Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 70 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 70, in the owner's own words
Belt under hood keeps falling off and or breaking car seizes up and locks up almost crashed a few times Also engine problems smokes a lot wipers don’t work windows won’t go down also transmission jerks when driving
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED FOR THE THIRD TIME. AFTER THE PREVIOUS FAILURES, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE RECENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V480000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (EASTCHESTER CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, 4007 BOSTON ROAD, BRONX, NY) AND A REPAIR APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. AFTER TWO HOURS OF WAITING AT THE DEALER'S, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. ALSO, WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, OIL FUMES WERE NOTICED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,444. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
EVERY TIME THIS VEHICLE IS TO BE SERVED FOR SMOG CHECK RENEWAL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECOMES AN ISSUE. FOR 2014 I SPENT MONEY IN REPAIRS DEALING WITH A NEW EGR VALVE. THE PROBLEM STOPPED AND PASSED SMOG CHECK. THIS YEAR 2016 I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL AREAS OF SMOG HAVE PASSED IN THE SMOG TEST EXCEPT THAT RESULTS SHOW A "NOT READY " OBD II SYSTEM. DO THIS MEANS THAT EVERY YEAR THIS VAN IS DUE FOR SMOG CHECK I HAVE TO KEEP BUYING A NEW EGR VALVE OR SPEND MONEY IN THE EMISSION SYSTEM REPAIRS BECAUSE THE EMISSION SYSTEM IS FAULTY BY MAKING? AREAS SHOWING AS NOT READY ARE CATALYST, OXYGEN SENSOR, EGR AND OR VVTVSYSTEM. PLEASE ADVISE. MY NAME IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING ONTO THE ENTRANCE RAMP OF C270. THE POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP, GENERATOR FAILED. THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE DRIVE BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE IDLE PULLEY BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TR
EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY HEATER AND DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD A ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. IF I LEAVE THE HEATER OFF FOR A FEW DAYS IT EVENTUALLY GOES OFF. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL ACT UP AS THE DOOR LOCK WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE GASKETS UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE LEAKS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I KNOW THAT IT DOES HAVE MILES, BUT IT'S A WELL TAKEN CARE CAR AND I THINK YOU SHOULD FEEL SAFE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE LOOKED UP THESE PROBLEMS AND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WOULD NEVER BUY A DODGE. *TR
AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A SMALL WATER PUDDLE I LOST POWER STEERING AND GENERATOR. IT WAGON A WINDY MOUNTAIN ROAD AND WAS VERY HAZARDOUS AS IT LEFT USONA BLIND CURVE IN THE RAIN. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE DRIVE BELT HAD COME OFF. IS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON AN KNOWN ISSUE WITH CHRYSLER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE BELT TENSIONER BOLT. THE TENSIONER BOLT FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A RAINING DAY, SHE NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF IN THE RAIN CAUSING A LOSS IN POWER STEERING, AC (FOR WINDOW DEFOGGING), POWER (NO ALTERNATOR WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON DURING RAIN). WHEN IT SLIPPED OFF, THE ABILITY TO CORRECT FOR LOSS OF TRACTION DUE TO WATER WAS REDUCED DUE TO LACK OF POWER STEERING AND THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP QUICKLY DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE AC COMPRESSOR. SLID OF THE INTERSTATE AND SLID DOWN THE MEDIAN. MULTIPLE OTHER INSTANCES OF BELT SLIPPING OFF (4 TIMES IN PAST 3 DAYS), THOUGH AT LOWER RATES OF SPEED. DODGE DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ALSO INTERESTING THAT THEY NOW SELL A UPGRADE KIT THAT CHANGES OUT THE TWO NON-GROOVED PULLEYS FOR GROOVED ONES AND ADD A BELT WITH GROOVES ON BOTH SIDES. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD ONLY FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE REPORTED THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT ON THE VEHICLE FELL OFF FIVE TIMES LAST MONTH. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND WAS TOLD THE PULLEYS WORKED FINE, BUT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHIELD COVERING THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED TWICE IN TWO MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND SNOWY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002, PROBLEM DIDN'T OCCUR TILL MID-2010. SINCE THEN THE BELT HAS CAME OFF AT LEAST 5 TIMES OR MORE. SEEMS EVERY TIME IT RAINS. I'VE HAD THE BELT REPLACED, AND EVERYTHING ELSE REPLACED THAT COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I HAD IT REPAIRED THIS PAST TUES. AND GUESS WHAT YESTERDAY IT CAME OFF AGAIN (ALL OF 5 DAYS). I LOVE MY VEHICLE BUT I'M AFRAID OF IT. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF EVERYTHING GOES OFF. LUCKILY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD (SO FAR). LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT DOES IT TAKE -SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE A RECALL WILL HAPPEN AND A SOLUTION?? THIS IS VERY COSTLY IN REPAIR BILLS/TOW BILLS AND SO FORTH. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FRACTURE AND WAS REPLACED OVER TEN TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CONTINUAL FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000.
