2001 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING. MAINLY OCCURS DURING RIGHT TURNING EVENTS. LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE (AIR BAG) DURING A RIGHT TURN EVENT. WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE LIGHT WILL RESET. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING MY OWNERSHIP, AND DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WEATHER RELATED. *NM

CORRECTION/ADDITION TO COMPLAINT 10153230. AT THE REQUEST OF DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF WHY TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. BOTH DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND LOCAL DEALER STATED REPEATEDLY THAT THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE. CUSTOMER SHOWED DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE OTHER TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY COULD BE DETACHED FROM BODY WITH FINGERTIP. AFTER FOLLOW-UP WITH DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, CUSTOMER WAS DENIED REPLACEMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, CUSTOMER PERFORMED OWN DUE DILIGENCE AND FOUND THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS LOOSE TAIL LAMP PROBLEM IN SEPTEMBER 2001 FOR ALL 2001 AND EARLY 2002 DODGE CARAVANS. SAME BULLETIN DETAILS SIMPLE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CORRECT BY PLACEMENT OF J-CLIP TO THE LEADING EDGE MOUNTING TAB OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY (DODGE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 08-021-01). TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS SINCE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED AND MOUNTING TAB HAS BEEN EXTENDED. BOTH LOCAL DEALER AND DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS SERVICE BULLETIN EXISTED AFTER CUSTOMER ARGUED IT'S EXISTENCE, BUT STILL DENIED REPLACEMENT. ANY OWNER OF 2001 OR EARLY 2002 DODGE CARAVANS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES PRIOR TO FAILURE DURING OPERATION, POSSIBLE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DETACHING INTO TRAFFIC, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, AND OPERATOR HAVING TO DETACH FAILED ASSEMBLY AT ROADSIDE AT RISK OF INTERSTATE TRAFFIC LIKE MYSELF. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD CAME LOOSE AND WAS HANGING BY THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

2001 DODGE CARAVAN REAR SHOULDER STRAPS WILL NOT CATCH IN CRASH, FRONT BELTS WORKED FINE BUT ALL OF REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT CATCH IF YOU JERK ON THEM YOU CAN SEE THEY DON'T CATCH AND THEY DID NOT CATCH MY DAUGHTER AND SHE WAS BADLY INJURED. *NM UPDATED 03/31/06. *JB

DRIVER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE HORN WILL NOT OPERATE. THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES GOES AWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK ALSO, THE HORN MAY NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED I.E. IF A CHILD RUNS OUT IN FRONT OF MY VAN. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND PUMPED THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WORK BETTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THEY STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDAL NEVER WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE AIRBAG CONNECTOR AND ON AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE CONNECTOR LINE. THEY CLEANED OFF THE CORROSION BOTH TIMES. THE AIRBAG WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. *AK

MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE STABELIZER BAR BUSHINGS,STABELIZER LINKS, INNER TIE RODS

MY MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE STABELIZER BAR BUSHINGS, STABELIZER LINKS, INNER TIE RODS, 2 WINDOW MOTORS 900.00

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF SWAY BAR BUSHING OR SWAY BAR LINKS DATING BACK FROM 03' UNTIL PRESENT. *NM