2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

SERIOUS RUST THROUGH OF THE STRUT TOWER ON A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN MADE IN USA. SUDDENLY APPEARED AND RAPIDLY PROGRESSING SINCE JAN 2008. BODY VERY WELL CARED FOR - NO ACCIDENTS, NO RUST IN OR OUT TIL NOW. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC AS CHRYSLER ALLEGES - IT IS STRUCTURAL AND A REAL SAFETY CONCERN SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE A REALLY BIG POT HOLE COULD SENT THE STRUT UP THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD! *TR

MY DODGE 2000 GRAND CARAVAN SERPENTINE BELT CAN COME OFF THE DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN INTO A DEEP PUDDLE OF WATER OR THROUGH A SNOW BANK. AND WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF, I LOST THE CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BELT DRIVES THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IT IS THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE OBVIOUSLY. PLEASE CHECK THE WEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_30931.HTML TO SEE HOW MANY COMPLAINS. MANY PEOPLE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO YOU. BUT SO FAR NO ACTION FROM YOU HAS BEEN TAKEN. DODGE ALSO KEEP IGNORING THE COMPLAIN. ARE YOU BLIND OR DEAF? *TR

I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLER MINIVANS REGARDING THE DESIGN OF THE STRUT TOWERS. I OWN A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SPEAKING WITH MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS, IT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME THAT THESE WERE NOT RECALLED. THE DANGER FROM WHAT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE COMPANY - ESPECIALLY WHEN MINIVANS ARE OFTEN USED TO CARRY CHILDREN AROUND. UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU DON'T MIND DRIVING AROUND KNOWING YOUR FRONT SUSPENSION MECHANISM COULD PUSH UP THROUGH THE HOOD. IMAGINE BEING ONE RAILROAD TRACK AWAY FROM SUCH A DISASTER AND NOT EVEN KNOWING IT. I BELIEVE THE YEARS AFFECTED WERE 1996-2002. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THROUGH ANY AMOUNT OF WATER, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE CHECKING THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CONTACT'S GRANDDAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD, KNOCKING THE CONTACT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED, SHE MANAGED TO GET UP FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY ONE INJURED. THE PARAMEDICS HAD BEEN CALLED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. SHE WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. CHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE GEAR TO BE MOVED OUT OF POSITION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE MAY RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,784.UPDATED 05/13/08. *LJ

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT LEVER SNAPPED OFF. SEATS CAN NOT BE LOWERED OR RAISED AS FAR AS RECLINING OR SITTING UPRIGHT. THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE PASSENGER LEVER BROKE THIS WEEK. THE BAR THAT THE LEVER IS CONNECTED TO SNAPPED IN EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION ON EACH SEAT. *TR

SERPENTINE BELT KEEPS FALLING OFF WHENEVER THE VEHICLE GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE, RENDERING THE POWER STEERING USELESS, ENGINE OVERHEATS, ALTERNATOR STOPS. 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 3.3L WITH AC, 132,000 MI, SERPENTINE BELT, TENSIONER, AND WATER PUMP REPLACED; THE BELT SLIPPED OFF ONCE PER WEEK FOR THREE WEEKS, EACH TIME DURING A HEAVY RAIN 3/4/2008, 3/27/2008, 2/28/2008. *TR

DRIVE BELT JUMPING OFF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OVER HEATING OF ENGINE. *TR

REAR COOLANT LINES CORRODE AND DRAIN ALL ENGINE COOLANT ON 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. *TR

2000 GRAND CARAVAN.....INITIALLY, THE INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXTINGUISH. HITTING A BUMP, IT WOULD COME BACK ON. MOST RECENTLY, THE VAN WILL NOT START. NO INSTRUMENTS, NO CLICK, NO NOTHING. IF YOU WHACK THE TOP OF THE DASH WITH YOUR FIST, ALL INSTRUMENTS COME ON, AND THE VAN STARTS. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET, BUT INTEND TO PULL THE DASH AND CHECK FOR BAD SOLDER CONNECTIONS. *TR