1990 Dodge Grand Caravan Owner Complaints

CAR KIND OF SPUTTERED AND THEN CONTINUALLY RUNNING GOOD. AS IF IT ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS SHORT ON GAS. HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. ONCE IN WISC., LUCKILY ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. AGAIN IN ARKANSAS, HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT ON A SUNDAY. STILL HAD PROBLEMS. WOULD RUN A FEW BLOCK AND DIE. ABOUT 4-5 TIMES. WAITED UNTIL MONDAY WHEN DODGE DEALERSHIP OPENED, TOOK IT TO THEM. THEY SAID A WIRE RUNNING TO THE FUEL PUMP RAN OVER THE TRANSMISSION, WOULD RUB AGAINST IT RUBBING IT BARE AND SHORT OUT THE FUEL PUMP. THIS EVENT HAPPENED OUT IN THE BOONDOCKS ABOUT 15-20 MILES. CELL PHONE DIED, FORTUNATELY A STATE PATROL/ SHERIFFS CAR HAPPENED BY AND WAS ABLE TO GET US A TOW TRUCK. THIS WAS ON A SATURDAY LATE DAY. WAS TOWED INTO THE NEAREST TOWN WHERE WAS ABLE TO GET A FUEL PUMP FROM A JOBBER ON SUNDAY, HAD AN INDEPENDENTS MECHANIC INSTALL IT, BUT STILL CAR WOULD NOT RUN RIGHT. ON MONDAY HAD THE DODGE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRE LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH WAS RUBBED BARE AND SHORTING OUT. THEY SAID A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED TO CUT THE WIRE, SHORTENED IT, SPLICE IT BACK TOGETHER AND TAPE IT UP AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION SO I DOESN'T OCCUR AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE A VEHICLE RECALL I BELIEVE. IN THE FAR SOUTH IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE, A NUISANCE IN THE FRIGID NORTHLAND IT IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN AT 20 BELOW ZERO WITH A 20 MPH WIND BLOWING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY DIES. FORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON A VACATION IN THE SOUTH AND NOT IN MY NATIVE NORTHLAND. AND I DO SILL HAVE THE FUEL PUMP I REPLACED WHILE I WAS IN ARKANSAS. IT WOULD BE NICE IF INFORMATION SITE AS THIS WERE MADE MORE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 5-6 YEARS AGO THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 3-27-04 I DIDN'T REPORT THIS TO ANY AGENCY BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO REPORT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229439

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

Mileage

173,178 mi

TRANSMISSION DROPPED ALL BUT 2ND AND 1ST GEAR WAS TOLD AT TRANSMISSION SHOP IT IS KNOW TO DO THAT... *TR

NHTSA ID

10228212

Incident

Sep 25, 2007

FUEL RAIL FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE VAN. I STARTED TO SMELL RAW GASOLINE IN THE CLOSED CABIN, I WAS ABOUT TO PASS MY MECHANICS SHOP, SO I PULLED IN TO SEE WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM. MY MECHANIC AND I WERE BOTH SURPRISED TO SEE THE FUEL RAIL HAD FAILED IN TWO PLACES, AT THE SAME TIME!!!, CAUSING THE RAW GASOLINE TO BE SPRAYED ALL OVER THE HOT ENGINE, (3.3L). I AM SURPRISED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ALREADY ARE HERE ON THIS DATA BASE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, AND REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT THERE WAS NOT!!! THE NEW FUEL RAIL IS $302.00 PLUS TAX, PLUS MY MECHANIC NEEDS 1.9 HOURS OF SHOP TIME TO INSTALL IT, (AT $75.00/HR) PLUS TAX, PLUS A UPPER PLENUM GASKET SET, ($30.00). THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO OVER $500.00, HEAVEN FORBID IF MY VAN HAD ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND I LOST EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING THAT I HAD IN OUR FAMILY VAN! I HAVE ALWAYS HAD GREAT MAINTENANCE DONE AND HAVE ALL OF THE RECORDS. THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH ABUSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT IS JUST A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, PERIOD. I HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER MUCH NEWER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT IT HAS 6 RECALLS ON IT !!!!!!! I AM GOING TO SELL BOTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND GET ME ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS VAN, OR TRUCK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10180665

