Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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 33, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, AND THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
PULLED VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE AND SHORTLY AFTER FIRE STARTED TO COME UP OUT OF THE DASH. COMPLETE LOSS. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT IT SPREAD IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.. THIS WAS NOT MY CAR BUT MY MOTHER IN LAWS. *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY. HORN WILL NOT WORK .CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THESE DEFECTS ARE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. THIS WAS A MATTER OF RECALL FOR THE DODGE CARAVAN AND GRAND CARAVAN, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND GRAND VOYAGER AND CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY FROM THE 1996-2000 MODEL YEARS. OUR CAR IS 2001 MODEL AND IS NOT IN A RECALL LIST, BUT IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT FIXED IN 2001 YEAR MODELS. AM I ALONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS UNFIXED PROBLEM? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WAS COMING HOME WHEN I SMELT A BURNING SMELL. I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT STILL SMELT THE SMELL. I TURNED BACK ON THE CAR TO PULL OVER MORE IN THE LIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON (IT WAS DARK). WHEN I TURNED BACK ON THE CAR NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WORKED, NO BLINKERS, NO TEMP GAUGE, NO GAS GAUGE, NO RPM, NO SPEEDOMETER. ABOUT THREE HOURS LATER, STILL AT THE GAS STATION I DECIDED TO PRESS THE TRIP BUTTON AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON BUT MY DOOR AJAR BUTTON FLASHES ON AND OFF INCLUDING THE LIGHTS THAT COME ONE WHEN THE DOOR OPENS, WITH THE DINGING AND THE LOCKS GO CRAZY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NO I DID NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT FOR SURE IT WOULD CATCH FIRE. BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THEY HAVE JUST FAILED TO REPORT IT SO IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED! I HAD ALL MY 5 CHILDREN WITH ME, I THANK GOD WE WERE ABLE TO STAY SAFE. I LOCAL DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT AND SAYS IT IS THE INTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE INTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS MELTED AND THAT IS WHY I WAS SMELLING A BURN SMELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL THE KEY FINALLY FRACTURED WHILE IN THE IGNITION. SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITH ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
2001 - DODGE CARAVAN - LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT FELL OUT, HANGING ON BY WIRES. TOOK TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, SAID DEALER HAD TO FIX. TOOK TO DEALER, STATED COULD NOT REINSTALL, NEEDED WHOLE NEW UNIT FOR DRY ROTTED RUBBER GASKET. TOOK VEHICLE TO HOME DEPOT, BOUGHT 1 TUBE OF BLACK EXTERIOR SILICONE CAULK. DROVE VEHICLE HOME, AND CLEANED AREA AROUND REAR TAIL LIGHT. PUSHED LIGHT BACK INTO PLACE AND CAULKED AROUND DRY ROTTED RUBBER. TAPED TAIL LIGHT TO BODY ASSEMBLY (BE CAREFUL TO USE TAPE WHICH WILL NOT DAMAGE VEHICLE). LEFT VEHICLE TO SIT STILL FOR 24 HOURS AS CAULK DRIED. MADE THIS SIMPLE REPAIR MYSELF FOR $2.86 WHEN THE DEALER WANTED OVER $500 TO REPAIR. WHAT A RIP OFF WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN MAKE A VEHICLE THAT LASTS, THEY HAVE TO PRICE GOUGE THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
2001 - DODGE CARAVAN - FAILURE OF HEATER SYSTEM AFTER DASH PULLED FOR A/C REPAIR. *TR
2001 DODGE CARAVAN - A/C SYSTEM & DASH/ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL AND LIGHTS - HAD VEHICLE FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS, TOTAL FAILURE OF A/C SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED SYSTEM. SYSTEM WORKED APPROXIMATELY THREE (3) YEARS, THEN HAD ANOTHER TOTAL FAILURE OF SYSTEM, ALONG WITH FAN SPEED SWITCH NO LONGER WORKING MEDIUM AND HIGH SPEEDS. VEHICLE PAST WARRANTY SO HAD PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACE EVAPORATOR. HAD TO PULL DASH OUT TO REPLACE EVAPORATOR, AS NO ACCESS TO MAKE REPAIR UNDER HOOD, COST OF $1,500 DUE TO LABOR INTENSIVE PULLING DASH FOR A/C REPAIR. AFTER DASH PULLED OUT AND REINSTALLED, DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT A FEW DAYS AFTER A/C REPAIR. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, STATED INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS WERE FALLING OFF, PAPER/ADHESIVE ADHERING COMPONENTS TO DASH DRY ROTTED AND NO LONGER STICKING. NEEDED NEW PANEL AT COST OF $1,000. THESE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED IN SUMMER MONTHS. IN WINTER, DISCOVERED HEATER DID NOT WORK. HAVEN'T REPAIRED THAT YET. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND RESPONDED AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $1000. THE DEALER WILL ALSO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IN ORDER TO DETERMINE ADDITIONAL FAILURES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CONTROL MODULE TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
HERE'S A DEAD GUY FROM A BAD DODGE CARAVAN CLOCKSPRING THAT YOU REFUSE TO RECALL BEYONG FY2000. WHAT IS IT YOU GOVERNMENT GALLOOFS DO ALL DAY? NEW YORK - A FAMED STRONGMAN WHO ONCE LIFTED 3,200 POUNDS AT CONEY ISLAND DURING ITS HEYDAY AND WAS STILL BENDING QUARTERS WITH HIS FINGERS AT AGE 104 DIED MONDAY AFTER HE WAS HIT BY A MINIVAN. JOE ROLLINO WAS STRUCK AS HE CROSSED A MAJOR STREET IN BROOKLYN, AND SUFFERED A BROKEN PELVIS, HEAD TRAUMA AND BROKEN RIBS. HE DIED A FEW HOURS LATER AT AN AREA HOSPITAL. POLICE SAID THE DRIVER WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT AND HAD NOT BEEN DRINKING. NO CRIMINALITY IS SUSPECTED, BUT THE DRIVER WAS ISSUED A SUMMONS FOR A DEFECTIVE HORN. *TR
HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD DIES, INTERMITTENT. THE PROBLEM SHOW WHEN I USED THE TURN SIGNAL, THE DASHBOARD DIES ENTIRELY AND THE HEADLIGHTS GOES OFF, IT HAPPENS EVERY 2 OR 3 DAYS, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY WORKED AGAIN. IT HAPPENS TO ME MORE THAN 10 TIMES. I SOLDER THE TERMINALS AT THE ELECTRICAL BOX THAT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRICAL DIAGRAM FEED THE TURN SIGNAL, DASHBOARD AND HEADLIGHTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT 2 YEARS AGO, SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED ANY MORE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE RADIO SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S STEREO SYSTEM. A NEW RADIO SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED BY A TECHNICIAN THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WAS A SAFETY DEFECT RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V531000 (EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL;RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. BL
SINCE LATE SPRING 2008, THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2001 DODGE CARAVAN HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERED AND GONE OUT, THEN COME BACK ON. THIS CONTINUED OFF AND ON UNTIL I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM EXPERT (ENORMIS, ERIE PA) IN JULY OF 2009. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX FOR THE VEHICLE AT A COST OF APPROX $430. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO DO THIS WITH APPROX. SIX OTHER VEHICLES RECENTLY. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, HAVING YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT NIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, ESPECIALLY WHILE IT IS RAINING. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PART:THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND I WANT TO BE RE-IMBURSED!!! I AM AN ATTORNEY AND KNOW A DANGEROUS DEFECT WHEN I SEE ONE!!!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE RADIO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE FACTORY STEREO SYSTEM. A NEW RADIO SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED BY A TECHNICIAN. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AND THE RADIO WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNABLE TO BE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ALTERNATE WORKING SO ONLY ONE IS ON AT A TIME. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY BOTH WILL WORK FOR A DAY OR SO THEN IT WILL GO BACK TO JUST ONE WORKING. THIS MAKES IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT AND WE HAVE GOTTEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND GIVEN A WARNING. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING BULBS BUT IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN SE. BEGAN TO HAVE MALFUNCTIONS WITH BOTH FRONT WINDOWS IN 2004. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ALONG WITH SOME OTHER MAINTENANCE IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR IN SEPT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLATLINED AS WELL AS THE TURN SIGNALS. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, RPM, ODOMETER, TEMP GAUGE AND TURNING SIGNALS. THEY WOULD OCCASIONALLY BEGIN TO FUNCTION AGAIN BUT HAVE ONLY DONE THIS ONCE OR TWICE OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT A COST OF OVER $900. *TR
I OWN A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. DURING OPERATION ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, ONLY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT COMES ON. ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKS AT ANY TIME. NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A CONSTANT. *TR
2 DAY'S AGO MY RADIO/CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKED. THE POWER IS CONSTANTLY, IT IS SHOWING THE LAST RADIO STATION THAT WAS ON AND THE DISPLAY ALSO SHOWS DISK SONG 7. NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUSH THE POWER BUTTON. THEN TODAY WHEN I PUT MY 4 WAYS ON THE REAR WIPER STARTED GOING AND THEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW. NOW IT WILL NOT WORK AT ALL ALONG WITH THE FLUID DISPENSER. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE OK CAN'T TELL WITH THE SOLID BLACK ONES THOUGH. ANY ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB
WATER PUMP REPLACED ON VEHICLE. AFTER THAT WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT WORK -- WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DEFROST/HEATER, RADIO/CLOCK, POWER WINDOWS. TOOK TO DODGE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. PROBLEM THOUGHT TO BE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM. REPLACED -- THAT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IN SHOP ALMOST A WEEK AND PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THOUGHT TO BE ELECTRICAL. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION THEN LOCKED UP, NOT ALLOWING THE CONTACT TO CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 8/16/2006 - *NM
DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS ARE OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE AND HEADLIGHTS ARE OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. PROBLEM IS POWER DISTRIBUTION BLOCK. DEALER STATES NOT SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT WARRANTY DUE TO 1 YEAR AFTER 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. *JB
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING. MAINLY OCCURS DURING RIGHT TURNING EVENTS. LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE (AIR BAG) DURING A RIGHT TURN EVENT. WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE LIGHT WILL RESET. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES DURING MY OWNERSHIP, AND DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WEATHER RELATED. *NM
DRIVER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE HORN WILL NOT OPERATE. THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES GOES AWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK ALSO, THE HORN MAY NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED I.E. IF A CHILD RUNS OUT IN FRONT OF MY VAN. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
DT: THE CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. HE STATES THAT HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AT NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SHUT OFF AS WELL. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME BACK ON, AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T COME ON AT ALL. ALSO, THE HORN BLOWS, AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL BE ON, AND THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. DEALER SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. MANUFACTURER SAID TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DEALER.*AK
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.
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