2000 Dodge Grand Caravan

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE SLID OFF OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED A PIN IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME OUT, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PIN BROKE THROUGH THE HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THEY NOW HAVE A RETROFIT KIT TO LOCK THE PIN IN. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CONSUMER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

MY LOCAL AUTO SERVICE SHOP RECENTLY IDENTIFIED A CORROSION CRACK IN THE LEFT STRUT HOUSING OF MY VAN. I WENT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY INDICATED THE STRUT COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK THROUGH THE HOOD ALLOWING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. THEY CONTACTED A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY HAD A CORROSION KIT FOR THAT PROBLEM. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT CHRYSLER HAD A PROGRAM TO HELP PAY FOR REPAIRS BUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NEAR 100,000 MILES AND IT MIGHT NOT QUALIFY. HE PURSUED IT AND CHRYLSER DID PROVIDE THE KIT AND $200 TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP, WHICH JUST PAID FOR THE KIT AND A SMALL BIT MORE. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $555.00 OF WHICH I PAID $355.00. THE BODY SHOP INDICATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE CHRYSLER INSTRUCTIONS, IF THE PROBLEM GOT MUCH WORSE BEFORE IT WAS CAUGHT, THE ENTIRE STRUT HOUSING MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, COSTING $2,000 OR MORE. IN TALKING TO THE ORIGINAL SERVICE SHOP, THEY HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS APPARENT DEFECT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY GETS WORSE WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND SINCE CHRYSLER VANS ARE SO POPULAR THIS COULD BE A LIFE SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THOSE NOT AWARE OF THE CORROSION DEFECT, ESPECIALLY SECOND OWNERS (LIKE ME). IF THIS IS A KNOWN POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHY ISN'T THE REPAIR COST TOTALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER AND SHOULDN'T OWNERS BE NOTIFIED EVEN IF THEY BOUGHT IT AS A USED CAR? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT DETECTED AN ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER DRIVING AND SUSPECTED THERE WAS A LEAK. BUT WAS UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V268000, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK

I BROUGHT MY 2000 GRAND CARAVAN IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. SERVICE MGR. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY LEFT STRUT TOWER/STRUT SEATING WAS BEGINNING TO RUST AND THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $700 TO REPAIR. STATED IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED SOON OR COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT FAILS. THE RIGHT ONE IS PERFECTLY FINE. I PROCEEDED TO DO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON "FAILURE". WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED OTHER THAN TSB 2304402? ISN'T THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL? WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE BEFORE I SPEND THIS MONEY THAT I DON'T FEEL IS MY FAULT OR CAUSE? *JB

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT ON DODGE CARAVANS HAVE A TENDENCY TO COME OFF IN HEAVY RAIN AND/OR SNOW. IT HAPPENED ON OUR VEHICLE THE OTHER DAY WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND NARROWLY MISSED GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY HAVE ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN ABOUT IT AND HAVE A KIT THAT THEY FEEL WILL REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER NO RE-CALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY $150 TO $200 TO REMEDY THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS A LEAK WITHIN THE ROOF, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE CARPETING. THERE IS A SLASHING SOUND WITHIN THE ROOF COMPARTMENT AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. THE CARPET HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES, AND THE TELEVISION WAS REPLACED ONCE AS A RESULT OF THE LEAK. *AK. UPDATED 11/30/2005 - GLAZED SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE LEFT MIDDLE SEAT HEAD REST CAME LOOSE FROM THE GUIDE ROD. THE DOOR STICKS AND THE SIDING DOOR MAKES NOISE WHEN OPENING. THE REAR WINDOW RATTLES WHEN OPENED. THE FOG LIHJT ARE IONPERTIVE. THE HORN SPUNDED WEAK BECAUSE THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE TAIL LIGHT HAD MOISTURE IN IT. THE LOCKING GAS CAP WAS HARD TO OPEN. THE REAR TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK. *NM

2000 GRAND CARAVAN HAS MULTIPLE RUST POINTS. THE MOST DANGEROUS OF WHICH IS THE RUSTING AND DETERIORATION OF THE FRONT LEFT STRUT. THE TOP PORTION OF THE STRUT COVER IS RUSTED AND FALLING APART, WITH A CRACK IN IT. OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR THAT ARE SHOWING MANY RUST AREAS INCLUDE: PASSENGER DOOR (CAN PUT FINGER THROUGH RUST), HOOD (BUBBLING PAINT AND CRACKING), PAINT PEELING FROM ANTENNA HOUSING, REAR HATCH RUST, LEFT REAR WHEEL BASIN. MY LARGEST CONCERN IS THE STRUT RUST FOR SAFETY ISSUES, BUT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RUSTING SO POORLY BEING ONLY 5 YEARS OLD! *NM