2003 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. A NOISE WAS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AREA. THE COLD WEATHER WAS A FACTOR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK AND THAT HER RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE A YEAR AGO. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE RACK AND PINION COULD RESULT IN HER LOSING STEERING CONTROL AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FLASHED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO DIM THE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS DIAGNOSED ONLINE AS HAVING A FAULTY FMC CONTROL MODULE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,980.

CAR HAS BEEN MAKING LOUD "POP" SOUNDS WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE SOUND IS NOT CONTINUOUS. IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 2-3 WEEKS. CAR CONTINUES TO DRIVE UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN WITHIN ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO. IT CAME TO COMPLETE HALT WHILE TURNING IN MY DRIVEWAY ON MAY 10TH 2008. TOWED CAR TO FIRESTONE SUNDAY MAY 11TH AND ON MONDAY MAY 12TH WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR ANY SOUNDS WHEN DRIVEN AND COULD SEE NOTHING WRONG FROM INSPECTION. KNOCKING SOUNDS COULD POSSIBLY MEAN TRANSMISSION. MY CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME FROM FIRESTONE BY MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO ALSO DID NOT HEAR ANY SOUNDS. SOUNDS OCCUR RANDOMLY WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT. ON WEDNESDAY MAY 14TH MY BROTHER WHO WORKS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP DROVE IT TO WORK FOR A SECOND OPINION THEY TOO CAN SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THIS CAR FAIRING THE WORST IS YET TO COME. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS ON APRIL 22ND 2008. *TR

STEERING RACK AND RACK PROBLEMS 2003 DODGE CARAVAN WENT OUT AT 60,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE STEERING RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TWICE BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND THEN IT WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,380. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, REAR LIGHTS THAT WERE HANGING, THE REAR WIPER CAME OFF, THE SLIDING DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE WATER PUMP WAS COMING APART THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND OIL PAN GASKET WERE LEAKING. UPDATED 05/20/08. *JB

SOLUTION TO: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10218207 DETAILS: 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS 71,000 MILES. I TRIED A POWER STEERING CONDITIONER THAT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP WHINING. THE WHINING WORSENED FOR A WHILE. NEVER GOT BETTER. FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN IN THE FILLING TANK DESIGN FOR THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VAN. FILL WITH POWER STEERING FLUID ABOVE THE FULL MARK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FILL TUBE ON TOP BUT JUST BELOW THE FILLER CAP PLUG WHEN PUT BACK ON. THIS WILL STOP ALL NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS 71,000 MILES. I TRIED A POWER STEERING CONDITIONER THAT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP WHINING. THE WHINING WORSENED FOR A WHILE. NEVER GOT BETTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A GRACO COMFORTSPORT CHILD SEAT, MODEL NUMBER 8433F0F. THE CHILD SEAT WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL ON THE LATCH SYSTEM IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RE-ATTACH THE CHILD SEAT SO THAT THE LATCH SYSTEM WOULD FIT PROPERLY ON THE VEHICLE. THE REMEDY LASTED TEMPORARILY, BUT FAILED IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE SEAT IS CURRENTLY NOT FUNCTIONAL AND GRACO REFUSES TO REPLACE IT OR PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

WE OWN 2 DODGE CARAVAN'S A 2001 GRAND THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH FOR 6 MONTHS. WE KEPT GETTING A EVAP LEAK WARNING LIGHT. FINALLY THEY DID A SMOKE TEST AND THE WHOLE TOP OF THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE JUST GOT THAT FIXED AND MY HUSBANDS 2003 CARAVAN NOW HAS THE SAME WARNING LIGHT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A COINCIDENCE. DODGE IS NO HELP . FIRST TIME I CALLED THEY SAID WE WILL HELP YOU. NOW THEY SAY ITS NOT OUR PROBLEM. COME ON 2 VANS IN THE SAME HOUSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR