2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR HANDLE HAD MELTED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE SUN AND THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED. ALSO, THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD ALSO MELTED AND CRACKED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE SUN CAUSING DEBRIS TO SEPARATE FROM THE DASHBOARD MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPENED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER JACKSONVILLE DODGE (11101 NURSERYFIELD DR. JACKSONVILLE FL) AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11240274

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

I PARKED MY MINI VAN @ 3:00 PM STAURDAY-22-2015 ON 115 STREET BEFORE MYRTLE AV RICHMOND HILL QUEENS NEW YORK, SUNDAY 6:00 AM I CAME HOME AND DECIDED TO CHECK ON MY CAR IF SOMEBODY HAD BROKEN-IN/STEEL MY 3 PEACE TOOL BOX BUT MY CAR HAD DISSAPEARED, I SAW BROKEN DRIVER SIDE GLASS ON THE GOUND AND CALL COPS RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ID

10762755

Incident

Aug 22, 2015

VEHICLE IS RUSTING UNDER THE PAINT AS WELL AS RUSTING QUITE QUICKLY ON THE LEAF SPRING MOUNTS AS WELL AS MOST METAL PARTS UNDER THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473932

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

I ENTERED COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ABS BRAKING, STEERING, WINDOW MOTORS AND ENTIRE RUSTING UNDER CARRAIGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442018

Incident

Sep 8, 2009

Mileage

61,000 mi

VAN WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR. DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK BY PULLING UP ON THE ACTUAL LOCK OR VIA THE POWER DOOR SWITCH. IT'S NOT A POWER SLIDING DOOR. THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW MANY, MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423193

Incident

Sep 2, 2011

Mileage

210,000 mi

MY DODGE 2002 GRAND CARAVAN SLIDING DOOR LOCK HAS SEIZED IN LOCK POSITION. THIS FIRST OCCURRED EARLY IN 2010 WITH THE LOCK STICKING IN THE UNLOCK POSITION. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON DODGE VANS. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE LOCK SUDDENLY UNLOCKED AND THE SLIDING DOOR STARTING WORKING AGAIN. NOW RECENTLY THE LOCK HAS SEIZED ONLY NOW IN THE LOCKED POSITION SO MY CHILDREN HAVE TO EXIT MY VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH USUALLY IS FACING THE STREET. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!! I WENT ONLINE AND GOOGLED PROBLEMS WITH DODGE VANS AND FOUND SO MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME THING. PLEASE HOLD DODGE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS ACTIONS BEFORE ( GOD FORBID) SOMEBODY'S CHILD GETS HURT OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346226

Incident

Feb 12, 2010

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAS HAD HEADLIGHT TROUBLES FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS. WHEN YOU TURN THE VAN ON, ONLY THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT TURNS ON. WHEN YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON, ONLY THE LEFT HEADLIGHT TURNS ON. WHEN YOU TURN THE BRIGHTS ON, ONLY THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT TURNS ON. ALWAYS, ONLY ONE LIGHT AT A TIME. WE HAVE REPLACED ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT SWITCHES AND WE STILL CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE TROUBLE.(NO, IT ISN'T THE BULB). THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. EVEN THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE TROUBLE AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317612

Incident

Mar 24, 2008

I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME TIME BUT AFTER FOOLING AROUND WITH IT MANUALLY AND WITH REMOTE, I COULD SOMEHOW GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. NOT THIS TIME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE NOT JUST A REPAIR. IT IS A DEFECT BY DODGE/CHRYSLER. MY CAR IS TOTALLY UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE THE BACK DOOR WILL NOT ENGAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311257

Incident

Feb 16, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SLIDING DOOR LOCKS AND CAN'T BE OPENED MANUALLY OR REMOTELY. PASSENGERS MUST EXIT OPPOSITE SIDE OF CAR. STARTED 3 DAYS AGO, HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO BRING TO DEALER YET. THIS COMPLAINT IS COMMON ON SITE: HTTP://AUTOFORUM.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/DODGE-GRAND_CARAVAN/POWER_LOCKS_WILL_NOT_LOCK_OR_UNLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263301

Incident

Mar 24, 2009

Mileage

78,300 mi

WHEN A/C IS ON PASSENGER FLOOR GETS SOAKED. ROTTING OUT THE CARPET AND FLOOR MAT. AS WELL THE RADIO STOPS WORKING FOR PERIODS OF TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238001

Incident

May 10, 2002

I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WE HAVE HAD THE VAN FOR 3 MONTHS, THE PREVIOUS OWNER WAS AN 81 YEAR OLD LADY). OUT OF NOWHERE MY RADIO STARTED HAVING A MAJOR MALFUNCTION. WHEN I TURN ON THE VEHICLE THE RADIO IS AT FULL BLAST IF YOU TOUCH THE VOLUME KNOB IT GOES OFF BUT WHEN YOU TOUCH IT AGAIN I GOES BACK TO FULL BLAST. THERE IS NOTHING ABNORMAL THAT I HAVE DONE OTHER THAN USE IT LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE. I ALSO DISCOVERED A MYSTERIOUS PUDDLE ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD WHICH WHEN IT DRIED IT TURNED WHITE. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TAKE IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST THING THEY ASKED ME WAS IF I HAD A WARRANTY, I SAID NO. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY SAID " WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT CAN LOOK AT IT AND IF WE DID WE COULDN'T FIX IT ANYWAY". THEY SAID " ALL WE CAN DO IS SELL YOU A NEW RADIO FOR $300". SO THEN I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER, AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING AS THE DEALER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I WAS GIVEN A RECALL NOTICE FROM AUTOSITE .COM, IT SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL VAN. (CAMPAIGN # 04V531000) I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER BACK AND ASKED ABOUT RECALL AND REMINDED THEM OF MY PROBLEM. THEY SAID " YOUR SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IT THAT RECALL AND THERE IS STILL NOTHING THAT WE WILL DO". I HAVE THREE CHILDREN ONE OF WHICH IS A FOUR MONTH OLD BABY THAT RIDE IN THIS VAN. I WOULD HATE TO THINK OF THE POSSIBLE HEARING DAMAGE THAT COULD CAUSE. I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO ARE LOOKING AT PURCHASING A NEW VAN AND WE HAVE TOLD THEM NOT TO BUY A DODGE BECAUSE OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND THE LACK OF HELP THAT DODGE HAS GIVEN TO US. WE ALSO JUST HAD TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION THAT COST $1500 WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP US. *NM

NHTSA ID

10158803

Incident

Apr 10, 2006

Mileage

59,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED DOWN HILL THE MANUAL SLIDING DOORS SLAMMED SHUT. THE DOOR GOES INTO THE LOCK POSITION BUT, THE PLASTIC MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE DOOR LOCKED HAS A CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR TO SLAM SHUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10153065

Incident

Mar 17, 2006

Mileage

360,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO MOVE THE LEVER A FEW TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM SHE WAS EXPERIENCING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED IN THE 2 WEEKS THE MECHANIC HAD THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO ONE SIDE AND VIBRATED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. THE EMISSION HOSE AND GAS CAP WERE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STAYING SHUT. THE OIL PAN GASKET AND AXLE SEAL WERE LEAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144301

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND HIT A POLE. THE IMPACT FROM THE POLE DAMAGED THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS A CONVERSION VAN TO ACCOMODATE A WHEEL CHAIR PASSENGER. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAST THERE WAS COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE VAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090142

Incident

Aug 28, 2004

Mileage

10,000 mi

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES. *MR THERE WAS A LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, A BROKEN CHAIN ON THE DRIVER'S SLIDER DOOR, A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND A STALLING PROBLEM (POSSIBLE FUEL FILTER PROBLEM), AND A GRINDING NOISE DUE TO THE IDLER PULLEY BEING FAULTY. THE CONSUMER REQUEST COMPENSATION. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083761

Incident

Dec 31, 2002

THE VEHICLES SLIDING DOORS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED IT THREE TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020027

Incident

May 16, 2003

I HAVE A 2002 GRAND CARAVAN WITH DUAL SLIDING DOORS. SOMETIMES, THE DOORS DO NOT DETECT AN OBSTRUCTION AND ATTEMPT TO CLOSE ANYWAY. YESTERDAY, MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER RECEIVED MINOR BRUISING TO HER WAIST AFTER CLIMBING OUT OF THE VAN WHILE THE DOOR WAS IN MOTION. THE DOOR DID NOT RETRACT UNTIL I FORCIBLY PUSHED THE DOOR AFTER SEEING HER IN DISTRESS. IT DID NOT RETRACT AFTER SENSING HER TORSO IN THE PATH. SHE WAS OK BUT RECEIVED A BRUISE ON EACH SIDE OF HER WAIST (DOOR AND VAN BODY CONTACT). I HAD TO USE UNNECESSARY FORCE TO FORCE THE DOOR OPEN AND DOING SO DISENGAGED THE AUTOMATIC CLOSING MECHANISM WHICH REQUIRED A MANUAL CLOSING AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT HAS NEVER RESULTED IN AN INJURY UNTIL NOW. THE DEALER SAYS THAT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE IS REQUIRED FOR THE AUTOREVERSAL TO ACTIVATE. EVIDENTLY IT REQUIRES MORE FORCE THAN MY CHILD'S BODY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10014109

Incident

Apr 7, 2003

Mileage

22,000 mi

BOTH POWER SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT STOP WHEN CONSUMER PUTS HAND IN PATH OF DOOR AT BOTTOM, IT SHUTS AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER ADMITTED THEY ARE MADE THIS WAY. *AK THE SLOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDING DOOR WAS WIDE AND COULD CATCH HAND OR FOOT OF PASSENGER. *YH

NHTSA ID

8010251

Incident

May 1, 2002

VEHICLE GENERATES EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE IN THE COCPIT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH. NOISE IS FOCUSED AROUND WINDSHIELD AREA AND IS LOUD ENOUGH TO OBSCURE RADIO AND CONVERSATIONS IN A NORMAL VOLME BY PASSENGERS. ON EXTENDED TRAVEL, NOISE IS QUITE ANNOYING TO DRIVE AND PASSENGERS AND INCREASES FATIGUE FACTOR. THIS CREATES A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING IS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WITH THIS NOISE LEVEL, I WOULD CONSIDER THE VAN UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

756035