIVE CONSUMERS PROBLEMS, BUT THERE IS NO ACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX VIA A RECALL? *NM

I PURCHASED A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN AUGUST OF 2005 WITH 73K MILES. VEHICLE SMELLED MUSTY (STAGNANT WATER). THREE TRIPS TO SHOP TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX SWAY BAR LINK, BUSHING, STRUT AND STRUT MOUNT PROBLEM TO CURE A CLUNKING SOUND ON FRONT END. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL AT WHIM. ALSO, SHIFTS THROUGH FIRST 3 GEARS (AUTOMATIC) AT WHIM CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH. HOWEVER, SHOP CANNOT DUPLICATE THESE PROBLEMS OR THE PROBLEM WITH MY NON WORKING CRUISE CONTROL. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY FOR NON-DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES EVERYTIME FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS FINE. I TELL THEM THAT IT IS NOT FINE THAT THEY JUST CAN'T FIND IT. I AM DISTURBED BY THE NUMBER OF POSTS RE: TO SWAY BAR PROBLEMS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE FACT THAT NO ONE IS HOLDING CHRYSLER/DODGE ACCOUNTABLE. WILL IT TAKE A NUMBER OF DEATHS TO DETERMINE THAT THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE? I IMPLORE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE WATER ISSUE. SO FAR IT CAUSED MY BLOWER RESISTOR TO SHORT OUT AND NEED REPLACING. I HAD NO HEAT IN BELOW ZERO WEATHER. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF WHILE ON LOW BEAMS. HE WAS UNSURE WHETHER IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

RADIO MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY OVER APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH EVENTUALLY LEADING UP TO COMPLETE FAILURE. SMELLED SMOKE. HEARD OF RECALL ON RADIO. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED WITH RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS RELATED TO RECALL. SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICALLY-RELATED FAILURES IN RECENT MONTHS INVOLVING HEADLIGHTS, FUEL GAUGE LIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPER LIGHT, WASHER FLUID PUMP, DEAD BATTERY. *JB

AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & OFF INTERMITTENTLY ALONG WITH WARNING BELL. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER SAID DRIVER SQUIBB CIRCUIT OPEN & THEY REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY.*JB

DT: CONTACT STATES THERE WAS A FAILURE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE THAT CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR INTEGRITY. HE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED WITH THE EXACT BRAND OF TIRE. DURING THE SAME MONTH, ANOTHER TIRE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT AGAIN, WAS THE SAME BRAND OF TIRE. THE TIRE DEALER SAID THE FAILURES WERE NOT DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TIRES. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS ONE OF THE NEW TIRES STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

LAST WEDNESDAY MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK ABOUT 4AM, WHILE PASSING A SEMI ON THE FREEWAY, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT FOR ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS. THEY CAME BACK ON AND HAVE OPERATED WITHOUT A PROBLEM SINCE. I PURCHASED THE MINVAN NEW, (ORDERED IT), AND IT HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLEFREE MILES SINCE IT'S INCEPTION ON THE ROADS IN MICHIGAN, AS EXPECTED BY A DAIMLERCHRYSLER MINIVAN. THERE WAS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN ON THIS SINGLE ISSUE ONLY, AND AS I DID CALL THE DEALER ABOUT IT, IT WAS SIMPLY SUGGESTED THAT I GET IT IN FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. WHAT GOOD IS THAT WHEN IT HAS OCCURED ONLY ONCE...............SO FAR. JUST WANTED IT ON THE RECORD WITHOUT GETTING "TOSSED OR SIDELINED". THANK YOU KINDLY.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMPUTER FAILURE. (PCM HAS FAILURE.) THE VAN ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SAYS PCM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS A $900 CHARGE FOR REPLACEMENT. THE VAN HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND I FEEL THAT SOMETHING THIS ESSENTIAL AND EXPENSIVE SHOULD NOT GO OUT ON A VAN THIS AGE WITH THIS MILEAGE. *NM

ENGINE HESITATES AND SPUTTERS BADLY WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR WITH BRAKE ON AND SPUTTERS BADLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUILT UP CARBON WAS CLEANED FROM THE INTAKE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ALSO, THE FAN SPEED SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT ONLY WORKED ON HIGH. IT HAS FAILED AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

