1999 Dodge Caravan

The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the serpentine belt failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. The serpentine belt was replaced however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer a third time where the serpentine belt was replaced again however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified the third time. Additionally, The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V268000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that a friend had jumped his vehicle due to the battery had failed when gasoline started to spill onto the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure multiple times but the contact stated that the service rep disconnected and the call would be redirected. The failure mileage was approximately 202,335.

PREPARING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ACCIDENTALLY CAUGHT BY MY SLEEVE AND PULLED DOWN TO THE "DRIVE" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, BUT IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD. BEING ON SOMEWHAT OF A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE PULLED ONTO A BUSY STREET. I GRABBED THE WHEEL TO TURN THE VAN AWAY FROM TRAFFIC, BUT IT HIT AND SCRAPED AGAINST A HIGH CURB, FLATTENING 2 TIRES, DAMAGING THE WHEELS/RIMS OF THOSE TIRES, BENDING A STRUT AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION (I GOT A REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM FIRESTONE, WHICH TOTALED OVER $1,900.00). I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE GEAR SHIFT TO MOVE WITHOUT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT MOVE IT DID AND SO DID THE VAN. OTHER THAN BEING FRIGHTENED AND SHAKEN, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT NO PHYSICAL INJURIES OCCURRED. HOWEVER, HAD I NOT HAD THAT SPLIT SECOND REACTION TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD COLLISION WITH AT LEAST TWO VEHICLES DRIVING DOWN THE BUSY STREET. WONDERING WHY THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT THE CAR RUNNING AND WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS GRIEVOUS OMISSION AND DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE EXTRA $9.00 PER VAN TO INSTALL A BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. I'M INCREDULOUS! I INTEND TO WRITE TO CHRYSLER IN HOPES OF BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGES SUSTAINED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT FIRST WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY. *TR

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

1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAD RECALL IN 2004 TO REPLACE A CLOCKSPRING, BUT DEALER AVOIDED THIS AFTER CUSTOMER'S 3 OR 4 TRIES IN 2004. ON 06-16-2010 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, (ALL [XXX] BROKE LOOSE!) THE MOTOR HIT HIGH REVOLUTIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY "LOCKED" UP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED AS IT TRAVELED BACKWARDS AND FINALLY HITTING AND TOTALING 2 VEHICLES AT OVER 50 MPH.NOTE: SINCE ABOUT 2007 A BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR ROAD (M-59) AND MY MINIVAN MADE A POPPING NOISE (MY INITIAL REACTION WAS MY TIRE BLOWN) AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND ENGINE CUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT NEAR BY. I NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING(WHICH LEFT A TRAIL AND A DECENT PUDDLE WHEN STOPPED). AFTER SPEAKING TO 6 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS THEY ALL STATED THAT THERE IS A PIN THAT IS KNOW TO SLIP AND SHOOT OUT CAUSING THE GEARS TO SLIP OUT THAT HAS BEEN KNOW WITH THE 99 DODGE CARAVAN .TWO MECHANICS BELIEVED THERE HAD BEEN A SILENT RECALL BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DODGE WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER REVIEWING ONLINE IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT. THERE IS A BRACKET THAT NOW FIXES THIS PROBLEM. I AM GRATEFUL WHAT HAPPENED DIDN'T CAUSE MY 6 YR OLD DAUGHTER AND I TO GET INTO A COLLISION. I TALKED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE LADY, SAMANTHA, I TALKED TO WAS AWARE THAT THIS ISSUE DOES EXIST. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CONSUMER HAS TO EXPERIENCE THIS EXPENSIVE, DANGEROUS EVENT AND BE LEFT TO BEAR THE COST TO FIX THIS. ALL OF THE REPAIR SHOPS STATE THERE ARE BRACKETS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE! THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS ABOUT TO FALTER. THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCE OF A FAULTY DESIGN. IF THERE IS SOLUTION THEN DODGE SHOULD HAVE/OR BE FIXING THIS NOT THE CONSUMER! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH I HEARD A LOUD THUMP. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE VAN STOPPED PULLING ITSELF. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT A PIN IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD BROKE AND TORE UP THE HOUSING OF TRANSMISSION CAUSING ALL OF THE FLUID TO POUR OUT ONTO THE ROAD. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THINK THAT IF IT IS COMMON DODGE SHOULD HELP PAY FOR SOME OF THE DAMAGE. *TR

