2005 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

ON 6/13/04 WE TEST DROVE A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE STOW AND GO SEATS. THE BACK SEAT HAS A 60/40 SPLIT AND THE 40 SECTION WAS DOWN WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON THE LOT. WE PULLED THE SEAT UP FOR MY FOUR YEAR OLD TO SIT IN WITH HIS BOOSTER. AS MY HUSBAND ACCELERATED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY THAT SECTION OF THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS. THE SALES REP. UNBELTED MY SON AND PULLED THE SEAT UPRIGHT AGAIN. HE HAD TO POUND ON THE LEG OF THE SEAT TO GET IT INTO PROPER POSITION. DODGE NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS OR AT LEAST WARN CUSTOMERS!…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075361 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED WHILE USING THE REMOTE CONTROL TO OPEN AND CLOSE DOORS OR MANUALLY. PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED WITHIN THE WEEK FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090316 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 20 MP APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND ABS LOCKED THE WHEELS, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094943 at NHTSA ↗

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN DRIVE AND ONE OCCASION IN REVERSE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095172 at NHTSA ↗

BRIDGESTONE/ FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED SEAM FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES BE REPLACED AS GOOD FAITH DUE TO THE PRIOR HISTORY OF THE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE SEAM FAILURES. *SC THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TIRE FAILURE 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096821 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER NOTICED HAIRLINE CRACKS ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE PILLARS LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE'S ROOF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097721 at NHTSA ↗

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURE CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. FRONT BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER BLOCK FAILED IN A 2005 GRAND CARAVAN DRIVEN ONLY 2350 MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS PRONE TO FOGGING IN DAMP CONDITIONS (RAIN/SNOW/FOG, ETC). WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING BLOWER, THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS FOG UP ALWAYS. THE DISTANCE FROM DRIVER TO WINDSHIELD IS TOO LONG TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY CLEAR THE FOG CONDITIONS WITH A CLOTH WHILE DRIVING. THE REDUCED VISIBILITY CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN DAMP/WET CONDITIONS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107608 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW VEHICLE WITH 321 MILES, 2 MAJOR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. #1. REAR WINDOW SEAL LEAK . #2 MAJOR INTERNAL ENGINE DEFECT (LIFTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED). *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 321 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107809 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: 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.

Reported: 2010-06-14 (June 14, 2010)

ARIZONA MOBILITY PRODUCTS (AMP) IS RECALLING ONE 2005 AND ONE 2007 CONVERSION VANS BUILT ON DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.

Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY BE INJURED IF THE SEAT BASE PIN WERE TO BREAK.

Remedy: AMP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 10, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMP AT 1-602-385-5988.

Reported: 2010-06-15 (June 15, 2010)

ALL IN ONE MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2008 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.

Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY BE INJURED IF THE SEAT BASE PIN WERE TO BREAK.

Remedy: ALL IN ONE MOBILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALL IN ONE MOBILITY AT 1-503-255-5005.