2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET (BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH) THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALSO STOPPED MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP OR MANEUVER TO A SAFE STOPPING LOCATION. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A FAILURE AND THE ONLY INDICATION WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITY DASH INDICATOR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IT WAS PLACED IN PARK AND RESTARTED, THEN DROVE FINE. THERE WERE STILL NO INDICATIONS OF A FAILURE (CEL OR SES LIGHT). NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE STORED ON THE COMPUTER. BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED, IF IT WERE TO OCCUR WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE OR IN AN INTERSECTION THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN.

I JUST BOUGHT MY VAN USED AND THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT STAYS ON (PRESSURE HAS BEEN CHECKED) THE CHECK ENGINE HAS NOW COME ON AND REMAINS ON ALONG WITH ALL THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AS WELL. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVING AND THE VAN WILL DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME DRIVING THE VEHICLE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLLMER MOTOR SALES (2249 3RD AVE, NEW BRIGHTON, PA 15066) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

HORN GOES OFF WINDSHIELD WIPERS START MOVING CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING KEY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE IGNITION FOR HORN TO GO OFF AND WIPERS TO WIPE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND CAR SHUTS OFF

TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH IS RECALLED ON ALL OTHER VEHICLES BUT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON MINE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

THE PASSENGER REAR SLIDING DOOR IS STUCK CLOSED AND WILL NOT OPEN. THE DOOR MAKES A SOUND WHEN YOU PRESS THE DOME PANEL BUTTON AND THE KEY FOB BUTTONS BUT THE DOOR IS STILL LOCKED SHUT. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE ALSO BY HOLDING THE INTERIOR MANUAL UNLOCK LATCH WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR IT WON'T OPEN. I SEE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE CHILDREN AND OFTEN TIMES WE ARE CARPOOLING. THE KIDS ARE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE USING ALL DOORS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM. WHEN PULLING UP INTO THE PICK UP LINES AT SCHOOL, I HAVE TO LET THE KIDS OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WHICH IS PLACING THEM FACING MOVING TRAFFIC WHILE GETTING OUT AND HAVING TO WALK AROUND THE VAN.

WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VAN WILL POWER DOWN COMPLETELY. ENGINE TURNS OFF, POWER STEERING FAILS, AND ALL ELECTRICAL. THE EGR VALVE DANGEROUSLY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO QUIT EVEN WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40MPH WITH ALL FOUR OF MY KIDS IN TOW, WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY QUIT. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL HARD ON THE WHEEL TO PULL OVER. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VAN. THE VALVE IS APPARENTLY FAILING TO SEND FUEL TO THE NECESSARY AREAS OF THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND I NO LONGER TRUST THIS VEHICLE AS A SAFE AND DEPENDABLE FAMILY VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE BATTERY WOULD DRAIN AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS FAULTY, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIO TO REMAIN ACTIVATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (JEEP DODGE CHRYSLER OF TETERBORO, 469 US HIGHWAY 46, LITTLE FERRY, NJ) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VAN IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND IS COSTING US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VAN IS RUNNING VERY HOT EVEN ON COLD DAYS. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAIL PREMATURELY AND THE WHEEL HUBS FAIL FROM CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING. THE ABS STARTS FEEDING TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO THE WHEEL CALIPERS AND CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO CONSTANTLY TOUCH THE ROTORS WHICH CREATES EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR AS WELL A OVERHEATING OF THE GREASE IN THE WHEEL HUBS WHICH CAUSES THEM TO FAIL. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 7,000 TO 10,000 MILES. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND CHRYSLER IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WILL COST THEM TOO MUCH MONEY.

CAR HAS HAD AN ACTIVE RECALL ON IT FOR TWO YEARS. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE, BUT HAS YET TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS THESE LAST TWO YEARS.