2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

I HAVE A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAS IT'S MIDDLE ROW RIGHT SEATBELT REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. FIRST ONE FEB. 2009 AND SECOND ONE NOV. 2010. SAME PROBLEM EACH TIME WITH THE SEATBELTS - THEY WOULD JUST QUIT WORKING - THEY WOULD GET STUCK AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LATCH SEATBELT. AND IF YOU COULD GET IT LATCHED FOR SOME REASON - IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT UNLATCHED WHEN NEED TOO. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUTOFF OR WILL NOT TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS, CHECKED FOR A LOOSE CONNECTIONS, AND CHECKED THE FUSES MANY TIMES. THIS IS OKAY DURING THE DAY, HOWEVER I LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTRY 15 MINUTES FROM THE NEAREST TOWN. I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS OR WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY WILL SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR THAT NOTHING SERIOUS HAS HAPPENED BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MUST BE FIXED! MY WIFE AND 7 MONTH OLD CHILD USE THIS VEHICLE THE MOST AND I CAN'T FATHOM THE IDEA OF THEM BEING INJURED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH. I HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO MY 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CAUGHT FIRE 1 FOOT FROM MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WAS STRAPPED IN A 5 POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT. I PICKED MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45, WITH MY DAUGHTER IN TOW. I OPERATED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO PUT HER BACK INTO HER SEAT AFTER SIGNING OUT MY SON WITH NO ISSUE. I NOTICED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DOOR. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE TO MY HOUSE. HALFWAY HOME I SMELLED SOMETHING AND WHEN I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND BY TURNING THE CAR OFF I WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE SMOKE. I TRIED TO OPERATE THE AUTOMATIC DOORS FOR MY REAR PASSENGER DOORS BUT THEY DIDN'T WORK. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY OPEN MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR NO MATTER HOW HARD I PULLED. I HAD NO IDEA THAT DOOR WAS ON FIRE AT THAT POINT. I NOTICED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DOOR OTHER THAN IT WOULDN'T OPEN. I HAD TO CLIMB INTO THE BACK THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE TO GET MY DAUGHTER. I WENT IN TO THE HOUSE, STILL THINKING THAT EVERYTHING WOULD STOP SMOKING ONCE THE CAR COOLED DOWN AND LET MY DOG OUT IN THE BACK YARD. I CAME BACK AROUND TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AFTER 5 MINUTES. I SAW GRAY SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR I HAD LEFT OPEN TO AIR OUT THE CAR. I WALKED AROUND TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND I SAW THE PAINT BUBBLING AND MELTING AND LITTLE FLAMES LICKING THE GLASS OF THE DOOR. AT THAT POINT I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY NEIGHBOR TOOK THE HOSE TO THE CAR TO PUT OUT THE EXTERNAL FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME IN 5 MINUTES AND PUT OUT THE FIRE IN THE DOOR. THEY GAVE ME THE BURNED PIECE AND SAID THEY BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE MOTOR FOR THE AUTOMATIC DOOR. I CALLED IN A COMPLAINT TO CHRYSLER/DODGE. MY REFERENCE NUMBER IS 19962230 WITH THEM. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED UPDATED 10/07/10 UPDATED 10/21/10*JB *TR

OUR 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT SHOWS PREMATURE WEAR IN THE BRAKE AND RACK-AND-PINION SYSTEMS. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20,500 MILES AND AGAIN AT 42,300 MILES. THE BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AFTER JUST ABOUT 20,000 MILES TWICE NOW. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT EXPECT THE BRAKES TO WEAR OUT AFTER 20,000 MILES PARTICULARLY IN THIS FAMILY CAR, ALWAYS DRIVEN WITH KIDS, VERY CAUTIOUSLY AND NEVER OFF-ROAD. THE RACK-AND-PINION SYSTEM IS WORN OUT AT 42,300 MILES AND THAT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT IS PREMATURE AS WELL. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT EXPECT A FAILURE AFTER SUCH FEW MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY AND METICULOUSLY INSPECTED AT THE CHRYSLER DODGE DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO DODGE SPECIFICATIONS WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AT 11,234 MILES IN MAY 2008. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS WITH THE STOW AND GO REAR SEATS DEPRESSED DOWN INTO THE FLOOR. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT TOUCHED THE METAL BARS THAT WERE EXPOSED ON THE BACK OF THE SEATS AND WAS BURNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER EXAMINED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY BURNING APPROXIMATELY 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES AND WOULD CLOG THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. AS A RESULT, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NO EVENTS LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE OF THE AC UNIT. FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED AFTER FIRST ATTEMPTED USE OF AC FOLLOWING WINTER OF 2010. REAR AC UNIT FAILURE. CORROSION OF THE REAR EVAPORATOR UNIT AND EARLY FAILURE OF THE REAR EXPANSION VALVE. FAILURE BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO POOR PLACEMENT AND OF THE LINES BEHIND THE R/REAR WHEEL AND LACK OF PROTECTION FROM ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF ROAD SALT, SAND, DEBRIS, ETC. *TR

MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. MY LOCAL DEALER SAY THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK AT. IN BOTH CASES THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER I ACCELERATED ON THE INTERSTATE TO PASS A CAR. EVERYTHING GOES DEAD JUST LIKE I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I PUT THE VAN INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IT IS GOING. PULLED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO RESTART VAN. NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. IT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO GET ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION DEPENDING ON WHERE AND WHEN IT HAPPENS. IF IT RESULTS IN AN ACCIDENT I'LL FILE LEGAL ACTION. DODGE SHOULD KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND PROVIDE FIX IT. BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DIES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. I'M BRINGING IT IN TO A DODGE DEALER IN VEGAS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE ERROR CODE IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WILL ZERO OUT ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN STARTED THREE TIMES AFTER THIS PROBLEM OCCURS SO THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK AT. I'LL TAKE IT IN ANYWAY BECAUSE MAYBE THEY HAVE RUN INTO THIS BEFORE. IT ALMOST HAS TO BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM I BELIEVE. IN MY CASE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER I ACCELERATED ON THE INTERSTATE TO PASS A CAR. EVERYTHING GOES DEAD JUST LIKE I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I PUT THE VAN INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IT IS GOING AND RESTART THE CAR. NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. IT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO GET ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION DEPENDING ON WHERE AND WHEN IT HAPPENS. IF IT RESULTS IN AN ACCIDENT I'LL FILE LEGAL ACTION. DODGE SHOULD KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A NEW COMPUTER CHIP OR CHIPS IF THEY REALLY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT SINCE THAT IS THE MOST PROBABLE CAUSE. *TR