Dodgen BORN FREE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
65,949 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Electrical System:Software | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
Tires: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Electrical System:Software: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2007: 4
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10202877 · 2007-09-13 (September 13, 2007)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 144,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100902 · 2004-12-01 (December 1, 2004)
THE KEY CYLINDER ON THE STEERING COLUMN OF OUR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN "FROZE" AND THE KEY WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN TRAFFIC, IT COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE-THREATENING. WE ARE AFRAID TO USE THE VEHICLE UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BECAUSE WE MAY GET STUCK SOMEWHERE. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. IRONICALLY, OUR 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING, WHICH NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, WAS RECALLED FOR T…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100902 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1