2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Complaint Log

GRAPHIC ILLUMINATION BULBS ON THE 3 ZONE CLIMATE CONTROLS FOR THE 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BURN OUT AND ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. THE ENTIRE CLIMATE CONTROL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500 BECAUSE A $0.50 BULB HAS BURNED OUT. LOSS OF ILLUMINATION ON THE CLIMATE CONTROLS RESULTS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CONTROL SETTINGS. SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE INSTRUMENTS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. NOT TOO MANY CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO PAY $500 TO RESOLVE A BURNED OUT INSTRUMENT LAMP. *NM

MY VANS POWER STEERING STARTED TO WHINE AND VIBRATE DURING THE COLD DRIVING UNTIL IT WARMED UP A YEAR AGO, CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THE POWER STEERING FOR MY VAN. TOOK THE CAR IN BUT BY THE TIME I HAD DRIVEN THERE IT WAS NOT MAKING ANY NOISE SO NOW THEY ARE ACTING AS IF THE SOUND IS ALL IN MY HEAD. LOOKED UP RECALLS ON YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE HOSES BUT THE DEALERSHIP STILL SAYS NO RECALL. THE NOISE IS WORSE AND SO IS THE VIBRATION I FEAR A FAILURE BUT NO ONE WILL FIX WHAT ISN'T HEARD. AFTER READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB

WE HAVE A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, AND THE AIR-BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON FOR AWHILE, THEN GOES OFF. I CALLED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AND THEY GAVE ME NO SATISFACTION. IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WE ALSO HAVE A 2000 CHRYSLER GRAND VOYAGER, AND THE LIGHT HAS NEVER GONE ON, BUT IT IS ON THE RECALL LIST. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2002. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AT A STOP LIGHT WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HEATING VENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD. THE SMOKE BEGAN TO TURN BLACK AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE DASHBOARD VENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO PLASTIC BURNING. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE SAME SMELL INTERMITTENTLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A HOSE LEAKING FLUID AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT RECALL THE TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING OR THE TYPE OF HOSE THAT WAS REPLACED. THE SMELL CONTINUED HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. UPDATED ON 05/30/2006. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT OCCASIONALLY GOES OFF, BUT WHEN THE CONTACT HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CLOCK SPRING WAS BAD. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 04V480000, REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WE HAVE HAD THE VAN FOR 3 MONTHS, THE PREVIOUS OWNER WAS AN 81 YEAR OLD LADY). OUT OF NOWHERE MY RADIO STARTED HAVING A MAJOR MALFUNCTION. WHEN I TURN ON THE VEHICLE THE RADIO IS AT FULL BLAST IF YOU TOUCH THE VOLUME KNOB IT GOES OFF BUT WHEN YOU TOUCH IT AGAIN I GOES BACK TO FULL BLAST. THERE IS NOTHING ABNORMAL THAT I HAVE DONE OTHER THAN USE IT LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE. I ALSO DISCOVERED A MYSTERIOUS PUDDLE ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD WHICH WHEN IT DRIED IT TURNED WHITE. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TAKE IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST THING THEY ASKED ME WAS IF I HAD A WARRANTY, I SAID NO. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY SAID " WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT CAN LOOK AT IT AND IF WE DID WE COULDN'T FIX IT ANYWAY". THEY SAID " ALL WE CAN DO IS SELL YOU A NEW RADIO FOR $300". SO THEN I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING AS THE DEALER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I WAS GIVEN A RECALL NOTICE FROM AUTOSITE .COM, IT SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL VAN. (CAMPAIGN # 04V531000) I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER BACK AND ASKED ABOUT RECALL AND REMINDED THEM OF MY PROBLEM. THEY SAID " YOUR SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IT THAT RECALL AND THERE IS STILL NOTHING THAT WE WILL DO". I HAVE THREE CHILDREN ONE OF WHICH IS A FOUR MONTH OLD BABY THAT RIDE IN THIS VAN. I WOULD HATE TO THINK OF THE POSSIBLE HEARING DAMAGE THAT COULD CAUSE. I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO ARE LOOKING AT PURCHASING A NEW VAN AND WE HAVE TOLD THEM NOT TO BUY A DODGE BECAUSE OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND THE LACK OF HELP THAT DODGE HAS GIVEN TO US. WE ALSO JUST HAD TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION THAT COST $1500 WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP US. *NM

2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT WITH 35,000 MILES. RECALLED TWICE FOR STEERING FLUID HOSE REPLACEMENTS IN 2004. AFTER FIRST HOSE WAS REPLACED, MINIVAN STARTED LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE FOR ANOTHER STEERING HOSE REPLACEMENT. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THAT REPLACED, TOLD THEM TO LOOK INTO THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THEY SAID THEY WOULD. THEY FIXED THE RECALL HOSE, MADE NOT MENTION OF LEAKING FLUID. FLUID DID NOT LEAK FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK IN FOR 3RD RECALL (RADIO VENT SLOTS), AS WELL AS SMOKING ENGINE AND AGAIN MENTIONED LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY'D LOOK INTO IT. DEALERSHIP CONDUCTED 27 POINT INSPECTION ON OWN WILL, DID NOT FIND LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID (AUG. 2005). FLUID HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE THEN. NOISE IN POWER STEERING CONSISTENTLY AUDIBLE, AND INCREASINGLY LOUDER AT ALL TIMES. NOW, DEALERSHIP SAYS THE RACK AND PINION ARE CRACKED AND NEED REPLACING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS IN NO WAY RELATED TO POWER STEERING HOSE RECALLS OR NEGLECT TO ADDRESS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. AM TAKING MINIVAN TO INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN FOR REVIEW OF RACK AND PINION AND OPINION ON NEXT STEP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED DOWN HILL THE MANUAL SLIDING DOORS SLAMMED SHUT. THE DOOR GOES INTO THE LOCK POSITION BUT, THE PLASTIC MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE DOOR LOCKED HAS A CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR TO SLAM SHUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.

I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE MY BRAKES LOOKED AT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NEED REPLACED AND I AGREED TO THE SERVICE. I MENTIONED TO THEM THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKE BUT WENT OUT ABRUPTLY AFTER THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THEY WENT AND CHECKED THE BRAKES CAREFULLY AND FOUND NOT ONE BUT TWO BRAKE CALIPERS WERE EITHER CRUSHED IN PIECES OR BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS AROUND 45,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD BY THIS SHOP AND THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I CALLED THEM THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. I WAS GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AND WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN TO THE REMAINING TWO CALIPERS. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON IT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM THIS WENT BEYOND A "WARRANTY" ISSUE INTO A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PART WAS NOT WORE OUT, IT WAS DEFECTIVE (NOT ONE BUT TWO OF THEM) AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

WHILE VACATIONING IN ATLANTA, GA. WE WERE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND EXPERIENCED A LOUD THUD. WE HAD DIFFICULTY IN GETTING OUR CAR TO GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. WE DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS OUR TRANSMISSION. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD 64,000 MILES ON THE VAN, AND ALL WORK HAD BEEN KEPT UP ON THE VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED THAT THE WORK WOULD COST BETWEEN $2900.00 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, OR $3500.00 TO REPLACE IT. THEY WOULD DETERMINE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE WHEN THEY PULLED THE TRANSMISSION. WE DECIDED TO GO DOWN THE STREET ANOTHER 2 MILES TO AN AAMCO TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY ESTIMATED THE REPAIR TO BE $1400.00 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, OR $2900.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WE DECIDED TO HAVE THEM DO THE JOB SINCE THE ESTIMATES WERE CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT. FOUR DAYS LATER THE JOB WAS DONE, AND THE FINAL COST WAS $3000.00! THEY PUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IN. WE HAVE APPROACHED DODGE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. THEY WILL NOT GIVE US A PENNY TOWARDS THE JOB. THEY CLAIM THAT HAD WE STAYED AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, A PARTIAL CONSIDERATION COULD HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT. SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE THE OLD TRANSMISSION, THEY SAY THAT WE CANNOT PROVE WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS VAN ONLY HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT......THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. AND WHY DID THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE TOOK IT TO, NOT TELL US THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE WORKED OUT WITH DODGE.*JB

