2000 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

I OWN A DODGE BRAUN ENTERVAN.IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VAN BRAUN CUTS OUT THE FLOOR TO LOWER IT 10 INCHER.THE BRAKE LINES ARE REPLACED AND ARE LOCATED UNDER THE LOWERED FLOOR.THE QUALITY OF THE NEW BRAKE LINES ARE INFERIOR AND RUST THROUGH CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I TRIED TO TELL BRAUN OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY WOULD NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALLS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING. HE SMELLED A GAS ODOR COMING FROM THE VAN AND HAD IT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE LEAK. IT HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR THE PAST FOUR WEEKS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VAN TO A MECHANIC FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HE DISCOVERED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL AT THIS TIME.*AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL EACH TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED. *NM

I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD BROKE. THIS CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE STOP AS THE WHEEL TURNED IN. THE VEHICLE STEERING WAS LAST INSPECTED IN JULY 2005 (VA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION) AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE TIE ROD BROKE AT THE TAPERED STUD. THIS DID RESULT IN A LOST OF STEERING. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED. THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE UNBROKEN DRIVERS SIDE OUTER TIE ROD.*JB

DT: CONTACT STATES THE LEVER ON THE SEAT THAT IS USED TO RECLINE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-16-05. THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. *AK THE CONSUMER COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE SEAT LEVER FIXED. *NM

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A LOCAL MARKET PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE LEFT FRONT AXLE HAD FAILED. I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE FAILED COMPONENT AND HAD THE DEALER HOLD ONTO THE FAILED PART. WHEN I PICKED UP THE REPAIRED VEHICLE, I LOOKED AT THE FAILED COMPONENT AND SAW THAT IT HAD SHEARED COMPLETELY INTO TWO PIECES. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE. I CONSIDER THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

MY MECHANIC WHILE REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRONT LEFT TOWER WHICH HOLDS THE SHOCK. HE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HE SEES WITH THE DODGE CARAVAN. I HAVE A 2000 SPORT MODEL. HE INDICATED THAT FAILURE COULD CAUSE THE SHOCK TO POP OUT, BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD AND POTENTIAL RESULT IN LOSS CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAVE BEEN UN COOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. DEALER OR CHRYSLER WOULD NOT HELP IN TELLING ME HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *NM

I AM WRITING TODAY BECAUSE I PURCHASED A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN IN FEBRUARY 2005. EVERY MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED. IN MARCH THE BRAKES WERE DUSTED OFF. AGAIN IN APRIL THE BRAKES AGAIN WERE DUSTED OFF ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN MAY THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE BRAKES I BELIEVE BOTH FRONT AND BACK. IN JUNE I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT GARAGE AND PAID TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPLACED AGAIN. THEN IN JULY THE CALIPERS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN AUGUST THE SAME GARAGE STATED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ABS NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I COULD ONLY HAVE THE BRAKES DONE AT THIS TIME. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 MINIMUM SO FAR REPAIRING MY CAR. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ABS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS. ALSO I WAS TOLD THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AN ALIGNMENT NEEDED TO BE DONE, REAR SHOCKS, AND NEW TIRES. I NEED SOME ONE TO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CAR. *JB

THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF MY VAN 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THIS IS A FAMILY VAN AND DRIVEN DAILY WITH 5 CHILDREN IN IT. THIS IS A COMPLAINT OF MANY CARAVAN OWNERS. THERE ARE SITES ALL OVER THE INTERNET COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK FOR MAINTENANCE. HER HUSBAND JUST PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THEM AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT. SHE LEFT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND NOW THE MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SUGGEST HER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT SHE HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF IT HAS BEEN COMING ON RANDOMLY. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON WHILE THEY WERE TEST DRIVING IT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THE BRAKE FAILURE HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER SHE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS JULY 8 AND THAT THE SOONEST THEY COULD GET HER VEHICLE IN WAS JULY 15, 2005. SHE HAD A RECALL ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , AND THEY WOULD NEVER CHECK THIS. BUT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE INSIDE LIGHT, STEREO, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN, AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. WHEN SHE WENT BACK ON JULY 15TH THEY DID NOT EVEN TEST DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE MILEAGE WAS THE SAME WHEN SHE LEFT AS IT WAS WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

DT: CALLER HAD TO HAVE THE MAIN BELT ON THE ENGINE FIXED 6 TIMES. WHEN THE BELT CAME OFF SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING, AND THE ENGINE BECAME RED HOT. CALLER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE BELT CAME OFF THE STEERING AND FROZE. THE CONSUMER COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. DEALER SAID EVERY TIME CALLER BROUGHT IN THE VAN, THE BELT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING SO MANY TIMES. MANUFACTURER SAID DEALER WAS DOING ALL THEY COULD, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THE MANUFACTURER COULD DO. CALLER HAD IT TOWED 5 TIMES. A FEW TIMES THE BELT WAS JUST SLIPPED BACK ON UNTIL THEY GOT TO DEALER. DATES OF TOWING ERE: 11-19-02, 2-19-03, 4-15-04, 6-19-04, AND 6-30-05. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY VAN THEY SAW WITH THIS PROBLEM. CALLER STATED THE SPEED VARIED WHEN THE BELT CAME OFF.*AK