2008 Dodge Caravan

WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCK IT THE HORN HONKED BUT IT DID UNLOCK AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IT STARTED BUT THE HORN HONKED AGAIN. I COULDN'T GET THE HEATER OR RADIO TO WORK. I PUT IT INTO REVERSE IT HONKED AND KEPTED HONKING. I TURNED IT OFF AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD CLEAR EVERYTHING. THEN I COULDN'T GET IT STARTED. WE WENT BACK INTO THE STORE AND WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT I COULDN'T GET THE FROUNT DOORS TO UNLOCK. WHEN I PUSHED THE UNLOCK BUTTON IT HONKED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER STARTED WORKING. I MANAGED TO GET BACK IN BY GETTING INTO THE BACK DOORS. I WAS TALKING TO THE TOW PERSON WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED BUT THE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. THE FOG LIGHTS WORKED SO I THOUGHT I MIGHT TRY TO LIMP IT HOME. I WENT A BACK WAY BUT IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR. I FINALLY STOPPED AND CALLED FOR THE TOW. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND COULDN'T MAKE DO ANY OF THE THINGS I DISCRIBED. THE COMPUTER GUY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE PART THAT NEEDED REPLACING WAS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT THERE IS A 2 YEAR BACKLOG MAKING THEM. DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM SO IF THEY CAN'T GET THOSE PARTS OUT I THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE CAR. WHY SHOULD THE BUYER BE PUT IN THE POSITION OF TRAIDING IN THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN GOOD FAITH AND INTENDED TO KEEP IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL HUMMING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,290.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO REACH A TEMPERATURE OF 900 DEGREES AND WOBBLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND CALIPERS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/11/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WOULD RETURN HIS CALL AT A LATER DATE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

VEHICLE IS A SHUTTLE VAN. VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL FIRMNESS FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AND NOT RAISING COMPLETELY BACK UP. ALSO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN IDLE SPEED DROP FOLLOWED BY A NEAR STALL. VEHICLE SPEED APPROXIMATELY 55MPH. FOUND VACUUM BRAKE CHECK VALVE CRACKED WITH THE PIPE EXTENSION TO THE VACUUM BRAKE HOSE SNAPPED OFF. PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE VALVE ITSELF HAD DETERIORATED, LEAVING A WHITE CHALKY RESIDUE. VALVE REPLACED AND VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH TOWARDS A STOP SIGN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND I HAD NO BRAKES. NONE, WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES COMING AND NO PEDESTRIANS CROSSING. HAVE DRIVEN FOR 40 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. HAD VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER IN SPOKANE. DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YET. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF A REDESIGNED BODY STYLE. MAYBE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CALIPER BRACKET CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND CAUSE AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ONE YEAR PRIOR THE THE FAILURE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE CALIPER BUT THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CALIPER BRACKET UNIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFTING TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,500.

VEHICLE PURCHASED IN PUERTO RICO WITH 40,000+ MILES; REPLACED A ROTOR & ALL PADS ABOUT 65,000 MILES. COULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM BRAKE MECHANISM (NOISES WENT AWAY UPON REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES WITH OEM PARTS). AROUND 70,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED LOCKING ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING, AT LEAST TWICE WITH KEYS INSIDE. IMAGINE A HOT DAY AND A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT SEAT AND THE CAR LOCKED. I DID NOTICE THAT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE POWER LOCK SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BECAME INOPERABLE. NOW AT 78,892 THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT ON THE BLINK (BLANK), EXCEPT FOR THE DIGITAL MILEAGE INDICATOR & 'GATE AJAR' . I STOPPED FOR GROCERIES & WHEN I WENT TO CRANK THE STARTER SOLENOID, NOTHING HAPPENS. HAD TO TOW HOME & AM TOLD THAT LOCAL DEALERS ARE CHARGING $1,000 TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER.... NO WONDER LESS & LESS PEOPLE ARE BUYING AMERICAN BRAND CARS. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I DO APPRECIATE THE NHTSA EFFORTS. THANKYOU! *TR