ACCIDENT, GRAND CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. VAN FLIPPED, EXTENSIVE FRONT END, FRAME, SIDE, ROOF, ETC, DAMAGE. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NOR DID THE SIDE AIR BAGS. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS, INCLUDING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, INDICATE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME DISENGAGED DURING THE ACCIDENT (AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BELT TANG AND ANCHORAGE BUCKLE).*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIRS IN FEBRUARY OF 2006. THE FAILURE CEASED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN IN MID-MARCH OF 2008. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT A DIFFERENT VEHICLE YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,907.

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT HAD ABOUT 32000 MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 40000 MILES THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AND THEN GO OFF ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. AT ABOUT 41500 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON MOST OF THE TIME. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE DIAGNOSIS COST $88.00. THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT PART COST ABOUT $10.00. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE PART COST ABOUT $213.00. TOTAL COST ABOUT $310. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM IN THE CHRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SYSTEM, BECAUSE THE PART CARRIED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2002-2006 MODEL YEARS. THIS IS NOT A WEAR ITEM, BUT INSTEAD IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM AND/OR IT'S CONNECTORS. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OF GOOD QUALITY AND EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT ARE RELIABLE AND WELL CONSTRUCTED. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *NM

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH THE VAN DOWN SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR WITH A JOLT. FOLLOWING THE OWNERS MANUAL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE MINI VAN IN PARK. RESTARTED THE VAN PUT IT IN GEAR AND STARTED TO MOVE AND HEARD AND FELT THE TRANSMISSION GRINDING. CALLED A TOW TRUCK. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION JERKED THE VEHICLE AS IF IT WERE STALLING. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED, ALTHOUGH REGULARLY SERVICED, DUE TO AN UNKNOWN INTERNAL PROBLEM, NOT IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *NM UPDATED 2/28/2006 - *NM

POWER STEERING PUMP MAKING LOAD NOISES AGAIN. HAD HOSES REPLACED DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *JB

2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 69,500 MILES. TRANSMISSION MADE A JERKING AND DID NOT WANT TO SEEM TO SHIFT. TOOK TO DODGE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THEY ALLOWED SERVICE MAN TO DRIVE HOME AND DROVE APPROX. 100 MILES. THEY CONCLUDED NO PROBLEM THEY COULD FIND. 3 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING SAME SYMPTOMS AND THEN LOUD CLUNK BUT THIS TIME WAS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CALLED DODGE 800# TO OBTAIN WARRANTY INFO. DODGE INFORMED ME IT WAS IN WARRANTY. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND SET UP APPOINTMENT TO FIX. THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID DODGE WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT. I THEN CALLED DODGE 800# BACK AND TALK TO THEM. I ASKED WHY LESS THAN 2HR AGO MY VAN HAD A POWER TRAIN WARRANTY ON IT AND NOW IT DOES NOT HAVE A WARRANTY. THEY INFORMED ME THE VAN DID NOT HAVE A WARRANTY AND THAT I HAD NEVER CALLED THEM (THEY RECORD AND COMPUTER SHOWS IF YOU CALL, BUT DODGE CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO RECORD I CALLED). I INFORMED THEM I CALLED THEM LESS THAN 2HR BEFORE AND THEY REPLIED I WAS MISTAKEN. MY PHONE RECORDS INDICATE DIFFERENT THAN THEIRS. ANY WAY THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED. TOOK TO LOCAL TRANS SHOP AND FOUND HE HAD TWO OTHER CARAVANS WITH COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAITING IN LINE TO BE FIXED. THE SHOP OWNER SAID HE HAS FIXED MANY MANY OF THESE TYPE TRANSMISSIONS. HE SAID IN HIS OPINION THAT THESE WERE VERY POOR PERFORMING TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT THEIR TRACK RECORD OF FAILURES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. THIS APPEARED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 02V293000 FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT NOT FOR THE MODEL YEAR. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - THE HEADLAMPS CUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FCM WAS REPLACED BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH FLICKERING. *NM