DT: THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IN APRIL 2005. THE WINDOW STARTED MOVING SLOWER AND THEN IT LOCKED. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 18, 2005, AND THEY REPLACED THE WINDOW MOTOR REGULATOR. THEN, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW DID THE SAME THING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. ON OCTOBER 7, 2005 IT LOCKED IN A LOWER POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN-SPORT EDITION. THE VEHICLE HAD AN AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING REPLACED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 25,000 MILES. TODAY THE VEHICLE HAS 48,600 MILES ON IT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON ONCE AGAIN JUST LIKE THE FIRST TIME THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN WARM WEATHER THE LIGHT GOES OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED IT, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A RECALL FOR MODEL YEARS 1998-2000 THAT DESCRIBES THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CLOCK SPRING. I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AS WELL. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM? *NM

TWO INCIDENTS: IN FEB 05, DAYLIGHT DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES @45 MPH DURING RAINFALL, ALL THE DASH INFORMATION LIGHTS CAME ON AND WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. PULLING OFF THE ROAD TO ASSESS THE SITUATION WITH THE VAN STILL RUNNING ALL THE DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND 1 MINUTE LATER ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AFRAID TO GO ON, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, PLACED VAN IN PARK AND DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OUT. TURNED OFF ENGINE, TRIED TO RESTART CAR. FIRST FEW TURNS OF KEY, NOTHING HAPPENED AND THEN THE CAR FINALLY TURNED OVER WITHOUT ANY DASH LIGHTS. DRIVING HOME IN RAIN, TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS/WIPERS AND MOMENTS LATER ALL DASH LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON. AT THAT SAME TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT/WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED UNCOMMANDED. MADE IT HOME/TURNED OFF ENGINE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART ENGINE FAILED, NO DASH INFORMATION LIGHTS DURING START SEQUENCE, HAD TO HAVE VAN TOWED TO DODGE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED MAIN COMPUTER WAS FRIED. AFTER MANY HOURS/DAYS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING, WE WERE TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS TO COMPUTER WAS CHAFFED CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER WITH A REBUILT ONE. IN EARLY AUGUST 05 WHILE DRIVING IN DARKNESS, THE DASH LIGHTS/HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO CYCLE ON AND OFF UNCONTROLLED, ALL GAUGES WENT TO ZERO AND ALL SQUARES AROUND THE TRANSMISSION STATUS LIGHTS (P,R,N,D,L) WOULD ALL LIGHT UP. THE FAN WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN TURN ON UNCOMMANDED AND NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. 1 DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN I TURN ON HEADLIGHTS, THE ONE THAT IS ON DURING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT OPERATION TURNS OFF, AND OTHER LIGHT TURNS ON. WHEN I SWITCH LIGHTS INTO HIGH BEAM MODE, THE LIGHTS REVERSE TO THE WAY THEY OPERATE WHILE IN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT OPERATION. I'VE ALREADY INVESTED $200 INTO THE DIAGNOSIS OF THIS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHICH DID NOT CORRECT ISSUE. SHOP SPENT TWO DAYS CHECKING ALL CONNECTIONS, LEADS AND GROUND AND THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION. DEALER SAID IT WAS A "CLOCKSPRING FAILURE" AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT: 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONSUMER STATES THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. ALSO, THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE ABS SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THE BACK WHEELS TWICE. NEARLY EVERYTHING ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

IN FEBRUARY 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON THE INTERSTATE IN KNOXVILLE, TN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. AT THAT TIME, WE HAD JUST OVER 34,000 MILES ON THE VAN. THESE WERE NORMAL MILES WITH NO HEAVY TOWING OR OTHER ABUSIVE DRIVING. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO JIM COGDILL DODGE FOR REPAIR. THIS REPAIR WAS STILL COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. WE WERE TOLD AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR THAT IT ONLY REQUIRED THE TRANSMISSION BE ??REFURBISHED?? AS THE WARRANTY DID NOT REQUIRE THEM TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AT JUST OVER 60K MILES. THIS TIME THERE WAS A LOUD POP, A HARD JERK OF THE VAN AND THEN IT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AS I WAS CROSSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I AM VERY LUCKY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE AS MYSELF, AND OTHERS, WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN ENDANGERED BY THIS PRODUCT FAILURE. I ASKED TO SPEAK IMMEDIATELY TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, MR. LARRY DAUGHTRY. HE PROCEEDED TO INFORM ME THAT EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS FIXED PREVIOUSLY BY A DODGE DEALER, I WOULD BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS . HE ALSO INFORMED ME HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH DAMAGE IN A TRANSMISSION THAT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A PRODUCT DEFECT. I COULD UNDERSTAND THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SERVICE HAD BEEN PERFORMED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN A DODGE DEALER, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE! HE THEN OFFERED TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT MANAGER, WHOSE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION SEEMS TO BE HELD IN THE UTMOST SECRECY AS HE WILL

