2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

THE VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE OF DRIVE FROM PARK WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. *TS *NLM

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VAN SUDDENLY WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VAN OFF THE TRACKS BEFORE THE TRAIN CAME BY. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ACCUSED ME OF NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINING THE TRANSMISSION. MY HUSBAND TAKES CARE OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE AND FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS. THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO IT'S FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP HAS STATED THAT THE COOLER ON THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES A BACKFLOW OF FLIUD IN THE LINES FORCING THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO DROP METAL SHREDS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THEIR OPINION IS THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A CHRYSLER DESIGN FLAW. JUST FROM THE LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE ON CAR POINT, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VANS TO FAIL BEFORE THEY REACH 50,000 MILES. I WAS LUCKY THAT MINE LASTED UNTIL 60,000. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS MINIVAN, INCLUDING A DASHBOARD MELTING OVER THE AIRBAG AND A BELT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED 2X ALREADY AND QUITE POSSIBLY A THIRD NOW. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO STANS BEHIND THESE VANS BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT OF THE MILEAGE WARRANTY AND IT'S NOT RIGHT. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS AND CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE MINIVAN TRANSMISSIONS THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. ANOTHER MOTHER MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY AND GET HER VAN OFF THE RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION. DT FAILS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. TS

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME REPORTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER BUMPS, TURNED RIGHT, OR OWNER TURNED ON THE HEAT.....THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLASH, DOOR LOCKS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD FLASH. EACH TIME WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED WE WERE TOLD THAT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WERE HARD TO DIAGNOSE UNLESS IT WAS PHYSICALLY HAPPENING WHILE BEING DIAGNOSED! THE DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED THE DOORS AND REPLACED THE BCM MOTOR UNDER THE DASH HOWEVER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CONTINUED AND ON 10/11/02 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DASH BY THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE!!! WE GOT OUT WITHOUT INJURY THANK GOODNESS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED WITHIN 6 MINUTES! TO DODGE THIS WAS NO LOSS TO SUCH A LARGE COMPANY BUT TO MY HUSBAND AND I...IT COULD HAVE BEEN OUR 4 CHILDREN! MR

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MY 8 YEAR OLD SON WAS SITTING IN A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT IN ONE OF THE 2ND ROW REMOVEABLE CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS. HE LIFTED HIS LEFT FOOT WHICH CAUGHT ON THE SEAT RELEASE MECHANISM. THIS ACCIDENTALLY DISENGAGED THE MECHANISM THAT LOCKS THE CHAIR TO THE FLOOR. THE CHAIR'S LOCK RELEASED AND THE CHAIR WAS NO LONGER SECURED TO THE FLOOR. WE HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND RELATCH THE SEAT. THE LATCH IS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE BUT VERY EASY TO DISENGAGE. THERE IS NOTHING THAT PROTECTS THE MECHANISM FROM ACCIDENTAL RELEASE. MR

WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH TRANSMISSION IS JERKING, VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

FREEZER PLUGS IN ENGINE ARE RUSTING OUT WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE OVERHEATING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK

WE WERE ON VACATION TO THE MOUNTAINS AND HAD JUST HAPPENED TO STOP AT A VISITORS CENTER. WE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CAR WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARDS BUT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING LEAVING US UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. HAD WE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH OR IN THE MOUNTAINS ON SWITCH BACKS WHEN IT BROKE THIS COULD HAVE PROVED FATAL. THE DODGE DEALER SAID THE TENSIONER HAD BROKEN AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PIECE. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*753523

THE CONSUMERS CHILD DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY INTO THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT WHICH SAY IT HOLDS CHILDREN 22 LBS. AND OVER, THE STRAPS ARE VERY LOOSE EVEN AT THE TIGHTEST POSITION. NLM