2005 Dodge Grand Caravan Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE OPENED MANUALLY WITH THE KEY. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT UPON DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE SYSTEM WOULD RESET AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED THE PROCEDURE TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RESUMED SOON AFTER THE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11416081

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

155,000 mi

ON THE EVENING OF 03/04/2021 @ 9:00PM. WHILR DRIVING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE DOING APPROX 35 MPH, MY VAN SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND ABILITY TO USE POWER STEERING AND USE OF BRAKES. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP ME GET THE VAN OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANE AND SAFELY INTO A PARKING LOT. VAN DID NOT WANT TO START AFTER CUTTING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CUTTING IT BACK ON. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VAN IT WOULDNT ACCELERATE PASSED 15MPH WITH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR THEN IT CONSTANTLY STALLED OUT 8-10 TIMES THE LAST MILE FROM HOME.

NHTSA ID

11399236

Incident

Mar 4, 2021

Mileage

198,009 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL FUNCTION AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11240667

Incident

Jul 28, 2019

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER TOLD US THE VAN'S TAIL LIGHT WAS SMOKING. WE PULLED AROUND A CORNER AND INTO A PARKING LOT AND FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS ON FIRE WITH FLAMES LAPPING UP THE SIDE OF THE VAN. THE VAN WAS TURNED OFF AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. WE REMOVED THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THAT THE INSIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE WIRING HARNESS WERE DESTROYED. THERE IS ALSO BODY DAMAGE. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BURNING OUT FREQUENTLY, AND HAD SEEN EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING AND SOME MELTING IN THE BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTOR SOCKET IN ABOUT 2010. ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS BURN OUT FREQUENTLY, THE MELTING HAD NOT GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAS NEVER EXHIBITED A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. AT THIS TIME IT IS UNKNOWN IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE OR FAULT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEYOND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF OBVIOUS DAMAGES IS APPROXIMATELY $1,000 TO $1,500 WITH REPAINTING.

NHTSA ID

11124454

Incident

Sep 4, 2018

Mileage

133,000 mi

THE WIRING INSIDE OF THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAUGHT FIRE WITH OUT BEING USED. IT WAS THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR APPROX 10 MIN WHEN THE FIRE WAS NOTICED DUE TO THE SMELL.

NHTSA ID

11001779

Incident

Jun 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL THE DOORS REMAINED OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10980082

Incident

Apr 2, 2017

Mileage

154,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10836370

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING, LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN, DRIVING AT NIGHT DANGEROUS. SOMETHING WRONG WITH ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. WORK ONE TIME THAN THEY DONT. NOW MY LIGHTS WANT TO STAY ON OR COME ON RANDOMLY N I END UP WITH DEAD BATTERY. LOCKS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU CAN'T UNLOCK REAR DOOR TO GET CHILD OUT. TURN SIGNAL DOESN'T TURN OFF ON ITS OWN. STALLS AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK. POWER DRIVERS SEAT HAS STOOPED WORKING PROPERLY SLSO, I'M SHORT AND WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE TO SIT ON TOP OF SIR BAG BUT NOT ALL OF THE ADJUSTMENT FUNCTIONS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. SO CAN'T TILT SEAT INSTEAD I HAVE TO SIT ON TOP OF AIR BAG, AT A WEIGHT OF 129 N UNDER 5 FEET TALL I SURE HOPE THAT SIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYS ON ME

NHTSA ID

10825737

Incident

May 11, 2015

Mileage

1,110,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK UNLESS YOU RESET THE COMPUTER BY REMOVING THE BATTERY CABLE FOR ONE MIN. AND CONNECTING IT BACK. COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE FLASHED FOR A PERMANENT FIX. THE REMOVING THE CABLE IS JUST A TEMPORARY FIX.I BOUGHT IT BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

10809788

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

THE BATTERY ON OUR VAN KEPT GOING DEAD.THE BATTERY WAS NEW.WE TOOK OUR VAN TO 5 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS,BUYING PARTS& 3 NEW BATTERIES& WE ARE STILL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.OUR VAN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING GOES IN & OUT OF OVER DRIVE.IT IS LIKE YOU ARE PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL & LETTING OFF,PUSHING&LETTING OFF.THE CRUISE WON'T WORK(WELL IT DOES & THEN IT DOESN'T)THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE DASH THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE DOORS ARE LOCKING YET THEY AREN'T,THE BACK DOOR WHEN YOU USE YOUR REMOTE,THE DOOR OPEN& CLOSES,OPENS & CLOSES TILL YOU HAVE TO CLOSE IT & USE YOUR KEY SO YOU ARE ABLE TO PUT YOUR GROCERIES IN WITHOUT GETTING CRUSHED BY THE DOOR,THE HANDICAPPED LIFT WON'T COME DOWN WE KNOW THERE IS A SHORTAGE SOME WHERE,YET NOBODY IS ABLE TO FIX OUR VAN!WE HAVE ONE WORKING & WE HAVE PAID SO MANY HUNDREDS OUT FOR REPAIRS & WE ARE STILL WHERE WE STARTED.I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WE NEED OUR VAN OUR SON HAS CP & IS IN A POWERED WHEELCHAIR IT ISN'T LIKE WE CAN JUST RUN OUT & TRADE WE HAVE TO HAVE A HANDICAPPED VAN!YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING BIG MONEY & WE ONLY HAVE ONE WORKING IN OUR FAMILY CAUSE I HAVE TO STAY HOME & TAKE CARE OF HIM.HE IS 36 & HE CAN'T WALK OR TALK! WE NEED HELP FIXING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT HURTS MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ID

10807391

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK THE DOORS AND THE LOCKS FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE I.O.D FUSE FROM THE FUSE BOX AND RESET THE COMPUTER IN ORDER FOR THE LOCKS TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10790194

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

20,000 mi

POWER LOCKS STOPPED WORKING SIGNAL LIGHTS CAN ONLY BE TURNED OFF MANUALLY BLOWER DEFROST FAN WILL NOT TURN OFF BACK SEAT FAULTY FOLDING INTO THE FLOOR

NHTSA ID

10783078

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

HE'S LIGHTS FLICKER WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAKES NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS TO THE THE ANNOYANCE OF LIGHTS FLICKERING AND DIMMING. THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ALSO FLICKERING.

NHTSA ID

10780419

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE RADIO ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF WITH A LOUD POP AT THE SAME TIME THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER IE: FUEL, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMP GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THEN CAME BACK UP TO THERE PREVIOUS LEVEL. THE ODOMETER WENT BLANK AS WELL AND CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT IT WAS QUITE DISCONCERTING TO LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD AND SEE ALL THE GAUGES IN THE SAME POSITION AS IF THE CAR WAS OFF. Y WIFE HAS TOLD ME THAT IT HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY BUT SHE COULD NOT RECALL THE DATE.

NHTSA ID

10759686

Incident

Aug 4, 2015

Mileage

94,000 mi

ALL THE LIGHTS IN CAR LIGHTS FLICKERS, RADIO SHUT OFF AND ON, GAGES GO COMPLETELY AROUND AND CAR DIES OUT INSTANTLY. I HAD CAR REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BACK IN 2012. I HAD TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE REPAIRED IN MARCH 2015 AND NOW ITS AUG 2015 IT IS OCCURRING AGAIN...

NHTSA ID

10759297

Incident

Mar 13, 2012

Mileage

78 mi

THE POWER LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. NEITHER THE REMOTE NOR THE ACTUAL INTERIOR LOCK WOULD WORK TO LOCK ALL THE DOORS AT ONCE. WE NOW NEED TO INDIVIDUALLY LOCK EACH DOOR.

NHTSA ID

10744249

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS A DEMAND. IT STARTED WITH POWER SLIDING DOOR NOT OPENING THEN THE LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK IF I DID NOT SLAM THE SIDE DOOR SHUT THE FLASHERS WOULD COME ON AND I COULD NOT SHUT THEM OFF THE REAR WINDOW WIPER STARTED MOVING I COULD NOT SHUT IF OFF ALL THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND INDICATED I HAD NO GAS. THIS IS A HANDICAPPED MODIFIED VAN AND I USE A WHEELCHAIR TO AMBULATE. I HAVE TAKEN OFF WORK FOR FULL DAYS AND PARTIAL DAYS TO GET THIS PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. AFTER A $2,488 DOLLAR BILL TO EXCISE THE DEMAND THE DOOR STILL WILL NOT OPEN AND THE WHEELCHAIR RAMP WILL NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE TO WORK AND I AM ALMOST OUT OF LEAVE. DODGE SHOULD COME TO THE RESCUE AND ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE COMPUTER PROGRAM PATCH TO ALL OWNERS. MY PROBLEMS STARTED AT 38,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10725218

Incident

May 5, 2015

Mileage

38,452 mi

THE 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAVE A KNOWN SOFTWARE BUG FOR THE BODY CONTROL MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE POWER LOCKS ON THE VEHICLE. ONCE THIS OCCURS ON YOUR VEHICLE, THE OWNER IS UNABLE TO LOCK THE VEHICLE REMOTELY OR FROM THE POWER LOCK SWITCH OR WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS 10 MPH AUTO LOCK FEATURE. KNOWN SERVICE BULLETINS ARE: 08-028-05 AND 08-040-04 TO PERMANENTLY FIX THIS ISSUE WITH THE LOCKS THE OWNER CAN TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM BY PULLING THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND LETTING TEH BODY CONTROL MODULE RESET. THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX AS THE PROBLEM HAS RE-OCCURRED 3 TIMES SINCE THE ORIGINAL ISSUE CAME UP. THE PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS KNOWN SOFTWARE ISSUE RESULTS IN THE CONSUMER/OWNER OF THE VEHICLE TO TAKE INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR A MINIMUM OF $130+TAX. I BELIEVE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE (THE AUTO LOCK AT SPEED DOESN'T WORK), AND IT IS ALSO A THEFT ISSUE IN THAT THE OWNER CAN NOT PROPERLY LOCK THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10721698

Incident

Apr 28, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

POWER DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE EITHER BY THE KEY FOB OR THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK SWITCHES. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 10/07/2014 FOR REPAIR. IN THAT I HAD EXTENDED COVERAGE I HAD TO PAY THE $100.00 CO-PAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703099

Incident

Oct 7, 2014

Mileage

82,771 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE ELECTRIC SLIDING SIDE DOOR, A LARGE SPARK AND SMALL DEBRIS FIRE WAS SEEN IN THE BOTTOM DOOR RAIL. UPON INSPECTION, A BREAK IN THE WIRE HARNESS HAD ALOUD WIRES TO BE SEVERED THAT CONTROLS THE DOOR AND LOCKING SYSTEM. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH SIDE DOORS NO LONGER WORKED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER OPEN ELECTRICALLY. I REMOVED THE WIRING HARNESS AND WIRES AND DISCARDED THEM TO AVOID ANY MORE PROBLEMS (SPARKING AND/OR FIRES). THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689786

Incident

Feb 28, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

WHILE SLOWING DOWN MOTOR WILL TRY AND SHUT OFF. IF YOU COME TO A STOP IT WILL SHUT OFF. SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK IN PLACE. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL NOT MOVE. PASSENGER SIDE CARGO DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. SOME SETTINGS FOR HEAT AND AC WILL NOT WORK. LEFT TURN SIGNAL WON'T SHUT OFF AFTER TURNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683925

Incident

Jan 8, 2015

Mileage

143,400 mi

THE AUTOMATIC LOCK SYSTEM ON MY 05 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DOESN'T WORK, WITH THE KEY FOB OR WHEN PUSHING THE AUTOMATED LOCK BUTTONS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR BEEPS LIKE IT IS LOCKING WHEN YOU PUSH THE KEY FOB. HOWEVER, IT REALLY ISN'T LOCKING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2005 DODGE CARAVAN MODELS. THAT BEING SAID, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP & WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL, BECAUSE THIS IS "NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE." HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? DODGE, THEMSELVES, ACTUALLY CALLS PART OF THE AUTOMATED LOCK SYSTEM A "SAFETY FEATURE." THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, ONCE YOU REACH A SPEED OF 15 MPH. WELL, THIS NO LONGER WORKS EITHER. HOW IS IT CALLED A "SAFETY FEATURE" WHEN IT WORKS, BUT THEN IT ISN'T A "SAFETY ISSUE" WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK? I PHYSICALLY CANNOT LOCK THE PASSENGER DOORS MYSELF, WHEN DRIVING. I EITHER HAVE TO REMEMBER TO DO IT BEFORE I LEAVE, MAKE SURE THE PERSON THAT GETS OUT DOES IT BEFORE THEY LEAVE, PULL OVER TO LOCK THEM, OR DRIVE WITH THEM UNLOCKED. THAT'S NOT SAFE! I ATTEND NIGHT SCHOOL & AM NOT COMFORTABLE LEAVING MY CAR UNLOCKED, BUT IT IS NOT AS EASY TO GET INTO MY VEHICLE QUICKLY NOW. I HAVE TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR (ONLY DOOR THAT HAS A MANUAL LOCK), REACH IN, UNLOCK THE SIDE DOOR, THEN OPEN THE SIDE DOOR, PUT MY THINGS IN, LOCK THE SIDE DOOR, CLOSE THE DOOR, AND THEN GET IN THE FRONT. THAT IS A LOT OF EXTRA TIME IN A DARK PARKING LOT! NORMALLY, I WOULD JUST CLICK THE UNLOCK & THE OPEN DOOR BUTTON ON THE WAY TO THE VAN, PUT THE STUFF IN, CLOSE THE DOOR & GO. IN ADDITION, IF YOU ARE A PASSENGER, YOU HAVE TO STAND THERE & WAIT TO BE LET IN. AS MENTIONED, THERE IS NO KEY ENTRY ON THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL. MANY TIMES, I AM LEFT STANDING THERE (WITH MY PURSE), AS MY HUSBAND WALKS AROUND TO THE DRIVER SIDE & LETS HIMSELF & THE KID'S IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663199

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

ELECTRIC LOCKS FAIL. AFTER R&R A FUSE THE LOCKS WOULD WORK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THEN FAIL AGAIN. REPEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652538

Incident

Nov 5, 2002

Mileage

65,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING RANDOM ELECTRICAL ISSUES INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT TODAY, IT WAS NOTICED THAT MY POWER LOCKS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE ENGAGED OR DISENGAGED VIA EITHER MY KEY FOB OR MANUAL BY THE BUTTON ON THE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S DOOR. THEY ALSO DO NOT ENGAGE ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHES THE APPROPRIATE SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME, IS VIA THE KEY IN THE DOOR, AND MANUALLY PUSHING DOWN/PULLING UP THE LOCKS THEMSELVES. AS A MOM OF THREE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10, HAVING THEM RIDING IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT KNOWING FOR SURE THAT THEIR DOORS ARE LOCKED, CAUSES DISTRESS IN REGARD TO THEIR SAFETY. I NEED TO KNOW THAT I CAN LOCK MY VEHICLE QUICKLY BEHIND MY CHILDREN, IF NECESSARY, AND KNOW THAT IF THEY HAPPEN TO PULL ON THE HANDLE ON THE SLIDING DOORS, THAT I CAN REST ASSURED THAT THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN IN RESPONSE TO THIS AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641028

Incident

Oct 2, 2014

Mileage

133,000 mi

DOOR LOCK SYSTEM HAS FAILED DUE TO COMPUTER GLITCH. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND ON-LINE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10644047

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

75,679 mi