Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 02/24/2011 | 186542 | ||
| When driving in the rain we hit water on the road and the serpentine belt comes off, you lose power steering at the time if it happens in heavy traffic you could have a crash. when looking for a solution for the problem i found it happens to a lot of people. gates makes an after market fix part# 38379k. dodge will not fix it. | |||
| 03/20/2007 | 134000 | 1 | |
| The problem is with a 1997 dodge grand caravan, the accessory belt keep coming off if you drive the vehicle through water. it has happen a least 20 time in the last year which lead to power steering failure and over heating and battery failure. i tried to fix the problem by changing the tensioner the belt also the idler puller all about twice which did not solve the problem. *tr | |||
| 09/13/2006 | 149766 | 1 | 06/01/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge grand caravan. whenever the contact shifts, the vehicle makes an unfamiliar noise. when the vehicle is parked, it operates normally. the transmission stalls and will start back up, but it is unreliable. the vehicle would rev and have to be restarted in order for the revving to stop. if there is a power fluctuation, the rear wipers will turn on and off at random. the high beams on the headlights do not work, but the failure was repaired. the parking light on the front driver's side failed. he replaced the bulb, but it still does not work. the contact stated that he is constantly replacing the low beam lights. the serpentine belt slips off; however, it has been repaired. the check engine light flashes on and off and there is a burning electrical smell coming from the vehicle. the front strut assembly is rusting and rotting. the rocker panel on the driver's side is rusted completely. the current mileage was 186,000 and failure mileage was 149,766. updated 09/10/08 *bf updated 09/11/08.*jb | |||
| 12/13/2007 | 192000 | 1 | |
| I have a 1997 dodge grand caravan last year on december 2007 my serpentine belt came off while i was making a right on one street under the rain, i almost lost control off my car but i was fortunate that no cars were around. it was hard for me to drive my car but i called the mechanic and he told me not worry that i would be able to get safe to the shop. that incident broke my windshield hose water, my air conditioner and my steering wheel hose and heat it up the car so i had to stop several times before i got to the mechanic shop. i was so afraid but i got safe. then it happen again a week later, i was so angry with the mechanic because i thought that he didn't do nothing to my car and that he was taking my money only, since i was around the corner i was able to go back to him. within the las 7 months, my serpentine belt came off around 5 times and every time that it came off it broke something, so i had to pay the mechanic more money. i would really like for someone to try to contact chrysler and try to see what they can do, unless they are expenting for someone to get kill because they can't maneuver the wheel. thanks for your time monica huaman *tr | |||
| 07/20/2006 | 135995 | 2 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle rpms dropped to zero, the vehicle jerked, and the engine stalled completely. the contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road, and was able to restart the vehicle after 10 minutes. the vehicle has not been taken in for inspection. the consumer stated several attempts have been made to fix the vehicle. the oil pan was leaking oil. the valve cover gaskets were replaced. the transmission was heavily damaged and had to be replaced. the power steering pump was replaced. the front end of the vehicle pulled to the left. updated 08/15/06. *jb | |||
| 05/18/1999 | 24006 | 5 | 01/08/1998 |
| I purchased the 1997 grand caravan in january 1998 at the marlow heights dealership in marlow heights, maryland. the first time i started experiencing issue with the vehicle was 5/1999 at 24,006 miles vehicle had little power when accelerating, transmission not engaging, transmission had to be reconditioned. in 12/1999, there was transmission fluid leaking inside of the vehicle on the driver's side causing a very strong nasty odor. carpet had to be replaced. this caused a hazardous condition to my family especially my kids having to breath in this fluid. 3 /2000 same fluid leaked again in auto because of defective heating coil. then again in 8/2001 the leak happened again. this time i contacted daimler chrysler in north carolina and complained daimler chrysler agreed to repair the vehicle under what they called one consumer repair per customer per vehicle. in 11/2001, the check engine light came on 3 times. at this point, the vehicle was also due for emissions testing and did not pass the test because of a cylinder misfire code. once i was able to obtain the funds for repair, in 5/2004 @ 118,668 miles, i decided to take the vehicle back to the dealership for the repairs. i was told that i needed to have the spark plugs replaced and that would solve the issue. so i paid $114.24 to replace the 6 .spark plugs, problem not solved i ended up paying $3,758.82 in 7/2005 to replace cylinder heads, timing belt, and water pump . this was the second time i had the timing belt replaced. recently, in 3/2006, oil light came on. had to replace both vc gaskets, cam plugs, both ft cam seals and rear cam seals and timing belt once again for third time. this cost to me was $2,677.50. now the oil light is back on again. *nm | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 100000 | ||