DT: CONSUMER OBSERVED DEEP IMPRESSIONS ON THE TREAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE DEFLATED BECAUSE OF A NAIL IN THE EDGE OF THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRE TO VEHICLE DEALER AND BOUGHT A NEW TIRE AND RECEIVED AN ADJUSTMENT OF $30 FROM GOODYEAR FOR THE DEFECT. THERE WAS ABOUT 25-30,000 MILES ON THE TIRE WHEN THE DEFECT OCCURRED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER FRONT. THE TIRE DEVELOPED A LARGE BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL. CONSUMER STOPPED DRIVING THE SECOND IT WAS NOTICED. AND OVERNIGHT IT WENT FLAT. THIS WAS DISCOVERED AFTER EXPERIENCING STEERING DIFFICULTIES AND AN ABNORMAL SHIMMY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY PAVED ROAD IN RAINY CONDITIONS. THE MILEAGE ON TIRE AT THIS TIME 30-35,00 0. CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRE OFF VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE VEHICLE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT ANOTHER TIRE TO REPLACE IT WITH SO VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A SPARE, THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AS WELL. NO REPLACEMENTS AT THIS TIME. GOODYEAR MAKE, MODEL EAGLE, SIZE 215/65/R16. EAGLE MS. *JB *TT

DT: THE CONSUMER OBSERVED DEEP IMPRESSIONS ON THE TREAD OF TIRE LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE TIRE DEFLATED BECASUE OF A NAIL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BUY A NEW TIRE. GOODYEAR DID ALLOW A $30 ADJUSTMENT FOR THE DEFECT. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE TIRE HAD 25000-30,000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A PAVED HIGHWAY ROAD IN RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN SHE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE STEERING DIFFICULTIES AND A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THERE WAS A LARGE BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AFTER THIS WAS NOTICED. OVERNIGHT THE TIRE WENT FLAT. THERE WAS 30-35,000 MILES ON THE TIRE AT TIME OF FAILURE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRE OFF THE VEHICLE AND TOOK THE TIRE TO DEALER. DEALER DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER TIRE TO REPLACE WITH SO THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A SPARE. CONSUMER HAD TO AWAIT FOR A TIRE FOR THE FIRST FAILURE AS WELL. GOODYEAR, EAGLE, SIZE 215/65R16. EAGLE LS. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *AK *JB

POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK ON EITHER DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS SIDE. WINDOWS WILL GO DOWN BUT NOT UP.

OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS (MARCH 05 - JULY 05), MY 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS EXPERIENCED INTERMITTANT HEADLAMP FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF/ON FOR SEVERAL CYCLES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RELATED TO WEATHER OR ENGINE RPM. TO DATE, THE LIGHTS HAVE EVENTUALLY STAYED ON AND THIS HAS NOT YET MADE THE VEHICLE UNOPERABLE. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND WILL JUST START TRYING THINGS....AM PLANNING TO TAKE THIS TO DEALER WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DAIMLERCHRYSLER. THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURANCE...BUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

DT: 2001 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, CONSUMER SAYS HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED UNPREDICTABLY. ENGINE RAN ROUGH, AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO CHECKED THE VAN BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NO FAULT CODES FOUND IN COMPUTER, UPDATED PCM. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY. PROBLEM BEGAN NOT MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING VAN.*AK *SB THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS PERIODICALLY.*SB *NM

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *TT *SB

2001 CHRYSLER GRAND CARAVAN SPORT BALL JOINTS WENT BAD.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *JB

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING AND GO OFF WHILE THE MINIVAN IS MOVING. I NOTICED YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS SAME MATTER WITH CHRYSLER AND THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS. *JB

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS, RADIO SYSTEM AND THE LIGHT TO THE GAS GAUGE.*MR *NM