2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY, ONLY MANUALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISABLE THE BATTERY TO RESET THE AUTOMATIC LOCK SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS REPEATEDLY FAIL - I UNDERSTAND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE - MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO GET ACCESS TO VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEATS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY UNLOCKING THE DOORS MANUALLY. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS NOT BEEN OPERATIONAL FOR SOME TIME. WE HAVE ALSO RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A, AS YET STILL UNDIAGNOSED, COMPLETE POWER FAILURE IN THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - THIS OCCURRED SUDDENLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED (IT HAD BEEN ENGAGED FOR SEVERAL MILES). THESE ISSUES RANGE FROM VERY INCONVENIENT TO POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS. *TR

SOMETIME WHEN I WAS DRIVING, MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF MYSTERIOUSLY. NOW I CANNOT GET MY LOWBEAMS TO TURN ON. HIGH BEAMS, PARKING LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS ALL WORK. MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SWITCH. I BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

ELECTRIC LOCKS: AFTER 36000 MILES AND NO MORE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THE POWER LOCKS QUIT WORKING. I FOUND THAT PULLING THE BATTERY WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE FOR A SHORT WHILE BUT IT WOULD COME BACK AGAIN AND THAT DOING THIS COULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH HOW THE ENGINE RAN FOR A WHILE AND OF COURSE THE RADIO AND CLOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE RESET. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I FOUND THAT THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE A FIRMWARE UPGRADE ON THE VEHICLE ON BOARD COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTERER NOR DEALER WOULD DO THIS AT NO COST. IT COST ME $85.00 TO GET THE UPDATE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS RIGHT AND ONLY HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL FILE COMPLAINTS TO GET DODGE TO CORRECT THIS AND RE-IMBURSE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO DO THIS. AS FOR ME, THIS IS MY THIRD DODGE AND WILL NO LONGER BUY ANOTHER. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT SHE COULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS USING THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE KEY TO MANUALLY ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING 2 DAYS AGO. THE KEY FOB AND SWITCH ON THE FRONT DOORS DO NOT CONTROL THE LOCKS ANYMORE; THEY HAVE TO BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ON EACH DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE IOD FUSE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THE REPAIR ONLY WORKED TEMPORARILY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RE-FLASHED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE COMPUTER RE-FLASHED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE POWER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB OR THE INTERIOR AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE DOOR LOCKS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE BEEN FAILING INTERMITTENTLY FOR 3 YRS. I UNHOOK THE IOD FUSE OR THE BATTERY CABLE MOMENTARILY AND THIS SEEMS TO WORK FOR A WHILE. THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD WORK FOR A SHORT TIME - THEN FAIL AGAIN UNTIL I REPEATED THE FUSE OR BATTERY CABLE REMOVAL PROCEDURE. AS TIME WENT ON THE FIX WOULD LAST LESS & LESS TIME. CURRENTLY, THE LOCKS MAY ONLY WORK FOR A DAY OR SO. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY WIFE WAS REALLY SCARED THE OTHER DAY WHEN SOMEONE WAS APPROACHING THE CAR AND SHE COULD NOT LOCK THE DOORS. SHE WAS IN AN UNFAMILIAR LOCATION WITH THE 4 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. WHILE IT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE A FALSE ALARM, IT DID OPEN MY EYES. WHILE I HAVE BEEN JUST "FIXING" IT ALL THE TIME, I REALIZED THAT I CANNOT CONTROL WHEN AND WHERE IT WILL HAPPEN AND YOU CANNOT ALWAYS GET OUT AND RESET THE FUSE. THIS IS A PROGRAM (FIRMWARE) THAT IS FAILING ON A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, SEE LINKS BELOW. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VAN CANNOT BE SECURED WITHOUT MANUALLY LOCKING ALL DOORS, WHICH LEAVES THE TAILGATE. WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT? SOMEONE NEEDS TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER..... I AM TAKING THE VAN IN TO REQUEST IT BE REPROGRAMMED. I AM NOT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING BAD ACTUALLY HAPPENS FIRST. JUST A COUPLE OF LINKS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/GRAND_CARAVAN/2005/ELECTRICAL/ELECTRIC_DOOR_LOCK_FAILURE.SHTML HTTP://AUTOFORUM.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/DODGE-GRAND_CARAVAN/POWER_LOCKS_WILL_NOT_LOCK_OR_UNLOCK. *TR

POWER DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND ULTIMATELY FAIL PERMANENTLY. THIS IS A PARTICULAR DANGER WHEN CHILDREN ARE SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT AND DOORS DO NOT LOCK DESPITE BEING ACTIVATED. THIS PROBLEM DIFFERS FROM ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM REPORTED FOR SCORES OF THIS CLASS OF VEHICLE (SEE INTERNET); THE SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF ALL LOCKS REQUIRING A COMPUTER RESET TO RETURN THEM TO OPERATION. I ATTEMPTED TO REPORT THIS A FEW DAYS AGO BUT THE FORM ONLY ACCEPTED A 10-DIGIT VIN. THE AUTOMATED RESPONSE WAS NOT CLEAR AS TO WHETHER THE REPORT WAS ACCEPTED DESPITE THE PARTIAL VIN CONSTRAINT OF THE FORM.