2001 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES WITH STOCK 17 INCH WHEELS. POWER STEERING GROANS AND VIBRATION IS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT REQUIRED NEW BRAKES (DUE TO MILLAGE BEING 42,205) AND BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO A REPAIR SHOP FOR THAT PURPOSE. BRAKES WERE DETERMINED TO NOT NEED SERVICING YET. THEN BROUGHT CAR TO LOCAL DODGE DEALER (WHERE PURCHASED) FOR INVESTIGATION. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $60.00 TO TELL ME THAT IT HAS A TSB (19-001-02) ON THE POWER STEERING AND REFUSES TO COVER COST OF CORRECTION DUE TO CAR BE…

Owner-reported narrative. 42,205 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000691 at NHTSA ↗

THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE, THE WIPER BLADE WAS OFF TRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH CAUSED A DEEP SCRATCH TO BECOME EMBEDDED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS DEFECT WAS REPAIRED. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE WIPERS STARTED TO HIT EACH OTHER ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WINDSHIELD, THEY WOULD BIND, GET STUCK AND LIFTED ABOUT 1/4 OF AN INCH. ONCE LOOSE THEY CONTINUED THEIR OPERATION. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WIPERS BINDING AGAIN AND THE POTENTIAL OF ANOTHER SCRATCHED WINDSHIELD. *JG *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001489 at NHTSA ↗

THE POWER STEERING STARTED MAKING NOISE WHEN OUR 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS AT ABOUT 50000 MILES. WE TOOK IT TO 2 PLACES AND BOTH SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING. WE HAD IT REPLACED BUT IT STILL MAKES NOISE, STILL SHUDDERS WHEN GOING LOW SPEEDS, ETC. WE NOTICED THAT SOMEONE ELSE ON YOUR WEBSITE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY CHRYSLER WOULDN'T FIX IT. WE AGREE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX IT! *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008173 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE REMOTE OR INTERIOR BUTTON WAS USED TO OPEN THE SLIDING ELECTRIC DOOR, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN INCOMPLETE OR POPPED OPEN AND THEN CLOSED IMMEDIATELY.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009180 at NHTSA ↗

THE LOW-BACK BUCKET SEATS IN THE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ARE VERY HIGH AND TILTED (HIGHER AT THE KNEES THAN AT THE SPINE) TO THE POINT THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR AN AVERAGE-HEIGHT WOMAN TO REACH THE ACCELERATOR WITHOUT MOVING THE SEAT ALL THE WAY FORWARD. (AT WHICH POINT THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALMOST TOUCHING THE BODY, THE ELBOWS ARE PRESSED INTO THE SEAT BACK, AND THE KNEES HIT THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN BRAKING). WHEN THE SEAT IS AT A COMFORATABLE DISTANCE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, I CANNOT REST MY HEEL ON THE FLOOR, BUT HAVE TO DRIVE WITH …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011027 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKE ROTORS WARPED DUE TO THEM OVER HEATING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011959 at NHTSA ↗

ALL THE LIGHTS FLICKERED WHILE IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM AFFECTED ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 28,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012421 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES THAT HAS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS HAD GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AREA PRIOR TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT THE POWER STEERING WAS SO TIGHT I HAD TO FIGHT TO TURN LEFT ONTO MY STREET. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT EVEN WHEN THE ROAD DIDN'T. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE I HIT THE CURB. ON THE SECOND INCIDENT, AGAIN I WAS TURNING AT A SLOW SPEED, THIS TIME RIGHT, AND AGAIN HAD A LO…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,716 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013629 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-05-08 (May 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT BOLT COULD FRACTURE.

Consequence: IF THE BOLT FRACTURES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CROSSMEMBER, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS AND NUTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

Reported: 2004-11-02 (November 2, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, CONDENSATION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS MAY DROP THROUGH VENT HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE RADIO AND RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT SUBSEQUENTLY SENDS DIRECT CURRENT TO THE REAR SPEAKERS.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A SPEAKER FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A SPECIAL TAPE TO THE TOP OF THE RADIO TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL OF WATER INTRUSION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.