Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN USING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,936.
THE CAR INSTRUMENT GAUGES BECAME ERRATIC ALONG WITH THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS. THE CARE JERKED AS THOUGH IT LOST ITS ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE IGNITION BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THEN QUIT IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY A SEMI-TRUCK. I GOT THE CAR OVER AND RE-STARTED IT AND IT RAN FINE UNTIL LATER IT STARTED TO DIE OUT AGAIN AFTER STARTING TO RUN. I HAD TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE TO GET THE CAR MOVING BUT THE CAR JERKED AND WENT DEAD AGAIN. THE CAR WILL START AND RUN FINE AT TIMES AND SHIFT WELL AT TIMES AND THEN STARTS TO REPEAT THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER. I ONLY KNOW THAT THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOMEONE KILLED AND I DO NOT WANT IT TO BE MY CHILDREN OR WIFE OR ME. I ONLY HAVE ONE WAY TO GO NOW AND HAVE NO WAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD A THOUSAND THINGS IT COULD BE AND CANNOT AFFORD NON-SENSE LIKE THIS. THIS 2001 VAN RUNS AT TIMES LIKE A BRAND NEW ONE AND SHIFTS OUT LIKE BRAND NEW AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE GAUGES GO CRAZY, IT LURCHES AT STOPPING, GO DEAD WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS IN OVERDRIVE AND JERKS LIKE MAD, THEN RUNS FINE AGAIN. IT IS A REPEAT AND IT IS DANGEROUS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. IF A CRASH OCCURRED, THE AIR BAG COULD POTENTIALLY NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
PURCHASED USED MINIVAN TOOK IT TO GET REGISTERED AND FOUND OUT THE MILEAGE HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH AND ITS NOT ACCURATE. SELLER SAID IT HAD 90000 MILES ODOMETER READ A LITTLE OVER 90000 BUT MVD SAID IT WAS NOT ACCURATE. *TR
USING EITHER TURN SIGNAL CUTS OFF POWER TO THE DASH. DASH COMES BACK ON A FEW SECONDS AFTER USING. I CHECK THE LIGHTS (EXTERIOR), BUT NO BLINKING THE INTERIOR TURN SIGNALS BLINK SOMETIMES, BUT NO SOUND ANYBODY FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM? I'VE SEEN MANY SIMILAR CONDITIONS. *TR
SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT AND MY VAN STALLED. WHILE I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. IT WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AND LOSE ALL POWER AND THE STEERING/ BRAKES GET HARD. IT WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE THE BRAKE IS PUSHED. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED YESTERDAY AND IT IS A MELTED WIRING FUEL RAIL HARNESS THAT WAS PLACED RIGHT ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT CAN MELT AND CATCH FIRE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. PLEASE HELP! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 10/12/11 *BF UPDATED 10/21/11
I HAVE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CLOCKSPRING WENT BAD. THERE ARE RECALL ON MANY VEHICLE ON PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT 2001 IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND IT WILL COST AROUND $250 TO REPAIR IT. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN THE CLOCKSPRING WAS A PROBLEM THEY MIGHT TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN 2001 MODEL BUT IT IS NOT PERFECT. 2001 SHOULD BE IN THE RECALL LIST..... *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, AND LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED AND STAYED ON. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FLASHING BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND KEEPING THEM ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING FRONT SEATS AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING MIRRORS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AUTO ADJUSTING SEATS OR MIRRORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 157531 MILES, INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPS WORKING WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE USED. TOOK TO THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AS BCM FAILURE. PARTS NOT REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE HEAD-LIGHTS AND THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INTERNAL HEADLIGHT MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL BE OUT, NEXT TIME ANOTHER ONE WILL BE OUT, NEXT TIME THEY WILL BOTH WORK. THERE IS NO ORDER. SAME WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. SOMETIMES ALL LIGHTS WORK. WE HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS. MORE THAN ONCE. SOMETIMES THEY WORK. SOMETIMES NOT. NO CONSISTENCY. *TR
I OWN A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. DURING OPERATION ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, ONLY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT COMES ON. ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKS AT ANY TIME. NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. *TR
2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HEADLIGHTS - PASSENGER SIDE WON'T WORK ON LOW, ONLY ON HIGH, DRIVER'S SIDE IS THE OPPOSITE - WORKS ON LOW, NOT ON HIGH. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH NO KNOWN FIXES. MANY DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE VIEW THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES, THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE ONES I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE.: HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/FORUM/2001-DODGE-CARAVAN-HEADLIGHTS-VT75224.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/DODGE-GRAND-CARAVAN/TFGKS9O3LLH1ABOBM/P3 HTTP://WWW.DODGETALK.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=33586. *TR
FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, THE HEADLIGHTS (AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS INTERIOR LIGHTS AND CLIMATE CONTROL) HAVE SHUDDERED OR FLICKERED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING (ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT). HARD TO NOTICE BAD LIGHTS UNTIL I EITHER A) DRIVE ANOTHER CAR OR B) PASS A LARGE ROADSIDE SIGN OR APPROACH ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND ON A NON-STREETLIGHT HIGHWAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND THE CLOCK ASSEMBLY WENT OUT. *TR
INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. EITHER RIGHT WORKS OR LEFT WORKS BUT NOT BOTH AT SAME TIME. CHANGED FRONT MODULE AND WORKED FOR A DAY AND NOW NOT WORKING AGAIN. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *TR
WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS COME ON, HOWEVER ONLY THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WORKS. WHEN I TURN ON THE LIGHTS THE PASSENGER LIGHTS STAY ON AND THE DRIVER SIDE REMAINS OFF. WHEN I TURN MY LIGHTS ONTO A BRIGHT SETTING, THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS WORK AND THE PASSENGER SIDE GOES OUT. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND THIS STILL OCCURS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. BECAUSE LIGHTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE, I STRONGLY BELIEVE DAIMLER-CHRYSTLER MUST DO A SAFETY RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF CALLS ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE SOMETHING HEAVY AND TAP ON THE KEY SO THAT THE CYLINDER COULD CONNECT WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY URGED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59800 ,AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59700.*AK
2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING: HEADLIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE/BRAKE PULSING, RADIO FAILURE, SEAT BELT CONNECTOR FAILURE. *JB
THE REGULATOR ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ARE FAULTY. MY VAN WAS BUILT IN CANADA AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON TRAIT OF THOSE VEHICLES. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES. I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. NOW BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS WINDOW ARE ACTING UP AGAIN. I HOPE I CAN GET SOME HELP. *NM
RADIO HAD FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN A RECALL NOTICE. DODGE CLAIMS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL INTO RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. RADIO FAILURE WAS SUCH THAT IT DRAINED BATTERY IN 24 HOURS. DODGE REFUSES TO HONOR RECALL ON VEHICLE. *NM
WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM FLORIDA TO PENNSYLVANIA WHEN WE WERE TOLD THAT ONE OF OUR HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT. WE PURCHASED NEW BULBS AND REPLACED THEM, THEN AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION REALIZED THAT WHEN THE DAYLIGHTS WERE ON, ONE LIGHT WAS ON AND ONE OFF, WHEN WE TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE OPPOSITE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ONE THAT WAS ON FOR DAYLIGHTS WENT OUT, THEN WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED ON THE LIGHT THAT WORKED SWITCHED SIDES AGAIN. THE NEW BULBS DID NOT FIX IT, SO WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME WITH ONE LIGHT, ONCE IN AWHILE BOTH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED. THE WORST PART WAS THAT THE CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED 14 MONTHS PRIOR BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM (WORSE, THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS!)! THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE TO WHY THE CONTROL MODULE WENT AGAIN. I'M HOPING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN ANOTHER 14 MONTHS (THERE IS ONLY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY ON THE PART)! *JB
RADIO MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY OVER APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH EVENTUALLY LEADING UP TO COMPLETE FAILURE. SMELLED SMOKE. HEARD OF RECALL ON RADIO. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED WITH RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS RELATED TO RECALL. SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICALLY-RELATED FAILURES IN RECENT MONTHS INVOLVING HEADLIGHTS, FUEL GAUGE LIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPER LIGHT, WASHER FLUID PUMP, DEAD BATTERY. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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