Dodge Caravan 2004 — Reported problems

Hello, After installing 4 new tires on my van I immediately noticed a jerk my vehicle was experiencing at highway speeds. mostly when turning , changing lanes or moving the steering wheel like adjusting lane positions. I had double checked the tire air pressure and lug nuts, even added extra 5 lbs. to the tires but still has this strange feel when driving. I am returning the tires for an exchange tomorrow, I do not trust these tires, makes me very nervous to drive with them at higher speeds, my alignment is perfect as I had that checked at purchase also (lifetime vehicle alignments)

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WAS LEAVING WORK, WHEN I SAT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE SEAT BROKE AND FELL BACK. THE BROKEN PART IS ACTUALLY THE FRAME OF THE SEAT, NOT THE TILT MECHANISM. THE TUBULATION THAT COMPRISED THE SEAT FRAME CATASTROPHICALLY BROKE ADJACENT TO THE WELDMENT. THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL.

FUEL LEAKING FROM TOP OF FUEL TANK

ENGINE OFTEN HESITATES AFTER YOU HAVE DRIVEN A FEW BLOCKS AFTER REFUELING. THIS FORM ASKS FOR A SINGLE SPECIFIC DATE BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED EVERY FEW WEEKS FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO. DEPENDING UPON THE TRAFFIC SITUATION WHEN THE HESITATION OCCURS, AND ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE LIQUID/VAPOR SEPARATOR VALVE ON THE GAS TANK IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS VALVE IS A PART OF THE TANK AND CANNOT BE REPLACED AS A SEPARATE ITEM, SO THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS SUBSTANTIAL. A BRIEF SEARCH ON THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF DODGE CARAVANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN ABOUT 2004 AND 2007 ARE REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM.

2004 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL TANK EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE THAT APPLIES TO VEHICLE STALLING AFTER REFUELING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED AND HAS SINCE CONTINUED. THE STALLING OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EGR SENSOR.*JB

INTERMITTENT HORN TURNING ON. CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH FRONT CONTROL MODULE. THEY THINK HORNPAD IS AT FAULT AND WILL FURTHER SHORT CLOCKSPRING AND FRONT CONTROL MODULE

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING CLOCKSPRING. THIS DISABLES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS WAS RECALLED ON EARLIER MODEL CARAVANS BUT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED ON 2001 AND NEWER MODELS WHICH HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE AND HAS HAD INACTIVE AIRBAGS. RECENTLY, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD DURING A POWER STEERING RESERVOIR REPLACEMENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF CLEARLY DUE TO SHORTED WIRING AT THE CLOCKSPRING TERMINALS.

AS I WENT TO STOP THE FRONT WHEELS SLID LIKE THEY WERE ON ICE. I WAS ON A PUBLIC RD. [BLACK TOP] I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN THE FALL OF 2013 AND AM STARTING TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT EVERY TIME I FILL MY GAS TANK UP MY VEHICLE SHUTS OFF! TODAY I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT AND WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO THE HIGHWAY THE VAN SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP! I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! I CAN'T FILL MY GAS TANK UP BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP DUE TO CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,755.

WHEN I CHANGED MY VEHICLE BATTERY TO A NEW ONE THE GAS ONLY DROPS TO A HALF A TANK ITS WILL NOT GO DOWN TO EMPTY BUT MY LOW FUEL LIGHT WORKS STILL MY GAS GAUGE DOES NOT. HOW DO I FIX IT OR RESET IT. *TR

EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS FUELED UP, THE VEHICLE PUTTERS AND SHUTS OFF, CAUSING ALL POWER STEERING TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. OCCURS THE FIRST COUPLE MILES. *TR

MY FIRST GAS TANK FILL AFTER PURCHASING THE USED VEHICLE RESULTED WITH CONSTANT STALLING FOR THE NEXT 1/2 MILE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. I DO NOT OVERFILL THE TANK. THE VEHICLE NOW STALLS ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME AFTER I FILL THE TANK. AFTER ABOUT 6/10TH OF A MILE ,THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF. ONE TIME I COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT WHEN AFTER LEAVING THE GAS STATION I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL AND HAD TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT & I HAD TO PUT THE GEAR SELECTOR IN NEUTRAL TO TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS MOVING & MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT THE SAME TIME ! I AM NOW FORCED TO PARK THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER FILL UP BEFORE I CAN SAFELY TAKE IT BACK ON THE ROADWAY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE 2004 -2007 CHRYSLER & DODGE MINIVANS. I HAVE VIEWED MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR LIFE BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? THERE IS A DEFECTIVE VALVE IN THE GAS TANKS & THE TANKS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ! *TR

NOT 100% BUT PROBABLY 40% - 60% OF THE TIME I REFUEL - ESPECIALLY A FULL TANK - THE CAR WILL TEND TO HESITATE AND STALL WITHIN THE FIRST 90 SECONDS OF GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD. SEEMS LIKE IT HAS NOT DONE IT A LOT LATELY BUT I JUST HAD SOME WORK DONE BY THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER INCLUDING NEW WIRES AND PLUGS. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP IT RAN FINE. I PUT IN PROBABLY 3/4 TANK OF GAS IN IT AND IT BEGAN HESITATING AND STALLING WORSE THAN IT HAD IN SOME TIME. THE WEATHER WAS ALSO QUITE A BIT COOLER THAN IT HAD BEEN IN 6 MONTHS. I ALSO READ AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHICH I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SINCE 2007 WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR USED. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT IT IN THE PAST AND THE COULD IDENTIFY NOTHING SPECIFIC. FIGURED I WOULD REGISTER THE COMPLAINT SINCE I HEARD OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

2004 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GAS GAUGE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS.*JB

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR KEEPS COMING OFF TRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. JUST OPERATING THE DOOR CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN, AND IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION TOO, WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS MODIFIED BY BRAUN FOR HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY. THERE IS A METAL RAMP WHICH WILL COME DOWN IF THE DOOR OPENS. *TR

AS MENTIONED BY SEVERAL OTHER POSTINGS, THE CARAVAN ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AFTER THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS FUELED. IT WILL STALL OUT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING AFTER LEAVING THE GAS STATION. IT HAS STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC, AT STOP LIGHTS, AND NOW I AVOID TRAVELING ON THE ROADWAY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER FUELING IF POSSIBLE, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO TRAVEL THROUGH PARKING LOTS OR BACK ROADS BEFORE ENTERING ANY MAIN ARTERIES. A SERVICE REPAIRMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. ANOTHER MECHANIC MENTIONED IT MIGHT BE A VALVE IN THE TOP OF THE TANK THAT IS DEFECTIVE BUT THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE GAS TANK AS THE PART IS NOT A SEPARATE PIECE. BASED ON MY OWN ONLINE RESEARCH, I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEED OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE WHEN MY GAS LIGHT WENT ON AND THE VAN STARTED TO SPUTTER. THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND MY SPEED DECREASED TO APPX 40 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR AND CARS SPEEDING BY ME. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. A POLICE OFFICER STOPPED TO ASSIST ME AND TRY TO GET ME TOWED. I MADE IT TO THE NEXT GAS STATION. I ADDED GAS AND OIL. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS SHAKING AND NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT ABOVE 40 MPH, I DECIDED TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME UNTIL A DECISION COULD BE MADE ABOUT WHAT TO DO. THE NEXT MORNING WE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED. THE BOLTS THAT HELD IT IN FAILED. I AM LUCKY. NOW WE HAVE THE ENGINE BACK UP IN PLACE AND ARE DETERMINING WHAT ELSE IS BROKEN DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *TR

