2003 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES TO WHERE MY WIFE AND I WERE TO DROP OFF OUR DAUGHTER AT A FRIENDS HOUSE. UPON ARRIVING AT MY FRIENDS HOUSE, MY SON AND 3 OTHER PASSENGERS REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO THE WEATHER, THE CAR REMAINED RUNNING WITH THE AC ON. WHEN WE ENTERED OUR FRIENDS HOUSE, WE OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WE IMMEDIATE RAN TO THE VEHICLE TO GET OUR SON AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS OUT. WE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES AND PLACED A 911 CALL TO THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. *NM

HEADING OFF TO THE MALL ONE EVENING, I DROPPED OFF MY WIFE AND MY SON, KEEPING MY OTHER SON AND HIS FRIEND WITH ME. AS I PULLED AWAY, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I COULD SEE MELTING PLASTIC AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE SMALL FIRE BALLS DROPPING TO THE GROUND UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND GOT THE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR . CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE FLAMES WERE 10-15 FEET IN THE AIR. THERE WAS A RE-CALL ON THIS CAR ABOUT A STEERING HOSE I BELIEVE THAT I HAD DONE. OTHER THAN THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. IT WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED.*JB

CONSUMER REQUEST CHRYSLER CONTACT QUADRIPLEGIC CUSTOMERS & COMPANIES THAT MODIFY VANS RE AIR CONDITIONER LUBRICATION DEFECT, WANTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR HIS 2003 DODGE CARAVAN EX. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL IN RE TO A/C LUBRICATION PROBLEM. IT ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 70000 MILES. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO WAIT TO HAVE THE A/C REPAIRED. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY HE DECIDED TO TURN ON THE A/C. WHEN HE DID THE COMPRESSOR LICKED UP AND RIPPED OFF THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALTERNATOR AND BRAKES, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOED TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BELT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR TOWING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. SECONDLY THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY OF THE COMPONENTS WHICH WERE DAMAGED S A RESULT OF THE A/C FAILURE NOT REPAIRED BY A CHRYSLER. (THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED BY BRAUN CORPORATION). *NM

DT: NOTICED THAT AROUND SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 THAT THE DESIGNED SEAT OF THE SECOND ROW SEATS HINGE IN THE FRONT SEAT LOCKS ON THE BACK. WHEN LOCKING THE SEAT IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE LOCK. BUT, IN REALITY, THEY ARE NOT LOCKING IN THE BACK OF SECOND ROW SEAT. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY LOCKED. WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE SEAT AND ITS IS NOT LOCKED IT WILL ROTATE FORWARD. THE ROW IN FRONT FEATURES A HARD PLASTIC HANDLE THAT IF THE CHILDREN WOULD HIT WOULD CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE WHEN NOT PROPERLY LOCKED DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE CONSUMER'S CHILD IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE SEAT WAS ON HIM. HE HIT THE BACK FRONT SEAT, AND THIS BROKE TEETH. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY JUST COMPLAINT. *AK

2003 DODGE CARAVAN ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK WIDE OPEN.*MR THE DEALER EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE LINKAGE HAD BEE COMPROMISED DUE TO VARNISH. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS COULD HAS RESULT FROM BAD GAS OR AN UNCLEAN AIR FILTER. *NM

APPROX. 10:30 ON SAT. AUG. 27TH, 2005 I DROVE MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN TO WAL-MART ON BLEACHERY BLVD TO GET MY SON A HAT FOR THE PARADE HE WOULD BE IN AT NOON THAT DAY. AS I PARKED MY VAN AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNED TO LOOK FOR MY PURSE ON THE BACK SEAT, I DECIDED TO GET OUT AND OPEN THE LEFT BACK SLIDING DOOR. AS I TURNED GETTING OUT OF THE VAN THE DRIVERS AIRBAG EXPLODED IN MY BACK AND PUSHED ME THE REST OF THE WAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE. MY FATHER AND SON WERE WITH ME AND MY FATHER CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AND MADE A REPORT BECAUSE THE AIRBAG CAUSE WHELPS AND BURNS ON MY BACK AND I LATER WENT TO THE ER AFTER MY SON FINISHED HIS EVENTS FOR THE DAY. THE FIRE DEPT. CALLED APD(POLICE)AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT... THE OFFICER (KEITH MCCULLOCH #2600) SAID THAT BECAUSE I WAS SITTING STILL AND HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING HIT ME, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT NEEDED.. HE THEN GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE NHTSA AND SAID TO FILE A COMPLAINT.... SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO RESOLVE THE MATTER QUICKLY SO I CAN GET MY VEHICLE BACK. THEY HAVE DRUG THEIR FEET ON THE MATTER AND SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY MADE A DECISION IN ABOUT 10 WORKING DAYS. THE INCIDENT IS A CLEAR DEFECT AND THEY ARE TRYING MAKE IT OUT TO BE MY FAULT. *JB

BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE, NOVEMBER OF 2004, AND AUGUST OF 2005. *JB

DT: CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO GET INTO VEHICLE A FEW WEEKS AGO REALIZED THAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THERE WAS NO KEY LOCK TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM WHICH UNLOCKS ALL OF THE DOORS. HE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT HAS THE ACTUAL KEY LOCK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO STATED IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

DT: THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE, REVERSE, AND ALL THE WAY TO PARK. IT WOULD FINALLY GO INTO DRIVE AFTER IN WAS IN PARK FOR A FEW MINUTES. HAD NOT CONTACTED DODGE DEALER YET, BUT THIS STARTED HAPPENING LAST SATURDAY JULY 16, 2005. NOTICED SINCE THEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP IT MADE A CLINKING NOISE LIKE IT WAS TRYINGTO SHIFT DOWN. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 CARAVAN AND A 2004 RAM AND HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES. I BELEIVE THAT THE FACTORY MUST HAVE USED FAULTY ROTORS. LAST AUGUST, TO MY AMAZEMENT I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED WHEN THE DEALER PUT NEW PADS ON MY CARAVAN (26,000 MILES). I BEGRUDGINGLY PAID OVER 200 DOLLARS FOR THIS. 9 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL ARE PULSING AGAIN AND THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THE ROTORS MUST BE TURNED AGAIN EVEN THOUGH THE PADS ARE FINE. I EXPECTED THAT THE DEALER WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS SINCE THEY WERE JUST SERVICED 9 MONTHS AGO BUT THEY SAID I WAS 200 MILES OVER THE LIMIT. I ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY RAM AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD MORE THAN 50% OF MY PADS LEFT I HAD WARPED ROTORS AND HAD TO PAY THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM TURNED. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT LITHIA DODGE IN OMAHA, PREVIOUSLY JIMS DODGE, AND HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL ME IF I REPLACE THE ROTORS THE NEW ONES WILL BE GUARANTEED FOR LIFE NOT TO WARP! WHY WOULD YOU GUARANTEE THE AFTERMARKET ROTORS BUT NOT THE ROTORS FROM THE FACTORY??!