2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME INOPERATIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING RACK ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THE RADIATOR FANS WOULD OVERHEAT AND WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

I GOT UP AND WENT OUT TO START THE VAN AND NOTICED A AWFUL WHINING SOUND I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION I TOLD THEM I JUST BOUGHT THIS VAN.THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. HE SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS VAN AND THE PART IS PROBABLY ON BACK ORDER. SO MY QUESTION IS IF IT KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM WHY WOULD A DEALER SELL ME THIS VAN KNOWING I HAVE A FAMILY OF SIX. I DID TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER IM STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK AND LET ME NOW WHAT'S GOING ON. SOUND LIKE A BIG LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE AND IT CAUSES A ACCIDENT. WHAT GETS ME IS THEY SOLD THIS VAN TO ME WITH THIS EXISTING PROBLEM. VAN WAS BOUGHT IN MARCH 2009 MILEAGE 49,628. THEY SHOULD HAVE TO START TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT RECALLS OR KNOWN PROBLEMS ON VEHICLES THEY ARE SELLING. *TR

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SIGNALS THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CHOSEN FREQUENTLY USUALLY WHEN TURNING RIGHT. *TR

RACK AND PINION LEAKING FLUID FROM RUBBER BOOT AND NEEDS REPLACED; MECHANIC SAID VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2006 GRAND CARAVANS WITH OVER 40,000 MILES. HAS REPLACED MORE THAN HE CARES TO ADMIT. OF COURSE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND PART IS ON BACK ORDER? MUST REALLY HAPPEN ALOT WHEN THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER, MAYBE TIME FOR A RECALL. *TR

WHINING NOISE WHEN VAN STARTS IN COLD WEATHER, GETS LOUDER AS YOU ACCELERATE. *TR

MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES & AT 14670 MI DID 15000 MILE SERVICE/MAINTENANCE KIT; 3/6/08-20565 MILES,LEAKING STEERING RACK, UNDER WARRANTY, GEAR ASSEMBLY POWER STEERING REPLACED & CHECKED BRAKES FOR NOISE BUT NO REPAIR OF THEM; 3/11/08-20740 MILES, SES LIGHT IS ON & JUST REPLACED RACK & PINION, CAUSE=LEAK DETECTION PUMP FAILURE,PUMP NATURAL VACUUM LEAK DETECTION, EMISSIONS,UNDER WARRANTY; 5/12/08-22282 MILES, CHECKED BRAKES FOR NOISE, REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS & ROTORS,I PAID & REFLASH FOR HARSH 1-2 @/OR 2-3 SHIFT SO REFLASHED PCM PER TSB 21-018-07 FOR HARSH SHIFT, NO CHARGE BUT DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS B/C OF WARRANTY; 9/09/08 25192 OIL CHANGE & ON 9/19/08 25562 MILES CK ENGINE LIGHT ON & VAN DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSE VALVE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION CONTROL SO REPLACED EGR VALVE, COVERED UNDER WARRANTY; 10/13/08 26324 MILES, BRAKES SQUEAKING, CLEAN & ADJUSTED BRAKES; 10/31/08 26788 MILES,BREAKS SQUEAKING, REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS,UNDER WARRANTY; 1/13/09 28092 MILES REPLACED RIGHT FAULTY RIGHT SLIDING DOOR TRACK,UNDER WARRANTY; 2/2/09 28463 MILES REPLACED BATTERY B/C BATTERY FAILED VAT TEST & DID OIL CHANGE; 2/20/09 28945 MILES DID 30K SERVICE SAID WILL NEED REAR BRAKES SOON HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO ALL THE TIME SPENT AT THE DEALER. REPORTED ALL PROBLEMS TO CHRYSLER BUT ALL THEY DID WAS NOTATE IT BUT DOESN'T APPEAR ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAD. THEY SAID, WELL THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BE AT A DEALER THIS MANY TIMES &SO FREQUENTLY ESPECIALLY SINCE I ONLY AVG OVER 9000 BUT LESS THAN 10000 A YR. 3/30/09 CAR TURNED OFF BY ITSELF AT STOP LIGHT, I TURNED IT ON, VAN SHOOK, GAS PEDAL WOULDN'T MOVE, TURNED ON &OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES &KEPT SHAKING &PEDAL WOULDN'T MOVE &THEN FINALLY IT STOPPED SHAKING& I DROVE OFF. I SET UP APPT & WAS SCH FOR 2 DAYS LATER BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SO I CANCELLED & WAS TOLD TO BRING IN IF HAPPENS AGAIN. APPROX INCIDENT DATE IS DATE OF 1ST ISSUE SINCE MULTIPLE ISSUES. *TR

2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE USING ANY METHOD: POWER BUTTONS, KEYLESS REMOTE OR MANUALLY PULLING LOCK KNOB. ALL OTHER DOORS AND LOCKS FUNCTION AS NORMAL. THE PROBLEM BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AGO BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER POSTINGS ON FIXYA.COM WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON CARAVAN MODEL. *TR

LOW SPEED (AROUND 15 MILES PER HOUR) FRONT END COLLISION RESULTED IN DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS. KNEE AIRBAG WITH HARD PLASTIC COVER DEPLOYED AGAINST SHINS OF DRIVER, MY WIFE. WITHIN MINUTES OF THE ACCIDENT SHE HAD SEVER BRUISING, SWELLING AND PAIN. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, THE SKIN AND TISSUE ON LEFT LEG TURNED BLACK AND REQUIRED SURGERY TO REMOVE. A FEW DAYS LATER SHE HAD A SKIN GRAFT DONE. SIX MONTHS LATER SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH SWELLING, PAIN AND CIRCULATION. SURGEON HAS NOW REFERRED HER TO ANOTHER SPECIALIST. *TR

THE 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD AN AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON. THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE IMPACT SENSORS HAD CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER OF 08. I FELT THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THE SENSORS TO GO BAD WITH SO FEW MILES THAT I STARTED TO INQUIRE ABOUT IT. I DISCOVERED NHTSA INVESTIGATION NUMBER EA06003 AND SUBSEQUENT RECALL NUMBER 07V-192. THESE WERE NOT MENTIONED DURING THE VISIT. I THEN HAD MY FIANCE CONTACT CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REPORT THIS AND GET THE VAN FIXED. WHEN THEY WERE ASKED TO FIX THE VAN THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER COSTS. I FEEL THAT THE RECALL / PROBLEM POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK SINCE THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE RECALL INVOLVES MORE VEHICLE THAN CHRYSLER IS OWNING UP TO, OR THEY ARE NOT CONFORMING TO THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT IN THE ACTION REPORT MENTIONED ABOVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A WHINING SOUND, ESPECIALLY IN COLDER TEMPERATURES, AND DISTRACT THE CONCENTRATION OF THE DRIVER. SHE STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS LOUD ENOUGH TO CAUSE A CONCERN. THE NOISE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND WOULD INTENSIFY WHEN MAKING TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. SHE HAS SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.