2003 Dodge Caravan

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V386000 CONCERNING THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE SOLUTION CALLED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MAKE THIS NOISE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. *AK UPDATED DEC 7 2005. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES INCLUDING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT DISCOVERED THERE WAS AN INCORRECT ALIGNMENT OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BRAKE SYSTEM THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. OVER A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR HAS HAD A STEERING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A WHINING NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND CONTINUES FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MINUTES. THE NOISE GETS LOUDER AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, AND FEEL A SLIGHT VIBRATION UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. THIS IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN HE TURNS THE WHEEL. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED TWO POWER STEERING PUMPS, AND PROVIDED A REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION, THE LAST TIME AT THE SERVICE DEALER THEY REPLACED A POWER STEERING HOSE AND INSTALLED AN NC FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. NONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS OR REPAIRS HAS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIRS HAS BEEN COVERED 50/50 BY THE CONSUMER AND THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. AS OF THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2005, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES TO WHERE MY WIFE AND I WERE TO DROP OFF OUR DAUGHTER AT A FRIENDS HOUSE. UPON ARRIVING AT MY FRIENDS HOUSE, MY SON AND 3 OTHER PASSENGERS REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE AND DUE TO THE WEATHER, THE CAR REMAINED RUNNING WITH THE AC ON. WHEN WE ENTERED OUR FRIENDS HOUSE, WE OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WE IMMEDIATE RAN TO THE VEHICLE TO GET OUR SON AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS OUT. WE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES AND PLACED A 911 CALL TO THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. *NM

HEADING OFF TO THE MALL ONE EVENING, I DROPPED OFF MY WIFE AND MY SON, KEEPING MY OTHER SON AND HIS FRIEND WITH ME. AS I PULLED AWAY, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I COULD SEE MELTING PLASTIC AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE SMALL FIRE BALLS DROPPING TO THE GROUND UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND GOT THE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR . CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE FLAMES WERE 10-15 FEET IN THE AIR. THERE WAS A RE-CALL ON THIS CAR ABOUT A STEERING HOSE I BELIEVE THAT I HAD DONE. OTHER THAN THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. IT WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED.*JB

CONSUMER REQUEST CHRYSLER CONTACT QUADRIPLEGIC CUSTOMERS & COMPANIES THAT MODIFY VANS RE AIR CONDITIONER LUBRICATION DEFECT, WANTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR HIS 2003 DODGE CARAVAN EX. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL IN RE TO A/C LUBRICATION PROBLEM. IT ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 70000 MILES. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO WAIT TO HAVE THE A/C REPAIRED. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY HE DECIDED TO TURN ON THE A/C. WHEN HE DID THE COMPRESSOR LICKED UP AND RIPPED OFF THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALTERNATOR AND BRAKES, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOED TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BELT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR TOWING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. SECONDLY THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY OF THE COMPONENTS WHICH WERE DAMAGED S A RESULT OF THE A/C FAILURE NOT REPAIRED BY A CHRYSLER. (THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED BY BRAUN CORPORATION). *NM

DT: NOTICED THAT AROUND SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 THAT THE DESIGNED SEAT OF THE SECOND ROW SEATS HINGE IN THE FRONT SEAT LOCKS ON THE BACK. WHEN LOCKING THE SEAT IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE LOCK. BUT, IN REALITY, THEY ARE NOT LOCKING IN THE BACK OF SECOND ROW SEAT. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY LOCKED. WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE SEAT AND ITS IS NOT LOCKED IT WILL ROTATE FORWARD. THE ROW IN FRONT FEATURES A HARD PLASTIC HANDLE THAT IF THE CHILDREN WOULD HIT WOULD CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE WHEN NOT PROPERLY LOCKED DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE CONSUMER'S CHILD IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE SEAT WAS ON HIM. HE HIT THE BACK FRONT SEAT, AND THIS BROKE TEETH. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY JUST COMPLAINT. *AK