| The transmission does not shift gears if the air conditioner is on. the air conditioner turned all the way up will blow out air as if it was on mid way. the wind shield wipers come on when the turn signal is activated, which causes me to buy blades more often. the brakes seem to lock up when the ground is wet. you can hear metal hitting together, and the car continues to roll. my sister-in-law, and one of my daycare moms had the same problem, but they were not as lucky as i was it caused them to rear end another vehicle. | |||
| 89122 | 1 | ||
| The front brakes were worn, air bag light illuminated, tensioner assembly failed, horn was inoperable, and the water pump leaked. as corrections, all defective componets were replaced. *ph *jb | |||
| 01/27/2003 | |||
| While driving and with no warning vehicle will shut off, making it hard to control. dealer has been notified. also, consumer had many other problems with this vehicle. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 04/02/2000 | 49000 | 50 | 02/24/2000 |
| Vehicle has experienced multiple electrical problems since it was purchased three years ago: windshield wipers come on by themselves for no reason, cd player works intermittently, instrument panel goes haywire and we lose the gauges and mileage, power door locks work intermittently, keyless entry works intermittently, air conditioner odor and fan problems, sometimes cool air sometimes not and the list goes on. *la | |||
| 08/02/2000 | 2 | 10/01/1998 | |
| Failure has occurred twice within two months. vehicle is undriveable due to overheating. this stranded family with small children both times. *ak | |||
| 07/02/1998 | 100 | 04/01/1998 | |
| Transmission will not shift out of second gear under load conditions going uphill. when weather is hot, the drivetrain and engine overheat, can not maintain speed while attempting to maintin speed of greater than 45 going uphill. when pulling out onto a highway going uphill with the speed limit 45 or more, you can not accelerate to the speed without the engine racing at over 6,000 rpm and the transmission will not shift out of second gear while it is in a load situation. daimlerchrysler has stating in writing that it is a design fualt issue and they have no intentions of resolving the bad design. this condition has cause numerous close calls concerning accidents. *ak | |||
| The engine is requiring an excessive amount of collant to keep from over heating . dlr cant find problem. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||
| 03/01/2000 | 12/01/1999 | ||
| Engine cooling fan failed to operate while traveling, causing vehicle to overheat. dealer notified, and replacements/repairs done at consumer's cost. recall for the 96 model for the same problem. *ak *ml | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states that the radiator needed replaced. *slc | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 03/28/2003 | 80000 | ||
| Tl*the contact's spouse owns a 1997 dodge grand caravan. while driving 30 mph, the check engine and air bag lights illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle has not been diagnosed. the contact received a recall notice for the clock spring, but he did not have the vehicle serviced because the dodge dealer stated that there was no need to service the vehicle since the air bag light was not illuminated at the time. the recall number was unknown. the current mileage was 101,000 and failure mileage was 80,000. | |||
| 11/01/2005 | 102000 | 1 | 12/15/2002 |
| The vehicle's abs and check engine light have been going on and off for about 6 months. we had a mechanic look into it and replaced a relay or switch that belonged to the blower motors (fans by radiator). the lights seemed to go away until a couple of weeks ago, the abs light returned and the brakes act as though they are going to give out at any time. they have to be depressed for quite a length of time before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. there is also a weird sound of air or as if air where coming out when the brakes get depressed. i have had to add fluid once or twice a week and have been told by a mechanic buddy that there is very good chance its the brake booster due to the sound of air. i went online and noticed there were recalls for this in a couple of grand caravans but my vin # doesn't fall into the suggested vin range. *nm | |||
| 11/21/2005 | 120000 | 4 | 10/01/1996 |
| Serpentine belt repeatedly comes off its pulleys, necessitating a tow, on-the-spot repair job, or driving under unsafe conditions for a short distance for the repair. *jb | |||
| 10/01/2002 | 70000 | 1 | 04/01/1997 |
| While driving at low speeds, the van lunged forward. the actual cause was undetermined, but the dealer stated the engine's front cylinder malfunctioned. *ak this condition was considered a defect per mechanic(s). this problem existed in this make/model for some time and had many complaints and repairs. there was no help given by the dealer. *scc *jb | |||
| 12/18/2002 | 63000 | 1 | 07/13/1997 |
| Car had serious damage whoses source cannot be determined by dealer and manufacture will not investigate. | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 1 | ||
| The valve cover gasket failed and was replaced. *yh | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1996 | ||
| The mounting bolt attaching the serpentine belt tensioning pulley had broken allowing the belt to enlodge near an engine mount. *jg | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1996 | ||
| Vehicle has leaking oil pressure. the engine camshaft fractured while on a fast and winding mountainous road. *jg | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1996 | ||
| The mounting bolt attaching the serpentine belt tensioning pulley had broken allowing the belt to enlodge near an engine mount. *jg | |||
| 06/25/2001 | |||
