2005 Dodge Caravan Exterior lighting Problems

WHEN FILLING WITH GAS THE ENGINE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAPPENED ON A LEFT TURN WITH VEHICLES APPROACHING, CARS HAD TO STOP AND HELP PUSH VAN OUT OF STREET. LUCKILY IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN VEHICLE , VERY FORTUNATE FOR THE QUICK RESPONSE OF OTHER DRIVERS. FUEL READING WRONG FIRST TIME CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SHOWING 1/ 4 TANK OF GAS. NOW SHUTS OFF SHOWING MORE THAN 3/4 TANK OF GAS THIS HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, LOST ALL POWER STEERING AS WELL. AGAIN I HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR. SEAT BELT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HEADLIGHT VERY DIM AT NIGHT NOT GOOD FEW FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING. THIS VEHICLE IS BECOMING MORE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11014523

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

20 mi

STRONG GAS SMELL WHILE DRIVING AND AT STOP. LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF AT WILL.

NHTSA ID

10915043

Incident

Apr 24, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS OR SO, IN THE WINTER TIME, MY HEAD LIGHTS WOULD JUST RANDOMLY COME ON WHEN IT STARTED TO GET COLD OUTSIDE. THEY WOULD GO OUT LATER BUT THEY WOULD DO THIS ALL NIGHT AND DAY. THIS YEAR, THEY NOW DO THIS ALL YEAR LONG AND NOW THEY ARE DOING WHILE I AM DRIVING. MY LIGHTS WILL FLICKER AND JUST GO BLACK. I LOSE ALL MY LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. I LOVE MY VAN AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS I UNDERSTAND BUT THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING IN THE VAN THAT IS FAULTY. IN THE PAST, I WOULD JUST GRAB THE LIGHT SWITCH AND TURN IT BACK AND FORTH QUICKLY AND IT WOULD TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. THIS NO LONGER WORKS. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR ISSUES LIKE THIS REPORTED. I AM SO AFRAID TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP AND FIND OUT IT IS GOING TO COST MORE THAN MY VAN IS WORTH. AGAIN, THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING OR WHEN THE VAN IS STATIONARY, NOT RUNNING AT ALL. THIS STARTED ABOUT 3-4 YEARS AGO AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. I PUT A NEW BATTERY IN IT THINKING THAT WOULD HELP. NOPE!

NHTSA ID

10853959

Incident

Jun 5, 2013

I WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY HAZARD SWITCH CAME ON. CONFUSED I PUSHED IT AND IT CONTINUED TO STAY ON, AND MY BLINKERS FLASHED LIKE THEY SHOULD. SO I TURNED THEM OFF AND THE SWITCH LIGHT STAYED ON. ALSO, EVERY LIGHT AVAILABLE LIGHTS UP ON MY DASH PANEL WHEN I START THE VAN. BUT ONLY EVERY NOW AND THEN. MY O2 SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGES 2 TIMES BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR IT STAYS ON. AS WELL AS MY ABS LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10853664

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

271,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND ILLUMINATED AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW WEEKS LATER AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER, BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN DUE TO STATE LAWS THAT REQUIRE THE LIGHTS ON IN THOSE CONDITIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

NHTSA ID

10837469

Incident

Aug 15, 2015

Mileage

172,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED IN A FIELD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ASSIGNED AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID

10790686

Incident

Oct 31, 2015

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER AFTER THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS STILL UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE BATTERY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WARNING INDICATORS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED BUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO FLICKER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID

10782036

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

146,000 mi

I HAD THIS VAN 2005 CARAVAN FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS AND PAST YEAR I HAD 3 ISSUES, ONE OF THEM IS THAT MY LIGHTS TURNED OFF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AND IT WAS VERY SCARY , I FIXED IT BY REPLACING THE LIGHT SWITCH AND NOW IS OK BUT IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE THERE IS MORE INCIDENTS OF THAT TYPE ON OTHER CARAVANS AS I CAN SEE,SECOND IS MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ,STAYS ,GOES AWAY AND THEN COMES BACK UP AS IT WILLS ,I DID NOT FIX IT SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BUT WILL TRY TO GET IT DONE AS A RECALL, THIRD ONE IS MY FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING AT A SAME POINT WHERE I SAW PICTURES AND COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS SO I WOULD LIKE JUST TO ADD MY OWN COMPLAINT,I WILL REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP SINCE I DOUBT I CAN GET RECALL IN NEAR FUTURE BUT HOPEFULLY KEEP THE RECEIPT IF IT GETS APPROVED SO I CAN TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK,THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10761940

