2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HOT. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN, THE CONTACT CHECKED THE COOLANT AND NOTICED A SLUDGE LIKE SUBSTANCE INSTEAD OF COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

MY VAN SUDDENLY SHUT-DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED (70 MPH) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE WHICH PLACED MY WIFE, MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY IN EXTREME DANGER OF COLLISION. LUCKILY WE WERE IN RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART (NOTHING - NO SOUNDS, ONLY BRIGHT WHITEOUT OF DASHBOARD) - TOW WAS REQUIRED. SUDDEN SEQUENCE OF EVENTS - CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, ENGINE UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED / DECELERATED LEADING TO ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN AND DASHBOARD GOING TO TOTAL BRIGHT WHITEOUT. THIS ALTERNATOR FAILURE IS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN #14V634000 / FCA RECALL #P60. MY GRAND CARAVAN HAS UNDER 39,000 MILES - 3.6 LITER ENGINE / 160 AMP ALTERNATOR SAME AS RECALL FOR OTHER DODGE MODELS BUILT IN SAME YEAR AS MY GRAND CARAVAN. REPAIRS MADE FOLLOWING DAY (9/6/16) AT TYSON CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP / SHOREWOOD, IL - ALTERNATOR FAILURE, REMOVED AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR.

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 PM. AS I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON FAIRVIEW IN DOWNERS GROVE, IL MY VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND AT ONE POINT, I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT THE TRUNK. I BEGAN TO WORRY AS THERE WAS A LOT OF CARS IN FRONT AND NEXT TO ME. THE VEHICLE'S RPM STARTED TO GO CRAZY AND THEN AS I PRESSED THE GAS THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR ME AS I WAS ALONE. I THEN PUT MY HAZARDS ON BECAUSE I HAD TO TRY TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, I MANAGED TO MOVE MY CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A CVS BUT NOT BEFORE IT SHUT OFF ON ME. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 1 HOUR BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND HE TOOK ME TO THE JACK PHELAN DEALERSHIP IN COUNTRYSIDE, IL. MY CAR HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THEN. I HAVE A RENTAL FOR 7 DAYS BUT AFTER THAT I HAVE NO CAR. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT CHRYSLER CAN DO FOR ME AS I AM NOT ABLE TO HAVE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP COMMUNICATED TO US THAT THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE SHELVES. AT THIS MOMENT, I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION BUT THE DEALERSHIP CAN BE CONTACTED, JACK PHELAN DODGE, 5859 S. LAGRANGE ROAD, COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525 (708) 352-5300. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE CONTACTING CHRYSLER CORPORATION TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME.

I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY NOT ALLOWING ME TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES. THEN ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY BECAUSE I REPLACED THAT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF FINANCING THE VEHICLE. THE LAST INCIDENT WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED, THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF, I COULDN'T SWITCH THE GEARS, THE BRAKES LOCKED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS WELL. LUCKILY, THIS DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT THE VEHICLE DID STOP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE KEY FOB AND POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT WORKING. I LOOKED IT AND APPARENTLY THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED IN JAN 2013 BEFORE I FINANCED THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE STILL BEEN HAVING ISSUES BECAUSE I HAVE HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH IT.

VERY LOUD TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS, CAUSING ENGINE HESITATION AND MISFIRE. FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT GOTTEN STOCK ON THE ROAD BUTBI FEEL IS ABOUT TO HAPPEND.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE BLOCK (CONNECTION ROD) FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY BYSTANDERS THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,249.