| Bolts which hold pulley tensioner have broken twice within two years. first bolt was replaced by an independent repair shop, and the second bolt was replaced by a dealer. provide any further information on this matter. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states rocker arm support broke. *jb | |||
| 01/16/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer heard a ticking sound coming from the engine, dealer found the right back rear rocker arm support broken. *slc | |||
| 11/16/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| The vehicle was parked and upon being started was at idle for about 5-10 seconds when the engine failed and it wouldn't start. diagnosis showed that camshaft broke in half (not worn down) bending three valves in the process. luckily the vehicle was not mobile at the time of this engine failure.*ak | |||
| 09/20/2000 | 1 | 06/01/2000 | |
| Serpentine belt tensioner bolt sheered off at mount. metal was stressed causing bolt to break off. assume defective bolt (have assembly for further exanination if needed).power steering, air conditioning, engine water pump etc etc ceased to function because belt came off all power accessories. engine overheated and may have caused damage to engine. very dangerous situation as far as vehicle control etc. was told by mechanic that this item has been causing problems for some time. he has replaced many of these items on dodge caravans. request that a recall be considered in this situation. thanks | |||
| 07/09/2000 | 1 | 09/01/1996 | |
| About two weeks ago our 97 grand caravan se, 3.3l v6, 45,000 miles died at an intersection and would not restart. we had it towed to a dealer that sunday evening. on tuesday i was told that the problem was a blown head gasket ($700) as two adjacent clyinders were low on pressure. later that week i was told that the head gasket was ok but the camshaft was broken ($1400). on thursday i was told that the camshaft bearings were damaged and that i would need to either purchase a rebuilt shortblock or longblock ($3,300/$3,800). i went to the dealer to view my engine (now disassembled on a bench) and the camshaft was in two pieces. a clean break with no blue color on either the camshaft nor the camshaft bearings. i was told by the dealer that camshaft bearings were only serviced by using the shortbock (i.e., they wanted to sell me the whole works. from a hayes manual i purchased i discovered that you could indeed replace the camshaft bearings (seems logical as chrysler does rebuild engines for resale). however i was told that the dealer did not do this. i asked them to find an automotive machine shop that would do this. after a couple of days with no call backs i found a couple of machine shops that would do the job for $35-$150. when i told the service manager this information he said they could get the camshaft but not the bearings. the service manager asked me if the machine shop could get the bearings. their book showed camshaft bearings for mini vans up to 92 only. they probed further and discovered the bearings listed for the 3.3l cars were indeed the same part needed for the 3.3l caravan. next week i hope to be back on the road for a lot less $$$ than the options that were presented to me.... still not satisfied as to the reason for the breakage. it wasn't oil starvation as the oil ports on the camshaft bearings were still in alignment. the oil pump is also still working. it looks like the camshaft had an undetected flaw at the time of manufacture. my first attempt. | |||
| 10/01/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Engine slippage jan. 1999. to dealer who diagnosed and concluded needed transmission fluid. transmission rebuilt aug. 1999. oct. 1999, car overheated, towed. headgasket replacement with engine rebuilt. total cost - $4,000.00 | |||
| 03/07/1999 | |||
| While driving about 20 mph driver heard a noise coming from under the van, and almost lost control van. van became very hard to steer. when driver checked under the van, it was noticed that the rod that holds the tensioner pulley snapped off. the problem has not been reported to the dealer. *ak | |||
| 05/07/1997 | 04/07/1997 | ||
| Engine camshaft failure. *ak | |||
| 09/03/1996 | 1 | 08/24/1996 | |
| Camshaft failed. | |||
| 09/03/1996 | 1 | 08/24/1996 | |
| Engine block failed. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 02/10/2004 | 99845 | 50 | 02/07/2004 |
| As i am driving my van will suddenly jerk forward and the service engine soon light comes on and then goes off, and shortly after that the van suddenly dies. i have had it back to the dealer many,many times since i bought it in feb,2004 and they have drove it and put it on machines and can't figure out what and why it's doing this. i just found out the previous owner and original one had the same problem and so he got rid of it.when it suddenly dies i have no steering, brakes etc. and that is very dangerous when you are in heavy 4 lane traffic and no where to go. i want to know why this hasn't been recalled and corrected, i have talked to several people who has the same problem and i want to know why and how this can be corrected before i or someone gets killed or injured. i have children in my van alot and i wonder if that matters to you if they get injured or killed because you can't or won't fix the problem!!!!!!!!! i have had dodge vans before and liked them, but i can asure you that, is changing rapidly. i can't believe all the complaints that's on this site on the 97 dodge caravan's. what's your problem? *ak | |||
| 07/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment, claim 20-5392-910. *slc | |||
| 08/17/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving consumer could smell smoke, when arriving home, a fire was detected in the engine compartment, claim 42-1396-385. *slc | |||
| 07/05/2000 | 1 | ||
| While driving the power steering went out, consumer pulled over and smoke started coming out, claim 25-5411-610. *slc | |||
