2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Other / unspecified Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLLMER MOTOR SALES (2249 3RD AVE, NEW BRIGHTON, PA 15066) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11176509

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VAN IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM AND IS COSTING US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VAN IS RUNNING VERY HOT EVEN ON COLD DAYS. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAIL PREMATURELY AND THE WHEEL HUBS FAIL FROM CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING. THE ABS STARTS FEEDING TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO THE WHEEL CALIPERS AND CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO CONSTANTLY TOUCH THE ROTORS WHICH CREATES EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR AS WELL A OVERHEATING OF THE GREASE IN THE WHEEL HUBS WHICH CAUSES THEM TO FAIL. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 7,000 TO 10,000 MILES. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND CHRYSLER IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WILL COST THEM TOO MUCH MONEY.

NHTSA ID

11142737

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

15,000 mi

VALVE STEM CORRODED AND CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T END UP EMBEDDED IN MY FACE.

NHTSA ID

11040857

Incident

Oct 28, 2017

Mileage

127,000 mi

HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY FAILED.THIS A SAFETY ISSUE HAVE CHILDREN AND THIS NEED TO BE FIX HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT REPORTS BY SEVERAL CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET WHEN THIS IS A DEFECT FROM MANUFACTER.

NHTSA ID

11004221

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 13, I WAS GETTING AN ITEM FROM BACK OF MY CAR. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE HANGING T.V. I WENT IN TO MY WORK AND WE CALLED A FAMILY MEMBER WHO TOOK ME INTO MY DR. OFFICE. I HAD A CUT ON TOP OF MY HEAD AND THEY HAD TO PUT STAPLES ON TOP OF MY HEAD...BY SUNDAY, I WAS IN SUCH PAIN, I WENT IN TO SEE THE DOCTOR ON MONDAY WHICH THEY SENT ME TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A SCAN TEST ON MY HEAD...I END UP HAVING POST CONCUSSION AND I MISS 7 DAYS OF WORK....MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS FOR MY GRANDKIDS, THEY COULD GOTTEN VERY HURT ON THE T.V..SHARP CORNER...I AM GOING TO ASK MY SON TO TAPE THE T.V.S UP SO NO ONE ELSE CAN GET HURT. YES, I DO HAVE A LOT OF PAIN, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE... *TR

NHTSA ID

10917941

Incident

Oct 13, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V394000 (AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT) AND 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES LISTED IN THE RECALLS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. MA 10/2

NHTSA ID

10745136

Incident

May 8, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V611000 (EQUIPMENT), 11V394000 (AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT), AND 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10732776

Incident

Dec 8, 2010

TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THEN WENT SOLID WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY TIRES. WHEN I STARTED TO UNSCREW THE CAP ON ONE OF THE TIRES, THE VALVE STEM BROKE AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT. I HAD JUST DRIVEN THROUGH A TUNNEL AND WAS HEADED TOWARDS ANOTHER. HAD THE STEM BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SENSOR NOT READING THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE WHICH CAN LEAD TO OVER INFLATING AND A TIRE BLOWING OUT, BUT NOT ON THIS WHICH SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

NHTSA ID

10731839

Incident

Jun 28, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE OF FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, ALL ROTORS, BRAKES AND PADS. POSSIBLE FAILURES ARE DUE TO INFERIOR PARTS BEING USED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705760

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

27,174 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V378000 (EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10693942

Incident

Mar 12, 2015

I CALLED DEALER REGARD RECALL#11V-139, MANUFACTURER RECALL#L25. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE PART. NUMEROUS CALLS AND THEY SAID DODGE HAS TO SEND THEM PART IT IS NOW MARCH AND NUTLL DO NOT HAVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10691625

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

TIRE PRESSURE WAS A BIT LOW ON 2 PASSENGER SIDE TIRES SO ADDED AIR. END OF VALVE STEM (ABOUT 1/4" OF THREAD) BROKE OFF IN THE PUMP NOZZLE TAKING THE VALVE CORE WITH IT IMMEDIATELY RELEASING ALL THE AIR IN THE TIRE IN A SUDDEN RUSH. ON INSPECTION UNIT WAS CORRODED BADLY, SAME SITUATION ON REAR TIRE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2014 DODGE RAM TRUCK FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS SITUATIONS RECOUNTED ON THE INTERNET OF EXACTLY THIS ISSUE FOR VARIOUS MODEL YEARS OF THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. ASIDE FROM THE COST AND INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE TPMS SENSOR, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEED A CRASH POSSIBLY WITH FATALITIES WOULD LIKELY OCCUR. DODGE/CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBABLY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY FOR THEM TO RESOLVE AND LIKELY SUITS FOR WRONGFUL DEATH AND NEGLIGENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660690

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

69,500 mi

VAN BEGAN MAKING LOUD, GRINDING NOISE. NOISE SEEMED LOUDER WHEN STEERING MORE TO THE RIGHT. ON VISIT TO DEALERSHIP FOR IGNITION RECALL ISSUE, THEY LOOKED AT WHERE NOISE WAS COMING FROM - SINCE THEY HEARD IT WHEN THEY DROVE VAN BACK TO THE SERVICE AREA. THEY SAID IT WAS A WHEEL BEARING / HUB ON RIGHT FRONT. DEALERSHIP SAID VAN WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE ENOUGH TO BE A RECALL ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10643474

Incident

May 17, 2014

UPON NOTICING MY TIRE WAS LOW, WE STARTED TO UNSCREW THE VALVE CAP AND THE STEM FELL APART & PART OF IT SHOT INTO MY HUSBAND'S SHOULDER. THE TIRE WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. THIS WAS ON MY FRONT TIRE. THE PIECE JUST DISINTEGRATES IN MY HAND. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573694

Incident

Mar 19, 2014

Mileage

92,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR LOSES COMPLETE POWER--STEERING, BRAKES. ELECTRONIC STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. VERY SCARY/DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM USUALLY ABLE WRESTLE IT TO SIDE OF ROAD WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. AFTER GETTING THE VAN TO A STOP AND SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION, THE VAN WILL FIRE RIGHT UP AND NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES TO TRY AND DIAGNOSIS. NO LUCK.....I'VE REPLACED BATTERIES, WHEEL BEARINGS, YOU NAME IT. ANY ADVICE?????? *TR

NHTSA ID

10555896

Incident

May 18, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

BOTH OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT, CAUSING GRINDING, HARSH ROAD NOISE, AND CLICKING WHEN TURNING. THE BEARINGS ASSEMBLY HAVE BEEN REENGINEERED BY DODGE BUT THEY ARE NOT ISSUING ANY RECALLS. DODGE IS MAKING YOU REPLACE BOTH HUBS AT THE SAME TIME. FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10531589

Incident

Jul 23, 2013

Mileage

151,000 mi

2008 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE KEY FOB. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY FOBS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AND ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE WAS LEFT STRANDED FAR FROM HOME, BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE CURRENTLY HAS ONE KEY FOB THAT WORKS, AND ONE THAT DOESN'T WORK, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE KEY FOB FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $250 FOR THE KEY FOB, PLUS TO REPROGRAM IT.

NHTSA ID

10510082

Incident

Oct 26, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSTALLING REPLACEMENT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ADD AIR TO THE TIRE BUT THE VALVE STEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10497999

Incident

Feb 12, 2013

Mileage

40,000 mi

WE PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH @ 15K MILES IN MAY 2010 - IN JANUARY 2011 AT @ 30K MILES WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS THE WHOLE WAY AROUND. I SPOKE WITH 3 MECHANICS WHO 1) SAID ROTORS AT THIS LOW MILEAGE WAS UNHEARD OF AND 2) THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH DODGE GRAND CARAVANS. THEN, JUST 3 WEEKS AGO, AT 55513 MILES, MY LEFT FRONT AXLE / CV JOINT SNAPPED. FROM (PLENTY OF) ONLINE RESEARCH, I LEARNED 2 THINGS - 1) THIS BREAK SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN A VEHICLE SO NEW AND 2) ALL 2008 CHRYSLER / DODGE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS! IN FACT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 08 FOR A LOT OF VEHICLES (NOT THE CARAVAN) FOR JUST THIS! WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER/DODGE - THEY FIRST SAID THAT THIS WASN'T A PART OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY (UM, IT'S AN AXLE!!! ATTACHED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT) AND SECOND - IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, IT'D BE COVERED, BUT SINCE I'M NOT, IT WASN'T. THIS WAS A $500 REPAIR JOB. 2 WEEKS LATER!!!!!!! AT @ 56000 MILES, I STARTED HAVING FRONT END PROBLEMS AGAIN - BACK TO THE GARAGE - THIS TIME, I'M SURPRISED WITH THE FACT THAT I NEED BRAKES AND ROTORS THE WHOLE WAY AROUND AGAIN. AND, ABS SENSORS, A NEW CALIPER AND BRAKE HOSES. NEW BRAKES - AGAIN?!?!? HERE COMES THE ONLINE RESEARCH AGAIN... I FOUND A WEBSITE (CARCOMPLAINTS.COM) THAT HAD 1027!!! ENTRIES FROM 08 GRAND CARAVAN USERS THAT HAVE HAD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THEIR BRAKES AND ROTORS AT AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 10000 MILES - THAT IS NOT NORMAL! *TR

NHTSA ID

10469034

Incident

Jan 10, 2011

Mileage

30,000 mi

2ND INCIDENT - TIRE STEM (VALVE) BROKE WHEN REMOVING PLASTIC CAP TO ADD AIR. I REPORTED WHEN THE FIRST VALVE STEM BROKE (TO THIS SYSTEM) ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465141

Incident

Jul 10, 2012

Mileage

51,000 mi

FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE VALVE STEM FRACTURED WHEN THE PLASTIC CAP WAS REMOVED, EXPOSING NEEDLE VALVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445515

Incident

Jan 21, 2012

THIS IS THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. LOW TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN WE TRIED TO PUT AIR IN TIRE THE STEM WAS CRACKED SO COULD NOT PUT AIR INTO TIRE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE TO DO THIS. CALLED DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL- WE WERE TOLD NO RECALL. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IT WAS SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD REPLACE THE STEM FOR US BECAUSE THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER...THERE HAD BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS THEY COULDN'T KEEP UP! THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. WE WILL CHANGE OTHER TWO TIRE STEMS RIGHT AWAY TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436917

Incident

Nov 11, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE CALIBER MECHANISM. I HAS THE CALIBER REPLACED IN MARCH AND HAD NEW BREAK PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED. I DROVE ABOUT LESS THAN 3000 MILE AND HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN. IN THIS LAST EPISODE I HAVE PAID OUT $1300 IN JUST PARTS, NOT TO MENTION LABOR COSTS, AND TWO $100 TOW BILLS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. I HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE BREAK CALIBER FULLY LOADED MECHANISM AND DROVE 20 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DUE TO THE BREAK CALIBER FREEZING AGAIN. THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE DEATH OF MYSELF MY PASSENGERS, AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND FAMILY EVENTS. I GOT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF IT SIZE AFFORDABLE FOR ME AS A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME. I THOUGHT BECAUSE IT WAS NEWER THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE BEFORE MAJOR ISSUES WOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE ONLY THIS CAR A YEAR AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT MORE THAN 20 MILES BEFORE HAVING IT TOWED TO A GARAGE SINCE THIS LAST ISSUE. I HAVE HAD THE PAD AND ROTORS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF IT IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THIS LAST TIME I HAD TO TOW IT TO MY HOME AS I CANNOT PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO IT YET I STILL HAVE 6 YEARS OF PAYMENTS LEFT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF THEY CANNOT FIX IT THAN THEY NEED TO GIVE ME A NEW VAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410165

Incident

Jun 27, 2011

FRONT HUB BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 47,155 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408832

Incident

Jun 24, 2011

Mileage

47,155 mi

2008 DODGE CARAVAN BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE OR UNDER ENGINEERED. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS @ 22K MILES AND AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR @ 35K MILES. VERY NERVOUS AS TO STOPPING ABILITY NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384581

Incident

Jan 21, 2010

Mileage

22,000 mi