2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Fuel system Problems

I was driving down highway 60 when my van backfired. I thought it was a blown tire & started pulling off the highway. When pulling off the highway I noticed the orange glare off the side rails on the highway. That's when I realized that the van had caught on fire under the hood. Once I pulled over I had a friend call 911 to report my van on fire while I tried to open the hood & put the fire out. The hood was to hot to open so I grabbed everything I could from my van & stayed clear of it until the Arizona fire dept & Arizona highway patrol came. All my information was taken by the Arizona highway patrol. I was told that my van will be at J&S Towing & that my friends & i can leave the scene.

NHTSA ID

11545506

Incident

Aug 21, 2023

STRONG FUEL SMELL ENTERING THE CABIN AT LOW SPEED OR IDLE COMING FROM VEHICLE WHEN RUNNING.

NHTSA ID

11104678

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

LEAKING FUEL RAIL CAP 2002 DODGE CARAVAN IS LEAKING GAS ALL OVER THE SPARK PLUGS ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL PARTS WHEN 1ST TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IN THE MORNING.

NHTSA ID

10971147

Incident

Mar 16, 2017

WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING THE SMELL OF GAS FOR AWHILE, TODAY IT GOT ALOT STRONGER,WE HAD JUST PUT GAS IN THE VAN AND WE THOUGHT MAY SOME HAD GOTTEN SPILLED ON THE OUTSIDE. WHEN WE STOPPED TO WASH IT I LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW A HUGE PUDDLE OF GAS FORMING ON THE GROUND. COME TO FIND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL IN OCTOBER 2002. LOOKED ON MY CARFAX AND IT DOESNT LIST THAT AS BEING REPAIRED. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661121

Incident

Nov 26, 2014

Mileage

250,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC DETECTED A LEAK IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS COLLAPSING AND EXPANDING. THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL IN EFFECT, BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROVIDING A READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10461783

Incident

Jan 15, 2012

Mileage

86,000 mi

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN JUST WENT UP IN FLAMES WHILE DRIVING WITHIN MAYBE 5 MINUTES FIRE FIGHTERS CONTROL THE SITUATION BUT THE MOTOR ,BATTERY, EVERYTHING IN FRONT INSIDE HOOD JUST MELTED I REALLY NEED HELP I HAD JUST FINISHED PAYING IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I ATTRIBUTE THIS TO THE FAULTY ELECTRICAL RECALLS IT HAS AS WELL AS THE FUEL. HELP. AT LEAST I WANT A REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451654

Incident

Mar 7, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DOORS HAD TO BE TAKEN APART IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 77,000. UPDATED 07/27/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN BROKE, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WAS INCORRECTLY FIXED AT THE DEALER. THE ELECTRIC TAIL GATE DOESN'T WORK. ONE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE, THE HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED THE LEFT ND RIGHT WINDOW REGULATORS BROKE, THE FUEL PUMP BROKE OFF AND THE ABS SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/01/11

NHTSA ID

10403970

Incident

May 21, 2011

Mileage

77,000 mi

2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SOMETIMES THE FUEL GAUGE WILL GO TO EMPTY SUDDENLY, AND A LITTLE LATER, IT WILL GO BACK TO THE ACTUAL READING. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246328

Incident

Jul 28, 2008

2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SOMETIMES THE FUEL GAUGE WILL GO TO EMPTY SUDDENLY, AND A LITTLE LATER, IT WILL GO BACK TO THE ACTUAL READING. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT COULD BE REPORTED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10245437

Incident

Sep 17, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK CONTROL VALVE WELD JOINT HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR THREE WEEKS. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE LEAK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10190660

Incident

Apr 16, 2007

ON JULY 4, 2002 MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW SPEED ROLLOVER IN WHICH THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. IN THE MINUTES FOLLOWING THE ROLLOVER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY UP. MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN WERE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALL 3 BY THE GRACE OF GOD WERE PULLED TO SAFETY BY PERSONS NEAR THE ACCIDENT. TWO MONTHS LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE VAN FROM THE DEALER INDICATING THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM TO REPLACE A PART THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10158669

Incident

Jul 4, 2002

Mileage

6,000 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

I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IF IT STARTS AGAIN, IT STALLS WITHIN 1/4 MILE. YOU CAN DO THIS ONLY FOR 3 TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY CAN NOT BE STARTED. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER PROGRAM MODULE. THE CAR WORKED FOR 100 MILES, THEN DIED AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP STARTED THE CAR AND RAN A DIAGNOSTIC BUT FAILED TO LOCATE ANY FAULTY CODES. I ASKED THEM TO TAKE IT FOR A TEST RIDE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THEY DID, AND IT DIED ON THEM. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. AGAIN, LESS THAN 100 MILES LATER, THE CAR DIED. THE DODGE DEALER SEEMS TO BE AT A LOSS AS TO WHY IT IS FAILING AND NOT STARTING. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE THEM STYMIED. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT INDICATIONS PRIOR TO FAILURE. YOU LOSE ALL POWER TO THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104636

Incident

Dec 26, 2004

Mileage

67,360 mi

AFTER OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK GAS FUME WERE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSES. ALSO, IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101162

Incident

Nov 17, 2004

Mileage

18,900 mi

GAS PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING OVERFILL OF GAS TANK. GAS TANK SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR CAPTURE AND EVAPORATION OF OVERFILL. VENTS FOR AIR FLOW IN VEHICLE ALLOW GASOLINE FUMES/VAPORS INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE. THIS CREATES A PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE PASSENGERS OR NEED TO USE THE VEHICLE. ALL OCCUPANTS ARE FORCED TO SIT INSIDE OF AN ENCLOSED VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE VAPORS. BROUGHT CONCERN TO DEALER AND DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WITHIN DESIGN PARAMETERS AND ADVISED NOT TO OVERFILL TANK. OVERFILL WAS NOT INTENTIONAL AND DEALER ADVISE DOES NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM WAS MANDATED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT ALL NEW CARS HAVE SIMILAR SYSTEMS AND IF THEY ARE OVERFILLED FUMES/VAPORS WILL BE PRESENT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AS WELL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. DEALER WILL NOT WORK WITH ME BUT ONLY STATES THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE PUTTING MY FAMILY/CHILDREN INTO THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING IT WHILE IT IS FULL OF GASOLINE FUMES/VAPORS. AS A CAREER FIREFIGHTER I RECOGNIZE THAT GASOLINE IS MOST VOLITILE IN THE VAPOR STATE. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO THE MANUFACTURERS/DEALERS ATTENTION AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN/WILL DO.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100110

Incident

Nov 17, 2004

Mileage

18,500 mi

I HAVE A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2003. IT DID OK FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THAT IT HAS BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. WHEN I'M WAITING TO GO ON A ROAD IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF BRAKE IT STARTS ROLLING BACKWARD FAST. YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE BRAKE WHILE PUSHING THE GAS TO KEEP IT FROM ROLLING BACK. IT'S STEERING HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE, THE GAS GAUGE HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS, ETC.... I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM THEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098731

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

Mileage

4,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF. DEALER STATED THAT FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED WHICH ENABLED FUEL TO REACH THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088036

Incident

Jun 5, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS LEAK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT O-RINGS WERE LEAKING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH...*AK

NHTSA ID

10006434

Incident

Sep 9, 2001

Mileage

45,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S GAS GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10001777

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

Mileage

6,500 mi

THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK CAME OFF AND WITIN 40 MILES I LOST 10 GALONS OF GAS. *AK

NHTSA ID

761888

Incident

May 7, 2002

THIS IS MY SECOND 2002 GRAND CARAVAN...THE FIRST WAS PURCHASED ON 10/23/2001 AND ON THE WAY HOME WE SMELLED STRONG FUEL VAPORS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND IT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM AND WE WERE GIVEN A REPLACEMENT 2002 GRAND CARAVAN ON 10/24/2001....I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON THE SAME DAY AND SAME PRODUCTION LINE AS THE PREVIOUS 2002 I HAD...AND ONLY ONE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED BETWEEN THEM. THE VEHICLE I HAVE JUST STARTED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE PREVIOUS ONE (STRONG VAPORS, CHECK ENGINE LITE), AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING GAS TANK/PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE PROBLEMS. SINCE THE VEHICLES WERE BUILT ON THE SAME LINE/DAY, AND SINCE IT IS A GAS TANK/VAPOR PROBLEM, AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ALL GRAND CARAVANS BUILT ON THAT LINE ON/AROUND THAT DAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

761033

Incident

Apr 15, 2002