ON JUNE 30TH, 2016 MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-91 IN MASSACHUSETTS BETWEEN EXITS 14 AND 15. THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED (~65 MPH) AND NOT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. MINUTES LATER A THUMP WAS HEARD SIMILAR TO WHEN AN OBJECT OR ROADKILL IS RUN OVER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT ONE BRAKE PAD HAD BROKEN THROUGH/BEEN THROWN FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL, AND BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING OUT FROM THAT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT 15 AND DROVE SMALL LOW-TRAFFIC ROADS HOME. DODGE WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST IN TOWING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT. WE REPLACED THE BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS IN OUR DRIVEWAY. ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY BEFORE IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE FOR REPLACEMENT. THE CAR WAS THREE YEARS AND 10 MONTHS OLD, WITH ~48,660 MILES, AND ON ITS SECOND PAIR OF REAR BRAKE PADS. THIS IS AT LEAST THE 21ST COMPLAINT ON NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME COMPONENT (REAR BRAKE PADS ON 2012 GRAND CARAVAN WEARING TOO QUICKLY). DODGE REFUSED ASSISTANCE BOTH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND AFTER I FOLLOWED UP WITH OUR DEALER, WITH NO REASON GIVEN FOR THE REFUSAL. (CASE #29615622) GIVEN THE MANY OFFICIAL AND HUNDREDS OF UNOFFICIAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN REAR BRAKES, I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND PRESSURE DODGE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS PART. THANK YOU.

BOUGHT THIS VAN USED IN JANUARY 2016. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASING. THE DASH LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN BRAKING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND DVD PLAYER WOULD SHUT DOWN AND RESTART ITSELF. THEY EVENTUALLY SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. IT WAS FINE FOR A MONTH OR SO, BUT STARTED DOING THE SAME THINGS AGAIN. THIS TIME THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. AGAIN IT WAS FINE FOR A SHORT TIME. WE LET THE PROBLEM CONTINUE WITHOUT TAKING IT TO THE SHOP UNTIL IT STARTED DYING. AT FIRST IT WAS ONLY DYING WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. ONCE I WAS NOT ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THEN IT STARTED DYING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. BOTH TIMES WERE INSTANCES OF DECELERATION. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS RECORDING EVENTS OF LOW VOLTAGE. AFTER HAVING IT FOR A WEEK, THEY TOLD US THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE NEW ALTERNATOR AND PUT A NEW ONE IN. THE DAY AFTER WE PICKED IT UP IT STARTED SHUTTING THE ELECTRONICS DOWN AGAIN. CLEARLY THE ALTERNATOR DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE ALSO HAD THE ALTERNATOR TESTED ON OUR OWN THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN JANUARY AS WE THOUGHT THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND THE ALTERNATOR TESTED FINE.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT ONTO TWO LANE HIGHWAY, VAN SURGED, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN HAD ALMOST NO ACCELERATION. HAD TO MANEUVER INTO CENTER TURNING LANE AND THEN WAS ABLE TO GET VAN INTO PARKING LOT OF STORE. ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT VAN WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10MPH. VAN WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP TONIGHT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE LATE DECEMBER OF 2015. MAIN COMPUTER (TIPM) HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY BY DEALERSHIP. DODGE DID HELP COVER PART OF REPAIR COST FIRST TIME, NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN THE END OF FEBRUARY AND JUST FILED THIRD CLAIM / COMPLAINT TONIGHT. JUST WONDERING IF THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES THIS BEFORE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT ISSUE WITH THIS VAN OR THE PARTS THEY ARE REPAIRING IT WITH.

WE OWN A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY, ALL THE GAUGE LIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE THE STARTING SYSTEM UNTIL YOU WIGGLE THE KEY AROUND WHILE IN THE START POSITION. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER, IT WAS JUST LIKE TURNING OFF THE KEY, THE STEERING LOCKED LUCKILY IT WAS AT A LOW SPEED AND THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE VAN COASTED INTO THE ON COMING LANE. AFTER TURN THE KEY OFF AND PUTTING THE VAN BACK INTO PARK IT STARTED AGAIN, WE DID NOT CHANCE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ANY WHERE BUT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIN MODULE AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT IS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUES THAT THE 08 - 10 DODGE GRAND CARAVANS ARE RECALLED FOR. THE NEWER MODELS OF THERE VEHICLES NEED TO HAVE THE WIN SYSTEMS INVESTIGATED AS WELL.