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED HEAD LIGHT-INTERIOR FLICKERING TO WHICH THE DEALER CANNOT SOLVE. *JB

DT: CALLER STATED A METAL STRAP RUSTED AND CAUSED THE HEATER HOSE RUST. CALLER SAID HE NOTICED A LEAK AND FOUND THE RUSTED HOSE AND STRAP. CALLER HAD IT REPAIRED UNTIL HE COULD GET HOME TO LET DEALER SEE IT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIR IN 2004 RESULTED IN NO PROBLEM FOUND, BUT THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM PERSISTED. SECOND ATTEMPT AT REPAIR SHOWED A BAD CLOCK-SPRING FOR THE AIRBAG THAT COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE TO OPERATE PROPERLY DURING A COLLISION (ESPECIALLY IF THE CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ACTIVE). OTHER MODELS OF DODGE PRODUCTS HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE 200 GRAND CARAVAN EX (NOTE THAT MY VEHICLE IS HIGH MILAGE WITH OVER 50K MILES).

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY THE BACK END OF THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTING DROPPED. CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS EN ROUTE TO AN EVENT WHEN THE PARKING LOT ATTENDANT THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT BECAUSE THE WAY THE CAR WAS PULLING IN A JERKING MOTION. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION FLUID AT THAT TIME. LATER THAT EVENING THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AAA CAME AND TOWED VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP BUT WAS LATER TOWED VEHICLE TO A SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AS OF YET. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. CONSUMER CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHRYSLER, WHO INQUIRED IF SHE NEEDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND THEN BEING ON HOLD THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WOUND INCORRECTLY IN AIR BAG AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO RECTIFY THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE IN THE AUTOMOBILE. THEREFORE, I WAS CHARGED NEARLY $200 TO REPAIR THEIR FAILURE TO PROVIDE A SAFE CAR. THE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN THE YEARS 1995-2000 WERE ALL RECALLED FOR THIS SAFETY FAILURE, IT SEEMS THEY NEVER ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS STILL CONTINUING IN MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *JB

DT:CONTACT STATES TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING , THE SERVICE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE SOLENOID PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONTACT HAD THIS COMPONENT REPLACED.*AK

I HAVE HAD 2 BRIEF HEADLIGHT FAILURES (10 SECONDS OR SO) AND MY HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FLICKER OR DIM. MY LIGHTSWITCH GETS VERY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.

AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON AND OFF DURING DRIVING HAVE CHECK ALL CONNECTION AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. *TR

THE AIR CONDITIONER FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. ALL OF THE USUAL ITEMS WERE CHECKED, I.E. COMPRESSOR AND LINES CHECKED FOR LEAKS, SYSTEM CHARGED. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE PART THAT THEY NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS, IN HIS WORDS, "ON DOUBLE SECRET BACK ORDER". HE SAID THAT THE STAR MASTER TECHS AT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WILL NOT RELEASE THE PART YET BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT DONE CHECKING IT OUT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH THEM. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS A STACK OF WORK ORDERS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM, ALL WAITING FOR THE A/C CONTROL MODULE (WHICH IS THE PART NEEDED APPARENTLY). NORMALLY IT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT MY WIFE DRIVES THE GRAND CARAVAN AND NORMALLY HAS OUR SONS IN THE CAR AND THE TEMPERATURES LATELY HAVE BEEN VERY HIGH CAUSING UNDUE STRESS ON HER AND THE CHILDREN.

DT: PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AT 60,458 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE MOVING IN REVERSE IN A PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE AND KEPT IN GREAT SHAPE. SERVICE RECORDS WERE KEPT UP TO DATE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND NO ONE WILL CALL THE CONSUMER BACK. CONSUMER TALKED TO A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE COULD NOT TALK TO THE MANAGER AT CHRYSLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY AT HEADQUATERS. AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WILL NOT CALL BACK EITHER. *AK

POWER STEERING WAS LOCKING IN COLD WEATHER DURING INITIAL START UP. FIRST REPORTED 4/05, DEALER STATED IT WAS CAUSED BY PROBLEM WITH HOSES WHICH HAVE A RECALL, RECALL PERFORMED, AND VEHICLE RETURNED. (NOT FIXED), RETURNED VEHICLE AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM STILL AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP *DUE TO LOW PRESSURE". I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, SINE THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED IN COLD WEATHER THROUGH THE SUMMER IT WAS FINE UNTIL EARLY DECEMBER AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE, THIS TIME IT WAS ALSO HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER "OF COURSE IT WAS NOW OUT OF MANUFACTURE WARRANTY", HOWEVER DEALER AGREED TO FIX PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD PRIOR HISTORY. THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM BY SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC THE DAY I BROUGHT IT IN, HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THEY HAD MY VAN FOR 3 WEEKS, DURING THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH IT BUT WERE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. I EVEN TRIED TO GET CHRYSLER INVOLVED AND THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK EVEN THOUGH I LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES AND WAS PROMISED A CALL BACK. FINALLY THE DEALER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT STEERING RACK. I GOT IT BACK, IT WAS FINE FOR 4 DAYS AND PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND WOULD LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO WAS HANDLING MY CASE. IT HAS NOW BEEN 4 DAYS AND NO RETURN CALL. MEANTIME IM DRIVING AROUND AND UNSAFE CAR, PAYING OVER $600.00 A MONTH. IM VERY UPSET THERE ISN'T MORE THAT CAN BE DONE AGAINST THESE COMPANIES PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. *NM

THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD LOW BATTERY. *AK UPON FURTHER QUESTIONING DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AIR BAG INDICATOR LAMP AND CLAIMED FAULT WAS IN AIR BAG MODULE. UPON FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DECIDED TO FIX PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. *BF *NM

DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR AIR BAG/CLOCK SPRING RECALL 04V480000 ALTHOUGH IT WAS WITHIN THE MILEAGE.*AK

HEADLIGHTS ON 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FLICKER. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. *AK

AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL LEADING TO THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED UNDER TO FIND THO PUSH ROD HANGING THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP WITH THE MOTOR REPLACED. WHEN THE TEST DRIVE WAS TAKING PLACE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPUTOR CHIP CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DROP DOWN TO LOW GEAR IN WHICH RAN THE RPM'S INTO THE DANGER ZONE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE COMING APART. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. I MADE ATTEMPT AFTER ATTEMPT TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE AT CHRYSLER AND COULD NOT EVEN GET A RETURN CALL FROM ANYONE OTHER THAN A DEALER. I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT A MOISTER LEAK FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER WHICH MAY LEAD INTO A SHORT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I CALLED THE NUMBER GIVEN ON THE RECALL AND ASKED IF I COULD SPEAK TO SOMEONE AT CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY PHONE #'S. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO CONTACT THIS DEPARTMENT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS CERTAINLY A RISK AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AS WELL AS EXPENSES REIMBURESED BY CHRYSLER.

THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE IN THE PAST MONTH WHILE ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR TESTING, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN NEW. OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BASICALLY TWO EFFECTS. THE FIRST ONE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AND EITHER NOT START OR HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE SECOND WAS THAT EVERY TIME YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES, THE WIPERS, HEAT, AND RADIO WOULD QUIT.AT FIRST THE DEARLER BONNEVILLE & SON COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER PUTTING A SCOPE ON IT AT THE EXACT TIME THE TROUBLE OCCURRED. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEY FOUND A GROUNDING STUD IN THE DOOR JAM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS VERY LOOSE, $250.00 LATER IT WAS OK. AFTER A MONTH THE TROUBLE CAME BACK. THIS TIME THE DEALER, BONNEVILLE & SON FOUND THAT ONE OF THE WIRES IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS ROTTED, $215.00 LATER IT WAS OK. ANOTHER MONTH GONE BY, HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AGAIN. BONNEVILLE SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE TO FIX THIS COMPLETELY IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AT A MATERIAL COT OF $1400.00. I'VE TRIED TO GET CRYSLER AND THE DEALER TO FIX THIS WITH OUT ME SPENDING MORE MONEY ON ROTTING WIRES IN A VEHICLE THAT'S JUST THREE YEARS OLD. THEY WOULD NOT. I WILL NEVER BY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN!!!*AK

PROBLEM WITH STEERING FOR TWO YEARS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE, POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION. *BF THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE TWO UPPER POWER RETURN HOSES AND INSTALL A LONGER POWER STEERING HOSE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V386000 REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS THERE HAS BEEN A SHUDDER IN THE STEERING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND ODOMETER, KEEPS SHORTING OUT. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE ON THE SAME CIRCUIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. INITIALLY THE SHOP REPLACED THE FUSE. THE SECOND TIME, THEY STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. A NEIGHBOR OF OURS WHO OWNS A TOWN & COUNTRY HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE TURN SIGNALS, NOT TO MENTION NOT KNOWING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB

WE OWN A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN WITH A PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. IN COLD TEMPERATURES (BELOW 40 DEGREES) THE MOTOR FAILS TO OPERATE THE DOOR AND THE DOOR MUST BE OPENED AND CLOSED MANUALLY. DUE TO ITS WEIGHT AND DESIGN THE DOOR IS QUITE DIFFICULT FOR A SCHOOL AGED CHILD TO OPEN. IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET LEVERAGE, OUR SON HAS HAD HIS HEAD BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE FRAME AS HE ATTEMPTS TO SLIDE THE DOOR CLOSED. THANKFULLY NO ACCIDENTS HAVE YET RESULTED. HOWEVER, I DO SEE A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION SHOULD A CHILD'S HEAD GET CAUGHT AS THEY PULL THE DOOR SHUT. THERE IS A SENSOR THAT PREVENTS THE DOOR FROM CLOSING ALL THE WAY WHEN THE POWER FEATURE IS USED TO CLOSE THE DOOR BUT I DON'T THINK IT OPERATES WHEN THE DOOR MUST BE SHUT MANUALLY.*AK

1. POP RIVETS FOR MOUNTING BRACKETS HOLDING TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER BROKE. . LOOSE OIL COOLER RUBBED HOLES IN THE RADIATOR COILS CAUSING LEAKS OF COOLING FLUID. 3. REMOVED OIL COOLER AND RE-RIVETED BRACKETS TO COOLER AND REPLACED DAMAGED RADIATOR. OLD RADIATOR IS AVAILABLE. OIL COOLER REVAMPED ON VEHICLE.*AK

I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IF IT STARTS AGAIN, IT STALLS WITHIN 1/4 MILE. YOU CAN DO THIS ONLY FOR 3 TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY CAN NOT BE STARTED. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER PROGRAM MODULE. THE CAR WORKED FOR 100 MILES, THEN DIED AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP STARTED THE CAR AND RAN A DIAGNOSTIC BUT FAILED TO LOCATE ANY FAULTY CODES. I ASKED THEM TO TAKE IT FOR A TEST RIDE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THEY DID, AND IT DIED ON THEM. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. AGAIN, LESS THAN 100 MILES LATER, THE CAR DIED. THE DODGE DEALER SEEMS TO BE AT A LOSS AS TO WHY IT IS FAILING AND NOT STARTING. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE THEM STYMIED. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT INDICATIONS PRIOR TO FAILURE. YOU LOSE ALL POWER TO THE CAR. *JB

