2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HORN, LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PORTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, OVER THE CURB AND CAME TO A STOP. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR BODILY HARM. IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, FEAR OF DEATH WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAL CONCERN. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE AFTER THE INCIDENT. ENGINE FINALLY STARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS A 'BAD WIN MODULE' (WIRELESS IGNITION NODE). THE TECHNICIAN ACTUALLY GUESSED THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIN MODULE BEFORE DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A 'FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM'. AN ONLINE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS PART HAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT IN THE 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (OUR DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS A 2008). THE REASON I AM WRITING THE NHTSA IS THE NEWLY REPLACED WIN MODULE IS CLEARLY A REDESIGNED PART. IT LOOKS AND FUNCTIONS DIFFERENTLY THAN THE OLD, FAULTY WIN MODULE. IF DODGE REDESIGNED THE PART, THEY MUST HAVE ASSUMED THE EARLIER DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE IN SOME WAY. TO JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR A REDESIGN, THERE HAD TO BE SOME DRIVING FACTOR LIKE IMPROVED SAFETY. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS DEFECT HAD THE REAL POTENTIAL OF CAUSING DEATH AND I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. AM I THE FIRST TO HAVE LODGED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS PART? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MINIVAN IS NOT DRIVEN IN THE CITY, NO STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MAJORITY OF MILES WERE DONE ON THE INTERSTATE.

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 10:30 AT NIGHT ON THURSDAY THE 15TH OF NOVEMBER 2012 DRIVING 65 MPH ON STATE HIGHWAY 64 IN PAWNEE COUNTY OKLAHOMA AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT ON BY THEMSELVES AND THEN THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OFF BY THEMSELVES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE A CLOCK SPRING BUT WEREN'T EVEN SURE IF THAT WOULD FIX THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE. NOT TO MENTION CHARGING ME $300 FOR THE PART WHEN I HAVE THE EXTENDED ELECTRONICS WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND DODGE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER AND CORRECT THE ISSUE AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE IS NO REASON THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE THIS ISSUE. IT IS A LIABILITY TO DODGE IF NOT CORRECTED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS IT COULD END UP COSTING SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS LOOKED INTO. PLEASE SEND ME A SUPERVISORS NUMBER OR EMAIL SO I MAKE SURE THIS GETS ATTENTION. IF I DO NOT HEAR SOMETHING BACK WITHIN 48 HOURS, I WILL CONTACT THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION MYSELF, A MR. RAY LAHOOD THROUGH SENATOR COBURN. I AM REALLY PISSED OFF ABOUT THE SITUATION. YOU DRIVE DOWN A ROAD WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THE DARK OF NIGHT AND UNEXPECTEDLY YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND YOU RISK YOUR FAMILIES LIFE. DODGE DIDN'T ACT LIKE IT WAS A BIG DEAL, BUT IT COULD END UP BEING A MAJOR LIABILITY FOR THEM IF THEY DO NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. *TR

RECEIVED "SAFETY RECALL L01" TO REPLACE THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER MODULE (ORC). THE L01 RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT DODGE DEALERSHIP IN DAYTONA AUTO MALL, DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE ORC, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY DYNAMIC SENSOR (ESP) HAD TO BE REMOVED AND RE-INSTALLED AS PART OF THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE ORC. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AND DRIVEN HOME THAT DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE ESP, BAKE ASSIST SENSOR (BAS), AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASH. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DODGE DEALER TO VERIFY THAT THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALL PROCEDURE. DODGE DEALER CHECKED ABS CODES AND SAID THE STEERING ANGLE CONTROL /CLOCK SPRING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, AND WOULD COST $500 PLUS TO FIX. ALL THESE COMPONENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE ABS SYSTEM. I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE THAT ONE DAY AFTER THE L01 RECALL WAS DONE, THAT ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. *TR

JUNE 2012, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM A RESTAURANT FROM DINNER, THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A POWER FAILURE WHICH IMMEDIATELY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO POWER DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE A BEST ATTEMPT TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH WAS MADE DIFFICULT BY THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES WERE POWERED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AS WAS THE STEERING. I SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED A MECHANIC WHO CAME AND CHECKED OUT THE MINIVAN BUT, NO WORK WAS PERFORMED BECAUSE WHEN THE MECHANIC ARRIVED, THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE PERFECTLY AND ALL OF THE VOLTAGES FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TESTED OKAY. A MONTH LATER, AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND PARKING MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE COOLING FAN WAS STILL OPERATING ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. I THEN IMMEDIATELY STARTED THE CAR AND DID EVERY CHECK POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD NOT LEFT ANYTHING ON. AFTER CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD AND CLOSING THE HOOD ITSELF, THE FAN SHUT OFF ON ITS ON.WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS, THIS SAME PROBLEM BEGAN REPEATING ITSELF AND WOULD ONLY STOP ONCE THE BATTERY RAN DOWN. I EVENTUALLY HAD THE FAN RELAY/STARTER REPLACED AFTER A MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS THE ISSUE. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND THAT THE FAN NO LONGER STAYS ON. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EITHER SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY DRAINING, ALTHOUGH NOTHING APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN LEFT ON. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO SPEAK WITH MECHANICS. TO GENERALIZE, A MAJORITY OF THE MECHANICS HAVE DEALT WITH OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE SOME OR ALL OF THE SAME ISSUES AND SUGGEST THAT THE TIPM IS FAULTY AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON CHRYSLER AND DODGE MINIVANS OF THE SAME YEAR AND BEING THAT THIS IS THE CASE THAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE A RECALL ISSUED. *TR

I HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS 3 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND I NOW HAVE TO BRING IN MY VAN TO HAVE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED YET AGAIN. CHRYSLER SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB PLUS THEY DID ONE RECALL WHERE ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE PADS. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE PADS ON MY VAN SINCE I HAD ALREADY DONE SO. THE PADS HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VAN ALSO. I HAVE ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON MY VAN AND THIS WILL BE THE FIFTH OR SIXTH SET OF BRAKE PADS ON THIS VAN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE CABIN AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOSIE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECCURRED APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

UPON ENTERING VEHICLE PRESSING KEYFOB TO UNLOCK ANY DOOR OR HATCH THE HORN WOULD START TO SOUND, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR) WOULD START TO GO ON ITS ON INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID AS WELL, LIGHTS WOULD START TO FLASH AS WELL. I WOULD HAVE TO OPEN UP THE HOOD AND HIT THE FUSE BOX LOCATED NEXT TO THE BATTERY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FIREWALL JUST TO GET IT TO STOP. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS TO NO AVAIL BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NOW I AM OUT A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $94.00 X2 AND THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR BOTH TIMES FOR MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN BECAUSE MY 100% FULL WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF THE RENTAL BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. AFTER SEARCHING AND READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE HAVING WITH THIS CARA VAN I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED BY THE CARAVAN DOING SOMETHING THAT IT WAS NOT ASKED TO DO!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY FROM AN OFF RAMP, THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE FRACTURED. THE FUEL TANK THEN DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.