2003 Dodge Caravan

ON NOVEMBER 2, 2006 MY WIFE (7 MONTHS PREGNANT) WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER SEDAN. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. I BELIEVE THAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYMENT AND VEHICLE DESIGN MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS BROKEN ARMS/WRIST AND FOOT. IN ADDITION TO WIFE'S INJURIES, THREE OTHER PASSENGERS ALSO SUFFERED BROKEN LIMBS AND SHOULDERS. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE 2003 DODGE CARAVAN BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON JULY 19, 2003. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE RIGHT BRAKE CALIPER OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROTOR. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT IN DECEMBER 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRECISION TUNE AUTO CARE AT 10515-B CENTRUM PARKWAY PINESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28134. THE VEHICLE HAD 31015 MILES. THE ROTORS BEGAN TO SMOKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE PADS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WERE OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE THE SQUEAKER NEVER ALERTED THE CONTACT OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT ON SEVEN MONTHS LATER ON AUGUST 2006 THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED DUE TO SQUEAKING. ON THE 20 MARCH OF 2007 THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND THEN TAKEN TO PRECISION TUNE. THEY CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BOLT MISSING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVER SIDE CALIPER HOUSING. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MAJOR BRAKE COMPANIES TO BETTER SECURE THESE BOLTS ON TO CALIPER HOUSING UNITS TO AVOID ANY OF THESE BOLTS FROM COMING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUGGESTED SAFETY STANDARDS FOR BRAKES PADS, AND CALIPER INSTALLATION TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAPIR SHOP WOULD BE USING A LOCK TIGHT LIQUID ON THE MOUNTING BOLTS. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE ALUMINUM ON THE WHEELS DETERIORATED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DETERIORATION WAS CAUSED BY THE SALT ON THE ROAD. THE SALT FROM ROAD GOT IN BETWEEN THE COATING OVER THE ALUMINUM, WHICH CAUSED CORROSION TO THE ALUMINUM. THIS CAUSED THE TIRES TO CONSTANTLY GO FLAT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. *AK

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007 I AM PLANNING TO UP GRADE MY CARAVAN SE TO A NEWER CAR AND BEFORE I CHANGE TO A NEW PROBLEM I WHAT TO SOLVE MY OLD PROBLEM!!! THE CARAVAN TO ME IS AN EXCELLENT CAR ON THE HIGHWAY VERY COMFORTABLE AND STABLE. IN 2003 I PERCHES A NEW CARAVAN FIST I RESEARCHED TO CHECK ON POSSIBLE DEFECTS. WITH 18 THOUSAND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AT 20.000 THE METAL STARTED TO RUB ON THE ROTOR. INTERESTINGLY ONLY THE INNER PASSENGER SIDE SHOES HAD EXCESSIVE WHERE. TO ME THIS WAS UNUSUAL ON ALL MY NEW CARS I NEVER NEEDED BRAKES BEFORE 30 THOUSAND. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT A NEW SHOES, THE ONLY SHOES THAT WOULD FIT WAS SPECIFIED FOR. DISC BRAKES ON THE BACK MODEL, WHICH MINE, HAVE DRUMS. AND THE BRAKES SPECIFIED FOR DRUMS ON THE BACK DID NOT FIT! I HAVE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHY MY CAR HAS DISC ON FRONT MADE FOR MODEL THAT HAD DISC ON THE BACK IF MINE HAS DRUMS ON THE BACK??? THE CAR ALWAYS SKIDDED WHEN BRAKES WEAR APPLIED HEAVILY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I PUT THE BEST MICHELINS ON THE CAR. IT DOS NOT SKID BECAUSE OF THE MICHELINS EXCEPT THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR!! NOW I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR DOS NOT STOP WHEN YOU POT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR I PUT NEW BRAKES AND ROTOR AT SEARS AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM! CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? BEFORE I GET INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT!!! TO ME IT SEEMS ONLY ONE WHEEL IS STOPPING THE CAR!!! AND FOR A FAIRLY NEW CAR THIS IS A DESIGNER PROBLEM!!! THIS MODEL CAR HAS BIN MADE FOR ALL MOST 20 YEAR AND THERE IS NO RISEN FOR DESIGNER FLOWS. IF YOU CANNOT ANSWER THIS SIMPLE PROBLEM I WILL NOT BE ACQUIRING ANY MORE CHRYSLER ORE MERCEDES PRODUCTS IN MY LIFETIME!!! THANKING IN ADVANCE. *JB

AFTER AUTO REPAIR SHOP CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IN MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 3.3L ENGINE (AT AROUND 45,000 MILES), THERE IS VERY ROUGH DOWNSHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THEY USED MOPAR OEM TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER. THE PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY VISIBLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 3RD GEAR. THERE WAS ALSO A LITTLE BEAT ROUGH DOWNSHIFTING BEFORE CAR CAME TO STOP, SO I BELIEVE BETWEEN THE 2ND AND 1ST GEAR. THIS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN IT OCCURS, BECAUSE THE WHEELS CAN SPIN ON THE WET OR SNOWY ROADS. DEFINITELY IT SHOULD BE RECALLED, SINCE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET: "THE PROBLEM YOU DESCRIBED IS CALLED "BUMP SHIFT" AND IS PRETTY COMMON WITH THE 604/41TE. DEPENDING ON THE YEAR, THE TCM MAY NEED "FLASHED" OR THE SOLENOID PACK MAY BE FAULTY. YOU'LL NEED TO SEE THE DEALER TO CHECK THE TCM, WHILE YOUR THERE YOU CAN GET THE CODES CHECKED.", "THE TRANS CONTROLLER WILL TAKE FOR EVER TO DO A RELEARN ON ITS OWN. YOU WILL GET TO THE POINT OF DUMPING IT IN THE RIVER BEFORE THE BUMP SHIFT WILL GO AWAY. BASICALLY IT IS A 4TH TO 3RD GEAR DOWNSHIFT BUMP, AND THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET RID OF IT IS TO HAVE YOUR DEALER DO A QUICKLEARN ON THE TRANS CONTROL MODULE. TAKES ALL OF 45 SECONDS TO RESET THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER AND GIVE IT A NEW SET OF BASELINE VALUES. DO NOT ADD ANY AFTERMARKET ADDITIVES TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID.", "HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTING MODULE. FIXED THE PROBLEM AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM MANY DRIVERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND ON: HTTP://WWW.DODGEFORUM.COM/M_599921/TM.HTM. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK WHEN IT RAINS. ALSO, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN IT RAINS. THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT STATED IT VARIES WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME BACK ON, IT COULD BE A COUPLE OF MINUTES OR A COUPLE OF HOURS. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED ON FEB 15, 2007. UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB

TL * - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON. THE VEHICLE HAS 59,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED NO PARTICULAR WEATHER CONDITION NOR SPEED WERE INVOLVED WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOSE POWER. THE CONTACTWAS NOT SURE IF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHWENT OUT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED A MODULE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHAT TYPE OF MODULE, HOWEVER, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN\\\ TWO MORE TIMES TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT HAD A PROBLEM WITH HIS BRAKES WENT TO A MIDAS SHOP. THE CONTACT LATER EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES. MASTER CYLINDER WAS LOW, AND THE MIDAS SHOPS DID NOT BLEED THE BRAKES . THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS A SPONGY PEDAL AND THAT THE MIDAS SHOP NEVER BLED AIR OUT OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.