2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

1) 2002, DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, "SPORT" EDITION WITH V6 3.3L ENGINE, 76,600 MILES. WIFE WENT TO WORK AND PARKED VAN AS USUAL. 2A) CO-WORKERS NOTICED THE VAN'S WIPERS WERE ON; VAN HAD STARTED ALL BY ITSELF AFTER BEING PARKED WITH IGNITION TURNED OFF, KEY REMOVED, AND DOORS LOCKED. TO GET THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN, VAN WAS PUT INTO GEAR AND TURNED OFF, THEN PUT INTO PARK TO REMOVE KEY. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THAT DAY. 3A) WIFE TOOK VAN TO CHRYSLER DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. DEALER CHARGED 3 HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING LABOR AND ONLY FOUND THAT THE ABS CAB WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. DEALER ORDERED ABS CAB. DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF THE STARTUP/RUNNING WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION. 2B) 6 DAYS LATER (DEC. 21, 2006) VAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER DRIVING ~300 MILES. ALSO, THIS TIME ALL THE ACCESSORIES SUCH AS THE CABIN FANS, RADIO, WIPERS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. ALL ACCESSORIES EXCEPT INTERIOR LIGHTS COULD BE TURNED OFF WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE SWITCHES. +BATTERY CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED TO GET LIGHTS OFF. VAN WORKED FINE FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS. DEC. 24, 2006, VAN WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING ONCE ON THE RETURN TRIP AFTER KEY WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND VAN WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF, ALL ACCESSORIES CAME ON, BY THEMSELVES, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. +BATTERY CABLE WAS ONCE AGAIN DISCONNECTED TO PREVENT FURTHER MALFUNCTION. 3B) ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR JAN. 4, 2007 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND/OR THE KEY CYLINDER SWITCH AT THE DEALER. *NM

I BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT AROUND 87K IN 2004. AT THE TIME I WAS AWARE THAT THERE'S A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. I THOUGHT MAYBE DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE. I'VE BEEN A LOCAL DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICES SINCE THEN AND NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS. UNTIL AROUND SEPTEMBER I WENT TO THE DEAL HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AND A PERSON FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANTED ME TO REPLACE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS FOR MY VEHICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS THIS ALL ABOUT SO I ASKED A LIST OF PARTS THAT HE REQUIRED ME FOR REPLACING. I WENT HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THESE PARTS AND FOUND MANY OWNER OF THIS CARS COMPLAINT ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THIS MODEL. AN OWNER WAS TOLD TO REPLACE HIS SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS AND HE DID WHAT WAS TOLD BUT THE NOISE IS COMING BACK AFTER 6 MONTHS. MY CO-WORKER BOUGHT HIS CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY (2002 MODEL), WHICH IS THE SAME MODEL AS DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AROUND THE SAME TIME (2004) I BOUGHT MINE. IT'S MILEAGE IS AROUND 30K. HE GAVE ME A RIDE JUST 2 WEEKS AGO AND I FOUND THAT IT HAS THE KNOCKING NOISE TOO. MY WORRY IS WILL THIS A SAFETY ISSUE OR NOT? I'M SURE THIS IS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND JUST WONDERING WHY DC ISN'T RECALL THIS MODEL FOR HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED? * THIS SHOULD BE A ALL YEAR ROUND INCIDENT EXCEPTS SUMMER (WHY?). *JB

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ON GARAGE FLOOR. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING RACK AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHYRSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR. 18 MONTHS LATER THE SYSTEM IS LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER IS AGAIN SAYING THAT IT IS THE POWER STEERING RACK AND THAT IT NEEDS REPLACED YET AGAIN. CHRYSLER WILL NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY ON THE $1,100.00 REPAIR. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH OUT CRASH/IMPACT. DRIVER PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN THE KEY WAS MOVED INTO THE OFF POSITION THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB

AT 42K MILES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEPT TURNING ON AND OFF. THE DEALERSHIP SAID "DRIVER SQUIB CIRCUIT OPEN" AND CHARGED ME TO REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING. PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE. BUT NOW AT 72K MILES, THE PROBLEM IS BACK. WHY AREN'T THE 2002'S COVERED IN THE RECALL? MY SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO THAT LISTED ON THE RECALL (WHICH ONLY COVERS UP TO 2000). *JB

2002 GRAND CARAVAN BRAKES FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR THE FLAWED BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND ONLY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AFTER THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED. THE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED BACKING PLATE ALLOWED WATER AND SNOW TO ENTER THE BRAKE DRUM ENCLOSURE AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO FREEZING THE BRAKE SHOES FROZE TO THE DRUM. THE SITUATION MOST LIKELY OCCURRED WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED. UPDATED 09/13/06. *JB

POWER WINDOWS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO AUTHORIZED DEALER WITHOUT REPAIR DUE TO PROBLEM NOT BEING PRESENT WHEN BROUGHT IN. *NM

GRAPHIC ILLUMINATION BULBS ON THE 3 ZONE CLIMATE CONTROLS FOR THE 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BURN OUT AND ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. THE ENTIRE CLIMATE CONTROL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500 BECAUSE A $0.50 BULB HAS BURNED OUT. LOSS OF ILLUMINATION ON THE CLIMATE CONTROLS RESULTS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CONTROL SETTINGS. SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE INSTRUMENTS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. NOT TOO MANY CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO PAY $500 TO RESOLVE A BURNED OUT INSTRUMENT LAMP. *NM

CONSUMER REPLACED RADIO DUE TO MOISTURE DAMAGE WHICH CAUSED THE RADIO TO BURNOUT. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (04V531000) AFTER THE RADIO WAS REPLACED AND SENT THE ORIGINAL BILL TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE RADIO WAS REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET ONE. *NM