2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

DODGE CARAVAN ALL THE DOOR LOCK STOP WORKING AND IS A VEHICLE SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURING ISSUE. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH ALL OTHER VANS IS ALREADY REPORTED ON THE WEB AND POOR MANUFACTURING IS THE RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. IT IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR AND IS AN ISSUE WHICH DODGE IS WELL AWARE OF IT AND HAS DONE NOTHING SO FAR. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT WITH 28,612 MILES (MOSTLY INTERSTATE). ON NOVEMBER 23, 2008 I WAS GOING EAST ON INTERSTATE 70. A FEW MILES FROM HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND THE CAR'S FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN HAGERSTOWN. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAR'S RIGHT FRONT AXLE HAD SNAPPED. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK AND HAD TO ORDER IT. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ONE WEEK LATER THE SERVICE MANGER TOLD US THE CAUSE OF THE FAILED FRONT END AXLE HUB WAS DUE TO THE NUTS BEING LOOSE, THUS ALLOWING THE AXEL TO DISENGAGE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT DODGE HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS INSIDE LINE, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2008 DODGE CHARGER, MAGNUM, AND CHRYSLER 300. THE ARTICLE ON EDMUNDS INSIDE LINE STATED, 'THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS 5,509 2008 DODGE CHARGERS AND MAGNUMS, ALONG WITH SOME 2008 CHRYSLER 300 VEHICLES, ARE BEING RECALLED FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS FIRST SPOTTED IN MARCH ON A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER PILOT VEHICLE UNDERGOING PRELAUNCH EVALUATION AT CHRYSLER'S CHELSEA PROVING GROUNDS. THE TORQUE RETENTION CRIMP FEATURE "WAS MISSED" DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF ONE LOT OF REAR AXEL HUB NUTS ON THE AFFECTED CARS. 'THIS COULD CAUSE THE NUTS TO LOOSEN AND ALLOW THE HALF-SHAFT TO DISENGAGE FROM THE WHEEL HUB,' SAID THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) IN ITS RECALL SUMMARY OF THE PROBLEM. 'THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.' *TR

IN MARCH 2008, I PURCHASE A NEW 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. WHEN DRIVING, ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE VAN WILL STALL. IT WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART. HOWEVER, NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WILL WORK. IE: HEADLIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BLOWER MOTOR, RADIO ETC. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND ON OCTOBER 3. 2008. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE THE SAME DAY AND STATED THEY RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON OCTOBER 15, 2008, THE VAN WAS BACK AT THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY KEPT THE VAN UNTIL OCTOBER 29,2008 AT WHICH TIME THEY STATED THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND AGAIN STATED WE SHOULD BE FINE. ON APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 13TH, 2008 WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE THIRD TIME. WE TOOK THE VAN INTO THE DEALER AND ALSO CALLED CHRYSLER DIRECTLY. WE WERE TOLD THAT A CHRYSLER ENGINEER WOULD GET INVOLVED AND WE WOULD GET THE PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 26,2008 AND THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO. THEY STATED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN AND THEN RATHER THAN RESTART THE VAN, HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY HUSBAND SPOKE WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF CHRYSLER, BRANDIE WAGNER, AND SHE TOLD HIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING SHE CAN DO. MY HUSBAND ASKED HER TO PUT HER FAMILY IN THIS SITUATION AND HOW WOULD SHE FEEL. SHE RESPONDED THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO WAY TO CONVINCE HER SUPERVISORS TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE UNTIL SHE OR CHRYSLERS TECHNICIANS SEE THIS PROBLEM OCCUR FOR THEMSELVES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF DRIVING THE VAN AT NIGHT AND THIS HAPPENS AND WE HAVE NO WORKING LIGHTS, THIS NOT ONLY PUTS MY FAMILY IN JEOPARDY BUT ALSO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT IS DRIVING AROUND US. *TR

LEFT FRONT BRAKE GRINDING DURING LOW SPEED STOPS. STARTED ALL OF THE SUDDEN ONE EVENING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A WARRANTY COVERED REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THE 12,000 MILE LIMIT ON BRAKE REPAIR. THIS IS 15,000 HIGHWAY MILES AFTER ONLY 6 MONTHS. THE DODGE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED BY THE STANDARD WARRANTY OR THE 100,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS WAS A "NORMAL" WEAR ITEM AND WOULD BE $270 TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND TO TURN BOTH FRONT ROTORS. I FIND IT SHOCKING THAT A MANUFACTURER WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS AS THEY HAVE ON THIS EXACT ISSUE STILL FAILS TO EVEN GIVE "GOODWILL" COVERAGE ON SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

