2002 Dodge Van Owner Complaints

I OWN A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN,WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED AND WOULDN'T START. RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE REVEALED A HOLE CAUSED BY A WEAKENED TUBING WALL AND MOUNT CLIP AT THE WELD POINT. MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 36,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT WENT UNNOTICED BECAUSE OF LOCATION. DODGE REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM COMPLAINT #16378324 ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SAME PROBLEM COMPLAINT#16376641. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215446

Incident

May 30, 2007

Mileage

35,000 mi

POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING. DEALER DESCRIBES IT AS "MAJOR REPAIR". *TR

NHTSA ID

10188788

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES HAD CONSISTENT AND WORSENING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED AFTER EVERY REPAIR. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES BURSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FAULTY DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DESIGN AND THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS THAN TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ID

10174433

Incident

Sep 15, 2006

Mileage

36,500 mi

WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT A 800 POUND HOG IN THE ROAD SENDING IT AIRBORN AND IT HIT OUR VAN BOUNCING OFF AND LANDING IN THE DITCH. OUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHIELD SMASHED INTO A BILLION PIECES , BUT THEN OUR VAN BURSTED INTO FLAMES TOTALLY GUTTING OUR VAN. HAD THE HOG ACTUALLY CAME IN ON US WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE AS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR US TO GET OUT. THE VAN WENT UP VERY FAST AND WE HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHY OR WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171540

Incident

Oct 3, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

WE WERE REAR ENDED AT 40-45 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS COLLAPSED ON TO THE PASSENGERS IN THE MIDDLE SEATS. BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND ALL THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE INJURED. THE PASSENGER IN THE MIDDLE SEAT WAS CRUSHED. WE ASKED A EMPLOYEE AT DODGE IF THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AND HE SAID YES. HOW COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT WAY FOR THE SEATS TO REACT, SHOULDN'T THE SEAT STAY UP RIGHT SO THE AIR BAG IS BY YOUR HEAD. [I REALLY WISH SOMEONE WOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10156818

Incident

Nov 27, 2005

I PURCHASED MY CARAVAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2005. ONE MONTH AFTER BUYING IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. NOW THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOWS SOMETIMES GO UP AND SOMETIMES DON'T. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING ON SUCH A NEWER VEHICLE? DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WILL COST ME A FORTUNE? LG,MI. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151817

Incident

Nov 19, 2005

I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING THAT HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPORTED, AND I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. I AM EXPERIENCING A NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED US THERE IS A TSB FOR THE PROBLEM, AND THE REPAIR COST ARE ESTIMATED AT $275.00. THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS A KNOCKING AND RATTLING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. THE TECHNICIAN HAS SAID THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, AND LINKS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THOSE REPAIRS IS AN ADDITIONAL $375.00. I HAVE NOT MADE THE REPAIRS AS THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10148103

Incident

Jan 16, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

I HAVE REPEATLY (APPROX. 15-18) COMPLAINED TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY VAN WAS BOUGHT, THAT MY AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT IS INTERMITTED. THERE HAVE BEEN VERY LOUD EXPLOSION-LIKE SOUNDS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ENGAGED. AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICAL AN 1/2 HOUR OR SO, THE INSIDE GRILL TEMP IS SOMETIMES 90. WE HAVE A VERY LARGE THERMOMETER THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THE AIR VENT TO GET AN ACCURATE TEMP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR 6 TIMES. THEY HAVE PULLED OUT THE GUTS. THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR COILS,AND STILL THE AIR CONDITIONER IS INTERMITTED. DAIMLER EXTENTED THE WARRENTY ON THE COMPRESSOR ONLY, AND THE DEALERSHIP EXTENDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRENTY. STILL NO ONE HAS OR WILL FIX THE AC. WE DID NOT MEET THE CRIERIA OF THE MD. LEMON LAW, MY THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WAS 3 MONTHS LATE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE VEHICAL 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY REFUSED. I HAVE ALL MY DOCUMENTS AND WOULD SURLEY APPRECIATE ANY HELP.

NHTSA ID

10133907

Incident

Aug 22, 2005

HOSES ROTTING IN 3 YEARS HEATER HOSES RUSTING OUT IN 3 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

10133901

Incident

Aug 22, 2005

I WAS DRIVING ON 35 W NORTH BOUND, IN THE FAST LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY. 70 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CONVERSION VAN STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I TAPPED MY BRAKES AS IF I WAS USING MY CRUISE, WHICH I WASN'T. THE VAN THEN SLOWED A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TOOK OFF OUT OF CONTROL, IT ACCELERATED SO FAST SO QUICK, I LOOKED DOWN AT MY SPEEDOMETER AND I WAS GOING OVER 90 MPH AT THIS POINT, I WAS PUSHING ON THE BRAKE AND THE TIRES WERE SPINNING AND SMOKING VERY FAST, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SLOW LANE AND THEN WHIPPED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND PART DITCH WITH BOTH OF MY FEET PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD AND THROUGH THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE SMELL, WAS SO STRONG I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE MAY START ON FIRE WE EXITED AS QUICK AS WE CAN AND WAITED UNDER THE UNDERPASS FOR HELP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132930

Incident

Aug 15, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

BROKEN AXLE ON DODGE CARAVAN VAN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132138

Incident

Aug 2, 2005

PRIOR TO 50,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE. DURING A RECALL I PAID $75.00 TO RUN A DIO TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE RESULT WAS "S10 DIO TIME FOUND THE PASS SIDE AIR BAG BAD, PARTS AND LABOR $1034.00". THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT! THE AIRBAGS SHOULD BE IN WORKING ORDER UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG IS A NON-MOVING PART, HOW DOES IT GO BAD? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT A MECHANICAL FAILURE. DODGE HAS A RECALL FOR AN AIRBAG PROBLEM IN 1996 TO 2000 YEAR CARAVANS. CUSTOMER AFFAIRS AT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS TOLD ME THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DID COME WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN PURCHASED NEW BY ME.

NHTSA ID

10129670

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

WHILE DRIVING THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED THE VAN OVER AND SHUT IT OFF TO READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH STATES CERTAIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS A LOOSE OR MISSING GAS CAP, POOR FUEL QUALITY, ETC. MAY ILLUMINATE THE LIGHT AFTER ENGINE START. THE VECHILE SHOULD BE SERVICED IF THE LIGHT STAYS ON THROUGH SEVERAL OF YOUR TYPICAL DRIVING CYCLES. IN MOST SITUATIONS THE VECHILE WILL DRIVE NORMALLY AND WILL NOT REQUIRE TOWING. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES TO ALERT YOU TO SERIOUS CONDITIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER OR SEVERE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DAMAGE. THE VECHILE SHOUL BE SERVICED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF THIS OCCURS. AT NO TIME DID THIS LIGHT FLASH SO I CONTIUED DRIVING, ON THE WAY HOME THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME TO TOW THE VAN HOME IT WOULD ROLL WHEN IN PARK. WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VAN. WITHIN THREE DAYS WE WERE TOLD WE WERE NOT COVERED BECAUSE WE WERE OVER THE WARRANTY. THIS IS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SE THAT IS NOT EVEN THREE YEARS OLD WHICH COST US AN ADDITIONAL $2909.27 BECAUSE THE" TRANSMISSION HAS INTERNAL PROBLEM" AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10124258

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

Mileage

43,374 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW FIRST IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND NOW IT IS ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME. WENT TO GLENDALE DODGE IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED COST IS OVER $300.00 NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY ADVISED TO CONTACT DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ADVISED BY THEM THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON MY GRAND CARAVAN SPORT ADVISED BY GLENDALE DODGE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS BUT NOT ON MY VEHICLE. PLEASE ASSIST US WITH THIS PROBLEM. SINCE I READ IN YOUR COMPLAINTS THAT ANOTHER COMPLAINANT SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE PASSENGER TENSION BELT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER COMPAINANT SAID THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS RECALLED BUT HAD THE WRONG VIN NUMBER. PLEASE ASSIST US IN THIS MATTER IF YOU CAN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114730

Incident

Jan 9, 2004

Mileage

56,320 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10109655

Incident

May 4, 2002

KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION. HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR COST $79.00 WHAT CAUSED THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101000

Incident

Nov 30, 2004

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH INVIETA GLOW TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE OUTER SIDEWALL AND TREAD WORE PREMATURELY (BETWEEN 6000 AND 12000 MILES). GOODYEAR REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRE WITH TIRES DESIGNED FOR FULL SIZE VAN WITH HIGH CENTERS OF GRAVITY (GOODYEAR INVICTA GLOWLRPTLDD). *NM

NHTSA ID

10075955

Incident

May 15, 2004

Mileage

17,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP IF THE BRIGHTLIGHT SWITCH OR TURN SIGNAL IS USED. THIS CAUSED A CRITICAL SITUATION WHILE PASSING A SEMI-TRUCK DURING A RAINSTORM. SIGNALLED A LANE CHANGE AND THE WIPERS STOPPED, COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. VERY HAIRY SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

765995

Incident

Aug 18, 2002