I ORIGINALLY FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PAD MANUFACTURER BUT IT SEEMS TO BE THE COMPOSITE PISTON IN THE CALIPER THAT IS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE BRAKES TO OVERHEAT. THE PEDAL TRAVEL GOES TO ZERO AND THE BRAKE IS LOCKED. THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND A HAZARD. IT WOULD BE EASY FOR THESE BRAKES TO FAIL IN HIGHWAY CONDITIONS AND HAVE THE GREASE MELT OUT OF THE BEARINGS FROM THE HEAT AND BRAKE FLUID TO BOIL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND MAINTAINED. IT IS CHRYSLER THAT IN THE INTEREST OF PROFIT CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE STALLS NUMBERIOUS TIMES IN TRAFFIC CAUSING A HAZZARD. THIS WOULD BE EXCEPTABE HOWEVER THERE SEEM TO BE MANY OF THE VEHICLE THAT DOES THE SAME THING SEE HTTP://FORUM.CHRYSLERMINIVAN.NET *TT .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,224. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I REPLACED THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 DODGE CARAVAN WITH DURALAST BRAKES FROM AUTO ZONE. THERE IS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE TOLERANCES ON THE PADS. I HAVE BEEN INSTALLING BRAKES FOR 50 YEARS. THERE IS A SEVER DEFECT WITH THESE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE PADS WILL NOT ALLOW THE CALIPER TO RETRACT THE PADS WEDGE AGAINST THE ROTOR-DISC. THEY CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE FROM THE EXTREME HEAT. I CONTACTED AUTO ZONE AND INSTALLED ANOTHER SET . THIS TIME IT CAUSED THE BRAKE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE TO OVERHEAT. I GOT A THIRD SET THIS TIME I MEASURED THE PADS WITH A VERNIER CALIPER ACCURATE TO 1/1000 INCH AND THEY VARIED BY A 1/10 OF AN INCH WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. THAT JUST ACCOUNTS FOR UNACCEPTABLE MEASUREMENTS AND NOT SPECIAL OR ORIENTATIONAL DEFECTS WHICH I SUSPECT EXIST BUT HAVE NO EXACT PATTERN TO COMPARE. THESE BRAKES ARE AN EXTREME HAZARD. *TR

I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AT COSTCO WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED IN 2012. IN THE SPRING OF 2013, I WAS GOING TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE REAR OF MY 2004 MINIVAN, AND COULD NOT GET TWO OF THE LUG NUTS OFF. SO I JUST PUT IT OFF FOR A WHILE. ON JULY 30, 2013, I WENT OUT TO GET IN MY VAN AND HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THAT SAME WHEEL. I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE TIRE AND TWO OF THE STUD BOLTS BROKE. I REMOVED THE REST OF THE LUGNUTS AND TOOK THE TIRE TO BE REPAIRED AT COSTCO. ON THE 31ST, I TOOK MY VAN TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM, SO I WANTED THEM TO PUT NEW BRAKES ON AND REPLACE THE WHEEL STUDS. AS THEY WERE DOING THE REPAIR, TWO MORE OF THE STUDS BROKE. THIS IS NOW 4 WHEEL STUDS ON THE SAME WHEEL. NONE OF THE LUG NUTS WERE REMOVABLE FROM THESE BOLTS. I THOUGHT THAT COSTCO HAD OVERTIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE AND SEEING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I AM WONDERING IF THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE. IN 50 YEARS OF DRIVING CARS AND REPAIRING A LOT OF THEM MYSELF, I HAVE NEVER HAD A BROKEN WHEEL STUD. I AM THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. IF THESE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE, HOW STRONG ARE THEY WHEN I AM DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

MYSTERIOUSLY MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING LAST NIGHT. HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN THE DARK WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS. AS WELL AS MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID PUMP WILL NOT TURN ON. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. WHY HASN'T DODGE DONE A RECALL IT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM IS FAR TOO WIDESPREAD AND COMMON IN THESE VANS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS, WHENEVER HE FILLED THE FUEL TANK THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT THE NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

MY FAMILY BEGAN NOTICING A GAS SMELL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN IN A CLOSED GARAGE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FROM SOME GAS SPILL ON FUELING. I DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKS ON THE GROUND OR IN THE ENGINE AREA. I JUST HAD THE VAN SERVICED AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THERE IS A VERY SLOW LEAK (SEEPAGE) COMING AT THE CONNECTION OFF THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE. THIS LOOKS LIKE A TWIST-OFF CONNECTION. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $96/HR TO PINPOINT AND DIAGNOSIS THE EXACT PROBLEM. I JUST FOUND ANOTHER PERSON ON THE WEB WITH THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN "EXACT DIAGNOSIS" OR REPAIR MADE. *TR UPDATED 03/26/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS INSPECTED AND REPLACED BY A LOCAL DEALER. THEY CONFIRMED THE PUMP WAS LEAKING THROUGH A CRACKED HOUSING. THE GAS TANK WAS STAINED BY THE FUEL LEAKING DOWN UPON IT.

WHEN ONE DRIVES AWAY AFTER REFUELING THE GAS TANK THE VEHICLE QUITS RUNNING. IT WILL RESTART. THIS WILL HAPPEN FOR THE FIRST TEN MILES OR SO. OTHER DODGES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 60MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON ALL BY THEMSELVES AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WHEN WE STOPPED AND TURNED THE VAN CONPLETELY OFF THEY WERE STILL GOING. EVERYTHING WAS POSITIONED ON OFF THERE WAS NO POWER ON IN THE VAN AT ALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, I FELT SLUGGISH ACCELERATION FROM A STOP LIGHT. THE NEXT STOP LIGHT THE BRAKES FELT HARD, AND AGAIN ACCELERATION WAS SLOW. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING I SMELLED MY BRAKES BURNING AND I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF BOTH FRONT WHEEL WELLS. BRAKES LOCKED, PADS AND ROTORS BURNT, MASTER CYLINDER NOT ALLOWING FLUID TO RETURN. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED WITH FRONT PADS AND OTHER WORK. EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED 15 WEEKS LATER. DIFFERENT SHOP. REPLACED ABS UNIT. SAME PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED 8 WEEKS LATER AFTER MINIMAL DRIVING. SHOP FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT NO WRITE UP BECAUSE HE FIXED FOR FREE. 1 YEAR LATER, SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES LOCKED, BRAKES BURNING, BRAKES SMOKING. IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS CAR. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT ANOTHER 2004 DODGE CARAVAN THAT STALLS AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE STALLING OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING-I.E. IN THE MIDDLE OF CROSSING AN INTERSECTION OR,SAY, PULLING OUT OF THE GAS STATION INTO TRAFFIC! SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER THIS MORNING ABOUT IT AND THEY SEEM OBLIVIOUS TO THE PROBLEM. KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE "CARAVAN STALLS AFTER FILLING UP" AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC ONLY SEEMS TO BE AWARE AFTER THE OCCURRENCE! PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO CHECK INTO THIS BEFORE SOME LITTLE KID GETS HURT. *TR

POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE LEAKING - REPLACED TWO TIMES IN THREE YEARS - NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM, ADVISED BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT REPAIR AND IS SERIOUS. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2004 DODGE CARAVAN THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. THE VEHICLE STALLS AND RUNS ROUGH FOR SEVERAL MILES AND SOMETIMES MANY MORE. I BELIEVE THE DEFECT IS THE LIQUID/VAPOR VALVE BUILT INTO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. IT FAILS AND ALLOWS FUEL INTO THE EVAC CANISTER AND VAPOR LINES WHICH COULD EXPLODE OR CAUSE A FIRE AS THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD GASOLINE. CHRYSLER SEEMS TO CARE LESS. I'M SURE WHEN PEOPLE START TO BURN TO DEATH SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE A FLAT TIRE HOWEVER, SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE CABLE WOULD NEED TO BE SEVERED IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE WIRE SEVERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THE ISSUE IS WITH THE DODGE CARAVANS 2004 ECM'S, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THESE PARTS GOING OUT ON THESE VANS. I JUST HAD MINE GO OUT ON MY WAY TO OSU HOSPITAL TWO HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL ONE MIN MY VAN IS FINE THE NEXT IT JERKED,ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND VAN DROPS IN LOW GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT. HAD TESTED BY DEALER WITH SIMULATOR AND IT WAS THE ECM, I DID SOME CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL,TO MY SURPRISE NO RECALL BUT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. THE ISSUE IS: IF KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR PRICE IS VERY COSTLY WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL? IN MY CASE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THANKFULLY, NOW HAD WE NOT BEEN IN TRAFFIC THAT WAS SLOW MOVING WE WOULD HAVE FOR SURE CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN IT DROPPED IN TO LOW GEAR. THESE VANS A NORMALLY USED FOR FAMILIES AND MOST OF US CAN NOT AFFORD THE PRICE IT COST TO HAVE OUR VAN FIXED. I MYSELF DID ALOT OF CHECKING AROUND ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE EVEN CONSIDERING TO FILE THIS AND DECIDED THAT WE AS THE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS IT SHOULD BE THE MAKERS RESPONSIBILITY TO DO A RECALL AND FIX IT. THE PART ALONE WAS TO COST $750.00, TEST DONE TO SEE IF THAT'S WHAT IT WAS COST $140.00 AND GRAND TOTAL WITH LABOR $1200.00 NOW THANKFUL I HAD THE RESOURCES TO GET THIS BUT TO THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT THEY ARE OUT OF FAMILY TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

