2009 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (STOW AND GO) EXTREME HEAT AND STRONG SMELL OF OVERHEATED BRAKES COMING MOSTLY FROM REAR BRAKES. THE HEAT GENERATED IN AN AVERAGE 16 MILE DRIVE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS CAUSES ENOUGH HEAT AND STRONG BRAKE SMELL THAT YOU CAN HARDLY TOUCH THE PLASTIC HUBCAP MOUNTED ON THE STEEL WHEELS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NEVER BEEN USED AND HAS NEVER BEEN ACTIVATED ACCIDENTALLY. THE SMELL CAN BE NOTICED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PARTICULARLY IN THE REAR. I AM RETIRED ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10336039 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES IN LESS THAN 29,000 MILES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE SWAYED SIDE TO SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE BUT A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING AND ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MECHANIC COULD FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PULLED FORWARD AND SEEMED TO LET GO WH…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369755 at NHTSA ↗

LEFT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY LOST ALL AIR PRESSURE AS CAR WAS CLEANED IN A CAR WASH. THE CARWASH HAS NO BRUSHES OR ANY DEVICE THAT CAN TOUCH THE VEHICLE. EXAMINATION AFTERWARDS BY THE DEALER REVEALED THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS PART OF THE TIRE PRESSURE VALVE WAS MISSING DUE TO THE VALVE STEM BREAKING. THIS TIRE WAS PART OF A NEW SET OF FOUR BOUGHT ONLY 2 DAYS BEFORE AND HAD APPROX. 400 MILES OF USAGE. THEY WERE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA TIRES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 52,692 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376568 at NHTSA ↗

MOTOR UNSTABLE FOR PERIODS OF 2 TO 3 MONTHS. LOSES POWER WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. ALSO ACCELERATED THE MOTOR RUNS. ON OCCASION WILL NOT START. WHENEVER YOU TURN ON A RED RAY OF THE BOARD(ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WARRANTY), WHEN SUBMITTING THESE BREAKDOWNS.

Owner-reported narrative. 459 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380652 at NHTSA ↗

2009 DODGE CARAVAN - SLIDING DOORS ARE NOT HELD FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM VAN BODY RESULTING IN PAINT BEING SCRATCHED OFF REAR QUARTER PANEL ABOVE AND BESIDE WHEEL WELL EVERY TIME YOU OPEN DOORS. MOST PREVALENT WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE FACING UPWARDS AS WEIGHT OF DOOR ON PIVOT POINT BRINGS DOOR EVEN CLOSER TO BODY RESULTING IN IMPACT AND SCRATCHES. HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" BY DODGE 3 TIMES NOW ON MY VEHICLE ALONE. HAS RESULTED IN MY CASE WITH DODGE SENDING VAN IN FOR BODYWORK TO HAVE DENTS PULLED AND FILLED, NEW PAINT AND RENTAL VEHICLES SUPPLIED FRE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10399309 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE DOING NINETY PERCENT OF THE WORK WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE BY THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE REAR WHEEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES HAD NOT MALFUNCTIONED, HE BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE WEARING EXTREMELY PREMATURELY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402412 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE TPMS BROKE - FILED BY JIFFY LUBE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10415228 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED THAT THE CALIPER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422571 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-04-13 (April 13, 2010)

THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN COMMERCIAL ENTERVANS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE FUEL FILL PIPE COMES INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE TIRE MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE FUEL FILL PIPE.

Consequence: CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE AND FUEL FILL PIPE MAY WEAR A HOLE IN ONE OR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS, OR A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT THE FUEL PIPE IS COMPROMISED.

Remedy: BRAUN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-488-0359.

Reported: 2010-04-23 (April 23, 2010)

THE BRAUN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE CARAVAN MOBILITY CONVERSIONS WHICH WERE ALTERED BY BRAUN BETWEEN JANUARY 21, 2009 AND MARCH 19, 2010. DURING CONVERSION, THE CHASSIS WAS RAISED AND THE FLOOR WAS LOWERED TO ACCOMMODATE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES. IN RAISING THE CHASSIS, THE REAR SPRING HATS COME INTO CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE REAR TIRES. IN ROUGH OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING SITUATIONS THE TIRES MAY INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE REAR SPRING HATS.

Consequence: CONTACT BETWEEN THE TIRE SPRING HAT MAY WEAR A HOLE IN THE TIRE OVER TIME. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PRESSURE LOSS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: BRAUN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-488-0359.