1999 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

ON APRIL 18, 2002 I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE A NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE METAL ON METAL. SERVICE DROVE MY VEHICLE AND AFTER HEARING NOISE FOR HIMSELF, THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK AND SAID "WE TIGHTENED A FEW THINGS" (ON WORKSHEET STATED "CHECKED ENGINE") AND SAID TO COME BACK IF ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. ON THE MORNING OF MAY 2, 2002, I RETURNED HOME FROM AN ERRAND AND PARKED MY VAN IN THE GARAGE. LATER THAT DAY I WENT OUTSIDE AND NOTICED DRIPPINGS IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOME INTO MY DRIVE AND GARAGE. BACKED THE CAR UP A LITTLE AND DISCOVERED A POOL OF PINKISH FLUID. NEIGHBOR CAME OVER AND VERIFIED THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID. I CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DID SO. LEFT THE VEHICLE. THEY CALLED ME LATER IN THE DAY AND INFORMED ME THAT MY VAN NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE EXPLANATION WAS THAT "DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME LOOSE AND WENT THROUGH CASE. NOT REBUILDABLE." SO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. I HAVE WRITTEN TO CHRYSLER AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THAT; IN FACT, LAST WEEK, DISTRICT PEOPLE WERE TO HAVE BEEN HERE, SUPPOSEDLY TO MEET ON THIS; HOWEVER, I HAVE RECEIVED NO INFORMATION FROM THEM REGARDING THE RESOLUTION OF THIS.*AK

A PART IN THE REAR LATCH ASSEMBLY BROKE AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE MY REAR DOOR UNTIL THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW PART AND INSTALLED IT. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE COST ME $143.95 BECAUSE THE PART DID NOT BREAK FROM ABUSE AND THE VEHICLE IS FAIRLY NEW. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE THE PART THAT BROKE WAS PLASTIC.

THE FIRST TIME MY VAN WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND WHEN I WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING, THE SMALL WINDOW IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS SMASHED IN. I CALLED THE POLICE, BUT THEY SAID IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE VANDALISM, SO I CHALKED IT UP AS AN ACT OF NATURE. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY SON HOME FROM PRESCHOOL AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE LARGE WINDOW NEAR HIM DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP LIGHT, TAKING THE NORMAL ROUTE AND IT SMASHED INWARD AND GLASS BLEW IN TOWARD MY SON. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THIS KIND OF DEFAULT IN THE GLASS COULD HAVE LEFT MAJOR INJURIES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS IS ADDRESSED IN THESE VEHICLES.*AK

DEALER (COURTNEY DODGE; WATERTOWN, CT; PHONE# 860/945-3633) UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL, NO PARTS AVAILABLE. FEEL TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME VERY TIGHT AND BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AND IN THE SUMMER THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE LOSE THEN TIGHTEN UP. CONTACTED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V268000 NOTICE FOR FUEL RAIL. BE ADVISED THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. CHUCK PATTERSONDEALERSHIP, 200 EAST AVE, CHICO, CA 95926 530 895 1771. MANAGER IS KEN. *AK

I WAS TOLD BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT FIRST DIAGNOSED THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET THAT HE HAD REPAIRED QUITE A FEW OF THESE AND THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER AND ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 8K OUT OF WARRANTY AGREED TO ONLY PAY FOR PART ($5 GASKET) WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR ($600). IF ONE MECHANIC AT A SMALL SHOP HAS REPAIRED MORE THAN 1 OR 2 HEAD GASKETS ON A 1999 VEHICLE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELETATE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NLM

HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIOUNED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 74000 MILES. PROBLEM STARTED ALSO IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE PURCHASED VEHICLE. *AK

ONCE AT A STOP VEHICLE STARTS TO RACE, DEALER WAS CONTACTED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A OIL CHANGE, WHILE VEHICLE WAS UP ON GREASE RACK, ENGINE STARTED TO RACE, CAME OFF THE RACK. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ON 24-JUL-2001 DEALERS REPORTED IT AS A SURGING PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE AIS MOTOR, THIS HAS NOT STOPPED THE RACING OF THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND SHE IS A PARAPLEGIC IN A WHEELCHAIR, CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY. *YD