OUR BELTS SIPS OFF DURING WET WEATHER"FIVE TIMES WE REPLACED THE "S" BELT AND THE TENSIONERS,WATERPUMP,OVERHEATING OUR 2ND YR OF OWERSHIP.NOW THE 3RD YR OF TRANSMISSIONS LEAKING,THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH W/CHILDREN IN CAR ,STARTING TO BRAKE CAUSING TO SLOW WAY DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND MADE A CHIME SOUND,THE HORN WENT OFF AND IT GOT HOT FAST CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN. THANK GOD THERE WAS ROOM TO GET OVER. ALL THE LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING ALL OVER THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR JUST LEAKS EVERYWHERE,WATER,OIL,TRANS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE CARS. I CANT EVEN GET MINE SMOG BECAUSE I HAVE TO KEEP UNPLUGGING MY BATTERY BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOMEWHERE. I BROUGHT A LEMON.....OH YEAH! I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY CANT REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL UNLESS THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. I HOPE I DON'T DIE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS WONT WORK BECAUSE I HAVE A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. 2 BATTERIES WERE REPLACED,ALTERNATOR TOO. THE CLOCKSPRING WONT WORK FOR MY CAR ONLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SO SAID THE DEALER. I WOULD FEEL BAD SELLING THIS CAR TO A FAMILY ,CAUSE WHAT IF THEY WERE KILLED. I COULDN'T DEAL WITH THAT. THE DAY THAT HAPPENED WAS ON MY DAUGHTER 16TH BIRTHDAY. I HAD TO STOP EVERYWHERE ALL DAY TO PUT WATER IN THE RADIATOR JUST TO KEEP IT COOL ENOUGH NOT TO RUIN HER DAY. I HATE HOT DAYS,I FEAR THE RAINY DAYS, I CANT SEE AT NIGHT CAUSE MY HEADLIGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE BURNED OUT AND THE COVERS HAS A GLASS OVER THEM. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND AT ANY SPEED THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND IT ACCELERATED A FEW TIMES BEFORE SHE COULD DRIVE FORWARD. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FAILURES ON THE RUBBER TRANSMISSION LINES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE DRIVER TO HER CALL THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THE NHTSA HOTLINE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THE LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,500. *AK

I AM A LICENSED DAY CARE PROVIDER WHO TRANSPORTS SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN DAILY. MY VEHICLE IS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. ON TUESDAY, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH FIVE CHILDREN INSIDE. I WAS HORRIFIED. MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WILL COST UPWARDS OF AROUND $2000. I DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE DISCOVERED SOME DISTURBING FACTS. CHRYSLER VANS FROM 1998-2002 HAVE A REPUTATION OF HAVING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAPPEN. THE CAUSE IS A DIFFERENTIAL PIN THAT SHOOTS THROUGH THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NOTHING THE CONSUMER CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS. NEWER MODELS OF THE CARAVAN 2003 AND LATER HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSIONS BUT THEY NOW HAVE METAL PLATES INSTALLED WHICH KEEP THE PINS FROM BREAKING THROUGH THE CASING. I TRIED TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM CHRSYLER DIRECTLY, BUT ACCORDING TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I ASKED THEM WHY THEN WERE THERE SEVERAL STORIES ON THE INTERNET OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I JUST EXPERIENCED. THEY REPLIED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. MY TRANSMISSION DID NOT WEAR OUT, IT FAILED. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINS SHOT OUT AND BROKE THE TRANSMISSION CASING. IF YOU CALL LOCALLY OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TRY TO LOCATE A USED TRANSMISSION FOR 1998-2002 CHRYSLER VANS YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT THE MAJORITY HAVE THE BROKEN CASES CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL PINS. THUS, THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT HAS THE CORRECTED PLATES INSIDE. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT AT LITHIA DODGE, THEY HAVE ON AN AVERAGE 2 OR MORE OF THESE VANS COMING IN WITH THE SAME DEFECT. THEY CHARGE THE CUSTOMER TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THAT THEY KNOW HAS A DEFECT, YET THEY DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHRYSLER'S ON THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT CAN FAIL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE REAR END PIN CAME LOOSE IN THE TRANSAXLE AND CRACKED THE HOUSING. LOST ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE HAD 49,992 MILES AND DODGE WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THEY DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ALMOST $3000. I HAD IT REBUILT WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR $1600. *JB