2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

I NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. SAW LARGE AMOUNTS OF BLACK DUST ON LEFT REAR HUBCAP, AND WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HOT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC VERIFIED BRAKE PADS IN CONTACT WITH ROTOR ONLY ON THAT ONE WHEEL, AND HAD BEEN WORN COMPLETELY OUT. BRAKES ON ALL OTHER WHEELS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AS WOULD BE EXPECTED AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER EXPECTING WARRANTY REPAIR AS BRAKE HAD NO MOVEMENT. DEALER DIAGNOSIS: BRAKE PADS FROZEN IN SLIDES. DEALER REFUSED WARRANTY REPAIR AS "BRAKE PADS ARE NOT COVERED AND THE CALIPERS FUNCTIONED ONCE WE PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT AND MANUALLY POPPED THEM OPEN. THEREFORE NO MECHANICAL DEFECT" MY ARGUMENT THAT IT WAS NOT DRIVER CAUSED (OTHER 3 WHEELS FINE) WAS NOT ACCEPTED, ALTHOUGH FURTHER FIRM DISCUSSION DID RESULT IN SERVICE MANAGER CHARGING HALF PRICE FOR TOTAL REAR BRAKE JOB. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, BRAKE DESIGN THAT ALLOWS THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE RECALL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

THIS MORNING THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. THIS AFTERNOON, I WENT TO A LOCAL HARDWARE STORE, PURCHASED SOME ITEMS THEN WENT TO MY VAN. WHEN OPENING THE DRIVER DOOR, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I DID NOTICE THAT WHEN I STARTED THE VAN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN BUT I COULD NOT STOP THEM. WHEN THE WRECKER CAME AND THE CAR WAS STARTED, THE WIPERS DID NOT COME ON BY THEM SELVES AGAIN GLAD THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING.. *JS

ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTING DINGING. I PULLED OVER, SHUT IT OFF, SAW NO VISIBLE PROBLEMS, TRIED TO RESTART, & THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE FOB. HAD IT TOWED, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING. HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 6 DAYS WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING. I AM NOW TOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIPM MODULE. THIS PART IS ON BACKORDER ACROSS THE US. EVERYTHING I'VE READ SAYS IT WILL BE 3 MTHS OR LONGER BEFORE THE PART IS AVAILABLE. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM & A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED. I AM IN A POWER WHEELCHAIR, AND MY VAN HAS BEEN EQUIPPED WITH A WHEELCHAIR RAMP, KNEELING SYSTEM, DRIVER'S TRANSFER SEAT, AND LOW EFFORT STEERING. I NOW HAVE TO LEAVE MY VAN AT THE DEALER UNTIL IT IS FIXED BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER PROVIDES A LOANER BUT I AM UNABLE TO TRANSPORT MY POWER WHEELCHAIR. IT WEIGHS 360 LBS SO IT CANNOT BE LIFTED INTO A VEHICLE. I WORK FULL TIME, AND RELY ON MY WHEELCHAIR TO GIVE ME THE STAMINA TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY. THIS TIPM MODULE FAILURE IS NOW COMPLETELY INTERFERING WITH MY LIFE. I WILL HAVE TO MAKE EXTRA PLANS TO GET GROCERIES, AND TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING AND ADMIT THEIR PART IS FAULTY, GET THEM OUT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM, AND COVER THE COST. ONCE THE TIPM MODULE IS INSTALLED, THE DEALER WILL CHARGE ME ANOTHER $550. *TR

