1990 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

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

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

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

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

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

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. DRIVER'S LATCHING PLATE COVER IS CRACKED & NOT WORKING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED NORMAL WEAR/TEAR & NOT A RECALL ISSUE. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS WERE FLAKING & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

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

REAR HATCHBACK CYLINDERS FAILED. *AK

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. DRIVER'S LATCHING PLATE COVER IS CRACKED & NOT WORKING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED NORMAL WEAR/TEAR & NOT A RECALL ISSUE. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS WERE FLAKING & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

FUEL RAIL HAS DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK. CALLED DEALER (TOWSON DODGE) AND WAS TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS ASSEMBLY IN SOME DODGE PRODUCTS. CALLED ANOTHER DEALER ABOUT THIS PART AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS BACK ORDERED TWO MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART. MECHANIC SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON SOME DODGE PRODUCTS, BUT NOT MINE. PLASTIC MOLDING ON SEATBELT BUCKLES HAS CRACKED AND CAN NO LONGER BE ADJUSTED PROPERLY. PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO RELEASE. LAST YEAR WHEN A TAILGATE LATCH RECALL WAS COMPLETED, I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE SEATBELTS ,AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. *AK

RADIATOR LEAKED. YH

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

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

RADIATOR LEAKED. YH

RADIATOR LEAKED. YH

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

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

SWAY BAR BROKE IN TWO WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, CAR WAS SWAYING. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.

VEHICLE WAS IN A PARK POSITION, BUT ENGINE WAS STILL ON, PARK PAWL CHANGED FROM PARK TO DRIVE BY ITSELF,SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS DEFECT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK