2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Complaint Log

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 AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ALSO, DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CAME AND OFF WHENEVER THEY WANTED TO.*AK

CAR JUST STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE RUNNING. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT ON FREEWAY.*AK

I HAVE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CLOCKSPRING WENT BAD. THERE ARE RECALL ON MANY VEHICLE ON PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT 2001 IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND IT WILL COST AROUND $250 TO REPAIR IT. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN THE CLOCKSPRING WAS A PROBLEM THEY MIGHT TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN 2001 MODEL BUT IT IS NOT PERFECT. 2001 SHOULD BE IN THE RECALL LIST..... *TR

CHILD SEAT CANNOT STAY IN REAR BENCH SEAT BELT DUE TO THE BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTON UNLATCHING. BUTTON APPEARS TO BE HIGH UP, RELEASING TOO EASILY. *JG

VEHICLE BUCKS, STALLS AND STOPS REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR ROAD CONDITIONS. PROBLEM PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING. ENGINE LIGHT HAS ACTIVATED EACH TIME. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE; NO WARNING GIVEN BEFORE IT DIES WHILE DRIVING.*AK

AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION UNDER THE HOOD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, THE FIRE INSPECTOR CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION BASED ON A CORE THAT THE FIRE BURNED. *YH

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS RESULTED IN AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONING. THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*AK *JB

WHEN LEAVING FACTORY REAR AXLE HAD NO NUT. *AK WHEEL FELL OFF, CONSUMER STATES IT DID NOT HAVE THE COTTER PIN, WHICH HOLDS THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO THE AXLE, IT LEFT THE FACTORY WITHOUT THE PARTS. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS PAUSED IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. AS CONSUMER TURNED WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON AND OFF, THEY STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *AK CONSUMER STATES WIPERS STOPPED AGAIN ON THE SAME DAY, HOWEVER THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AT ALLW ITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. *SLC

THE ENGINE FAN COOLING SYSTEM HAS CREATED A CONSTANT VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT WITH BRACKETS, BUT IT CONTINUES TO VIBRATE. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN TEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY BASICALLY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO OTHER FIXES FOR IT. THE VAN VIBRATES IN PARK, OR WHEN IDLING WITH THE BRAKE ON. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE AIR IS RUNNING. I WENT TO AN ARBITRATOR AND WAS TOLD EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES, THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY REPAIRED ONCE! THEY ONLY OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT NO COST TO ME. I JUST WANT THE VIBRATION TO STOP. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. AFTER SPENDING ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE, I WOULD LIKE A SMOOTH RIDE.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. ROLLED BACKWARD KNOCKING ME (STANDING OUTSIDE ON THE PAVEMENT) DOWN AND ROLLED OVER MY RIGHT LEG AND ARM.. *AK

CONSUMER IS CALLING IN REGARD TO FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FITTING FOR VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE FITTING SHOULD BE CHANGED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

SLIDING POWER DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS CLOSE. DIFFICULT TO REPEAT AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE ON RIGHT FRONT, DEALER REPLACED A DEFECTIVE ENGINE MOUNT. NLM *YH

WHEN THE REMOTE OR INTERIOR BUTTON WAS USED TO OPEN THE SLIDING ELECTRIC DOOR, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN INCOMPLETE OR POPPED OPEN AND THEN CLOSED IMMEDIATELY.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. EVER SINCE JUNE 1, 2001 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THE SPEED CONTROL HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE HORN BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V480000 (AIR BAGS), WHICH WAS RELATED TO SOME OF THE ISSUES HE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,247. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/11/08 *JB

FUEL LEAK WAS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT MY CLOCKSPRING WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CLOCKSPRING WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND TO RETURN IN ONE WEEK AT THE START OF THE DAY TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. WHEN I RETURNED, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE A WAS NOW DUE TO IT BEING ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON AT VARIOUS TIMES. IT ALWAYS COMES ON AND STAYS ON NOW AT INITIAL START UP. PLUS THE ATTENTION BELL SOUNDS AT THAT SAME TIME. THIS CAN ALSO OCCUR WHEN CHANGING LANES AND MAKING TURNS. ANY MOTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAN MAKE THE LIGHT COME ON AND BELL RING AT ANY TIME WHILE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. THIS OCCURS IN ANY GEAR, AS WELL AS WHILE IT IS IN PARK. OCCASSIONALLY WHEN DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT-A-WAY, THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF. HOWEVER A SIMPLE LANE CHANGE MAKES IT COME ON AGAIN. THIS MALFUNCTION MAKES ME FEAR FOR MY LIFE AS WELL AS FOR OTHERS, WHETHER THEY ARE MY PASSENGERS OR ANOTHER VEHCILES OCCUPANTS. MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND CAUSE ME TO HAVE A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT. I ALSO FEAR THAT IF I AM INVOLVED IN ANYTYPE OF ACCIDENT THAT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT MY SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS, IS IN SERIOUS JEAPORDY. HOW CAN I GET THIS PART INTO MY DEALERSHIP AND RESOLVED QUICKLY? I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT YOUR NEEDED REPONSE. THANK YOU!*AK

