2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Suspension Problems

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. HAS REAR AXEL CRAKED. THIS PROBLEM CAN PUT THE VEHICLE USAFE ON THE ROAD, AND ALSO CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY.

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN JUST WENT UP IN FLAMES WHILE DRIVING WITHIN MAYBE 5 MINUTES FIRE FIGHTERS CONTROL THE SITUATION BUT THE MOTOR ,BATTERY, EVERYTHING IN FRONT INSIDE HOOD JUST MELTED I REALLY NEED HELP I HAD JUST FINISHED PAYING IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I ATTRIBUTE THIS TO THE FAULTY ELECTRICAL RECALLS IT HAS AS WELL AS THE FUEL. HELP. AT LEAST I WANT A REPLACEMENT. *TR

VEHICLE IS RUSTING UNDER THE PAINT AS WELL AS RUSTING QUITE QUICKLY ON THE LEAF SPRING MOUNTS AS WELL AS MOST METAL PARTS UNDER THE VEHICLE. *TR

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT 2002 SWAY BAR BUSHING MOUNT WEARS OUT PREMATURELY AND CAUSES EXTREME DEGRADING IN VEHICLE HANDLING. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT AROUND 87K IN 2004. AT THE TIME I WAS AWARE THAT THERE'S A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. I THOUGHT MAYBE DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE. I'VE BEEN A LOCAL DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICES SINCE THEN AND NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS. UNTIL AROUND SEPTEMBER I WENT TO THE DEAL HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AND A PERSON FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANTED ME TO REPLACE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS FOR MY VEHICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS THIS ALL ABOUT SO I ASKED A LIST OF PARTS THAT HE REQUIRED ME FOR REPLACING. I WENT HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THESE PARTS AND FOUND MANY OWNER OF THIS CARS COMPLAINT ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THIS MODEL. AN OWNER WAS TOLD TO REPLACE HIS SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS AND HE DID WHAT WAS TOLD BUT THE NOISE IS COMING BACK AFTER 6 MONTHS. MY CO-WORKER BOUGHT HIS CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY (2002 MODEL), WHICH IS THE SAME MODEL AS DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AROUND THE SAME TIME (2004) I BOUGHT MINE. IT'S MILEAGE IS AROUND 30K. HE GAVE ME A RIDE JUST 2 WEEKS AGO AND I FOUND THAT IT HAS THE KNOCKING NOISE TOO. MY WORRY IS WILL THIS A SAFETY ISSUE OR NOT? I'M SURE THIS IS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND JUST WONDERING WHY DC ISN'T RECALL THIS MODEL FOR HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED? * THIS SHOULD BE A ALL YEAR ROUND INCIDENT EXCEPTS SUMMER (WHY?). *JB

BALL JOINTS ARE BAD LEADING TO A VERY ROUGH RIDE. *NM

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

SWAY BARS & BUSHINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE HAD THEM RELACED EVERY 2 YEARS SINCE THEN. *TR

THE LEFT FRONT STRUT ROD HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE STRUT. THIS HAS CAUSED A LOAD POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVE. THE VAN LEANS ALLOT MORE TO THE RIGHT THAN IT DOES TO THE LEFT. ALSO WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS THE ROD ITSELF RUBS AGAINST THE TIRE CAUSING A VERY LOAD RUBBING NOISE WITH THE SMELL OF RUBBER BURNING. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY THE CARS HAS OR HAD. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE. I THINK IS POTENTIALLY A BAD AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT COST ME ABOUT 300.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS. *NM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT 3.3 LITER,18,000 MILES ON ODOMETER WHEN PURCHASED,VEHICLE WANTS TO PULL TO RIGHT, AND BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLIED. NOTIFIED DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED, (LEE DODGE,WEST BROOK,MAINE) BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD "THEY" COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM????? I TOLD THEM I FELT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT,THEY SUPPOSEDLY DID THE ALIGNMENT,AND VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO RIGHT! AT THIS POINT THEY HAD A TECH. GO WITH ME,THE TECH EXPLAINED THAT HE FELT IT WAS THE CROWN OF THE ROAD, I HAVE DRIVEN PLENTY OF VEHICLES OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE AND I AM AWARE OF A ROAD CROWN, BUT THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS MINI VAN, AND ALL THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO DO IS PATRONIZE ME!!! I HAVE MADE ANOTHER CALL TO LEE DODGE AND TOLD THEM THAT I WILL BE BRINGING THIS BACK TO THEM AND THEY HAD BETTER GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME! PS AND SINCE MY PREVIOUS VISIT I NOW HAVE A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL UPON SLOW MOVING TURNING,THEY SAY THEY WILL ALSO LOOK INTO THIS.....................IS ANY ONE ELSE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS??? PLEASE HELP, I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS, AND I SURE DO WANT TO BE CERTAIN ITS A SAFE VEHICLE! I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE 10 DAYS!! PURCHASED ON 5-28-03 DEALER WAS NOTIFIED 1 AND A HALF DAYS LATER OF THESE PROBLEMS..............*JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO MOVE THE LEVER A FEW TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM SHE WAS EXPERIENCING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED IN THE 2 WEEKS THE MECHANIC HAD THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO ONE SIDE AND VIBRATED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. THE EMISSION HOSE AND GAS CAP WERE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STAYING SHUT. THE OIL PAN GASKET AND AXLE SEAL WERE LEAKING. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR-END FELT AS IF DRAGGING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT PLATE, WHICH COVERS THE BRAKE SYSTEM, IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE SYSTEM, RESULTING IN RUSTING. THIS CONDITION CAUSES COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

THE VAN IS SUBJECT TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT WITH THE OWNER BEING TOLD THAT THE DRIFTING IS A SAFETY FEATURE TO KEEP VAN FROM VEERING INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THE OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE VAN SHOULD DRIFT ONE LANE 3/4 OF A MILE. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO ADJUST THE CRADLE TO MINIMIZE THE DRIFTING. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, POLICE OFFICERS, ETC., TO INQUIRE IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT ABOUT THE DRIFTING BEING A SAFETY FEATURE. NLM

VAN HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES DUE TO AN UNKNOWN NOISE COMING FROM REAR LEFT WHEEL. DEALERSHIP HAS DONE SEVERAL LUBRICATIONS, CLEANING, AND LOOKING FOR HOT SPOTS ON THE BRAKES. EVEN AFTER ALL MAINTENANCE THAT WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE UNKNOWN SOUND WAS STILL PRESENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK