2000 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVE BELT/SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT LINE UP WITH THE PULLEYS.TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED ALSO.FAILED THE FIRST TIME FEB 9 2003 AND FAILED AGAIN MAY 27 2003.ASE CERTIFIED MECH. WITH FIRESTONE TOLD US THAT WAS ALL HE COULD DO WITH IT UNTIL CHRYSLER FIGURES OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.FIRESTONE WORKED ON IT BOTH TIMES WITH A DODGE TECHNITION PRESENT MAY 27 2003.

THE CYLINOID PACK IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *TT

BRAKING SYSTEM IS AWFUL!! I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS AND CALIBERS REPLACED TWICE. EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORM ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE DODGE CARAVAN. THEY SAY IT IS BECAUSE IT HAS THE BODY OF A VAN BUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THAT OF A MIDSIZE CAR. AND BECAUSE IT IS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE WEIGHT AND FORCE RESTS ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I FIND THIS APPALLING!! I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO HAVE THIS WORK DONE, THE VAN WAS ONLY ABOUT 8 MONTHS OLD AND THE "BRAKE WORK" DID NOT FALL UNDER WARRANTY. THE RIGHT ROTOR WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE CALIBERS. THE LAST TIME I HAD IT DONE THE MECHANIC KEPT SAYING, "YOUR CALIBERS ARE STICKING AND THEY AFFECT THE ROTOR AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ONE ON THE LEFT SIDE."

AFTER 38,000 MILES THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR UNIT FAILED. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME, I TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP WHICH STATED THAT THE CLUTCH IN THE AC COMPRESSOR UNIT WAS FAILING AND COULD CAUSE THE SERPENTINE BELT TO THROW IF THE CLUTCH FROZE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THIS WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR UNIT EVEN WITH THE LOW MILEAGE. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T HAVE A UNIT IN STOCK ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND STATED THAT I SHOULDN'T USE THE AC OR DEFROST ON COLD AND I WOULD BE OK TO DRIVE HOME 300 MILES. I THANKED THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEIR INSIGHT BUT AM CONCERNED SINCE THE SERVICE MANGER STATED THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR UNIT FAILURE IS "COMMON" EVEN WITH 38,000 MILES. *NLM

THE DRIVER'S SEAT DID NOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE CONSUMER'S BACK. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. *JB

THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE CHANGED EVERY 30,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THE BRAKES SHOWED EXTREME WEAR AND TEAR. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN THAT MY 2-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON FREQUENTLY RIDES IN. HIS PARENTS ARE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT INSTALLING CAR SEATS CORRECTLY AND SECURELY. SINCE MY VAN CONTAINS YOUR DEFECTIVE GEN 3 SEATBELTS, WHAT GOOD IS IT GOING TO DO IF THE CAR SEAT IS INSTALLED PROPERLY? CAN YOU GUARANTEE, IN WRITING, YOUR SEATBELT WILL NOT OPEN AND MY GRANDSON OR OTHER REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WILL NOT BE INJURED OR KILLED? LUCKILY, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY INCIDENTS. DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE "ENOUGH" DEATHS FOR YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM?

UPON READING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PAST FAILURES OF THE GEN 3 SEAT BELT I WENT TO MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT AND SAT IN THE SEAT PUT THE SEAT BELT ON AND DROPPED A LIGHT SHOE ON THE SEAT BUCKLE. I IMMEDIATELY SNAPPED OPEN, AND I WAS STUNNED. THIS IS MY SECOND CARAVAN AND I HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A SAFE VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY SELF ,MY HUSBAND AND MY 4 CHILDREN IN. I NOW FEEL VERY DIFFERENTLY. *NLM