Incident

Jan 18, 2007

Mileage

186,000 mi

THE FUEL INJECTION LEAKED FUEL IN TWO POSITIONS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009324

Incident

Feb 25, 2003

Mileage

154,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM TRANSMISSION SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE "LURCHING" MOTION MADE BY THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND REPEATEDLY. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NORMAL AND REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. IN OCTOBER 1991 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE WE WERE IN TENNESSEE AND WITNESSED BY THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN SIEVERVILLE, TN. UPON RETURN TO FLORIDA. THE DODGE DEALER IN CORAL SPRINGS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. (OR SO WE WERE TOLD) THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WORKED FOR 5 YEARS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1996. THAT TRANSMISSION WAS A PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. WHILE IN WASH. DC IN JULY 1997, THE CAR WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT. THE ENGINE KEPT RACING AND ONLY STOPED WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR. THE DODGE DEALER IN WDC SAID THAT BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE WE CLEARED THE COMPUTER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE THIRD TRANSMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED AND NOW I HAVE HAD TO HAVE TWO REPAIRS ON THE FOURTH TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE LURCHES AND JERKS SUGGESTING THAT THERE ARE MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR CAR. DT

NHTSA ID

769946

Incident

Oct 4, 1991

THREADED COMPOSITE BLOCK FAILED ON CAR JACK WHILE JACKING UP RIGHT FRONT PORTION OF MINI VAN WHILE OPERATOR WAS SERVICING RIGHT FRONT TIRE. DEFECT CAUSED COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE FAILURE OF JACK AND CAR FALLING TO GARAGE FLOOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

764695

Incident

Jul 23, 2002

FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING. MECH SAID THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS-COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE.VEHICLE TOO OLD FOR RECENT RECALL, WHICH COVERS VEHICLES FROM 1995-2000, BUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.PAID $630.76 ON 1/13/01 FOR NEW FUEL RAIL AND O-RINGS. MECH SAID TODAY (3/30/02) THAT MY CAR HAD SAME PROBLEM THAT HE HAD RECENTLY FIXED ON RECALLED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

760001

Incident

Jan 13, 2001

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALONG AND RIGHT SIDE BACK PUSHED OUT WINDOW AND SHATTERED IT. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING WAS RUNNING AT TIME. DEALERS HAD NO RESPONSE TO HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.*AK

NHTSA ID

884343

Incident

Mar 23, 2001

MINI VAN NEEDS FIFTH TRANSMISSION. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON 10/25/91.

NHTSA ID

9001978

Incident

Oct 1, 1991

A604 TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHIN 3000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. COMPLETELY REBUILT IN OCT., 1997. MILEAGE AT FAILURE, APPROX. 82,000. PRIOR HISTORY UNKNOWN. TRANSMISSION AGAIN FAILED AT A LITTLE OVER 122,000 MILES. AGAIN, COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. SPOKE WITH MANAGER OF TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO INFORMED ME OF COUNTLESS FAILURES OF THIS TRANSMISSION TYPE, AND THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS GOOD FOR HIS BUSINESS, HE KNEW OF MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS WITHIN THE A604, AND ITS SUCCESSOR, A606. IN FACT, HE HAD THREE OTHER VEHICLES, WITH MILEAGES RANGING FROM 32,000 TO 65,000, ALL WITH THE SAME FAILURES. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD THE HALF-AXLES REPLACED, THREE TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, TWICE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS TRANSMISSION ON THE INTERNET, IT IS READILY APPARENT THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE HAS A FUNDAMENTAL, KNOWN LATENT DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SPENT MORE ON THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULS ($3000) AND THE HALF-AXLES ($1000) THAN I PAID FOR THE VAN. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT NHTSA AGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE ISSUE OF THIS EXPENSIVE, RECURRING TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN DESIGN FLAWS AND THEIR CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WITH THE MANUFACTURER. INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH DEALERS AND THE CHRYSLER CORP. ARE FRUSTRATING AND POINTLESS. THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A SERIOUS, MULTI-YEAR PROBLEM, AND INDIVIDUALS BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS COSTLY MISTAKE ON THEIR PART. PLEASE NOTE: CHRYSLER'S OVERHAUL KIT FOR THIS TRANSMISSION DOES NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW; IT ONLY PROLONGS THE ISSUE! CHRYSLER CORP., AND ITS DEALERS' ATTITUDE TOWARD ITS CUSTOMERS WITH REGARD TO THIS ISSUE IS BLATANTLY UNFAIR, CRASS, AND AS OF THIS DATE, FULL OF LIES AND DENIALS OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

733658

Incident

Sep 30, 2000

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE DOOR HAS FALLEN OUT OF ITS' TRACK. MECHANICS AT MY SHOP CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO DO THIS. SUGGESTED I CONTACT DODGE TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OR IF IT IS JUST AN ANOMOLY OF MY VAN. THEY CAN'T EVEN TELL IF SOMETHING IS WORN OUT AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