THE BRAKES GET REALLY HOT AND OVERHEAT ALL THE TIME. GAS MILEAGE VERY LOW 13 MILES TO THE GALLON HIGHWAY. AT 6800 MILES FRONT BRAKES WENT INTO ROTORS WITHOUT ANY WARNING, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED PADS AND RESURFACED ROTORS. THEY GAVE ME KNOW EXPLANATION WHAT CAUSED THIS. STILL HAD PROBLEMS TOOK IT IN AGAIN IN JUNE TOLD THEM SOMETHING WAS STILL WRONG THEY SAID THEY CHECKED NOTHING WRONG. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO NOISE FROM BACK BRAKES TOOK IT IN GOT A ESTIMATE THEY SAID SOMETHING REALLY MESS UP IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEED WHOLE BRAKE JOB CALIBERS ETC. BACK TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED RADIATOR CAP LEAKING 3500.00 TO FIX. 15200 MILES ON CAR DECLARED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY THEY SAID MY 12000 MILE BRAKE WARRANTY WAS UP I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. LEFT CAR THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THE BACK BRAKES WHERE GETTING REALLY HOT BURNED UP STATED I MUST BE DRIVING WITH PARKING BRAKE ON NEED NEW PADS FRONT AND BACK IT WAS GOING TO COST LIKE 600 DOLLARS. SAID DON'T KNOW WHY FUEL MILEAGE WAS SO POOR THAT MY DRIVING HABITS WHERE CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR OUT FAST. THE RADIATOR CAP WAS LEAKING BAD REPLACED THAT. TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO GET A THIRD OPINION BECAUSE I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS DUE TO MY DRIVING HABITS. SUPPOSED TO PICK UP TODAY CAME HOME RESEARCH COMPLAINTS ON DODGE CARAVAN 2008. WAS LOOKING TO FILE COMPLAINT ON DEALERSHIP AND CAR AND TO SEE WHAT MY OPTIONS WHERE SINCE I FELT I WAS GETTING MISTREATED AND WHAT THE LAWS WHERE SINCE I FELT THE CAR WAS A LEMON. *TR

GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK DOES NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY WHEN PUTTING GEAR SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION CAUSING KEY FOB FROM NOT RELEASING FROM IGNITION SWITCH. IN ORDER TO RELEASE KEY PROPERLY THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE MUST BE PUSHED UP WITH FORCE UNTIL A CLICK IS AUDIBLE THEN INTERLOCK ENGAGES AND KEY THEN CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS QUITE OFTEN AND IS MORE OF A NUISANCE AND HEADACHE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT THEY STATED THAT GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM NEEDED REPLACED AFTER ADJUSTING GEAR SHIFT CABLE. PART WAS LABELED AS RESTRICTED BY CHRYSLER AND DID NOT HAVE A EAT FOR PART AVAILABILITY. CALLED BACK DEALER AFTER A FEW DAYS AND THE SERVICE TECH STATED THAT PART WAS TO SHIP ON OR AFTER 11/1/08. *TR

BRAND NEW 2008 GRAND CARAVAN SXT ENGINE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND IS THREE WEEKS OLD. TOTAL MILES ON VEHICLE 834. ENGINE FIRE ENGULFED WHOLE VEHICLE FOR A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

POOR TRANSMISSION DESIGN ROBERT C HODGKISS GENTLEMEN: I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND WHILE GOING DOWN A LONG STEEP SECTION OF ROADWAY I DOWN SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW THE VAN DOWN BUT BEING SUCH A STEEP GRADE THE VAN INCREASED SPEED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR, ENDING UP FREE WHEELING, LEAVING ONLY THE BREAKS TO SLOW THE VAN DOWN. (IF YOU ARE GOING TO FAST TO START WITH IT WON?T EVEN DOWN SHIFT). NOW I ASKED THE MECHANIC, WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOOSE MY BRAKES, THE ANSWER HE HAD WAS IT?S A DESIGN FEATURE, SO I CONCLUDED THAT IF I WOULD PUSH ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK, WHICH LOCKS, THAT WOULD PUT ME INTO AN UNCONTROLLED SLIDE WHICH MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. WHAT IF YOU ARE COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, YOU WOULD HAVE TO APPLY THE BREAKS TO KEEP THE TRANSMISSION IN A LOWER GEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR BREAKS FAIL, THAT?S RIGHT THE VAN SHIFT UP TO FREEWHEELING? LEAVING YOU TO DO WHAT, USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK WHICH LOCKS YOU INTO A SKID. BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED THE SECOND TIME TO UNLOCK. NOW I ?AM SURE EVERYBODY CAN REMAIN CALM AND REMEMBER TO DO ALL THIS WHILE TOWING A TRAILER WITH YOUR WIFE AND SIX CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THE VAN, SCREAMING WHAT IS THE MATTER? *TR

2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING,OCCASIONALLY WON'T SHIFT AFTER DYING AND RESTARTING. ALL WARNING LIGHTS GO ON AND SOMETIMES STAY ON OR FLASH ON AND OFF. HAVE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALSO HAD SLIDING DOORS OPEN ON THEIR OWN HAD THAT FIXED THEN THEY WOULDN'T CLOSE WITH BACK ACCESS BUTTON, APPARENTLY CAUSED BY A LOOSE WIRE HAD THAT REPAIRED, THEN REAR BUMPER WARPED SO BACK DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN, HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO HAVE THAT FIXED, BASICALLY MY CAR IS IN FOR REPAIR MOST OF THE TIME AND I HAVE A SMALL RENTAL OF WHICH THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY FOR A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND IT COSTS ME 50.00 EVERY TIME I HAVE TO RENT ONE. I HAVE 4 SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN WHO HAVE APPOINTMENTS UP TO 300 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND TRAVELING ALONE WITH MY CHILDREN AND NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THEM FOR THESE DISTANCES. THE LAS TIME THE CAR DIED I ALSO HAD TWO FOSTER CHILDREN WITH ME, SIX KIDS AND THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING IT AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I BRING IT HOME SOMETIMES WITH 200 MILES ADDED ON IT AND AN EMPTY GAS TANK. I THINK IT'S TIME CHRYSLER CORP. TAKE THE VEHICLE OFF MY HANDS SO I CAN PURCHASE A RELIABLE VEHICLE. *TR

POWER LOCKS WON'T WORK FROM EITHER WITHIN VEHICLE OR BY THE REMOTE. JUST OVER 61,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. ONE TIME OWNER. *TR