2009 Dodge Grand Caravan Driver assistance Problems

KEEP HAVING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323980

Incident

May 9, 2020

Mileage

174,000 mi

WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OVER 15 TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VAN TO CATCH AND START, THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. ALSO, WHEN THE DVD PLAYER IS IN THE UP POSITION ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DASH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CUT ON AND NONE OF THE DIALS WORK ON THE SPEED, GAS AND THERMOSTAT INDICATORS. THE DVD PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND ON THE ROAD OPERATING. THE IGNITION PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU GO TO START THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11222905

Incident

May 18, 2019

Mileage

106,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A SHALLOW LEFT-HAND CURVE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, COMING OUT OF THE CURVE, ALL THE SUDDEN THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE (LFB) BEGAN TO CHATTER AS THOUGH THE LFB ABS WAS ENGAGING. THE ESP BAS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VAN VIOLENTLY SWERVED TOWARDS THE ONCOMING LANE. LUCKLY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COME AT ME. I WAS ABLE TO OVER CORRECT WITH THE STEERING AND REGAIN CONTROL. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHICH DIAGNOSED THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR INSIDE THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING TO BE BAD. IT WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!

NHTSA ID

11063691

Incident

Jan 8, 2018

Mileage

155,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING JULY 2014 WHEN IT WAS PARKED UNDER A TREE DURING A BAD STORM. IT EVENTUALLY WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AFTER THEY ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REPAIRED. SEVERAL TIMES THEY REPAIRED IT AND PUT ME BACK INTO THE DANGEROUS VEHICLE WHICH WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND SEVERAL TIMES WOULD NOT BRAKE. I INSISTED THEY DECLARE IT A TOTAL LOSS BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE WOULD HAPPEN. THEY FINALLY AGREED IN OCTOBER 2014. HOWEVER, MY CONCERN IS THAT I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD AT AUCTION AND THAT PUTS SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT OF BEEN HANDED OVER TO SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA ID

11011470

Incident

Jul 8, 2014

Mileage

81,528 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. THE DRIVE ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE THE ENGINE REVVED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10896954

Incident

Aug 18, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

RETURNING HOME FROM VACATION WHILE EXITING INTERSTATE TO MERGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT APPROX 60/65 MPH I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH ALL MY FORCE BUT IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PUT IT INTO PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF., IN A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED THE MOTOR AND THE CAR SEEMED OK. WE DROVE A SHORT WAY AND STOPPED AT A HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING AS WE STARTED HOME THE VENTS SUDDENLY BEGAN TO BLOW OUT VERY HOT AIR . NEITHER THE HEAT, AIR OR FANS WERE ON. AFTER PUSHING THE HVAC BUTTONS NO NE OF WHICH WERE LIGHTED THE AIR SUDDENLY STOPPED. I TURNED THE AIR BACK ON IN A FEW MINUTES AND EVERYTHING WORKED. WE DROVE TO OUR DEALER HENDERSONVILLE CDRJ AND GOT AN APPT FOR THIS FRI MORNING. THE MAN DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE PROBLEM. ON OUR WAY HOME THE HORN STARTED TO BEEP INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS AT A TIME. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN SINCE THEN AND WILL NOT UNTIL WE TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON FRIDAY.XWE ARE A RETIRED SENIOR COUPLE, MY HUSBAND IS DISABLED AND THIS VAN IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE AND IT IS FRIGHTENING TO HAVE BEEN PLACED IN SUCH A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HOPEFULLY THE DEALER WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10870895

Incident

May 23, 2016

Mileage

70,800 mi

UNABLE TO CLEAR CODES AFTER ALL REPAIRS COMPLETED. ALARM GOES OFF REPEATEDLY AFTER THE KEY/IGNITION WAS REPLACED FOR RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10870143

Incident

Jan 10, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, AND DASHBOARD STARTED OPERATING CRAZY. IT WOULD OCCUR EVERY 30 SECONDS AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE ONLY SOLUTION (TEMPORARY) WAS TO REMOVE THE FUSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS CAUSED THE CRAZINESS TO STOP, BUT NOW I LOST ALL ABILITY TO OPERATE ANY FUNCTIONS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE FUSE WAS TESTED AND IT IS WORKING JUST FINE. WHILE THIS WAS NOT AN IMMEDIATE DANGER, IT WAS STILL SCARY HAVING THIS HAPPEN TO ME WHILE DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WE ARE UNABLE TO DISCOVER A PERMANENT SOLUTION. AFTER REVIEW, IT APPEARS WE ARE DIFFIDENTLY NOT ALONE. PLEASE FIGURE THIS OUT!

NHTSA ID

10845866

Incident

Mar 9, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DECELERATED BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TO BE CAUSED BY THE FLOOR MAT. THE CONSUMER DISAGREED AND STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDALT PULLED TO THE FLOOR. *JS

NHTSA ID

10810044

Incident

Dec 11, 2015

Mileage

97,000 mi

DRIVING ON THE HWY 485 TOWARD AIRPORT WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN SOUND IN MY DASHBOARD. IT WAS A ETC (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT) AND THE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT) THAT CAME OUT AND, MY TEMPERATURE CONTROL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPPED FROM MI-RANGE TO ZERO. I SLOW DOWN THE CAR PULLED IT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SO I CAN CHECK TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW WAS A HEAVY SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD AND THAT WAS IT.

NHTSA ID

10766689

Incident

Sep 18, 2015

WAS PARKING UNDER A TREE ABOUT 6-8 FEET FROM TREE WHEN STILL HAVING FOOT ON BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AND SLAMMED INTO THE TREE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLORE.

NHTSA ID

10725581

Incident

Jun 14, 2015

Mileage

85,838 mi

WAS DRIVING AND HAD MULTIPLE STEREO ELECTRICAL ISSUES ALSO LOST DVD MONITOR THEN ABS ESP BAS CODE CAME UP AND HAD SOME RADICAL BRAKING WITH ON AND OFF REPETITION OF STEREO FUNCTIONS. STEREO AND ABS ESP BAS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695264

Incident

Feb 26, 2015

Mileage

56,940 mi

DASH LIGHTS INDICATING FAILURE OF STABILITY CONTROL AND BRAKE FORCE HELP HAVE ILLUMINATED AND WON'T RESET. MECHANIC STATES VEHICLE REQUIRES STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. GETTING PART FOR REPAIR SEEMS TO BE DIFFICULT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN MY AREA AS ROADS ARE HEAVILY COVERED IN SNOW AND ICE FOR MONTHS AT A TIME.

NHTSA ID

10690801

Incident

Feb 13, 2015

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. ..UPDATED 05/19/15*BF UPDATED 11/10/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10682058

Incident

Jan 5, 2015

Mileage

71,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES AN HOUR, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND TURNS BACK ON AND COULD NOT STEER FOR A FEW MINS, AND IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 45 MILES AN HOUR, EVERY THING SHUT OFF IN THE CAR, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. MY BRAKES ON THE CAR AND ROTORS I HAVE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 3 YEARS ITS EATS THEM UP, SOMETIMES THE SIDE DOORS JUST OPEN BY THEM SELVES, DRIVING OR PARKED, CONTROL BUTTONS ARE GOING OUT ALL THE TIME, WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN ON THERE OWN, THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP I AM ON A WAITING LIST AND HAVE BEEN FOR 4 MONTHS THEY STILL SAY THE PARTS ARE NOT IN YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676667

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WHEREIN MY "ANTI-SKID" SYSTEM IS SOMEHOW ACTIVATED AND KILLS MY ENGINE AND TIGHTENS UP MY STEERING WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I AM ABLE TO KEEP MY COOL AND THROW IT INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE VAN AND PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND KEEP GOING. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED IN HIGH SPEED OR THICK TRAFFIC. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. I FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET: HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/DODGE/8TIR2-2009-GRAND-CARAVAN-59-000-MILES-TRACTION.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667567

Incident

Dec 21, 2014

Mileage

113,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, AND AFTER I START DRIVING, IF I DO NO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE WILL JUST DIE. WHEN IT DOES, THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS GO ON AND THE STEERING BECOMES COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. I MUST QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND START IT AGAIN. IT CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE WARMS UP. IT CAN JUST HAPPEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER AND ANOTHER AUTO REPAIR PLACE AND NEITHER CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THIS HAPPENS QUIT OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637957

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS MODULE, CONTROL MODULE, TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE, SECURITY RECONFIGURATION MODULE AND ANTI-LOCK SENSOR WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

10622462

Incident

Jul 30, 2014

Mileage

82,000 mi

ON 1/18/20010 I EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF MY 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT GALEANA DODGET, FT. MYERS FL ON 1/24. I WAS TOLD THAT FUEL INDUCTION PARTS NEEDED CLEANING AND THAT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON 1/24 AFTER ONLY 377 MILES SINCE SERVICE I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH. WHEN I BEGAN MOVING TO THE FAR LEFT LANE AND BRING THE VEHICLE UP TO THE POSTED SPEED OF 50 MPH I NOTICED THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESS BEYOND MY INTENTION. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP ACCELERATION BY APPLYING THE BRAKES TO NO EFFECT. IT SLOWED THE RATE OF ACCELERATION WHICH RESUMED AS SOON AS I RELEASED THE BRAKE. AS THE HIGHWAY BUSY I HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE CAR AND PULLING BACK TO THE RIGHT LANE SO I COULD SAFELY STOP THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT OVER 4,000 RPMS. EVENTUALLY AFTER SEVERAL TIMES STARTING AND STOPPING THE IGNITION THE ENGINE RETURNED TO APPROPRIATE IDLE SPEED. AS WE WERE IN A DANGEROUS PLACE AND CLOSE TO THE PLACE WE WERE STAYING (ON VACATION) AND DID NOT KNOW WHO TO CALL I DROVE THE CAR PACK AND PARKED IT WAITING INSTRUCTIONS FROM DODGE ON HOW TO PROCEED. AT THIS TIME I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AS WE HAD A VERY HARROWING EXPERIENCE. PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AT A GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM AS THAT IS THE WAY THE REPAIR SHOP DESCRIBED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10380883

Incident

Feb 4, 2011

Mileage

34,626 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BUT HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE NEXT DAY, ANOTHER DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SO SHE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE RPMS SHOT UP TO 3000. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER PERFORMED SOFTWARE UPGRADES AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT. IN FEBRUARY 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM AGAIN SO SHE WENT INTO AN EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD THEM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS AWAITING RESPONSE FROM A CASE MANAGER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,400. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,202-BK

NHTSA ID

10317020

Incident

Nov 20, 2009

Mileage

3,202 mi

ON ONE OCCASION, MY VEHICLE SWERVED WITHOUT WARNING INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE, LIKE BEING BLOWN BY A STRONG GUST OF WIND. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED PULLING AND MY WIFE HAD TO FIGHT IT TO GET IT TO PULL SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I ARRIVED I TRIED IT AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING & STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM HAD IMPROPERLY SENSED THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION AND HAD BEEN TRYING TO COMPENSATE. WHILE REPLACEMENT OF THE SAID PARTS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, MY FAMILY WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308200

Incident

Oct 19, 2009

Mileage

17,835 mi

WHILE I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AND ACCELERATED. IT WOULD NOT DES ENGAGE EVEN WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293479

Incident

Nov 24, 2009

Mileage

6,150 mi