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

160,500 mi

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A DODGE CARAVAN FROM A DEALER AND SINCE PURCHASING IT, WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. OUR DOOR LOCK SYSTEM HAS STOPPED WORKING IN WHICH MY MOTHER WHO IS DISABLED AND CAN ONLY BE PUT ON ONE SIDE OF THE VAN RELATED TO HER STROKE, WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM WOULDN'T LET US OPEN THE DOOR AND WE LIVE IN TEXAS. WE HAD TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER HER TO THE OTHER DOOR. WE NOW CAN ONLY PUT HER IN ON HER "BAD" SIDE WHICH PUTS HER AT RISK FOR INJURY (AND US). AFTER THAT WE HAD PROBLEMS THAT STARTED WITH THE GAGES BOBBING UP AND DOWN AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING RIGHT HALF THE TIME. IT ALSO HAS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COME ON AND THEN THE FRONT END SHAKES. WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, GROUNDING WIRES, CHECKED FUSES AND BATTERY AND CABLES. NOTHING HAS WORKED, BUT THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GET CODES FROM UNTIL THE CAR WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AND DIED!!!!! NOW IT IS FREQUENTLY DYING WHEN WE ARE AT A STOP FOR RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND ...RECENTLY IT DIED WHILE I WAS YIELDING FOR A LEFT TURN. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CAR ACCIDENTS AND I NEARLY GOT T-BONED AT THIS INTERSECTION. EVEN WHEN THE CAR DIES, IT WOULD USUALLY START RIGHT UP UNTIL A MONTH AGO. NOW IT MAY START UP RIGHT AWAY OR IT MAY NOT START FOR 15-30 MINUTES AFTER IT DIES. IN TEXAS WE NEED THE AIR CONDITIONING. I AM NOW REFUSING TO PUT HER IN SOMETHING I CONSIDER A "DEATH TRAP". I AM NOW PUTTING THIS DOWN IN WRITING BECAUSE I HAVE NOW A CODE THAT SAYS IT IS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. FROM REPORTS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE SAME VANS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS IT ISN'T AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. AND NOW IF THIS VAN DIES AT A CRITICAL TRAFFIC MANEUVER AND I OR MY HUSBAND OR MOTHER OR CHILDREN BECOME INJURED, WE WILL LOOK INTO LEGAL ACTION.

NHTSA ID

10744821

Incident

Apr 30, 2015

Mileage

95,400 mi

DRIVING AT NIGHT RECENTLY , LIGHTS TURNED OFF, WORKED SWITCH BACK AND FORTH UNTIL CAME BACK ON DID NOT CRASH BUT WAS VERY ALARMED, RETURNED SAFELY HOME.PLEASE CHECK IF THERE IS RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM,ALSO KNOCK FROM SUSPENSION OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705580

Incident

Apr 12, 2015

Mileage

133,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY DODGE CARAVAN 2005 ON THE FREEWAY AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS KEPT TURNING OFF AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER IS WOULD TOO. I WAS SCARY AND DANGEROUS HAD MY THREE CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WIFE WITH ME AT THE TIME. WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10681995

Incident

Feb 7, 2015

Mileage

103,258 mi

STARTING IN SEPT THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VAN WOULD TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY. I LOOKED UP INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE COMPLAINTS THAT THIS HAPPENS BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THIS ISSUE IS GETTING TO BE MUCH MORE FREQUENT AND FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. TONIGHT I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND IT IS ONLY 12.4 MILES TO MY JOB AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT 15 TIMES!!! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! WE DRIVE OUR 3 KIDS TO SCHOOL ON RURAL ROADS AT 5:30 IN THE MORNINGS. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS WITH THEM IN THE CAR??? THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP AND DODGE NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCT. MOST PEOPLE BUY MINI VANS BECAUSE THEY HAVE KIDS SO WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN TURNED INTO A RECALL YEARS AGO? YOU CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO RISK THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS OVER AN ISSUE THAT IS CLEARLY DODGE'S RESPONSIBILITY. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND IF THERE IS ANY OTHER STEPS THAT I CAN TAKE TO HOLD DODGE RESPONSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668100

Incident

Sep 23, 2014

Mileage

138,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUE WITH MY HEAD LIGHTS NOT WANTING TO CUT OFF WHEN PARKING. SOMETIME THEY WOULD ALSO JUST COME ON WHILE PARKED. THE HEAD LIGHTS HAVE NOW, ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE TO REACH DOWN AND TURN THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON FOR THEM TO WORK AGAIN. I THOUGHT CHRYSLER HA A RECALL FOR THIS ON MY MODEL VAN, BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME NO. PLEASE HELP AS I BELIEVE THEY ARE DODGING THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS A TRUE SAFETY HAZARD THAT THEY SHOULD REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662331