724520

Incident

Jun 25, 2000

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP AFTER STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WENT IN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND OUR MECHANIC HAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS QUITE A WAITING LIST FOR THE CASE BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH INTERNAL CRACKS ON THIS CASE. MOST MECHANICS DON'T EVEN WANT TO WORK ON THEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT THEY WORK ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS MORE THAN ANY OTHERS. *AK

NHTSA ID

720846

Incident

Feb 24, 2000

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 66,000 MILES. I AM THE THIRD OWNER. I WAS TOLD THAT DODGE WAS HAVING TROUBLE, BUT FIGURED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A VERSION # 6 SOLENOID & COMPUTER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I UPDATE TO A VERSION # 10. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $ 1,900. I AM JUST FINDING OUT THAT DODGE IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS 1990 TRANSMISSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. LEROY J. HERSH. *AK

NHTSA ID

720329

Incident

Mar 14, 2000

A FAULTY ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE CONSUMER VEHICLE TO SHUDDER/VIBRATE AND LOOSE ALL TRANSMISSION GEARS WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID

551400

Incident

Mar 7, 2000

A FAULTY ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE MINIVAN TO SHUDDER/VIBRATE AND LOOSE ALL GEARS WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID

541400

Incident

Mar 7, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO A LOW GEAR AND HAD TO BE RESET BY RESTARTING VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

858282

Incident

Aug 28, 1998

RADIATOR LEAKED. YH

NHTSA ID

551075

Incident

Oct 18, 1999

FUEL RAIL HAS TWO METAL/METAL JOINTS THAT SPRAY GAS ON THE THE ENGINE WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. AFTER THE METAL TUBE FITTING WARMS UP THE LEAK STOPS. THE FUEL RAIL HAS TO BE REPLACED EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS. THE ONLY DETECTION IS WHEN GAS SPRAYS ON THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

716395

Incident

Dec 21, 1999

TRANSMISSION WENT INTO "LIMP IN" MODE(2ND GEAR ONLY) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST AT THAT TIME. NOW, THIS TIME I PAID FOR THE REPAIR SINCE I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY IN EFFECT. WHAT, IF ANY, IS MY NEXT STEP TO RECOVERING SOME OF MY REPAIR EXPENSE?

NHTSA ID

714002

Incident

Jun 30, 1999

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT HOSE THAT DIRECTS TRANSMISSION FLUID FLOW WENT OUT, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID

850933

STEEL PIN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL IS LOOSE, DESTROYING IT, AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. TOTAL OF 3 TIMES PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

850516

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS. DLR HAS REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

849120

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE PREMATURE AND SUDDEN. VAN SUDDENLY WITHOUT CAUSE DOWNSHIFTS TO LOW GEAR. VAN ALSO UPSHIFTS SURGING FORWARD. DEALER EXPLAINS THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER CHARGES ALMOST $1800.00 FOR REPAIR THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGES IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THE 604 TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER IS CHARGING US A COST OF $800 FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED, "THE MANUFACTURER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR PART OF THE BILL DUE TO THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 604 TRANSMISSION". THE WEATHER WAS INCLEMENT THE EVENING THAT THIS SUDDENLY HAPPENED, THANK GOODNESS THAT THERE WAS NO ONE TOO CLOSE IN FRONT OR BEHIND OF HER ON THIS 45 MPH HIGHWAY. IF MY WIFE OR I DRIVING WITH OUR THREE CHILDREN HAD BEEN ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT THE ACCEPTED SPEED OF 70 MPH AND THE VAN SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED, WE MOST ASSUREDLY WOULD HAVE BECOME A NATIONAL HIGHWAY STATISTIC. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED ANYMORE BY THE NHTSA. THE RIGHT THING FOR DODGE TO DUE IS TO RECALL THE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE 604 TRANSMISSION AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM ENTIRELY AT THEIR EXPENSE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WITH FATALITIES HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY DUE TO THIS COMMON DEFECT? IS NO ONE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY? *AK

NHTSA ID

710852

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

FUEL DISTRUBUTION RAIL BROKE AND SPRUNG A LEAK, ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. MECHANIC WILL REPLACED PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

846140

PAINT IS BUBLED UP AND PEALING OFF IN LARGE SECTIONS OF FRONT HOOD AND ROOF OF VAN.

NHTSA ID

710691