2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

HORN BLOWS, WIPERS CYCLE (FRONT AND REAR) CONTINUOUSLY, WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYS FLUID CONTINUOUSLY TRANSMISSION IS IN LIMP IN MODE. *TR

WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING OUR BRAKES EVERY 4 MONTHS OUR MECHANIC SAYS THE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR THIS VAN WAS DESIGNED TOO SMALL LOVE THE VAN BUT WILL TRADE IN FOR SOMETHING MORE SAFE WE DO HAVE 4 CHILDREN IN OUR VAN DAILY AND WITH THE BRAKES WEARING OUT SO QUICKLY WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES ARE GONNA GO OUT NEXT...VERY DISAPPOINTED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL OF SOME SORT. *TR

ONE DAY AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT..... START CAR IN PARKING LOT, START BACKING UP. THE CAR STOPS, EVERYONE IS JERKED FORWARD, AND THE HORN STARTS BLARING/WIPERS GO CRAZY, FLUID SPEWING EVERYWHERE. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT I HAD HIT SOMEONE... BUT NOPE. PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE- NO POWER STEERING- AND PULLED BACK INTO PARKING SPACE. TRIED TO TURN CAR OFF. IT CONTINUED TO RUN WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF IT GOING CRAZY SOME PEOPLE CAME OVER AND HELPED US DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE IT FINALLY DIED. I MET A COUPLE IN THE PARKING LOT THAT ASKED IF IT WAS A 2008. IT WAS, AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THEIR HORROR STORY WITH THEIR VAN. AND HOW THEY HAD A LAWYER THAT FILED LEMON LAW ON IT. I WAS THRILLED. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES WE CONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE VAN CONTINUED TO GO CRAZY. FINALLY WE DECIDED TO JUST DRIVE HOME. IT WAS 9:30 AT NIGHT. DROVE HOME WITH HORN BLARING, WIPERS GOING CRAZY, NO TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND FLUID SPEWING. JUST WAITING FOR THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT AND HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. GOT HOME AND VAN CONTINUED GOING CRAZY UNTIL HUBBY DISCONNECTED BATTERY AGAIN. LOOKED ONLINE AND FIND OUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 2008 DODGE/CHRYSLER VANS. THE TIPM GOES BAD AND THE CAR GOES CRAZY. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET INTO A SERIOUS WRECK AND KILL SOMEONE. VERY UNSAFE!! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, BUT DODGE IS HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE PART.... RIDICULOUS! THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO TOLD ME THEY HAD 2 2008 VANS IN THE "BACK" WAITING FOR THIS PART. THEY HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR OVER 2 WEEKS AND NOONE KNOWS WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PART. SO WHAT HAPPENS? THE PEOPLE TRADE THEM IN. CONVENIENT. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THESE ARE THE MOST "POPULAR" VAN ON THE ROAD? MAKING SURE THEY GET REPEAT BUSINESS. WELL I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE/CHRYSLER AGAIN AND IM DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO GET BULLIED INTO BEING A REPEAT BUYER!! *TR

2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL LO1, K25, J29 CONCERNING THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER *TGW THE CONSUMER HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE STEAM STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. *JB THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 14V373000. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/13/14*JB UPDATED 01/22/15.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AS THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE BRAKES WOULD HESITATE TO RESPOND AND THERE WAS ALSO A BURNING SMELL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, THE HUBS, THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE TIE ROD. AFTER THE REPAIRS THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WOULD HESITATE TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND PITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

I SAVED 15,000 DOLLARS NOT EASY WANTED TO BUY MY GIRLFRIEND A MINIVAN AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT. 4 MONTHS LATER FRONT END STARTED SHAKING AND GRINDING SERIOUSLY CHECKED BRAKES IN REAR ROTORS LOOKED SHOT AND BRAKES WERE CRUMBLING CHECKED FRONTS SAME THING CHANGED THEM AND HAPPENED AGAIN 4 MONTHS LATER I DIDN'T KNOW BUY PURCHASING THIS VAN IT WOULD PUT HER AND THE KIDS IN DANGER SOMETHING NEEDS TO B DONE THANKS. ALSO THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THIS VEHICLE MOST LIKELY NEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND SOLD IT ANYWAY THEY SHOULD ALSO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