HI, I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH A 3.8L, I HAVE HAD MY VAN IN ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS TO CENTURY DODGE IN TAYLOR, MICHIAGN. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS THAT APPEAR TO FLICKER ALL THE TIME, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY COULD NOT FIX IT, AMAZING THAT A POSSIBLE RECALL NOW MAY HAPPEN FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. ON ONE FINAL NOTE, AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME 2004 I THOUGHT I WAS OVER TIRED FROM WORK, I COULD SWEAR MY LIGHTS COMPLETELY WENT ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES (VERY QUICKLY). P.S. I AM A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE @ TRENTON ENGINE SIGNED, CARRYING A FLASHLIGHT (JUST IN CASE) *AK

BRAKE FAILURE EVERY 16000 MILES OR SO. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS 4 TIMES SINCE I HAD THIS VEHICLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS TWICE SINCE PURCHASE BECAUSE THE ROTORS DELAMINATED. YESTERDAY THE VAN HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING. IT WAS LIKE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE NOT GRABBING. *AK

GAS PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING OVERFILL OF GAS TANK. GAS TANK SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR CAPTURE AND EVAPORATION OF OVERFILL. VENTS FOR AIR FLOW IN VEHICLE ALLOW GASOLINE FUMES/VAPORS INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE. THIS CREATES A PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE PASSENGERS OR NEED TO USE THE VEHICLE. ALL OCCUPANTS ARE FORCED TO SIT INSIDE OF AN ENCLOSED VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE VAPORS. BROUGHT CONCERN TO DEALER AND DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WITHIN DESIGN PARAMETERS AND ADVISED NOT TO OVERFILL TANK. OVERFILL WAS NOT INTENTIONAL AND DEALER ADVISE DOES NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM WAS MANDATED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT ALL NEW CARS HAVE SIMILAR SYSTEMS AND IF THEY ARE OVERFILLED FUMES/VAPORS WILL BE PRESENT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AS WELL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. DEALER WILL NOT WORK WITH ME BUT ONLY STATES THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE PUTTING MY FAMILY/CHILDREN INTO THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING IT WHILE IT IS FULL OF GASOLINE FUMES/VAPORS. AS A CAREER FIREFIGHTER I RECOGNIZE THAT GASOLINE IS MOST VOLITILE IN THE VAPOR STATE. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO THE MANUFACTURERS/DEALERS ATTENTION AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN/WILL DO.*AK

AFTER OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK GAS FUME WERE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSES. ALSO, IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING. *AK

THE MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT AND ALL THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELTS WOULD COME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING OR NOT DRIVING. THE RELEASE BUTTON STICK TOO HIGH UP, ANY PRESSURE CAUSES THE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE CLAPS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

THE LEFT FRONT STRUT MOUNT OR SWAY BAR ROD BROKE AND CAUSED MY TIRE TO BLOW OUT. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND ALMOST WENT INTO A DITCH. IT COST ME $350.00 TO REPAIR. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DRB III SCAN TOOL INDICATED DRIVER'S SQUIB CIRCUIT #2 FAILURE. CLOCK SPRING REPLACED, CORRECTING THE FAILURE. FAILED PART RETAINED BY DEALER.*AK

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL FOR THE UPPER POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE, AND CALLING THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER THAT THEY ONLY HAD THREE PARTS IN AND THEY WERE ONLY FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY SERVICED CONSUMERS THAT PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES FROM THEM. NHTSA RECALL 04V386000. *JB

DURING A 40 MPH FRONT END VEHICLE COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK