2000 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

I HAVE A NEARLY RUSTED-THROUGH STRUT TOWER (DRIVER'S SIDE) IN MY DODGE CARAVAN '00. THIS RUST PROBLEM BECAME INITIALLY VISIBLE IN '04. *TR

THIS IS INQUIRY TO CHRYSLER'S PROBLEM WITH FRONT STRUT TOWERS ON 2000 CARAVAN/VOYAGER/T&C. SPECIFICALLY: SERVICE BULLETIN, NUMBER: 23-044-02, GROUP: BODY; DATE: OCT. 14, 2002; SUBJECT: NS STRUT TOWER CORROSION. IF THIS IS ONLY A "COSMETIC" PROBLEM, WHY IS A NEW STRUT CAP AND NS STRUT INSTALLATION KIT REQUIRED? SOUNDS LIKE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM REPAIR TO ME. MY DEALERSHIPS SERVICE MANAGER CAUTIONED MY AGAINST GOING THROUGH THE WINTER WITHOUT THE REPAIR! HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, JUST THIS TSB. IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED BY 10/14/02, SHOULDN'T IT BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. MANY DRIVERS WILL JUST ASSUME "IT'S JUST RUST" AND NOT KNOW OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE STRUT CAP BREAKS. THIS FAILURE, ON A HIGHWAY, COULD RESULT IN DEADLY CRASH! HAS NHTSA LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE ANY REMEDY, OTHER THAN THE CONSUMER PAYING THE APPROXIMATE $500 REPAIR? IF NOT, IT APPEARS THAT CORPORATE PROFIT TRUMPS ETHICS (LIVES/INJURIES) AGAIN? PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR POSITION ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SMELL WAS CAUSED BY FUEL LEAKING FROM THE CROSSOVER TUBE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V268000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT, THE HEATER VENT WAS POSITIONED DIRECTLY ON HER ARM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURN ON THE BACK OF HER RIGHT ARM THE NEXT DAY AND FELT THAT THE HEATER CAUSED THE BURN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 91,200. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS OF THE BURNS. UPDATED 11/26/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING WARM AIR WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EVAPORATOR CORD FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 09/18/07. *JB

MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN SE INSTRUMENT GAUGES/INSTRUMENT DISPLAY SOMETIMES GO DEAD AND THEN OPERATING AGAIN, EVERYTHING FROM THE GAUGES TO THE ELECTRONICS DISPLAY JUST STOP OPERATING BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DRIVES NORMAL. ON VERY HOT DAYS THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN USUAL, COULD IT BE A GROUND WIRE PERHAPS OR SOMETHING,THERE ARE NO FUSES BLOWN......PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS MUCH. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHES EACH TIME HE MAKES A RIGHT TURN OR DRIVES THROUGH A PUDDLE AT 5 MPH. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PULLEY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,200.

THE SERPENTINE BELT KEPT COMING OFF THE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WHEN IT RAINED. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS STARTED AFTER HAVING THE ORIGINAL BELT REPLACED DUE TO FRAYING. THE TENSIONER WAS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BELT.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 20-60 MPH, THE SERPENTINE BELT DISENGAGED FROM THE MOTOR. THIS CAUSED THE WATER PUMP AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TWICE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 118,442 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF OF PULLEYS 3 TIMES DURING WET WEATHER, ONCE AFTER TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. THIS CAUSE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, MAKING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER. SEVERAL CALLS TO DODGE PROVED FUTILE, THEY STATE NO SUCH PROBLEM HAS EVER BEEN REPORTED. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE, ALL STATING THEY HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO DODGE. STILL CANNOT FIND A FIX. *TR