| 08/07/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment, claim 55-s384-563. *slc | |||
| 01/12/2000 | 2 | ||
| Vehicle experienced fire in the engine compartment, this is the 2nd fire for this vehicle, claim 16-n100-392. *slc | |||
| 07/11/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer started vehicle and heard a loud noise, smoke started coming out from the front, consumer turned off engine, but it kept on running, consumer called fire department, claim 05-4650-711. *slc | |||
| 08/17/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, consumer smelled smoke coming from the engine, when arriving home there was a fire detected, claim 42-1396-385. *slc | |||
| 07/05/2000 | 1 | ||
| While driving, power steering failed, consumer pulled over and saw smoke coming from vehicle, claim 25-5411-610. *slc | |||
| 08/07/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer went into the store and when coming out, she saw the fire department putting out a fire from her vehicle, the fire occurred in the engine compartment, claim 55-s384-563. *slc | |||
| 01/12/2000 | 2 | ||
| Vehicle has experienced 2 fires, the first fire happened last year and was covered under the vehicle warranty, claim 16-n100-392. *slc | |||
| 07/11/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer started vehicle and heard loud noises, smoke was coming from the front so the consumer attempted to shut vehicle off, however it kept running, fire department put out fire and pulled the battery cables, claim 05-4650-711. *slc | |||
| 07/11/2001 | 1 | 03/03/1997 | |
| While vehicle was parked, smoke was coming from under the hood, the fire department responded but the engine was burned badly, driver was treated for smoke inhalation. *yd | |||
| 07/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle caught fire while being driven, the fire originated in the engine compartment, claim 20-5392-910. *slc | |||
| 03/25/2002 | |||
| Vehicle stalls intermittently at any speed. dealer does not know how to remedy the problem.*ak | |||
| 07/11/2001 | 1 | 03/03/1997 | |
| While vehicle was parked, smoke was coming from under the hood, the fire department responded but the engine was burned badly, driver was treated for smoke inhalation. *yd | |||
| 01/12/2000 | 2 | ||
| Vehicle has experienced 2 fires, the first fire happened last year and was covered under the vehicle warranty, claim 16-n100-392. *slc | |||
| 08/17/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, consumer smelled smoke coming from the engine, when arriving home there was a fire detected, claim 42-1396-385. *slc | |||
| 07/05/2000 | 1 | ||
| While driving, power steering failed, consumer pulled over and saw smoke coming from vehicle, claim 25-5411-610. *slc | |||
| 07/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle caught fire while being driven, the fire originated in the engine compartment, claim 20-5392-910. *slc | |||
| 08/07/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer went into the store and when coming out, she saw the fire department putting out a fire from her vehicle, the fire occurred in the engine compartment, claim 55-s384-563. *slc | |||
| 07/11/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer started vehicle and heard loud noises, smoke was coming from the front so the consumer attempted to shut vehicle off, however it kept running, fire department put out fire and pulled the battery cables, claim 05-4650-711. *slc | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1996 | ||
| Vehicle has leaking oil pressure. the engine camshaft fractured while on a fast and winding mountainous road. *jg | |||
| 2 | |||
| Upon slowing down to make a turn or when entering an intersection, vehicle will completely shutdown. consumer noticed that when this occurs oil light illuminates. *ak *slc | |||
| 08/17/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving consumer could smell smoke, when arriving home, a fire was detected in the engine compartment, claim 42-1396-385. *slc | |||
| 07/05/2000 | 1 | ||
| While driving the power steering went out, consumer pulled over and smoke started coming out, claim 25-5411-610. *slc | |||
| 07/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment, claim 20-5392-910. *slc | |||
| 08/07/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment, claim 55-s384-563. *slc | |||
| 07/11/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer started vehicle and heard a loud noise, smoke started coming out from the front, consumer turned off engine, but it kept on running, consumer called fire department, claim 05-4650-711. *slc | |||
| 01/12/2000 | 2 | ||
| Vehicle experienced fire in the engine compartment, this is the 2nd fire for this vehicle, claim 16-n100-392. *slc | |||
| 08/17/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Engine started to have a loud squeeking sound on start-up & squeek continued after but not as loud. brakes noted to have a longer braking time when travelling at 50 mph. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2000 | 8 | ||
| Ongoing problem with engine stalling intermittently while driving;.vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on eight occasions, and informed consumer that they are unable to duplicate problem. please provide any further details on this matter. *ak | |||
| 10/13/1999 | 2 | 04/01/1997 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 11/01/1999 | 12 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Major problems followed months after engine replaced. while travelling on major highways, suddenly engine sputters, loses power, stalls. this has happened too frequently - on dangerous highways - rt. 1 in florida keys, rts. 20 and 26 in nc and sc. also occurred in very dangerous intersections in asheville, nc and myrtle beach, sc. | |||
| 07/23/2000 | 2 | 01/21/1997 | |
| The vehicle stalls while driving, vehicle has been to the dealer but they are unable to duplicate the problem. nlm | |||
| 07/09/2000 | 1 | 09/01/1996 | |
| About two weeks ago our 97 grand caravan se, 3.3l v6, 45,000 miles died at an intersection and would not restart. we had it towed to a dealer that sunday evening. on tuesday i was told that the problem was a blown head gasket ($700) as two adjacent clyinders were low on pressure. later that week i was told that the head gasket was ok but the camshaft was broken ($1400). on thursday i was told that the camshaft bearings were damaged and that i would need to either purchase a rebuilt shortblock or longblock ($3,300/$3,800). i went to the dealer to view my engine (now disassembled on a bench) and the camshaft was in two pieces. a clean break with no blue color on either the camshaft nor the camshaft bearings. i was told by the dealer that camshaft bearings were only serviced by using the shortbock (i.e., they wanted to sell me the whole works. from a hayes manual i purchased i discovered that you could indeed replace the camshaft bearings (seems logical as chrysler does rebuild engines for resale). however i was told that the dealer did not do this. i asked them to find an automotive machine shop that would do this. after a couple of days with no call backs i found a couple of machine shops that would do the job for $35-$150. when i told the service manager this information he said they could get the camshaft but not the bearings. the service manager asked me if the machine shop could get the bearings. their book showed camshaft bearings for mini vans up to 92 only. they probed further and discovered the bearings listed for the 3.3l cars were indeed the same part needed for the 3.3l caravan. next week i hope to be back on the road for a lot less $$$ than the options that were presented to me.... still not satisfied as to the reason for the breakage. it wasn't oil starvation as the oil ports on the camshaft bearings were still in alignment. the oil pump is also still working. it looks like the camshaft had an undetected flaw at the time of manufacture. my first attempt. | |||
| Vehicle will stall out at any rate of speed , either approaching a stop or while vehicle is motion. dealer cannot determine cause. *ak | |||
| 03/29/1999 | 8 | 07/01/1997 | |
| The vehicle will shut off while driving which causes it to lose all power steering and brakes. most of the time the engine has to be restarted but there have been occasions where the power steering and brakes initially lost power, which made it very difficult to control the vehicle. the power steering and brakes will then just kick back on however, again causing loss of control of the vehicle since we are trying to oversteer it due to the original loss of power. this is an extreme safety hazard since the failures occur without warning and while the vehicle is moving. the vehicle has been to two different dodge dealers on four separate occasions for repair but the problem has not been fixed because the dealers have not been able to have the power loss happen while they were driving it. these failures have occurred approximately 8 times since we bought the vehicle new. *ak | |||
| 10/08/1999 | 999 | 09/01/1996 | |
| Warm start, engine may stall or stumble when accelerating from a full stop. attempting to pull out, across an intersection may result in being stalled in the middle of an intersection. transmission shifts erratically/randomly with harsh engagement (apparently related to engine control trying to process erratic speedometer output). speedometer erratic/random output from 0 to 120 mph and as a result engagement of the cruise control results in engine attempting to match random speedometer reading. cruise control problem results in random & uncontrolled acceleration. | |||
| 09/06/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Lost control of vehicle, due to tension pulley snapping off at engine block and causing brake + steering on the one belt system. serviceman stated that this is a common problem?doesn't sound safe to me! | |||
| 07/22/1999 | 8 | 10/01/1996 | |
| While driving along at various speeds and with air conditioning on, the engine shuts down lossing all power to brakes and steering as well as all electrical systems. | |||
| 03/15/1998 | 2 | ||
| While driving with the radio playing and the air conditioner on, and without any warning, the engine just dies out. but everything else is still working. took vehicle into dealer twice, but they can't duplicate the problem. *ak | |||
| 09/15/1997 | 4 | ||
| Vehicle stalls without notice at various speeds, leaving the vehicle completely disabled | |||
| 02/04/1998 | |||
| Intermittently while driving the vehicle stalls and loses all power which almost caused serious accident. happened 7 times. the dealer cannot determine problem. *ak | |||
| 08/05/1997 | |||
| Engine burns too much oil. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||
| 04/17/2006 | 85000 | 3 | 09/18/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge grand caravan. while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle completely shut off. the contact checked under the hood and noticed that the serpentine belt was disconnected. the vehicle had to be towed to the contact's residence. the vehicle has not been taken to the dealer. the current mileage was 100,000 and failure mileage was 85,000. | |||
| 07/14/2007 | 126000 | 4 | 12/15/2001 |
| This is the fourth time in the last several months that my serpentine belt fell off while turning a corner. i have a 97 dodge grand caravan sport se (3.3). the first two times it was raining and the second two times were in good weather. each time it was quite a jerk when the power steering went out on the turn. what if this had happened on the highway when i wouldn't have been able to control the vehicle??? obviously, this is quite a hassle having to get the car towed each time and having the mechanic put the belt back on and look for the problem, and not being able to trust my vehicle anymore. my mechanic replaced the tensioner,belt, and pulleys with the gates mv conversion kit. he was aware of this being a common problem. i also read online about all the other people with the same problem and how this seemed to be the only fix that worked. the dodge dealership here said they were not aware of this problem! this is a very dangerous problem and should be corrected by chrysler. do people have to die before chrysler will take responsibility for this design flaw and provide this fix for everyone? *tr | |||
| 11/17/2005 | 134000 | 3 | 03/15/2001 |
| I have a 1997 dodge grand caravan. in february 2005 we had the serpentine belt replaced, and all parts related to it adjusted and cleaned. this was done due to a horrible screeching sound. in november of that year the serpentine belt came off during a period of cold & rainy weather, and left me without steering or cooling fans. i was almost in an accident because i could not steer. the belt was replaced. six weeks later, again-in cold and rainy weather. it happened again, and today, 3 weeks later, yes, cold and rainy weather it has happened for a third time. my garage is set to replace the steering fluid pump, thinking it might be leaking on it, the belt, tensioner and a pulley. hoping it will fix the problem, this will be a $500 bill at least. however, after much research i have found this to be a regular problem for this make and model, crossing several model years. i contacted dodge, who told me there is nothing they can do about it without a recall, but agreed there have been technical service bulletins (tsbs) regarding the problem. i told them i did research on these tsbs, as well as various websites where auto mechanics post, and there has not been a single repair that works in each vehicle. this should be a huge safety concern. this belt controls the steering, the alternator and the fans. this is a mini-van, made for families. i am fearful of allowing my three children to ride in this vehicle now, knowing that even after the repairs coming up this week, the problem may not be fixed. due to the severity of the danger which could occur , losing steering on a major highway in poor conditions, i believe this issue should become a recall.*ak | |||
| 08/21/2005 | 2 | ||
| 1) driving normally through water several inches deep - certainly not an unusual situation considering the amount of afternoon storms we have received this summer in middle georgia. 2) serpentine belt slips from pulleys causing lose of power steering, water pump, air conditioning, alternator. on first occasion and with great difficulty, my wife was able to pull over and avoid a collision. 3) belt appeared undamaged but i replaced belt with new approved belt. the same thing happened on august 22, 2005 while i was driving on georgia 87 (rural highway) in a severe downpour/thunderstorm. the rain and storm conditions were so loud i did not notice the temperature gage, indicator lights and warning-buzzer warning me of some engine failure. i was able to drive to an intersection and pull out of traffic, again with great difficulty due to power steering failure. ultimately, people will lose lives over this issue if they have not already. there are many of these issues posted all over the internet. please pursue this issue so someone's life can be saved. *jb | |||
| 05/10/2005 | 80000 | 2 | |
| Terrible squealing noise in belt area. dealer charged ~$250 for belt and tensioner replacement and noise was greatly reduced. several years later the noise returned and grew even worse. replaced the worn belt and noise was greatly reduced for about two weeks. after the noise returned, removed the belt and checked all pulleys - found no problems. replaced tensioner and idler pulleys anyway (~$20 each from dealer) and reinstalled belt. noise was reduced for about two days. took van to dealer who said that it was the tensioner and were surpised that it had lasted as long as it did. i purchased and installed a new alternator, power steering pump and tensioner. the noise was greatly reduced, but returned full force within a couple of days. in desperation i turned to belt dressing as a possible solution since i had cleaned all of the pulleys prior to belt reinstallation. when the belt dressing was sprayed on the tensioner pulley the sound disappeared for a few seconds, then returned. belt dressing had small or no effect when sprayed at other locations along the serpentine belt. | |||
| 02/07/2005 | 134995 | 2 | 01/22/2005 |
| 1997 dodge grand caravan 3.0 6 cyl belt came off in rain storm left me stranded and missed work the belt was in one piece and got it home and had a new belt installed and pulley upper front non grooved. again belt came off bran new belt new belt put on again belt now squealing in the back belt tension arm nor squealing belt rides the pulley l/r about 1/4 inch than back. it seems to me. *nm | |||
| 02/11/2005 | 2 | 04/17/1997 | |
| Serpentine belt slips off idler pully when driving through standing water resulting in loss of power steering. *ak | |||
| 08/13/2004 | 68000 | 6 | |
| Serpentine belt keeps coming off each time the vehicle goes over a puddle of water. vehicle has to be towed each time when this occurs. *ak | |||
| 07/28/2004 | 59171 | 4 | 08/29/1997 |
| Consumer complained that the serpentine belt slipped off intermittently when driving in wet weather or on wet road condition. it appeared that water was getting under the engine, and causing the serpentine belt to slip off the pulley. dealer and manufacturer were notified. *ak | |||