THE REAR AXLE WARPED. *NLM WHEN THE REAR TIRE VIBRATED AND MADE AN ERRATIC SOUND, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THE ONE REAR TIRE HAD WORN TO THE CORD. (THE SECOND TIRE SHOWED SEVERE WEAR) *SCC *JB

CAR SOMETIMES ROLLS FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN IN GEAR AND RUNNING (IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE ENGAGED GEAR). FOR EXAMPLE, OUR DRIVEWAY SLOPES DOWNWARD, AWAY FROM THE STREET AND TOWARD OUR HOUSE, REQUIRING US TO BACK UP THE DRIVEWAY TO REACH THE STREET. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND PUT INTO REVERSE, IT SOMETIMES WILL ROLL FORWARD UNTIL THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. CONVERSELY, WHEN THE CAR IS IN FORWARD GEAR AND IS STOPPED (AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN) ON AN INCLINE WITH THE FRONT OF THE CAR BEING HIGHER THAN THE REAR, THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES ROLL BACKWARD UNTIL THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD US THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" AND THAT IF THE ENGINE RPM IS NOT AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, GRAVITY WILL PREVAIL OVER THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE THIS SEEMS NORMAL IF THE CAR HAD A STANDARD TRANSMISSION, THIS SEEMS QUITE ABNORMAL SINCE IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC. WHENEVER WE ARE ON AN INCLINE, I MUST KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND REV THE ENGINE PRIOR TO TAKING MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE OR RUN THE RISK THAT THE CAR WILL ROLL FORWARD INTO OUR SWIMMING POOL AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, OR BACKWARD INTO ANOTHER CAR WHILE IN TRAFFICE. IT'S LIKE DRIVING MY OLD VW.*AK

ANCHORS THAT ARE IN TRUCK STICK UP TO WHEN RECLINING. 2 BACK SEATS, SOMEONE COULD BE STUCK IN REAR.*AK CONSUMER'S 14 YEAR OLD SON HAS BEEN POKED TWICE WHILE RECLINING SEAT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO HAVE THE ANCHORS REMOVED BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY SMALL CHILDREN. *SLC

ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS, MY THE SEATBELT HOLDING MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW CAPTAINS CHAIR HAS COME UNDONE. LUCKILY I CHECK IT BEFORE WE GO ANYWHERE EACH TIME AND HAVE CAUGHT IT. I'M NOT SURE, BUT COULD THIS BE A PROBLEM WITH THE GENERATION 3 SEATBELTS? IF SO, I DO NOT FEEL MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE RIDING IN THESE SEATBELTS AND THEY SHOULD BE FIXED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON. *AK DEALER STATED THAT SEALS AND PISTON FAILED, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING, DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION. WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WOULD SHAKE, DEALER STATED WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE DASH. CONSUMER STATED PASSENGER FRONT WEATHERSTRIP WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH AND HAD A SMALL WATER LEAK, SIDE MOULDING AROUND DOOR IS MISHAPEN, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

THE TRANSMISSION CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME ON AN EXIT RAMP. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT BARKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. MY WIFE WAS INFORMED BY DODGE THAT THIS SHIMMY WE WERE FEELING AS WE APPLIED THE BRAKES WAS THE ABS ENGAGING. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE INFORMED THE PROBLEM IS WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. IN ADDITION, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 12000 MILES, WE NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS! THE LEATHER SEATING IN THE REAR IS 'DELAMINATING.' (I DON'T KNOW OF A BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT). THE REAR AUTOMATIC HATCH DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN. THIS TOO IS A RECURRING PROBLEM.

A FRONTAL OFFSET CRASH TEST WAS PERFORMED, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ROTATED 90 DEGREES ONTO ITS SIDE DURING THE ROUTINE POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION OF THE UNDERBODY A STODDARD FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED NEAR THE FUEL TANK, THE LEAK CONTINUED FOR 36 MIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, INSPECTION OF THE TANK SHOWED THAT THE LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE SENDER UNIT MAKES A SEAL WITH THE TANK HOUSING. NLM

WINDSHIELD HAS A GLARE FROM THE DASH SHOWING DIRECTLY IN YOUR LINE OF SIGHT WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECT WHICH ARE BEHIND THE GLARE. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THE BRIGHTER THE SUN SHINES THE DARKER THE GLARE. IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING INTO A MIRROR AND SEE THE REFLECTION OF THE DASH BACK INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS VERY WELL COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS DEFROSTER WOULD NOT KEEP ICE FROM FORMING ON THE INSIDE OF ALL WINDOWS OF THE VAN . WINDOWS APPEARED AS IF NEED TO HAVE ICE SCRAPED OFF BUT ICE WAS ON INSIDE NOT OUTSIDE. THIS DEFINITELY IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF ANY WINDOWS. *AK

FRONT SEATS (MANUAL, NOT POWER) ARE TOO HIGH AND CLOSE TO DASH PREVENTING PERSONS OF A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 5" 5" FROM SAFELY APPLYING BRAKES - VERY DANGEROUS IN THAT LEGS ARE RESTRICTED BY DASH BOARD - CAUSES YOU TO ADJUST SEAT TO A MORE BACK POSITION WHICH SIMPLY TRADES ONE DANGER FOR ANOTHER. CANNOT ENTER OR EXIT VEHICLE BECAUSE INADEQUATE LEG ROOM BETWEEN SEAT AND DASH AREA. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. IT'S REAL! BE WARNED - APPLIES TO MANUAL SEATS - NOT POWER.

DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND 25 AMP FUSE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE DIES AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. ENGINE NEVER CAME ON BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMOVED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE FRONT SEATS ARE TOO HIGH MAKING IT HARD FOR A WOMAN WHO'S HEIGHT IS 5'3"-5'5" TO REACH THE BRAKE/GAS PEDALS WITHOUT SEAT PULLED ALL THE WAY FORWARD THEREFORE NOT LEAVING ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN CONSUMER AND AIR BAG. NLM

I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLERCHRYSLER REQUESTING A CHANGE TO THE FUEL TANK FITTING TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AS WAS INDICATED DURING THE TEST BY THE IIHS. AFTER THIS FITTING WAS DONE THE IIHS SAW NO FUEL SYSTEM LEAKAGE NOR ANY EVIDENCE OF WEAKNESS AROUND THE REDESIGNED PART(NEWS RELEASE 7/17/01). PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS RECTIFIED BEFORE THE FAILURE RESULTS IN INJURY OR DEATH. THANK YOU. TONI BICKNELL . *K

PLEASE REQUEST THAT MANUFACTURER REPLACE FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM PARTS AS INDICATED BY IIHS CRASH TESTS. DIAMLER-CHRYSLER REPLACED THE PART ON GRAND CARAVANS MANUFACTURED AFTER JULY, 2001 AS WELL AS ON ALL 2002 MODELS. OBVIOUSLY THEY TOOK THE IIHS REPORT SERIOUSLY, HOWEVER DIAMLER-CHRYSLER IS NOT WILLING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM FOR THOSE OF US WHO PURCHASED THE PRE-JULY 2001 MANUFACTURED GRAND CARAVANS. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH? PLEASE HELP. WHEN I PHONED DIAMLER CHRYSLER THEY INFORMED ME THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FUEL LEAK IN THEIR OWN TESTS....YET THEY MODIFIED THE GRAND CARAVANS IN THE MIDDLE OF A MODEL YEAR??? WE NEED TO GET THIS MATTER RECTIFIED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR WORSE.*AK

HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT TWO 2001 MODELS TESTED BY THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY HAVE SHOWN A CRACK AND / OR WEAKNESS IN THIS FITTING. 2002 MODELS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED AND DO NOT SHOW SIGNS OF WEAKNESS / CRACK. CHRYSLER DOESN'T PLAN TO RECALL AT THIS POINT. WHY NOT??? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

FUEL SYSTEM PART CRACKED IN TOW CRASH TEST, AN EXPLOSION FIRE COULD RESULT AFTER A COLLISION. THIS SYSTEM NEED TO BE CORRECTED.

AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND OFF WITH MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL OR BUMPS IN ROAD. DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING. 200 MILES LATER AIRBAG LIGHT IS BACK ON AND STAYS ON. TAKING TO DEALER TOMORROW TO BE LOOKED AT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 40-45 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF FRONT END COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SEAT BELT CAN BE OPENED TOO EASILY, FOR INSTANCE A CHILDS KNEE BRUSHING AGAINST IT CAN UNLATCH IT. I HAVE FOUND THE CAR SEAT UNLATCHED A FEW TIMES AND THOUGHT IT STRANGE AND THEN SAW ABC INVESTGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM WHICH PROMTPED ME TO WRITE.

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT COLLISION OCCURRING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ON 5 OCCASIONS BUT IS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

REAR SEATS TRACKING AND ANCHOR SYSTEM WILL LOCK OR STICK, CAUSING SEATS TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER HAS SERVICED REAR SEATS ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, HOWEVER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM . TRACK WAS WEARING DOWN, UNABLE TO KEEP SEAT IN TRACK.*AK *YH

WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED, THE LEFT SIGNAL CAME ON INSTEAD AND VICE VERSA. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS UNBUCKLED WHILE RESTRAINING A 2 YEAR OLD IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. BELTS ARE THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER GEN III MODEL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE AND SENSOR HAD FAILED AND REPLACED.

WHILE DRIVING, THE RACK AND PINION FAILED CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE'S STEERING NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE TORQUE CONVERTER "CAME APART" CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED CONSUMER $500 TOWARD THE TOTAL REPAIR BILL AS A "GOODWILL" GESTURE.

THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BUCKLE DOESN'T LATCH ALL THE TIME, AND IT IS HARD TO RELEASE. THE INTEGRATED SEAT IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT. MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE BUCKLE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK