Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

2 reports

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2002

Power Train

Read full complaint

IN AUGUST OF 2000 MY WIFE AND I TOOK A TRIP UTILIZING THIS VAN TO PULL OUR TRAVEL TRAILER OUT TO THE EAST COAST, (MAINE). PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ALL FLUID LEVELS WHERE CHECKED AND ADJUSTED. WHEN STOPPING FOR FUEL IN VERMONT I NOTICED (SMELLED) THE ODOR OF HOT GEAR GREASE. UPON INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THAT OIL WAS BEING BLOWN OUT PAST THE PINION SEAL. I PROCEEDED TO REFILL THE DIFFERENTIAL AND CONTINUED ON OUR TRIP CHECKING THE FLUID PRIOR TO EACH LEG OF OUR TRIP. UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM OUR TRIP I PURCHASED A NEW SEAL FROM OUR LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND REPLACED LEAKING PINION SEAL. THIS VEHICLE (AND THE TRAILER THAT IT TOWS) ARE STORED INSIDE ALL WINTER. IN GETTING THE VEHICLE READY FOR A TRIP IN MAY OF 2002 I OBSERVED THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND IN DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM IDENTIFIED THAT THE PINION SEAL IS LEAKING GEAR OIL AGAIN. THE ABS SENSOR ON THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD FAILED, I BELIEVE, FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT OF THE REAR AXEL. IN RESEARCHING WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE PINION SEAL COULD BE I HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT CHRYSLER OR ITS SUBCONTRACTOR DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF THE AXEL HOUSING FAILED TO PLACE A VENT IN EITHER THE AXEL TUBE OR THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING ALLOWING THE PRESSURE FROM THE HOT OIL TO PUSH THE OIL OUT OF THE HOUSING PAST THE PINION SEAL. IN TALKING TO OTHER DODGE OWNERS I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL FILL PLUG (PLASTIC) BEING BLOWN OUT FROM THE PRESSURE THEREBY ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. I SUSPECT THAT THE WAY THE DIFFERENTIAL NOW SINGS AND BY THE BLUEING OF THE METAL THAT IT IS HEADED FOR FAILURE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN CONVINCE DODGE TO DO A RECALL AND INSTALL VENTS ON THE AXEL TUBES OF THOSE TRUCKS THAT HAVEN'T YET HAD AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, AND TO ALSO TAKE CARE OF THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE HAD A PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #762630

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2000

Seats

SEAT LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BACK TO BREAK. NLM

NHTSA ODI #550971

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP03002 · Steering Column Separation

Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.