2005 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ONLY HAD TWO SPEEDS, WHENEVER IT RAINED HARD WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT REMOVING THE WATER OF THE WINDSHIELD FAST ENOUGH. THIS WAS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT MET FMVSS. AND NOTHING ELSE WILL BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089086 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER HAD A 2005 CARAVAN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK FAST ENOUGH TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RAINING AND THE WINDSHIELD SHIELD WIPERS WERE WORKING SO SLOW THAT SHE COULD NOT SEE THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE WAY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTOR IS TO SLOW. *TC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089089 at NHTSA ↗

MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DRIVING AT 23 MPH IN A CHRYSLER MINIVAN. SHE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT TOUCH MY MOTHER, SHE WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT. WHEN THE KNEE AIRBAG DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE DOOR COVERING IT WAS WHAT HIT MY MOTHER IN BOTH HER SHINS WITH THE FORCE OF THE AIR BAG BEHIND IT! ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT BREAK ANY BONES, THE IMPACT CAUSED EXTENSIVE BLEEDING AND EDEMA UNDER THE SKIN. SHE SUFFERED A CRACKED RIB AND BREAST BONE IN THE ACCIDENT, WHICH WE ALL UNDERSTAND, BUT THE ADDED…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093853 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN 3 WEEKS AGO. ON THE FORTH DAY THAT I PURCHASED IT (I HAD DRIVEN IT ABOUT 50 MILES), THE POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ALTHOUGH WE DID MAKE IT HOME. I WAS A HORRIBLE LEAK AND IT SPRAYED THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (WE WERE LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NOT A FIRE) IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT A CLAMP HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY ATTACHED AT THE FACTORY AND WAS RE-ADJUSTED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THE CURREN…

Owner-reported narrative. 285 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097984 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER'S AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NO AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY. ALSO, ENGINE MAKES NOISE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR DOES NOT WORK.*AK PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (OCT 24, 2005): THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099527 at NHTSA ↗

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP OUT OF DRIVE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103858 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO MOVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS FROZEN SOLID AND WOULDN'T SPIN. THE NIGHT BEFORE IT RAINED FOLLOWED BY BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO SERVICE PERSON PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE, THEREFORE, CONSUMER USED A HEAT LAMP ON THE FROZEN WHEEL BRAKE DRUM, WHICH DEFROSTED THE WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO HIS DESTINATION. DEALERSHIP DENIED THAT THIS OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE.…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106802 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE ENGINE STALL WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS, AND BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107064 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-02-03 (February 3, 2004)

AFTER PERFORMING THE NCAP TEST, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITHOUT THE AVAILABLE "STOW 'N GO" SEATING OPTION, THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES AND ANY SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE STAKE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2006-03-08 (March 8, 2006)

ON CERTAIN VANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ARMATURE SHAFT MAY BREAK.

Consequence: DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY COULD OCCUR, AND THE DRIVER'S VISION COULD BE OBSCURED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2006, TO DODGE DURANGO OWNERS. MINIVAN OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2007-05-03 (May 3, 2007)

CERTAIN MINIVANS ARE BEING RECALLED THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE 27 STATES PLUS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THAT USE GREATER AMOUNTS OF SALT FOR WINTER ROAD DEICING. THE UP-FRONT (UF) AIR BAG SENSORS THAT CONTAIN BRASS BUSHINGS INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES MAY CORRODE AND CRACK ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE SENSOR. THESE SENSORS PROVIDE ENHANCED AIR BAG PERFORMANCE IN CERTAIN TYPES OF FRONTAL CRASHES.

Consequence: IN ONE OF THESE CRASHES, WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S UF SENSORS INOPERATIVE, THE OCCUPANTS WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM THE ENHANCED AIR BAG PROTECTION THAT THESE SENSORS WOULD PROVIDE.

Remedy: FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE RECALL STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL UF AIR BAG SENSORS WITH ONES WITH GREATER CORROSION RESISTANCE. VEHICLES REGISTERED IN OTHER STATES WILL OBTAIN A LIFETIME FREE REPLACEMENT OF ANY UF SENSOR THAT FAILS. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON JULY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2010-01-11 (January 11, 2010)

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER INTO THE SENSOR. THIS CAN CAUSE THE SENSOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THESE SENSORS WERE ADDED TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.

Consequence: IF THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER IS IMMEDIATELY ALERTED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PROMPTLY SERVICED. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED, THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE ENHANCED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WITH A NEW DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.