2ND INCIDENT - TIRE STEM (VALVE) BROKE WHEN REMOVING PLASTIC CAP TO ADD AIR. I REPORTED WHEN THE FIRST VALVE STEM BROKE (TO THIS SYSTEM) ALSO. *TR

THE TIPM MODULE (TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE) IS DEFECTIVE, AND INTERMITTENTLY DRAWS THE BATTERY DOWN. AFTER KEEPING THE VAN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP (BLUEBONNET MOTORS) IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX, DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY IS FINE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TIPM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO UNITS AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME (SEVERAL HUNDRED ARE ON BACKORDER, AND NONE SCHEDULED FOR PRODUCTION). CHRYSLER HAS NOT OFFERED TO COVER THIS UNDER RECALL, AND WE ARE TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET WE READ MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TIPM PROBLEMS, INCLUDING: WIPERS STARTING BY THEMSELVES; WINDSHIELD SPRAYERS SPRAYING WITHOUT WARNING; HORN WILL START HONKING OUT OF CONTROL: LIGHTS FLASHING UNCONTROLLABLY (ALL OF THESE WHILE DRIVING); AND EVEN ONE UNIT THAT CAUGHT FIRE. OUR DEALERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT THE SYSTEM INDICATES THAT AT LEAST SIX VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FLAGGED AS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. WE FEEL THAT WE ARE DRIVING A ROLLING TIME BOMB, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO EITHER LEAVE US STRANDED, OR CAUSE HAZARDOUS DRIVING DISTRACTIONS AT ANY TIME, OR BOTH. *TR

I WANTED TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY FOR THE VEHICLE THEY ARE ON, AS THEY ARE HAVING TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3,000 - 4,000 MILES. CHRYSLER KNOWS IT IS AN ISSUE, BUT THEY WILL NOT OFFER AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. THEY BLAME IT ON OUR DRIVING STYLE, BUT THAT IS NOT CORRECT. WE CURRENTLY OWN A FORD TAURUS WHICH IS DRIVEN MORE THAN THE VAN, AND THE BRAKES LAST 40,000 MILES PLUS. WE HAVE OWNED 10-15 CARS IN OUR DRIVING LIFE, AND THEY ALL HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AROUND 40,000 MILES. THE CARAVAN ALSO HAS TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES CHANGED QUITE OFTEN, WHICH TYPICALLY ONLY HAPPENS 1 TIME IN THE 100,000 MILE LIFE OF OUR OTHER CARS. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "BRAKE LIFE EXPECTANCY", AND THE THIRD LINK PULLED UP WAS THE FOLLOWING FORUM WHERE MANY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F1BBE4A JUST WANTED TO PASS ALONG MY CONCERNS. THANKS!! *TR

PURCHASED NEW 2008 GRAND CARAVAN. BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING AT 18,000 MILES, HAD DEALER CHECK AND THEY SAID ALL WAS OK. AT 37,500 MILES, BRAKES FAILED. CALLED DODGE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT WARRANTY EXTENDED BY DODGE TO 36000 MILES HAD EXPIRED. I HAD BRAKES REBUILT AT LOCAL MASTER MECHANIC, WHO ALSO FOUND 2 FAULTY WHEEL BEARINGS. COST WAS OVER $1,000. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP WHO AGREED TO PAY 1/2 OF THE REPAIR BILL. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES, CALIPERS STICK HEATING UP THE WHEEL CONSTANTLY. WE FINALLY TRADED IN THIS VEHICLE 2 WEEKS AGO, OUR 4TH NEW AND LAST DODGE PRODUCT. THE BRAKES ARE UNDERENGINEERED ON THIS VEHICLE. PS: THE ORIGINAL DODGE DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER SAID IF ANY VANS COME IN UNDER 36,000 MI TO REPAIR THEM AT NO CHARGE BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE MFG WARRANTY ON BRAKES IS 12,000 MILES. 37500 MILES ON ORIGINAL SEALED WHEEL BEARINGS IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALSO UNACCEPTABLE IS A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT CANNOT BE RELIED ON. *JS