WHEN IDLING, A RATTLING SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE, IT WAS CONTINUOUS WITH ANY SPEED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DODGE DEALER IN VENTURA, CA FOR REPAIR. THEY STATED IT WAS SOME TYPE OF PLATE IN ENGINE AND WAS ORDERING PART. WAS SUPPOSED TO GET MY VAN BACK WITHIN 3 DAYS BUT "PART WAS STILL BEING TRACKED" AFTER 3 DAYS OF CALLING FOR STATUS. AROUND JUNE 27TH WE FINALLY ASKED FOR A RENTAL. DODGE SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR RENTAL AND I WOULD PAY FOR GAS. WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE RENTAL FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. AROUND JULY 1ST WE WERE TOLD STILL WORKING ON VEHICLE, THEY WOULD CALL US IF IT WAS FINISHED THAT NIGHT, NO CALL BACK. IT IS NOW JULY 8TH AND THEY STILL HAVE OUR VEHICLE. OVER THE WEEKEND WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER STATING OUR WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS, 100,000 MILES DUE TO ENGINE HEADS. WE WERE NEVER TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT ENGINE HEADS BY DODGE, AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK, STILL HAVE RENTAL. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A RECALL, INSTEAD OF JUST EXTENSION OF WARRANT? SOUNDS FISHY TO US... THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR UPDATED 3/17/2015 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 4 YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VAN ON A BACK ROAD TO GO HOME. ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, MY RADIO SHUT OFF AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THAT LAST ABOUT 25 SECS. THEN MY VAN STALLED. I WAS SCARED TO HAVE THEM IN THE VAN WITH ME ON A BACK ROAD WITH NO HEADLIGHTS FIRST THEN A STALLED VAN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE, WAITED 10 MINS AND STARTED IT BACK UP AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE VAN RUNNING IN PARK IT STALLED. I STARTED IT BACK UP OK, UNTIL I PUT IT IN REVERSE. IT STALLED AGAIN AFTER ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON THEN BACK OFF. I STARTED BACK UP AND IT SEEMED OK. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHTS, SAME THING HAPPENED. IT STALLED AFTER ALL DASH LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF AND RADIO SHUT DOWN. I HAVE HAD THIS VAN SINCE 3/23/14 AND IT STARTED 6/25/14. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS 3 DAYS PASSED THE WARRANTY IT WILL BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS LIKE REALLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO KNOW. I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE 93 DAYS AGO SO ONLY MADE 3 PAYMENTS AND NOW HAVE TO PROBABLY DO EXPENSIVE WORK ON IT. THE DODGE DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL AND RUDE ABOUT IT. SO NOW I HAVE THIS VEHICLE I STILL HAVE TO PAY ON FOR 6 YEARS AND AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS OF OWNING I HAVE MAJOR ISSUES AND A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS IN THE VAN. *TR

VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 36000 MILES, WHEN BRAKING THE STEERING SHAKES HARD, VIBRATING. WORRIED ONE DAY ONE OF MY TIRES IS GOING TO FALL OFF OR THE STEERING STOP WORKING AND LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. EVEN DODGE HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT ADMITS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE BEING BUILT WITH SUBSTANDARD PARTS. *TR

SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE BRAKES STARTED MAKING SQUEAKING NOISE, BRAKES GOT CLEANED AT A LOCAL SHOP; AND STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS, TOOK TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AT ABOUT APX. 8,000, DON'T REMEMBER EXACT DATE; THEY DID A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB NEW PADS ROTORS AND ALIGNMENT, AT 6 MONTHS BREAKS STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN. HAD BRAKES CLEANED AT A MECHANIC SHOP, NOISE STOPPED. THEN AGAIN AT 23,340 MILES, IN AT THE SHOP AGAIN, THEY TELL ME BRAKE PADS ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND ARE NOT COVERED; BUT NOW THE FRONT AXLES ARE MAKING NOISES WHEN THE WHEEL TURNS AND REGULAR DRIVING WITHOUT BREAKING, LIKE A CLICK, CLICK, CLICK SOUND AS THE FRONT WHEELS TURN. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SHAKE A BIT AND MAKES SQUEAKING NOISES WHEN BRAKING. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND DO NOT TOW ANYTHING WITH IT, JUST NORMAL DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK; BUT THE BRAKES ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A CONSTANT ISSUE EVERY 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR. IT WILL BE REQUIRING ANOTHER BRAKE CHANGE AND PROBABLE AXLE REPAIR; AM WAITING FOR RESOLUTION UNDER FILE NO. 25141204 WITH DODGE, AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK. BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A BRAKES DEFECT IN THE 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VAN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE MOPAD PADS, AND THAT THEY ONLY LAST ABOUT 12,000 MILES AND WEAR OUT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BUT THE BRAKES PROBLEM IS A RECURRING THING; THEY SEEM TO START MAKING NOISE AT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER EACH FIX AND BRAKE PADS BEING WORN OUT WITHIN A YEAR. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE LATEST BEING TODAY, THE SEATS HAVE ATTACKED PASSENGERS BY SPRINGING FORWARD IN A VERY UNSAVORY MANNER. ON THE REAR BENCH SEAT, THE HEADREST WHEN IN LOCKED MODE WILL RELEASE WITH A FURY ONLY KNOWN TO THE MOST VICIOUS OF CREATION SMASHING INTO THE HEAD OF THE GUEST. THE MIDDLE SEAT HAS AN EQUALLY NASTY VERTICAL EFFECT THAT ALMOST BROKE MY TWEEN'S NOSE TODAY AS SHE WAS ADJUSTING THE SEAT. DODGE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE SPRING ACTION ON ALL OF THE SEAT COMPONENTS AND RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH STOW AND GO SEATS AND LESSON THE STRENGTH OF THE SEAT RECLINING SPRINGS. *TR