1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

DRIVER'S SEATBACK LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE SEAT FRAME, CAUSING THE SEAT TO STICK IN UP-RIGHT POSITION. *AK CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SEAT IF EVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *SCC

WHILE IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING APROX.35MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO LOWEST GEAR,RPMS SHOT UP,SPEEDOMETER FAILED,SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY WHERE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY DODGE CARVAN TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER.I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND DON'T KNOW IF THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND PERHAPS THATS WHY HE TRADED IT WITH ONLY ABOUT 40K MILES ON IT?DEALER SAYS PROBABLY A SENSOR,CAN'T FIX TODAY - COME BACK MONDAY.

WHILE TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK AND THE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY AROUND. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE TIRES. INJURIES OR FATALITIES COULD HAVE OCCURED. THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT. IT HAD BEEN STRIPPED OUT FROM THE LACK OF FULL/APPROPRIATE CONNECTION. THE MATERIAL ENGINEER STATED THAT THE PART APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED ONLY 1/3 OF THE WAY, INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE WAY. *SCC

SUNVISOR TILTED AND STUCK TO STEERING WHEEL. WAS UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

THE ENGINE GAVE NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY MY MECHANIC 1200 MILES EARLIER AND THE TENSIONER REPLACED. THE MAIN BEARING FAILED SENDING METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THE SIDE-EFFECTS OF THE BEARING BLOWING APART DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND NECESSITATED THAT A NEW ENGINE BE INSTALLED. THIS WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3500 AND TAKE ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 55K MILES ON IT. DODGE SHOULD BE ASHAMED THAT A FAILURE LIKE THIS WOULD OCCUR IN SUCH A LATE MODEL VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THE LEFT ROTOR NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE BRAKE COULD HAVE FAILED. NLM

THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT FRONT LEFT ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. THERE WAS NO WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DRIVER HAD TURNED VEHICLE ON, BUT LEFT IT IN PARK, SHIFT LEVER WAS BUMPED SLIGHTLY AND JUMPED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. HAD CONTACTED BOTH MANUFACTURERS, WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. *SLC

WHILE PLACING A PURSE ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE INADVERTANTLY RELEASED. ALSO, WHILE A PASEENGER IN THE CENTER BENCH SEAT WAS BUCKLING THEIR SEATBELT, THE SEATBELT ON THE CHILD'S BOOSTER SEAT NEXT TO IT RELEASED.

MOLDED TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES LEAKING AT LEFT FRONT. HAD TO REPAIR AT LOCAL GARAGE DUE TO EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE AND LONG MILEAGE TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED OF LARGE BACK ORDER ON MOLDED LINES, SO BULK LINES WERE USED. MECHANIC HAS SEEN SAME PROBLEM ON DODGE MINVANS ON OTHER OCCURRENCES.*AK