2001 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STEER. *JB

I RECENTLY SENT THIS LETTER TO CHRYSLER IN AN E-MAIL. I AM CONTACTING THIS AGENCY TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOME JUSTICE. MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. HOWEVER, I STILL DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS PERFORMING CORRECTLY. I WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE AND DIRECTION. THANKS. RECENTLY MY 2001 NEEDED THE RACK AND PINION, LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARM AND COMPLETE FRONT SUSPENSION REPAIR AT ANTWERPEN DODGE IN RANDALLSTOWN, MD. THEY REALLY GAVE ME A PROBLEM WITH THE TIME TO COMPLETE THE JOB AND THEY KEPT SAYING THAT THE RACK AND PIN WAS A "STAR PART". I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO CHARGE, THEREFORE NO WORK ORDER. ALL I WANT IS A SMOOTH RIDING VEHICLE THAT'S NOT SHAKING RATTLING AND ROLLING DOWN THE STREET. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND MOST OF THE DRIVE IS HIGHWAY DRIVING. YOU CAN FEEL EVERY LITTLE BUMP.I FOUND THIS ARTICLE IN USA TODAY. IT READS: "APRIL 25, 2001 '' THE CHRYSLER ARM OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF SOME NEW MINIVANS, CITING A POSSIBLE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM. NEARLY 11,000 CUSTOMERS ARE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL OF THE 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, CHRYSLER VOYAGER, DODGE CARAVAN AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN MINIVANS BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 22 AND APRIL 21 OF 2001. OWNERS OF RECALLED VEHICLES ARE URGED NOT TO DRIVE THEM. THE AUTOMAKER SAID A BOLT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION CAN BREAK, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL." NO ONE MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM. SO I AM STILL TRYING TO FIX THIS SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL PROBLEM. THIS 2001 SUSPENSION IS TRULY JUNK. NOW THE BOTTOM-LINE OR SHOULD I SAY " BOTTOM OUT" IS WHAT CAN I DO TO GET A SMOOTH RIDE? I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE MECHANICS NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AND BE RIGHT. THIS COULD BE A FLUKE IN THE ASSEMBLY LINE, BUT I DOUBT IT. THERE ARE TOO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFLUENCE WITH ANTWERPEN DODGE IN RANDALLSTOWN, MD, PLEASE HELP ME TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE.

VEHICLE SLAMS INTO SECOND GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CAUSING CAR TO NOSE DIVE AND ALMOST CAUSING IT TO BE REAR ENDED. INCIDENT OCCURRED 10/15/02, 10/26/02, 11/23/02 AND 04/29/03. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER AFTER HAVING BEEN "FIXED" THREE TIMES BEFORE THIS. *NLM

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT BY NEWS CHANNEL, WTVT FOX 13 INVESTIGATES, APRIL 25,2003. UNSAFE SEAT BELTS IN DAIMLER/CHRYSLER VEHICLES. PARTICULARLY THE GEN3 AND GEN4'S. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE THE DEALER TECHNICIAN WAS TEST DRIVING. THE DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

I PURCHASED A BUMPER FOR 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT MODEL FROM OHARE AUTO RECYCLING & REPAIR (280 OLD HIGGINS RD. UNIT 11 DES PLAINES,IL 60018- PHONE 847 299 1444). THE EMPLOYEE JOE GAVE A WRONG YEAR BUMPER, AND MADE US WAIT FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. I AM IN A RENT A CAR BUSINESS AND EXPLAINED TO JOE THAT I CANNOT LET MY VAN SIT ON THE LOT FOR A LONG TIME. JOE PROMISES TO DELIVER THE BUMPER EVERY DAY SINCE LAST 3 WEEKS AND DOES NOT EVEN REFUND THE $250.00. JUST TODAY WHEN I SENT MY GUY WITH A RECEIPT TO GET THE REFUND THE OWNER OF THE STORE THREATENED TO THROW OUT MY EMPLOYEE OUT OF HIS STORE AND THREATENED ME OVER THE PHONE THAT IF I SEND MY EMPLOYEE EVERY AGAIN HE WILL KICK MY EMPLOYEES ASS AND THROW HIM OUT OF THE STORE. I BELIEVE JOE THE EMPLOYEE IS ON MEDICAL LEAVE AND THE OWNER IS SAYING THAT HE WILL NOT REFUND ANY MONEY TO ANYBODY AND THAT I SHOULD FORGET ABOUT MY MONEY. WE HAVE ALREADY RETURNED THE WRONG BUMPER BACK. PLEASE HELP IN DISCIPLINING THE OWNER AND HIS EMPLOYEE AND HELP ME IN GETTING MY $250.00 BACK. *JB

THE LEFT REAR TIRE ON MY DODGE CARAVAN BLEW OUT AND RIPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS WAS A SCARY SITUATION BECAUSE HAD THERE BEEN A LOT OF TRAFFIC THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PERHAPS FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGE WITHIN TWO WEEKS. I BELIEVE THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION DONE. I ALSO DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING BAD DEFECTIVE TIRES. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY TIRES REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS NOT MAY FAULT. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAS DECREASED IN BRIGHTNESS. THE PROBLEM IS NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT. THERE IS A RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND WHEN BACKING. THE RUBBER GASKETS CONTINUE TO FALL FROM THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME TO WARM UP IN COLD WEATHER. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. SCC

THE VEHICLE EMMITED A HORRIBLE SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE 26 TYPES OF MOLD GROWING IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STRIP CLEANED THE VEHILCE BUT THE PROMLEM PERSISTED. MANY OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE HAVE BECOME ILL. PH *NLM

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB