2000 Dodge Grand Caravan Interior & seats Problems

DODGE CARAVANS DOOR SENSORS- I HAVE A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. DURING THE FIRST WINTER THE "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT WOULD FLASH AND DING AND THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AND RELOCK, OVER TIME IT HAS BECOME WORSE ESPECIALLY DURING COLDER SEASONS. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS MATTER AND HAVE READ COMPLAINTS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE THAT JUST PURCHASED THEIR CARS BRAND NEW AND MANY MORE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL AND BEING TAKEN CARE OF, I HAVE READ WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THERE CARS BECAUSE IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THEY STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND LEFT IT RUNNING. I HAVE 2 TODDLERS AND THE THOUGHT OF THAT SCARES ME, FOR EXAMPLE IF I TURN ON THE CAR TO WARM UP AND PUT THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND GO TO PUT GROCERIES IN THE BACK, AND THE CAR LOCKS UP. BESIDES THE THREAT OF GETTING LOCKED OUT, IT IS ABSOLUTELY ANNOYING TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND TO HAVE THE DOOR ALARM CONSTANTLY GOING OFF AND THE DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. I HAVE LOOKED INTO GETTING THIS FIXED AND I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE AROUND $600 TO GET THE SENSORS REPLACED.....THAT IS JUST RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10238937

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT LEVER SNAPPED OFF. SEATS CAN NOT BE LOWERED OR RAISED AS FAR AS RECLINING OR SITTING UPRIGHT. THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE PASSENGER LEVER BROKE THIS WEEK. THE BAR THAT THE LEVER IS CONNECTED TO SNAPPED IN EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION ON EACH SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221256

Incident

Mar 9, 2008

Mileage

116,800 mi

THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED OFF THE SEAT BASE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, THE WELD ATTACHING THE BACK TO THE SEAT BASE FAILED AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE SECOND SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10193952

Incident

Jun 15, 2007

Mileage

175,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED IN THE CAR LINE AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. A CAR REAR ENDED HIT MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN GOING 15-30 MPH. MY DAUGHTER'S SEAT (PASSENGER CAPTAINS CHAIR-2ND ROW) WAS LAID COMPLETELY BACK UPON IMPACT. SHE WAS UPRIGHT PRIOR TO THE CRASH. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN SITTING BEHIND HER THEN THEY COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF THE SEAT BROKE AS WELL. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS DEATH AND INJURY IN DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AS A RESULT OF SEATS BREAKING DURING REAR END COLLISIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10191877

Incident

May 14, 2007

Mileage

160,460 mi

I WAS IN THE CAR LINE AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL. A CAR REAR ENDED HIT MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN GOING 15-30 MPH. I WAS STOPPED. MY DAUGHTER'S SEAT (PASSENGER CAPTAINS CHAIR-2ND ROW) WAS LAID COMPLETELY BACK UPON IMPACT. SHE WAS UPRIGHT PRIOR TO THE CRASH. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN SITTING BEHIND HER THEN THEY COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF THE SEAT BROKE AS WELL. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS DEATH AND INJURY IN DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AS A RESULT OF SEATS BREAKING DURING REAR END COLLISIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10191876

Incident

May 14, 2007

Mileage

160,460 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS A LEAK WITHIN THE ROOF, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE CARPETING. THERE IS A SLASHING SOUND WITHIN THE ROOF COMPARTMENT AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. THE CARPET HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES, AND THE TELEVISION WAS REPLACED ONCE AS A RESULT OF THE LEAK. *AK. UPDATED 11/30/2005 - GLAZED SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE LEFT MIDDLE SEAT HEAD REST CAME LOOSE FROM THE GUIDE ROD. THE DOOR STICKS AND THE SIDING DOOR MAKES NOISE WHEN OPENING. THE REAR WINDOW RATTLES WHEN OPENED. THE FOG LIHJT ARE IONPERTIVE. THE HORN SPUNDED WEAK BECAUSE THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE TAIL LIGHT HAD MOISTURE IN IT. THE LOCKING GAS CAP WAS HARD TO OPEN. THE REAR TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141380

Incident

Dec 15, 1999

Mileage

5 mi

THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE DOME LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY MAKE A BUZZING NOISE, AND CAUSES THE PANEL LIGHTS TO FLICKER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DURING VARIOUS SPEEDS OF 0-60 MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098967

Incident

Aug 2, 2004

Mileage

51,500 mi

FRONT DOME LIGHTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ON BOARD COMPUTER ARE FLASHING ON AND OFF DURING DOOR OPEN CONDITION. WHEN EITHER LAMP IS PRESSED INTO ITS ON POSITION IT STAYS ON. *LA

