Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||
| 10/01/2012 | |||
| There is a coolant leak coming from the y shaped diverter tube. the rubber has apparently been overheated due to its location over the hot engine. many people have complained about this on forums. there needs to be a recall to have this replaced. the noxious smell of anitfreeze comes in through the vents, and smoke pours out from under the hood. radiator is soon empty of all collant and the engine can overheat if not carefully watched. coolant and water has to be constantly added in order to drive. this is clearly an issue with the placement of the tube over a hot engine and not insulating it well enough. | |||
| 08/13/2012 | 55000 | ||
| There is a heater hose assembly leading from the top of the engine to the heater cores in the passenger compartment. a hose comes out of the engine and into a y-coupling, where it splits into two hoses. one hose leads into the firewall and the front heater core. the second goes under the vehicle to the back heater core. a coolant leak developed in the y-coupling, leaking coolant onto the exhaust. after leaking for some time, the check engine light came on to indicate low coolant. this appears to be a common problem, as a simple google search turns up many results like this: http://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-caravan/275625-2008-grand-caravan-coolant-leak-3.html either the y-couplings are defective, or are not designed to handle the stress and heating/cooling cycles inherent in carrying hot coolant. | |||
| 09/01/2012 | 35000 | ||
| There was a smell of hot coolant anytime we were driving. i took it to the dealer and they said there was bad connection on the heater hose assembly and it would be $525 to fix. upon investigation in the dodge forums, this is an issue that is happening on a regular basis due to the heater hoses being directly above the exhaust collector and is causing the rubber to fail and thus causing coolant leaks. best case is it smells when the coolant is leaking on the exhaust, worst case is people are getting stranded due to overheating. dodge claims this is not covered under warranty. | |||
| 08/15/2012 | 151000 | ||
| My 2008 dodge grand caravan has intermittent trouble starting. the starter has been replaced twice, and the win module (and key) have been replaced. the same issue has been occuring, but never duplicates for the dealership. their computer scan brings up no issues. the battery has been tested and is in good condition. it doesn't matter the time of day, or driving circumstances, the van will not always start. it will have one click (and i can close the windows, turn on radio) but the van will not start. | |||
| 09/02/2012 | 118000 | ||
| We are a used car dealership that recently bought a 2008 dodge grand caravan with 118,000 miles on it. a customer was driving the vehicle when the incident occurred. after the vehicle was driven approximately 5 miles and placed in their garage, the customer noticed some smoke/steam coming from the vents. the customer assumed it was associated with the air conditioning and went into the house only to return a moment later to check on the van and at that time noticed a massive amount of smoke coming from the vehicle. the customer quickly backed the van out of the garage, turned it off and called the fire department. by the time the fire department made the brief trip to the customers' house, the van was completely burnt. there is some damage to the siding on the house as well. luckily no one was injured and the customer was able to get the van out of the garage. everything is completely burnt in the van-even the glass curled and melted because of the heat. chrysler has been made aware of the issue. | |||
| 08/15/2012 | 151000 | ||
| My 2008 dodge grand caravan has intermittent trouble starting. the starter has been replaced twice, and the win module (and key) have been replaced. the same issue has been occuring, but never duplicates for the dealership. their computer scan brings up no issues. the battery has been tested and is in good condition. it doesn't matter the time of day, or driving circumstances, the van will not always start. it will have one click (and i can close the windows, turn on radio) but the van will not start. | |||
| 09/02/2012 | 118000 | ||
| We are a used car dealership that recently bought a 2008 dodge grand caravan with 118,000 miles on it. a customer was driving the vehicle when the incident occurred. after the vehicle was driven approximately 5 miles and placed in their garage, the customer noticed some smoke/steam coming from the vents. the customer assumed it was associated with the air conditioning and went into the house only to return a moment later to check on the van and at that time noticed a massive amount of smoke coming from the vehicle. the customer quickly backed the van out of the garage, turned it off and called the fire department. by the time the fire department made the brief trip to the customers' house, the van was completely burnt. there is some damage to the siding on the house as well. luckily no one was injured and the customer was able to get the van out of the garage. everything is completely burnt in the van-even the glass curled and melted because of the heat. chrysler has been made aware of the issue. | |||
| 06/18/2012 | 42749 | ||
| The air conditioning on my vehicle stopped working. took it to a service center for repair. (did not use dealership because the service is terrible and car was out of warranty) repair was made and the shop even pointed out the flaw in the part and that it had be redesigned. found out that a customer satisfaction notification k04 had been issued for the a/c discharge hose which is what was replaced on my vehicle. contacted chrysler and claim for reimbursment was denied because my vehicle vin did not qualify even though it was the correct model year, during the build period, the correct engine type in a cold weather state and exactally the part that was recalled for other vans. apparently chrysler is not willing to reimburse and do the right thing for a part they know is bad so i was told my only way to get any reimbursement may be to file here and if enough other people have the same issue that another recall may go out in which my car would qualify. | |||
| 04/25/2012 | |||
| Dashboard light indicating low tire pressure came on. when i stopped at service station to check and fill tires, i had difficulty removing valve caps from all 4 stems due to poor quality of the stems/corrosion. when i went to inflate front, passenger side tire, it practically crumbled in my hands! i had to have the cheaply constructed aluminum valve stem replaced, costing me $130! i wanted to replace it with a quality, standard, metal valve, but was told this was not an option, legally. another customer in the service station wating room told me he'd had all four of his tires blow, on different occasions, while driving, due to these crappy valves! he recommended i have all 4 replaced as opposed to just the broken one, for my own safety and that of my family. i would, if the less expensive metal valve stems were an option! this should be a recall item!! | |||
| 04/01/2009 | 24000 | ||
| Just after parking van the electrical system went crazy. the front wipers started wiping, the wiper fluid deployed, the horn sounded. i turned off car and removed the key. everything continued to run. at a loss i got back in, turned it on and drove it out of the garage where the noise wouldn't be so loud. again i removed the key. i popped the hood, thinking if all else fails, i could pull the battery. i saw the fuse box by the battery (i have since looked up that it is the tipm) and i smacked it hard with my palm. the car shut up. several months later it did a similar behaviour, again while not moving. still several months after that it did it again, this time while i was driving. wipers, horn, washer fluid whole deal. i managed to pull over and safely stop the car. before i could get out the car stopped its behavior. since then i have also had other electrical problems, horn attempting to sound on its own, but no wipers, transmission in limp mode where it won't get out of second gear, and front blower motor intermittantly running/not running. often stopping car and opening door, and restarting car fixes it, but more recently not so much. i reported first incident to dealer, but they found nothing. i have reported further incidents and now that i am out of warranty they are advising me it is the tipm (fuse box) and replacement cost is $800 and it may not fix my problem. because it is intermittant they claim not to be able to diagnose themselves. i would hate to have the wiper horn fluid combo happen on the highway. can be dangerous. | |||
| 11/15/2011 | 29845 | ||
| I was going 70 mph on a highway, with my two young children, and i came upon an area where i needed to reduce my speed to 60 mph. as i was putting my foot back over from the brake to the gas pedal my shoestring was suddenly caught on something. i could not move my foot so i quickly used my other foot to take my shoe off. thankfully i was then able to use my bare foot to get in control of the pedals again. i stopped the van to see what happened and found that there is a clamp of some kind to the right of the gas pedal and my shoestring was caught in it. in my opinion this is a major safety issue because if i had been bumper to bumper in the city when this happened i would have likely rear ended someone. this was a very scary experience and something needs to be done to remove or replace this clamp on these vans. | |||
| 10/06/2011 | 51506 | ||
| 2008 grand caravan sxt (equipped with a tpms air sensors) - with the change of weather, the low tire pressure indicator light went on. while checking the air pressure of the tires, two (of four) of the valve stem caps would not loosen. when attempting to remove one of the stuck valve stem caps, the valve stem snapped off - instantly releasing all the air in the affected tire. the local dodge dealership was contacted, parts ordered, and an appointment was made. they are aware of the recurrent problem with these aluminum valve stems/sensors. this is the second time for a valve stem to break on this vehicle. (the last one occurred at 43,097 miles on 11/7/10.) there is a safety concern with these failed components. we have noticed on the internet forums that this is a common occurrence and should be addressed by dodge/chrysler as a serious accident could result. | |||
| 06/27/2011 | 81000 | ||
| Driver side rear brake caliber mechinism. i has the caliber replaced in march and had new break pads and rotors installed. i drove about less than 3000 mile and had the same thing happen again. in this last episode i have paid out $1300 in just parts, not to mention labor costs, and two $100 tow bills and the problem is still not fixed. i have replaced the entire break caliber fully loaded mechinism and drove 20 miles and had to have the car towed due to the break caliber freezing again. this issue is a major safety issue that could cause death of myself my passengers, and others on the road. i bought this car used to get back and forth to work and family events. i got this car because of it size affordablity for me as a single mother of three living on a fixed income. i thought because it was newer that i would be able to drive it for awhile before major issues would happen. i have only this car a year and have not been able to drive it more than 20 miles before having it towed to a garage since this last issue. i have had the pad and rotors replaced twicew because of it in the last two weeks. this last time i had to tow it to my home as i cannot put any more money into it yet i still have 6 years of payments left. this is a major safety issue that needs to be addressed by the manufacturer. if they cannot fix it than they need to give me a new van. | |||
| 03/30/2011 | 89002 | ||
| I have replaced my breaks 3 times since i bought utter and motors 1 time they get very hot and smell like their burning also a possible hub barring is going out on passenger side last but not lease my light on radio is not working as well. i've observed on the web site several dodge grandcaravans have been te having | |||
| 04/29/2011 | 83000 | ||
| My 2008 dodge grand caravan has the front wheel bearings going out. i would like to know why dodge has no recall on this. the shop were it is being repaired stated that dodge had a recall on another van for the wheel bearings and they are the same bearings and same part number for my van. | |||
| 03/30/2011 | 89002 | ||
| I have replaced my breaks 3 times since i bought utter and motors 1 time they get very hot and smell like their burning also a possible hub barring is going out on passenger side last but not lease my light on radio is not working as well. i've observed on the web site several dodge grandcaravans have been te having | |||
| 04/29/2011 | 83000 | ||
| My 2008 dodge grand caravan has the front wheel bearings going out. i would like to know why dodge has no recall on this. the shop were it is being repaired stated that dodge had a recall on another van for the wheel bearings and they are the same bearings and same part number for my van. | |||
| 03/30/2011 | 89002 | ||
| I have replaced my breaks 3 times since i bought utter and motors 1 time they get very hot and smell like their burning also a possible hub barring is going out on passenger side last but not lease my light on radio is not working as well. i've observed on the web site several dodge grandcaravans have been te having | |||
| 04/29/2011 | 83000 | ||
| My 2008 dodge grand caravan has the front wheel bearings going out. i would like to know why dodge has no recall on this. the shop were it is being repaired stated that dodge had a recall on another van for the wheel bearings and they are the same bearings and same part number for my van. | |||
| 10/10/2010 | 60000 | ||
| My 2008 dodge grand caravan at 60000 miles is already needing the front wheel bearings replaced. i can see online that several people are having the same problem. one other owner reports comparing the bearings that were originally on the vehicle to the replacement part and noting that the replacement part is notably better made. this angers me in that it is not the only problem i've had with this newer vehicle. i'm not sure what type of safety hazard this creates, but i cannot afford $500 to replace it, after having just spent $500 to replace the brakes. i feel that dodge should honor replacing the wheel bearings as a vehicle recall! | |||
| 07/05/2010 | 32000 | ||
| Tail lights have quit flahing when the doors are locked or unlocked with the remote controls 32,000 plus miles on vechicle. head lights still work with remote control | |||
| 05/13/2009 | 18000 | ||
| Purchased 2008 grand caravan march 2009 with 14,000 miles. on may 13, 2009 had brakes checked due to squeaking and excessive brake dust at duluth minnesota dodge dealer. told they were fine. found out that found out there was a tsb report on this problem. this was at 18,000 miles and i had to replace brake pads and had rotors ground down. called dealer(luther dodge in hudson,mn) they said it was my problem. brakes only warranty to 12000 miles. called dodge customer service. they basically laughed at me.now need new brake pads and rotors again. have read 100's of complaints and the company issued a tsb knowing there was something wrong with the product but refuse to replace or fix the problem. | |||
| 04/01/2010 | 40000 | ||
| Air condition faild prematurely, at this time the car has 45,000 the failure must have happened before 40,000. cooling a/c is not working, blowing warm air. looking online found many 08 grand caravan owners with same complaints. car after warranty will cost $135 to inspect and refill. i asked the dealer to pressure check the hoses for leaks, they said they will do a color dye check on the a/c system hoses. brakes were done at 12,000 miles failed again at 35,000, this time i am not going to have the dealer fix it, i am ordering reybestos hybrid rotors and advanced performance brake pads. warning - dodge oem brakes and rotors are pos, do not let dodge install them. i am also considering replacing the calipers with reworked calipoes from another source. horrible noise from rear brakes, when driving and the brake is not engaged. slight right turns also cause squeks/grind noise that sound like its coming from rear. when brake is engaged the noise stops. | |||
| 04/06/2010 | 38000 | ||
| While driving, with no warning, vehicle stalls (engine dies) steering column locks and brakes are hard, their is no control over the vehicle and can't get off the road. i almost got into a serious accident, i was aaproaching a major interstate hwy when my vehicle stalled. the dealer mech can't find any problems, nothing records on the memory or flight recorders. this has happened to the mech while on a test drive, they say they checked all the computer wires and want to give the vehicle back and states it is safe. | |||
| 02/14/2009 | 3000 | ||
| I bought the car on nov. 2008 , new from mccune dogde, and for the last year the car has stall on 4 different times, haven't beenable to duplicate the problem at the dealer , no sensor light comes on, also have been having different issues with emergengy brake pad, the shift gear , interiors light on center-map lights flicker constantly and rear dome dome | |||