| 05/02/2003 | 77715 | 2 | 06/06/2000 |
| While backing out of the driveway, the consumer heard a loud bang. the vehicle would not steer. the pulley broke off, causing the drive belt to fall onto the street. *ak there was another incident where the consumer was making a turn and lost all power steering. the consumer witnessed another vehicle with the same make and model experiencing the exact same problem. (the consumer's alternate address: p.o. box 585 zip 03825) *sc *jb | |||
| 02/16/2004 | 80000 | 6 | 07/01/2001 |
| We have replaced six serpentine belts in the two years we have owned this vehicle. we replaced the tensioner, but it did not correct problem. we are now facing number seven and are at the point of total frustration. we need to see this corrected immediately. *ak | |||
| 02/15/2004 | 100000 | 1 | |
| The belt that controls the power steering and brakes and radiator fan came off twice today and several times in the past. it's all we can do to get it stopped and pulled over when this happens and it happens in any type of rain.*ak | |||
| 72742 | 1 | ||
| Fan belt kept sliding off got broken. *ph this problem would occur when it would rain or snow. the part was replaced four times. the cruise control had become inoperative and the air bag light had come on. *sc | |||
| 12/30/2003 | 85000 | 5 | |
| 1997 grand caravan sport serpentine belt came off five times in one year, the latest on 12/30/03 when driving on a rainy day. every time the belt gets wet, it falls off! *la | |||
| 01/03/2004 | 119000 | 3 | 12/16/2003 |
| Serpentine belt comes off when vehicle has gone through water, snow or slush causing loss of steering control, electrical power, engine cooling; all of which may be cause of other problems if vehicle is not immediately stopped and taken somewhere for the belt to be re-installed. manufacturer has identified problem and a solution (tsb#070299, nhtsa#606159), which is engineering related, yet does not release this as a recall. it was serviced 8/12/03 (blouin) to replace the original belt, has had problem since that replacement yet manufacturer does not acknowledge responsibility to correct their enginerring error at their cost (lee). repair should be a recall condition to repair a situation that can cause fatalities if it occurred under highway conditions.*ak | |||
| 10/29/2003 | 1 | 10/31/1996 | |
| 1997 dodge grand caravan car serpentine belt was making noise. was told it was worn and needed to be replaced. replaced serpentine belt. drove car in heavy rain, serpentine belt fell off. towed car to dealer replaced belt and sent me on my way. same day drove car in heavy rain, serpentine belt fell off. towed car to dealer. dealer checked with chrysler on fixes. installed a clip. this was suppose to solve my problems. no heavy rain for a while. then, drove my car in heavy rain, serpentine belt fell off again. towed car to dealer. was told they were going to replace the tensioner and that was pretty much all they could do. they suggested that i don't drive the car into puddles. we all know that this is impossible. stated to the dealer, that i drove through puddles with no problems before they replaced the serpentine belt. i've only had this problem since it was replaced. they did not have a answer for me, again they said you shouldn't be driving in puddles. i asked if i cannot drive in puddles what am i supposed to do. they said turn around and find a different route. i find this hard to believe. what if i'm on a highway? should i turn around? i've done some searching on the web and have found that i am not the only person who owns a caravan that is having this problem. *la | |||
| 10/28/2003 | 49000 | 4 | 10/01/2002 |
| Serpentine belt falls off when water gets on it, resulting in loss of power steering and control. i understand this is a wide spread problem and am concerned that my familys' safety will be in jepardy each time this happens. it has happened four times to us and i feel this warrants a recall before someone loses their life. *ak | |||
| 06/29/2003 | 75100 | 2 | 05/25/2002 |
| Since power steering pump replacement, the serpentine belt regularly slips off when splashed with water. - came off while my wife was driving. - dealer tried replacing tensioner (which i had replaced 6 months earlier) - no luck - will continue to try to solve with dealer. *nlm | |||
| 08/14/2002 | 68600 | 2 | 03/19/1999 |
| My 1997 dodge grand caravan, 3.3l v6, had the belt tensioner shear off/come apart at 35,000 miles. then at 68,000 (33,000 later) it went bad, it froze up. this caused the belt to crack also. so the tensioner and belt were replaced at that time. how much of a problem have these tensioners been? should i expect them to last only 30,000 to 36,000 miles? | |||
| 11/27/2002 | 3 | 04/01/2000 | |
| Serpentine belt comes off during wet weather, making minivan very difficult to steer. | |||
| 04/18/1997 | 04/18/1997 | ||
| I have had the belt tensioner replaced 3 times since i owend the vehicle because of warpping.the third time i wrote to customer service thay told us that the part has meet dodges warrenty requirements.thay was sorry but nothing thay could do.i thank the is a serious saftey problem because when the belt comes off you lose your power steering.which could cause a accident. plus the wippers come on by them self or when you put on the turnlight on.this has be going on since the vehicle has been new. | |||
| 04/21/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer stated the serpentine belt fell off causing the vehicle to shut down and not restart. please fill in additional information.*jb | |||
| 09/15/1999 | 2 | 11/01/2096 | |
| Sepertine belt and tensioner make a constant squeaking noise. the belt came off while traveling on a rainy day through a small puddle of water. when it came off, i lost power steering but was able to muscle it over to the side of the road. my wife would not have been as lucky. it was replaced (under warranty) in 1999. it is now thirty thousand miles later and it has been squeaking off and on again for quite some time. the dealer does not want to replace it again under warranty since the last one lasted for 12 months or 12,000 miles. i have a friend that had his belt and tensioner replaced 8 times before having dodge buy the van back. it is a problem, so please look into making dodge recall the faulty parts. thank you.*jb | |||
| While traveling steering wheel became hard to turn and engine overheated. vehicle was serviced, and technician noticed that engine belts had broken. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 02/28/2002 | 1 | 11/01/2001 | |
| Serpentine belt broke while driving 20 mph, dealer and manufacturer were notified. *ak vehicle no longer under warranty. *tt | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 06/01/1997 | ||
| Serpentine belt has been destroyed 3 times and come completely off twice while traveling 65 miles per hour on the freeway. the result has been a loss of power steering, the alternator light activated, and is a safety hazard. i was told the problem was the failure of the manufacture to include certain parts.*ak | |||
| 09/01/1999 | 2 | 05/01/1997 | |
| Belt tensioner had to be replaced 18 months ago by dealership. then, three months ago, belt tensioner came off again, this defect was repaired by dealership again. *ak *yh | |||
| 04/02/2001 | |||
| Heard a noise while driving about 5 mph. then, power steering went out. pulled over, and had vehicle towed to dealer. serpentine belt had too much tension and broke. *ak | |||
| 10/14/2000 | 1 | 12/01/1999 | |
| Catastrophic failure of drivebelt tensioner caused instant loss of control of vehicle by failure to drive either power steering or the alternator. this caused instant and total loss of hydraulic power to the steering and loss of electrical power to the lights. the electrical power did come back up but only sufficient to give less than half the normal illumination to the headlights as both airconditioners were operatiing as were the lights and wipers. the incident happened on a twisting wet road in the everglades with a canal on the outside of an approaching bend in the road. sudden loss of power steering required a superhuman effort to keep the vehicle on the road and prevent what would have been a tragic finale had the minivan gone into the canal with its 3 adults & 4 children. discussion with two chrysler dealers as well as several tow truck drivers indicates that this is a very frequent cause of accidents. one dealer said they have to replace one of these tensioners every day but it seems to take 36 or more months for the defect to show up hence it does not appear on chryslers' warranty list of frequent failures although chrysler must be aware of the problem due to the inordinate number of replacement tensioners they have to ship to their dealers. mechanical inspection of the part shows not only poor design but also, in my case, defective manufacturing of the high tensile bolt used to attache the tensioner to the engine. when the tensioner breaks of off it allows the drive belt to detach from the pulleys it is driving which include the power steering, airconditioning compressor, water pump and alternator the first and last of which are critical to vehicle control. further research indicates that this problem in chrysler minivans appears to be confined to 3.8 and 3.3 liter engines. defective part was made in canada.tow truck drivers told us that if they have to pick up a chrysler minivan, 4 times out of 5 it is for a broken drivebelt tensioner. | |||
| 02/01/1999 | 1 | 05/01/1997 | |
| Serpertine belt broke as i was rounding a curve at 35 mph. i got the vehicle to a complete and safe stop. *ak | |||
| 04/03/2000 | 1 | 03/01/2000 | |
| Had shifted to reverse prior to backing and heard a clunk. shut off engine. looked under vehicle and saw the serpentine belt hang down. looked under hood and saw the belt tensioner had snapped off and had dropped down to the right axle. was informed by mechanic that this is a common problem with the 3.3l engine. was thankful that it did not happen at highway speeds. *ak | |||
| 03/14/2000 | 1 | 03/01/1997 | |
| The tensioner for the serpentine belt broke off while the car was waiting to enter an intersection--the car was disabled. i have talked w/3 people since who reported the same problem. including repetitive broken belts. i see a trend but dodge won't cover in their extended warranty. *ak | |||
| 07/07/1999 | |||
| Fuel pump broke while in motion. had no control of vehicle. also, belt tensioner broke while driving approximately 40mph/computer chip had failed & this caused the vehicle to stop functioning at 65mph, and battery went dead & can not be recharged. *ak | |||
| 3 | 05/01/1997 | ||
| The fan belt is knocked off of it's track when the vehicle goes over even small puddles, making it very difficult to drive when it is raining. and even more frustrating is just the threat of rain, makes the vehicle not even worth taking out that day. | |||
| 07/23/1997 | 9 | 06/27/1997 | |
| While driving in rain the fan belt comes off continually, causing complete loss of power. mjs | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 4 | ||
| Recall problems with exhaust and air bags. *mr there was no back up lights, horn, or clockspring. *sc | |||
| 09/03/1996 | 1 | 08/24/1996 | |
| Engine noise due to exhaust hitting engine. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1996 | ||
| Consumer stated the oxygen sensor prematurely failed. *jg | |||
| 04/15/1997 | |||
| Vehicle stalls when making turns. | |||