NHTSA ID

10074512

Incident

Jan 30, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

I JUST PURCHASED MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN JULY 26,2003. IN MARCH OF 2004, I GOT INTO MY VAN, STARTED IT UP, AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK UP I HEARD A DING AND MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WENT OFF. FROM THAT POINT ON, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND WHEN IT DID, THE CONTROLS IN THE DASHBOARD WOULD STOP WORKING. I WOULD LOOSE MY ODOMETER, TACHOMETER, GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND GEAR SELECT. I TOOK IT TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP, THEY HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS AND SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO AN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL SERVICE SHOP, THEY HAVE HAD MY VAN FOR 3 WEEKS AND CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE SUPPOSEDLY CALLED DODGE AND DODGE IS NOT HELPING THEM. THEY RECOMMEND US TAKING IT BACK TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN AND NO ONE CAN FIND IT AND I CAN NOT DRIVE THE VAN SAFELY WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM BEING FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10068007

Incident

Mar 25, 2004

Mileage

42,000 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY VAN USED, AND HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH IT..THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOOKS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. I HAVE HAD MY CHILDS CARE SEAT COME UNBUCKLED FROM THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT BEFORE. MY BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THEY WANT TO AND STAY ON, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT YOU WILL GET UP AND FIND THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON FOR NO REASON. THE LASTEST PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU OPEN A DOOR ON THE VAN, THE OPEN DOOR LIGHT COMES ON AND MY LOW GAS LIGHT COMES ON AND MAKES ITS WARNING TONE AND MY FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY. WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOOR AND THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF AND MY FUEL GAUGE RETURNS TO FULL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058880

Incident

Feb 25, 2004

MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS ON THREE OCCASIONS LOCKED ITSELF AFTER I CLOSED THE DRIVER DOOR. THE LOCKSMITH WHO CAME OUT AND THE REP I TALKED TO FROM CHRYSLER BOTH SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010793

Incident

Jun 30, 2002

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME REPORTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER BUMPS, TURNED RIGHT, OR OWNER TURNED ON THE HEAT.....THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLASH, DOOR LOCKS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD FLASH. EACH TIME WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED WE WERE TOLD THAT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WERE HARD TO DIAGNOSE UNLESS IT WAS PHYSICALLY HAPPENING WHILE BEING DIAGNOSED! THE DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED THE DOORS AND REPLACED THE BCM MOTOR UNDER THE DASH HOWEVER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CONTINUED AND ON 10/11/02 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DASH BY THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE!!! WE GOT OUT WITHOUT INJURY THANK GOODNESS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED WITHIN 6 MINUTES! TO DODGE THIS WAS NO LOSS TO SUCH A LARGE COMPANY BUT TO MY HUSBAND AND I...IT COULD HAVE BEEN OUR 4 CHILDREN! MR

NHTSA ID

768519

Incident

Oct 11, 2002

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MY 8 YEAR OLD SON WAS SITTING IN A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT IN ONE OF THE 2ND ROW REMOVEABLE CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS. HE LIFTED HIS LEFT FOOT WHICH CAUGHT ON THE SEAT RELEASE MECHANISM. THIS ACCIDENTALLY DISENGAGED THE MECHANISM THAT LOCKS THE CHAIR TO THE FLOOR. THE CHAIR'S LOCK RELEASED AND THE CHAIR WAS NO LONGER SECURED TO THE FLOOR. WE HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND RELATCH THE SEAT. THE LATCH IS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE BUT VERY EASY TO DISENGAGE. THERE IS NOTHING THAT PROTECTS THE MECHANISM FROM ACCIDENTAL RELEASE. MR

NHTSA ID

768063

Incident

Sep 30, 2002

MY GRAND CARAVAN WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WITH SUCH FORCE THE REAR OF THE VAN LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. AT IMPACT MY DRIVERS SEAT BROKE, RECLINING ME, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO REACH THE BRAKES TO STOP MY VAN. I HIT THE CENTER MEDIAN (FAST LANE) WITH THE LEFT FRONT FENDER, BLOWING THE TIRE AND BREAKING AXLE THE VAN THEN BOUNCED ACROSS LANES HITTING BRIDGE RAILING AND CEMENT WALL WITH RIGHT FRONT FENDER BLOWING THAT TIRE AND THEN BACK TO THE MEDIAN (FAST LANE), AND CAME TO A STOP AGAINST THE MEDIAN. I WAS TOLD BY THE INSURANCE INVESTAGATOR MY CARAVAN WAS BEYOND REPAIR DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

745123

Incident

Jan 31, 2001

INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL FLASH ON AND REMAIN ON WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN TVEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

886684

Incident

Mar 15, 2001

DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT CONSTANTLY. ALSO, DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. DASHLIGHTS LIGHTS WENT OUT 18 TIMES WITHIN 10 DAYS.*AK

NHTSA ID

886129

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

CONSUMER WAS STOPPED, AND THEN WAS REARENDED. POWER DRIVER SEAT BROKE ON IMPACT, AND RECLINED ALL THE WAY. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE SO FAR WAS $ 10000.00, STILL AT DEALER.*AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

883147

Incident

Jan 2, 2001

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. UPON IMPACT, LATCHES ON REAR SEAT MOVED, CAUSING SEAT TO GO FORWARD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

877714

Incident

Dec 4, 2000