2003 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN MAKES A LOT OF NOISE WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SWAY BAR LINK BUSHINGS WERE BAD. CONVENIENTLY MY EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT DID NOT COVER THIS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE EVERY CARAVAN THAT COMES IN HAS NEEDED THESE AND HE WAS SURPRISED IT WAS NOT COVERED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IF THESE BREAK IT COULD COMPROMISE THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON THIS VEHICLE TWICE AND IT HAS ONLY 59,000 MILES I HAVE ALSO HAD COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE COMPONENTS ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE MOTOR LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, WATER PUMP, AC, AND THE MAIN DRIVE PULLEY OF THE MOTOR ALONG WITH THE LIGHTS RADIO,HEATER FAN AND TRANSMISSION ALL HAVING PROBLEMS. WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE SWAY BAR LINKS THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE NOISE WAS INSPECTED. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION STEERING, AND SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT WAS SEEKING A SECOND OPINION BEFORE MAKING ANY REPAIRS. *AK

1. OVER THE WEEKEND DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILURE (FEMALE CLASP) UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS 2. DRIVER OF VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPLIANT WITH OHIO STATE SEAT BELT LAWS AND NOT RESTRAINED IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT 3. I PURCHASED A NEW SEAT BELT PART FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT ASAP. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED EVERY TIME THA HE APPLIED THE BRAKES IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A GROWLING NOISE. ON COLDER DAYS ONE COULD HEAR NOISE MORE OFTEN. IN WARM WEATHER ONE WOULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE AS OFTEN. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SUGGESTED HE CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN, WITH 40K MILES, WENT TO THE SHOP TODAY FOR NEW TIRES. AT THAT TIME I ALSO ASKED THAT THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT BE CHECKED AND CORRECTED, IF NECESSARY. A SHORT WHILE LATER I WAS CONTACTED BY THE MANAGER STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE TIE ROD ENDS BEING SO LOOSE AND WORN OUT. WE LIVE ON A PAVED ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A FRONT COLLISION OR EVEN HIT A CURB, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AWAITING NEW TIE ROD ENDS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PUT SUCH JUNK ON A CAR IN SUCH A CRITICAL SAFETY AREA. I WONDER HOW MANY MORE DODGE CARAVAN'S HAVE A SIMILAR SERIOUS PROBLEMS? *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V386000 CONCERNING THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE SOLUTION CALLED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MAKE THIS NOISE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. *AK UPDATED DEC 7 2005. *JB

2003 DODGE CARAVAN BRAKES GO TO FLOOR WHEN STOPPED CAUSING LOST OF BRAKING. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES INCLUDING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT DISCOVERED THERE WAS AN INCORRECT ALIGNMENT OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BRAKE SYSTEM THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. OVER A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR HAS HAD A STEERING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A WHINING NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND CONTINUES FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MINUTES. THE NOISE GETS LOUDER AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, AND FEEL A SLIGHT VIBRATION UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. THIS IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN HE TURNS THE WHEEL. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED TWO POWER STEERING PUMPS, AND PROVIDED A REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION, THE LAST TIME AT THE SERVICE DEALER THEY REPLACED A POWER STEERING HOSE AND INSTALLED AN NC FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. NONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS OR REPAIRS HAS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIRS HAS BEEN COVERED 50/50 BY THE CONSUMER AND THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. AS OF THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2005, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED.*AK