I USE THE EVENFLO CHASE DLX BOOSTER CAR SEAT FOR MY 3 YEAR OLD. MOST OF THE TIME WE DON'T HAVE OCCASION TO REMOVE THE SEAT, BUT BECAUSE I WAS LEAVING HER WITH MY MOM OVERNIGHT, I WANTED TO TAKE THE SEAT OUT FOR HER USE. WHEN I TRIED TO REINSTALL THE SEAT THE FOLLOWING EVENING, THE LOWER "TETHER" SNAPPED COMPLETELY OUT AT THE PLASTIC "BOLT" ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THERE WAS NO WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAD TO INSTALL THE SEAT WITH THE SEAT BELT AND "H CLIP". MY CONCERN IS IF I HADN'T UNINSTALLED/REINSTALLED THE SEAT, USING THE VEHICLE TETHER SYSTEM, AND I HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP OR BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, MY DAUGHTER MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE SEAT IS STILL USABLE WITH THE SEAT BELT, HOWEVER, THIS MATTER IS OF GREAT CONCERN. I DON'T WANT ANY OTHER PARENT TO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND THINK THEIR CHILD IS SAFE. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2004, MAKE=DODGE, MODEL=CARAVAN). *TR

CLOSED ALL DOORS USING THE KEY FOB AND WENT TO CHURCH. THE REAR SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB. GOT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND YOU CAN NOT MANUALLY PULL THE LEVER UP. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT APPEARS THE PASSENGER DOOR IS BEGINNING TO MALFUNCTION ALSO. KEY FOB WON'T OPEN IT, BUT YOU CAN OPEN MANUALLY. TIRES WEAR OUT QUICKLY IN THE FRONT. I ALSO LOST A TAIL LIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. IT JUST SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME THING BEGINNING TO HAPPEN TO THE OTHER TAIL LIGHT. DODGE IS MAKING A KILLING ON THESE. THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 113 DOLLARS!!! NOW MY AIR CONDITIONER HAS COLD AIR , BUT NOT BLOWING. *TR

EVAPORATOR CORE LEAKS ALLOWING FREON TO LEAK OUT INTO SEALED INTERIOR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DESIGN FLAW DUE TO LOCATION OF TEMPERATURE PROBE THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE CORE. EVAPORATOR CORE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. *TR

2004 DODGE CARAVAN SXT. ' WHINE' NOISE AND HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. NOISE IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN COLD WEATHER AND WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. VEHICLE HAS 54 THOUSAND MILES NOW. DEALER DID A FACTORY BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE AT ABOUT 30 THOUSAND, DID NOT FIX PROBLEM AND RESULTED IN THE SMELL OF FLUID/CHEMICAL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THAT WAS VERY SLOW TO GO AWAY. DISGUSTING ! *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR GETS WET. THIS IS THE THIRD CHRYSLER PRODUCT THAT WE HAVE HAD THAT DOES THIS. WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND WHY IS IT STILL HAPPENING. THE CARPET IS GETTING MOLDY AND COULD MAKE SOMEONE SICK. WE WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 DODGE CARAVAN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWO DAYS AGO. BROUGHT IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING WHICH IS HOUSED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN AND ALSO NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED AT TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AT THE DEALER. THIS ITEM CONTROLS THE PROPER AIRBAG AND HORN FUNCTION AND SHOULD NOT "BREAK" UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I WAS CHARGED 450.00 FOR THIS REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND THIS PART DOES NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE. *TR