Incident

Nov 4, 2014

Mileage

172,000 mi

HEADLIGHT GO OFF AND ON GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED ON 65 WITH NO STREET LIGHT MY FAMILY ON FOUR WAS IN THE VAN SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED JUST LIKE GM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587936

Incident

May 10, 2014

Mileage

164,000 mi

THE LIGHTS ON MY 2005 DODGE CARAVAN WILL NOT TURN ON HAVE TO KEEP ON TURNING THE KNOB BACK AND FORTH SO MANY TIMES FOR THE LIGHTS TO COME ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK THE BRIGHT WORKS BUT THE DIM IS THE ONE THAT WILL STAY ON.THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE KNOB IS TURNED TO OFF AND EATS UP THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586715

Incident

Apr 17, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON AND/OR GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567501

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

Mileage

114,234 mi

HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. UNABLE TO TURN ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493451

Incident

Jan 2, 2013

Mileage

43,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TRACKING DOWN THE CULPRIT IT'S THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. IT CAN CAUSE THE HEADLAMPS TO GO OUT ENTIRELY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE REPAIRED IT MYSELF BUT THIS DESIGN FLAW CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER CAN PANIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. OUT OF ALL THE AMERICAN CARS I HAVE DRIVEN THIS IS THE BIGGEST LAW OF CONCERN I HAVE FOUND. THE NEED FOR SIGHT AT NIGHT IS IMPORTANT. DO TO COST OR REPLACEMENT PEOPLE MAY NOT FIX WHEN NEEDED PUTTING A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROADS WITH INTERMITTENT LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470147

Incident

Jul 16, 2008

Mileage

76,900 mi

HEADLIGHT SWITCH/LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK AT RANDOM TIMES, THEN START WORKING AGAIN. *JS

NHTSA ID

10464007

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

85,000 mi

I AM DELIVERY DRIVER FOR DOMINO'S PIZZA. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND I WAS LEAVING ON A DELIVERY. TURNED HEADLIGHT SWITCH PAST PARKING LIGHT INDICATOR TO HEADLIGHT INDICATOR. NOTHING. JUST PARKING LIGHTS. TRIED TO ENGAGE HIGH BEAMS, BUT THEY WOULDN'T STAY ON. COULD ONLY KEEP HEADLIGHTS LIT BY HOLDING HIGH BEAM SWITCH. ATTEMPTED BULB REPLACEMENT, TO NO AVAIL; ALSO TRIED BATTERY POST CLEANING, TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS REALLY A NUISANCE AS I MAY VERY WELL END UP UNEMPLOYED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459032

Incident

May 18, 2012

Mileage

131,240 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10457881

Incident

May 7, 2012

Mileage

98,000 mi

DURING THE NIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF, THEN BLINKED ON, THEN OFF AGAIN. AFTER FIDDLING WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. IT RESULTS IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION: ONE IS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND SUDDENLY ONE'S VISION GOES BLACK. THE MIND AT FIRST DOES NOT ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING, AND SO THE HUMAN REACTION TIME TO AN ALREADY DANGEROUS SITUATION IS NOT ALWAYS QUICK OR APPROPRIATE. FROM WHAT I'VE SINCE READ ON VEHICLE FORUMS, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF 2005 DODGE CARAVANS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. REMEMBER, A CARAVAN IS OFTEN USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456166

Incident

Apr 4, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

LIGHTS GO OUT BY THEMSELVES , PARKING LIGHTS & DASH LIGHTS WONT TURN OFF. SUSPECT IT TO BE A DEFECTIVE LIGHT SWITCH. *JS

NHTSA ID

10452473

Incident

Mar 30, 2005

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING IN THE DARK. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OBVIOUSLY HAVE A FLAW AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448483

Incident

Jan 10, 2012

WHILE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT GOING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD DOING 50 MPH, MY LOW BEAMS WENT COMPLETE OUT AND I ALMOST WRECKED MY VAN. ONCE I GOT STOPPED AND MY HEART RETURNED TO BEATING NORMAL I FOUND THAT ONLY THE HIGH BEAMS WORKED. I HAVE SINCE CHANGED THE RELAYS AROUND IN THE PMS/FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE LOW BEAMS STILL DON'T WORK. I HAD CHANGED OUT BOTH HEADLAMPS LESS THEN A YEAR AGO, SO I AM SURE THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT BOTH LOW BEAMS WENT OUT ON THE LAMPS AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS OWNING THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER IN JULY OF 2005. *TR

NHTSA ID

10446760

Incident

Feb 4, 2012

Mileage

149,205 mi