1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

I WAS PROCEEDING TO TAKE OFF AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED GREEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO REVERSE, BUT NOT FORWARD. I CALLED THE WRECKER SERVICE TO TOW IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. UPON COMPLETE INSPECTION BY OUR INSURANCE CO AND DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A MANUFACTURED PART HAD BROKEN OFF INTO SHAVED BITS AND FELL INTO THE TRANSMISSION PAN. THEREFORE A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *AK

SERPERTINE BELT BROKE AS I WAS ROUNDING A CURVE AT 35 MPH. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE AND SAFE STOP. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 40-45 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ON MARCH 29, WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT, THE TIE ROD SIMPLY FELL AWAY FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. AS IT WAS UNDER A SERVICE CONTRACT, WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE THEY RE-ATTACHED IT. STILL CONCERNED, WE RETURNED THE VAN ON MARCH 30 FOR A THOROUGH INSPECTION. THEY ASSURED US IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. LESS THAN 100 MILES LATER, ON APRIL 4, THE TIE ROD DISENGAGED A SECOND TIME. FORTUNATELY WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING. THE VAN IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER'S SHOP. THEIR COMMENT WAS THAT IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE TIE ROD WOULD SIMPLY BECOME DISENGAGED, AND THEY CLAIM TO BE FLABBERGASTED THAT SUCH A THING SHOULD HAPPEN TWICE. IT'S FRIGHTENING TO THINK THAT WE'VE DODGED TWO BULLETS. *AK

HAD SHIFTED TO REVERSE PRIOR TO BACKING AND HEARD A CLUNK. SHUT OFF ENGINE. LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW THE SERPENTINE BELT HANG DOWN. LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND SAW THE BELT TENSIONER HAD SNAPPED OFF AND HAD DROPPED DOWN TO THE RIGHT AXLE. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.3L ENGINE. WAS THANKFUL THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AT ANY RATE OF SPEED , EITHER APPROACHING A STOP OR WHILE VEHICLE IS MOTION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

THE TENSIONER FOR THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS WAITING TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION--THE CAR WAS DISABLED. I HAVE TALKED W/3 PEOPLE SINCE WHO REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. INCLUDING REPETITIVE BROKEN BELTS. I SEE A TREND BUT DODGE WON'T COVER IN THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM THE HOOD, FIRE ORIGINATED FROM A LEAKY POWER STEERING LINE AT THE REAR OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, CLAIM 05-4462-943. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, THE OPERATOR EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING. MINI-VAN BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. A VERY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LUCKILY NOT A CONGESTED TRAFFIC AREA AT THE TIME OR CURVY ROAD OR SNOWY ROAD. THIS IS UNUSUAL SINCE MY VEHICLES ARE ROUTINELY WELL CARED FOR. I HAVE 2 OTHER VEHICLES TOGETHER TOTALING NEARLY 400,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL ENGINES. CURRENT DIAGNOSIS (VEHICLE STILL IN SHOP), TOTAL POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY FAILURE (APPX. $800). *AK

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR UNDER LOAD CONDITIONS GOING UPHILL. WHEN WEATHER IS HOT, THE DRIVETRAIN AND ENGINE OVERHEAT, CAN NOT MAINTAIN SPEED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTIN SPEED OF GREATER THAN 45 GOING UPHILL. WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A HIGHWAY GOING UPHILL WITH THE SPEED LIMIT 45 OR MORE, YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE TO THE SPEED WITHOUT THE ENGINE RACING AT OVER 6,000 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHILE IT IS IN A LOAD SITUATION. DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS STATING IN WRITING THAT IT IS A DESIGN FUALT ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF RESOLVING THE BAD DESIGN. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSE NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS CONCERNING ACCIDENTS. *AK