I HAVE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR SNOWS THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF. THIS CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP, AND THE ALTERNATOR TO STOP CHARGING. THE CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. YOU LOSE CONTROL. THE MALFUNCTION WAS CORRECTED USING THE GATES MICRO V KIT. THIS INCLUDES A RIBBED BELT TENSIONER, RIBBED IDLER AND A DOUBLE SIDE SERPENTINE BELT. *TR
SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN IN SNOW AND RAIN OFTEN. *TR
THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF OFTEN , MORE WHEN DRIVEN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER. MORE OFTEN IN WET WEATHER. IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BELT COMES OFF YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AUTOMATICALLY AND ALL YOUR OTHER FACTION. IT'S STARTED ABOUT YEAR AFTER GETTING VAN. *TR
THE SERPENTINE BELT ON A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN SLIPS OFF WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER OR WET CONDITIONS SUCH AS IN THE RAIN OR SNOW, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING (LOSS OF CONTROL); WATER PUMP (OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ALUMINUM HEADS); ALTERNATOR (NO BATTERY CHARGING) AND AC. THIS WAS AFTER A NEW BELT AND TENSIONER WAS INSTALLED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS SITED ON RELATED WEB SITES. MY WIFE ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE OF NO STEERING. IT HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES TO HER AND 4 TIMES TO ME. COST OF PUTTING BELT BACK ON WAS AROUND $40 EACH TIME. TRIED A FIX USING A DISC OVER THE TENSIONER AND IDLE PULLEY RECOMMENDED BY DEALER, BUT FIRST TIME THROUGH A RAIN PUDDLE, IT SLIPPED OFF. A $200 FIX IS AVAILABLE PLUS $150 LABOR CALLED A GATES KIT # 38379K ALSO BY GOODYEAR #49215K. THEY BOTH COME WITH A DOUBLE SIDED GROOVED BELT, GROOVED IDLE PULLEY AND GROOVED TENSIONER AND STATES THAT IT FIXES THE PROBLEM OF BELTS COMING OFF THE DODGE VANS IN WET WEATHER. IF THIS IS PART OF THE SELLING POINT OF THE KIT, THEN THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER, DODGE, PLYMOUTH VANS AND THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS "FIX." THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR AND CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER. *TR
THE BELT ON MY DODGE CARAVAN SPORT SLIPPED OFF IN THE RAIN LEAVING ME TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT WIPERS AND OR BLOWER. IDLER PULLEY SHOULD HAVE KEEPERS ON THE EDGES SO THE BELT WILL NOT SLIP OFF. *TR
I HAVE A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN THAT I HAVE NOW REPLACED THE SERP BELT 8 TIMES AND THE TENSIONER 3 TIMES AND THE BELT JUST CAME OFF AGAIN 2 WEEKS AGO. EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT PLACE TO BE FIXED BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THEY INSTALLED A SHIELD TO KEEP THE BELT DRY AND AFTER THAT IT HELD FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, BUT THEN BROKE AGAIN. THE BELT KEEPS MOVING OVER AND GETTING "CUT" AND THEN BREAKS. THE MILEAGE ON THE VAN IS ABOUT 119,000 NOW BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY GIVE ME A WARRANTY ON THE WORK, IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I SEE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO???? *TR
I PURCHASED A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO FROM ELITE MOTORS IN VICTORVILLE. THE CAR WAS NOT SMOKED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND HAD TO BE DONE SO ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER. THEY SAID THEY HAD A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO PASS AND THEN IT PASSED BUT WHEN I GOT IT BACK I SMOGGED IT AND IT FAILED. ELITE MOTOS SAID THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME ON RESOLVING THINGS BUT THEY NEVER DID. SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE THERE HAS BEEN A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, TWO TIRES HAVE BLOWN, SEVERAL SETS OF FRONT BREAK PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, 2 BATTERY'S HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND WITHIN THE LAST MONTH BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES/MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER/CALIPERS/WATER PUMP/RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. MY CAR IS AGAIN IN THE SHOP BECAUSE MY ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS HAVE COME ON, THERE ARE NO BRAKE LIGHTS, AND MY CAR WAS HESITATING AND LOOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY WITH A CLUNKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HAD ASKED GEIKO IF WHEN THEY DID THE BODY WORK - WOULD THEY ALSO LOOK FOR THINGS MECHANICALLY WRONG JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS O.K. THEY SAID THEY WOULD, THE SHOP (PERFORMANCE IN VICTORVILLE SAID THEY WOULD AND GAVE ME A BUSINESS CARD OF THE GUY THEY REFER THINGS OUT TO BUT THEY NEVER DID? POINT OF IMPACT IS LISTED AT 6. REAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE STEERING FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF. THE VIN, SPEED, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS A UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN THROW WHICH CAUSES POWER STEERING LOSS. CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHES EACH TIME HE MAKES A RIGHT TURN OR DRIVES THROUGH A PUDDLE AT 5 MPH. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PULLEY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,200.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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