2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

OCTOBER 8,2020 I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN HILL ON A CITY STREET IN PUYALLUP, WA WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD NO STEERING, BRAKES, OR ANYWAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO COAST INTO A NEARBY LOWES HARDWARE PARKING LOT AND RAN INTO A BARRIER IN ORDER TO STOP. I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO PEOPLE OR OTHER CARS IN MY PATH OF TRAVEL WHEN I ENTERED AS I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I CALLED MY INSURER, GEICI, AND ARRANGED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. TOWING WAS PERFORMED BY ENGELS TOWING , PUYALLUP, WA (253) 845-0034. CHECKING ONLINE I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I, MY FAMILY, OR OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOULY INJURED OR KILLED.

VAN HAS A BAD TIPM WHICH FROM WHAT I HAVE READ SAYS COULD SET OFF AIRBAGS ANT TIME. SAFETY HAZARD

VAN LOSES BRAKES WHEN APPLIED OVER A POTHOLE OR OTHER ROUGH ROAD. IT TRAVELS FOR ABOUT 15 FEET THEN STOPS (REGARDLESS OF PUMPING THE BRAKE). IT BUILDS UP AFTER THE VAN STOPS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, OBVIOUSLY. PERHAPS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A MONTH (9/16/2020 WAS THE LAST TIME). ALSO, DEALERSHIPS APPEAR TO GUESS WHEN REPAIRING THE PROBLEM, COSTING CONSUMERS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

VAN WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WILL RESTART ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN GOING DOWN BUMPY ROADS OR ON THE HIGHWAY.

VAN WILL BOG DOWN AND THEN JUST SHUT OFF. WILL ALSO TAKE 5-6 TIMES BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. THE ELECTRICAL GOES HAYWIRE RANDOMLY. FOUND OUT THE TIPM IS BAD AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES DOING THE SAME EXACT THING DURING THE SAME YEARS.

AT 46,000 MILES TIPM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED AFTER FUEL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO RELAY. REPAIR COST WAS OVER $2300.00. NOW AT 62,900 MILE THE ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT AND PCM HAS TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED.

DRIVING VAN IN TOWN 35 MPH WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND STAYED ON SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION INFORMATION PANEL GOES OUT ALONG WITH SPEEDOMETER, TACH, AND GAGES VAN RUNS LIKE NORMAL. CHANGED TIPM NO CORRECTION FAILURE HAPPENED AT 156000 THOUSAND MILES

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON THEN ALL LIGHTS ON THE PANEL LIT UP. CAR DIED WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. DOORS WILL NOT WORK AND CAR WILL NOT START NOW. HAD A TODDLER IN THE BACKSEAT AND SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN MANUALLY, HAD TO CRAWL THROUGH FRONT SEAT AREA TO RELEASE CHILD RESTRAINTS AND PULL HIM OUT FROM THE FRONT

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER/SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING COMPRESSION IN THE CYLINDER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE LIFTER THAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE CAM

BOTH SLIDING DOORS WERE WORKING FINE, THEN ONE DAY THE DRIVER'S SLIDING DOOR JUST FROZE--CAN'T OPEN IT ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE LOCK IS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH WON'T MOVE THAT DOOR'S LOCK TO THE 'UNLOCK' POSITION. WHEN YOU TRY TO MOVE THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON/LEVER ON THAT SLIDING DOOR, IT'S STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION--EVEN WITH A BUNCH OF FORCE I CAN'T MOVE THE LEVER TO THE UNLOCKED POSITION--I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO BREAK THE LEVER IF I FORCE IT TOO MUCH.