2000 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE HOOD WAS RAISED, RUST WAS NOTICED ON THE STRUT TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH DETERMINED THE STRUT TOWER SHOULD BE WELDED OR REPLACED. UPDATED 05/03/06. *JB

2000 DODGE CARAVAN SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AT A SPEED OVER 55 MPH, STRIKING THE FRONT END AND UNDERCARRIAGE AS IT CAREENED DOWN AND THEN UP A DRAINAGE DITCH, TO THE EXTENT THAT PARTS OF THE VAN WERE TORN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGED. THE VAN THEN WENT THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE STRIKING ONE OF THE MAIN POSTS WITHIN THE ANGLE OUTLINED ON THE PAMPHLET DODGE SENT IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT, AND FINALLY CRASHED INTO A PINE TREE. THE CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN MULTIPLE INJURIES: TO THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM, HEAD WHEN IT BOUNCED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATEDLY KNOCKING HER UNCONSCIOUS, INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, AND RIGHT RIBS FROM THE SEAT BELT. WE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND WERE SENT A FORM LETTER DENYING ANY FAULT IN DEPLOYMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ISSUED IN OCTOBER 2004 CITING THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING. *JB

2000 DODGE CARAVAN SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AT A SPEED OVER 55 MPH, STRIKING THE FRONT END AND UNDERCARRIAGE AS IT CAREENED DOWN AND THEN UP A DRAINAGE DITCH, TO THE EXTENT THAT PARTS OF THE VAN WERE TORN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGED. THE VAN THEN WENT THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE STRIKING ONE OF THE MAIN POSTS WITHIN THE ANGLE OUTLINED ON THE PAMPHLET DODGE SENT IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT, AND FINALLY CRASHED INTO A PINE TREE. THE CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN MULTIPLE INJURIES: TO THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM, HEAD WHEN IT BOUNCED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATEDLY KNOCKING HER UNCONSCIOUS, INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, AND RIGHT RIBS FROM THE SEAT BELT. WE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND WERE SENT A FORM LETTER DENYING ANY FAULT IN DEPLOYMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ISSUED IN OCTOBER 2004 CITING THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AN INSPECTOR FROM THE MANUFACTURER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE BEFORE REPAIRS ARE MADE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IN MAY OF 2003, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AND IN JANUARY OF 2004 THE CLOCK SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. IN MAY OF 2004, THE STEERING WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CLOCK SPRINGS WERE AGAIN REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2004. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 04V480000, CONCERNING THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRINGS, HOWEVER WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON NOVEMBER 11, 2004 IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. ALSO ,COMPLAINED ABOUT CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING, AND REPLACED CCLOCKSPRING . IN ADDITION, REPLACED CANISTER DUE TO LEAKING. *AK

BOUGHT NEW IN 2000 (FAILURE)SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED @ 39199 4-12-02 (FAILURE)SERPENTINE BELT & TENSIONER REPLACED @ 64389 8-20-03 (FAILURE)SERPENTINE BELT REPLACEDLATE SUMMER 2004 (FAILURE)SERPENTINE BELT & TENSIONER REPLACED @112,000 JAN 2006 TIMING BELT REPLACED @ 64389 8-20-03 TIMING BELT & TENSIONER REPLACED @110,646 11-25-05 MULTIPLE SENSOR FAILURES PAST 4 YEARS, AS WELL AS VALVE COVER GASKETS, CAM SEALS,CAM PACKINGS, CRANK SEAL, OIL PAN LEAKING. NOV 2005 ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON,& A SLIGHT KNOCKING, DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANY REAL REASON, BUT LUGGING WAS PRESENT DURING DRIVES. HAD TO REPLACE LEAKY TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK & SENSOR 11-25-05 ONLY TO TURN AROUND AND REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION 9 WEEKS LATER DUE TO MULTIPLE ENGINE FAILURES,@114,043 1-30-06 (WITH ANOTHER SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO TRANNY REPLACEMENT. 3 TOWS IN 2 MONTHS!( AND OVER $6,000 OUT OF POCKET) VIRTUALLY ALL REPAIR WORK DONE AT DEALER TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTED THAT HE HAULS CARAVANS IN THE MOST OF ANY VEHICLE , AND MOSTLY FOR THE SERPENTINE BELTS, MANY TIMES A "REPEAT CUSTOMER IN NEED OF ANOTHER BELT" I WAS ONE OF HIS MANY! HOW MANY PROBLEMS HAVE TO BE REPORTED BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN? *JB

ONE DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK (ABOUT 10 MILES FROM MY HOUSE) I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLAMMED INTO SECOND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. I HAD MY VAN TOWED TO A SHOP AND IT WAS TWO SENSORS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VERY NEXT DAY I WENT TO GET MY VAN I WENT TO WORK THE VAN SEEMED TO RUN LIKE NEW, AND THEN WHEN I GOT OFF OF WORK I ROLLED DOWN MY POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP! TO HAVE THE TWO SENSORS FIXED WAS AROUND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS AND TO GET THE WINDOW FIXED WAS ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS AND THAT PART FOR THE WINDOW WAS THE REGULATOR AND THE MOTOR, FOR A NEW PART WAS LIKE THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS, I GOT ONE USED. IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE I GOT THESE THINGS REPLACED AND NOW THEY ARE BOTH BROKE AGAIN! THE SENSORS AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATOR. I DO HAVE THE PARTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE NOW BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS FROM BEFORE. *NM

2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A TOTAL OF $$2250.00. THEN ON 1/11/06 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER PLUS ALL THE OTHER PARTS REPLACED AGAIN. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL AND IT HAD TO BE FIXED AT THE CLOSEST TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE ABOUT THIS, AND THEY HAVE DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSED TO HEAR OF THIS COMPLAINT. THE MECHANIC RUTLAND TRANSMISSIONS (281) 350-1365 TOLD US THAT HE SEES MANY OF THESE DODGE CARAVANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TOLD US THAT HE SEES MANY OF THESE VANS WITH SIMILAR TRANSMISSIONS NEEDING REPLACEMENTS THAT GO BAD AROUND THE TIME THAT MINE DID. THIS IS REALLY A HORRIBLE PROBLEM THAT DODGE WILL NO REALIZE. WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER THE VAN IS PAID FOR. WE DID NOT GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THINKING THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS WOULD EVER HAPPEN. *AK CAN YOU HELP? I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH. I CAN FAX THE REPAIR INVOICES IF YOU NEED THEM. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE GOING WITH JAPANESE CARS WHICH PROVE THAT AMERICAN ISN'T AS DEPENDABLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FAN BELT WAS MAKING NOISES, AND THEN IT CAME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FAN BELT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR ONE MONTH; THE BELT STARTED MAKING NOISES AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS TIME THEY PUT THE FAN BELT BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AGAIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BELT REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING FINE. UPDATED 02/09/06. *JB

2000 DODGE CARAVAN HAD LOSS OF SERPENTINE BELT. THIS CAUSED LACK OFF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. *TS THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIME AND HAPPENED MOSTLY DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER INSTALLED A PULLEY SHIELD TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. EVEN AFTER THE SHIELD WAS INSTALL THE BELT SLIPPED OFF AGAIN. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***