2003 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT 34,000 MILES. AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP, VAN EXPERIENCED HARD DOWNSHIFTING AT 30 MPH. DEALER SAID A CONTROL MODULE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND IT WAS REPLACED. VAN CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE HARD DOWNSHIFT AT 30MPH, SO IT WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO THE DEALER. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, BUT NO FURTHER EXPLANATION OFFERED.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON SMALL INCLINE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE START ROLL BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A UTILITY POLL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *LA

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM *LA

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE BRAKING POWER. BUT THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL AND THE TIRE MANUAL HAVE SPECIAL CUSTOM SHOWING A TREAD PATTERN WITH SOLID RUBBER ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE. AS A RESULT, WATER WAS UNABLE TO ESCAPE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO HYDRO PLANE OR SPIN EASILY WHEN DRIVING ON WET SURFACES. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE FUEL WAS LESS PER GALLON THAN ANTICIPATED IN THE MANUALS. *AK *JB

POWER STEERING PUMP WHINES WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMES FROM POWER STEERING. WHINING IS AGGREVATED WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. NOISE CHANGES WITH SPEED OF THE ENGINE. MY FLUID LEVEL IS AT NORMAL. MY DEALERS ANSWER WAS TO OVERFILL THE RESERVOIR WITH FLUID. NOW THAT THE FLUID LEVEL IS COMPLETELY FILLED TO THE TOP OF THE RESERVOIR, INCLUDING THE NECK OF THE RESERVOIR, THE NOISE HAS GONE AWAY. IT APPEARS THE RESERVOIR IS TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE FIRST PROBLEM HAPPENED ON 4/24/03 TRANSMISSION STUCK IN SECOND GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. DEALERSHIP REMOVED AND DISASSEMBLED TRANSMISSION. FOUND A LOT OF METAL FILINGS AND FOUND TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. THEY REPLACED CLUTCHES AND CONVERTER, REASSEMBLED. THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED TRANSMISSION AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE CASE, DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE BRAND NEW FROM THE FACTORY TRANSMISSION IS DOING THE SAME AS WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT IT. I BELIEVE IT IS A LEMON.

VEHICLE LEAKED CARBON MONOXIDE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. 4 DAYS LATER CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE WOULD NOT DUPLICATE ITSELF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

I RECENTLY PURCHASE A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS NOT ILLUMINATED. MY DEALER SAYS THAT THE ILLUMINATION WAS REMOVED IN THE 2003 MODELS. DOES THIS COMPLY WITH TITLE 49 PART 571 STANDARD NO 101? *AK