2002 Dodge Caravan Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND TOOK VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION WHO STATED THAT THE DRIVER PASSENGER SIDE MOUNT WAS CORRODED AND ALMOST FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000. ..UPDATED 08-07-13 *BF

NHTSA ID

10520874

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

150,000 mi

73,000 MILES AND THE ORIGINAL STRUTS AND CAPS BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269082

Incident

May 2, 2009

Mileage

72,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS KEPT FLICKERING WHEN TURN SIGNAL WAS TURN ON ALSO HIGH BEAM LIGHT SWITCH WOULD STAY ON AFTER FLASHING THEM. FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISE WHEN HITTING BUMPS. BELTS SQUEAK THEY ARE BRAND NEW LESS THAN 10000 MILE WITH IT ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10149332

Incident

Aug 19, 2005

Mileage

72,000 mi

FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS NEED REPLACING AT 28K. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147347

Incident

Jan 10, 2006

I HEARD A "BANGING" NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. SO I CALLED MY DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPT FOR MULTIPLE OF REASONS AND THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AGAIN WITH MY CAR; MY FRONT BRAKES (SHOE PADES, ROTOR'S TURNED) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND PREVIOUS TO THAT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHOE PADES AGAIN AT 19,000 MILES?? ALSO AT 19,000 MILES, THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE "BUSHINGS AND LINKS" FOR THE FRONT END AND AGAIN AT 45,000 MILES TWO DAYS AGO. I AM STRATING TO WONDER IF THERE IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS GOING PREMATURELY. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE DUE TO THE WEAR/TEAR ON THEM BECASUE THEY WERE UNSAFE. THE DEALER WON'T WARRENTY THEM, SO I HAD TO BUY NEW SET OF TIRES AT 19,000 MILES. I THINK THE TIRES WORN OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO ALL THE FRONT END PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. THERE ALSO HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF "POWER STEERING" ISSUES WITH MY VEHICHLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN TWO RECALLS ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND HAD THE DEALER TAKE CARE OF THEM.(HAD THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WON'T WORK AND IT LEAKED ALL OVER MY NEW DRIVEWAY) I 'VE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR "POWER STEERING" LEAKING. THE LATEST NEW WAS THE A "BOOT" OF SOME SORT IN THE "RACK-AND-PINION STEERING" WAS THE CAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING LEAK AND THEY ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON THE HEADCASK COVER TOO. AFTER EVERYTHING WAS FINALLY FINIHSED (AFTER 2 DAYS) I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME BUT I AM GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALSHIP BECAUSE NOW THE CAR IS SWAYING LEFT/RIGHT AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DID A FRONT END ALIGNEMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK THEY HAD TO DUE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146342

Incident

Dec 27, 2005

Mileage

19,000 mi

CONTACT STATED: WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY DURING A U TURN TO PARK GOING ABOUT 3-4 MPH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE HUB FELL COMPLETELY OFF. NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF DALLAS DEALERSHIP. THE HUB WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE TIRE. UPON OBSERVATION 1/2 OF THE BOLTS STILL SCREWED INTO THE HOLE, THE OTHER TWO WERE LAYING OUT IN THE STREET, TWO BOLTS WERE MISSING. MASSIVE RUST BUILT UP IMPLIED THERE WAS NEVER A BOLT INSIDE. AN INVESTIGATOR CONFIRMED THAT IT LOOKS LIKE TWO BOLTS WERE NEVER IN THE SPINDLE , AND CAUSED EXCESS STRESS ON THE TWO BOLTS, AND CAUSED THEM TO SNAP IN HALF, CAUSING THE HUB TO COME OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID

10119872

Incident

Apr 27, 2005

VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER ANTICIPATED ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS MAY COME OFF WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116951

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

Mileage

5,000 mi

STARTING AT APPROX. 40,000-45,000 MILES THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE UNDER DRIVER SIDE FEET. THOUGHT MAYBE WAS TIRES,THEY WERE REPLACED AT 54,000 MILES. NOISE WAS STILL THERE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. HAD FOR ABOUT A WEEK, FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, A-ARMS. COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD TO PAY $100 DEDUCTIBLE. NO MORE THAN A WEEK LATER STILL THERE, CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. DIAGNOSIS SECOND TIME WAS STRUTS, STABILIZER BAR, BUSHINGS. AGAIN, COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY BUT STILL HAD TO PAY ANOTHER $100 DEDUCTIBLE. EVEN THOUGH STILL PART OF SAME PROBLEM. NOW A WEEK LATER, PROBLEM AGAIN PERSISTS BUT WORSE. YOU CAN JUST SIT IN THE VAN AND SHAKE IT AND HEAR THE ACTUAL NOISE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DRIVE IT. AGAIN, I NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112254

Incident

Jan 7, 2005

Mileage

56,000 mi

FRONT END NOISE, FLUTTER TO A FRONT END CLUNCK SOUND MORE ON RIGHT SIDE. SOUND WAS LIGHT AT 23000 MILES THEN NOW AT 52000 VERY LOAD SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING GOING TO FALL OUT OR OFF VAN. FOUND THE FRONT STAB. BAR BUSHING PASSENGER SIDE EGGED OUT CAUSING BAD CLUNCK. THESE ITEMS SEEMED TO FAIL VERY EARLY SEEING THIS VAN IS ON INTERSTATE MOST OF THE TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098167

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

Mileage

23,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SE 3.3 LITER ENGINE. SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE,(BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2003) I HAVE HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES, HAD TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED & BALANCED 4 TIMES AND BECAUSE OF THE POPPING NOISE HAVE TO HAVE THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS REPLACED AND HAVE A NEW ROTOR AND BRAKES REPLACED. THE VIBRATION DUE TO THE BRAKES WEARING AND ROTORS IS UNREAL AND KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THE BRAKE AND ROTOR PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN ONLY 15,000 MILES PUT ON THESE BRAKES AND ARE HAVING TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO. THANK YOU. *LA

NHTSA ID

10054715

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND MADE SOME AJUSTMENTS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID

8019671

Incident

May 3, 2002