2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT ON DODGE CARAVANS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COME OFF IN HEAVY RAIN AND/OR SNOW. IT HAPPENED ON OUR VEHICLE THE OTHER DAY WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND NARROWLY MISSED GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY HAVE ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN ABOUT IT AND HAVE A KIT THAT THEY FEEL WILL REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER NO RE-CALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY $150 TO $200 TO REMEDY THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS A LEAK WITHIN THE ROOF, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE CARPETING. THERE IS A SLASHING SOUND WITHIN THE ROOF COMPARTMENT AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. THE CARPET HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES, AND THE TELEVISION WAS REPLACED ONCE AS A RESULT OF THE LEAK. *AK. UPDATED 11/30/2005 - GLAZED SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE LEFT MIDDLE SEAT HEAD REST CAME LOOSE FROM THE GUIDE ROD. THE DOOR STICKS AND THE SIDING DOOR MAKES NOISE WHEN OPENING. THE REAR WINDOW RATTLES WHEN OPENED. THE FOG LIHJT ARE IONPERTIVE. THE HORN SPUNDED WEAK BECAUSE THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE TAIL LIGHT HAD MOISTURE IN IT. THE LOCKING GAS CAP WAS HARD TO OPEN. THE REAR TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK. *NM

2000 GRAND CARAVAN HAS MULTIPLE RUST POINTS. THE MOST DANGEROUS OF WHICH IS THE RUSTING AND DETERIORATION OF THE FRONT LEFT STRUT. THE TOP PORTION OF THE STRUT COVER IS RUSTED AND FALLING APART, WITH A CRACK IN IT. OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR THAT ARE SHOWING MANY RUST AREAS INCLUDE: PASSENGER DOOR (CAN PUT FINGER THROUGH RUST), HOOD (BUBBLING PAINT AND CRACKING), PAINT PEELING FROM ANTENNA HOUSING, REAR HATCH RUST, LEFT REAR WHEEL BASIN. MY LARGEST CONCERN IS THE STRUT RUST FOR SAFETY ISSUES, BUT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RUSTING SO POORLY BEING ONLY 5 YEARS OLD! *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A SAFETY EMISSION TEST. THEY SAID THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED AT THE TOP. FOUND THIS OUT ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005, WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ( TSB) 2304402, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT, BUT THAT WAS BASICALLY IT. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING AND NO NOISE. *AK

DT: NOTICED THERE WAS A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ON JULY 1, 2005. WAS ON VACATION, AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE THE GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE BOLT SEPARATED FROM THE ARM, AND IT FELT LIKE DRIVING IN A RUT. A BOLT IN THE CONTROL ARM BROKE LOOSE; IT WAS TIED TO THE BUSHING. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE IT. *AK

2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM SAFETY RECALL REGARDING CLOCKSPRING REPLACEMENT.*MR THE CLOCKSPRING RECALL WAS REPAIRED THE FUSE FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR, THE BACK UP LAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL BLEW OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE. *NM

DT: THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CLOCK SPRING/ AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED IT. THE REPAIR WORK WAS DONE ON 8-22-05. THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT IF THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE REPAIR WORK TOOK LONGER THAN THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT IT WOULD. AFTER THEY DID THE RECALL REPAIRS THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT FUSE BLOWING. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE AND IT BLEW AGAIN. THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MODULE. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD THE MODULE REPLACED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE MODULE PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AND THEY WOULD GIVE HIM SOME KIND OF DISCOUNT FOR THE PROBLEM WITH THE MODULE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT WORKING. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE MODULE DID NOT COME ABOUT UNTIL HE HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE. *AK

2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE HAS NO SHIFT LOCK. 2 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. $1800 DAMAGE TO CARAVAN AND $2300 TO ANOTHER CUSTOMIZED VAN; ALL IN THE EXPANSE OF 50 FEET AND 1 MINUTE IN A FLAT AND LEVEL PRIVATE SCHOOL PARKING LOT. *NM

DT: 2000, DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. CONSUMER NOTICED ON WEBSITE THAT THERE WAS RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V268000, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SERVICE WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER. DIAMLER CHRYSLER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. CONSUMER COULD SMELL GASOLINE WHEN SHE TURNED THE IGNITION ON. THE SERVICE DEALER MECHANIC CHECKED OUT THE VEHICLE, AND TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. THE LETTER STATED THAT IF THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND SHE DID NOT TAKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK *JB

DT: DODGE MINIVAN 2000 GRAND CARAVAN. CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STRUT PLATFORM WHERE THE STRUT MEATS PART OF THE BODY. ALSO, CALLED STRUT SEATING. THE STRUT SEATING, OR PLATFORM RUSTED PREMATURELY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO GARAGE LAST WEEK, ON JULY 7, 2005, AND MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE RUST WAS THERE, AND THIS MADE VEHICLE UNSAFE. MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN RUST ON THIS NEW VEHICLE. CONSUMER ALSO CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD BEEN GETTING COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER. DEALER WAS GILBERTS CHRYSLER DODGE. SHE THEN CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL THERE WERE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FILED. CONSUMER VISITED OTHER DEALERS TO LOOK AT SIMILAR VEHICLES AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN THE OTHER DODGE VEHICLES, BUT NOT OTHER MANUFACTURED VEHICLES.*AK