2009 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2009. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN BACK TOT HE DEALERSHIP 2 MORE TIMES FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO US. THE EVENING OF APRIL 3RD, WE WERE RETURNING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSED US TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264206 at NHTSA ↗

SEATBELT LOCKED UP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266679 at NHTSA ↗

2008 DODGE CARAVAN. MY WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT NOISE FROM BRAKES. BROUGHT IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND IT NEEDS BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE CAR HAS 21,000 MILES, 90 PERCENT ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND CHRYSLER IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ACCELERATED WEAR ON THE PADS AND ROTORS. APPARENTLY THE SUBPAR MATERIALS THAT ARE USED ARE OVER HEATING CAUSING THIS WEAR. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS AND ISSUE A RECALL. WE WERE LUCKY TO GET 21,000 M…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10288787 at NHTSA ↗

HAD TO REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS ON 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. TOTAL MILEAGE ON VEHICLE WAS 23,500 MILES. FIRESTONE, WHERE WORK WAS DONE, TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD USED CHEAP PARTS DURING MANUFACTURE. SPOKE TO AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO ALSO HAS THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HE HAD TO REPLACE HIS PADS AND ROTORS ALSO AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE CONTINUING TO DRIVE BECAUSE THEY EXPECT 30K OR MORE JUST OUT OF THE PADS AND THE FACT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 2 OUT 2 OWNERS OF DODGE CARAVANS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289063 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE THIRD ROW SEAT HAD BUTTONS TO FOLD IT DOWN. THE BUTTONS WERE VERY EASY TO TOUCH , SO THE CHILDREN CAN EASILY FOLD DOWN THE SEATS. THERE WAS NO STOP BUTTON, SO THE SEATS WOULD KEEP FOLDING. THE SEAT ALMOST "CRUSHED" HER CHILD SEAT. SHE HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER . THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,899. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292072 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AND ACCELERATED. IT WOULD NOT DES ENGAGE EVEN WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293479 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. ALL FOUR ROTORS ON THIS VAN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKES WERE LIKE NEW. MILEAGE 14,338. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 14,338 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293638 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE 3RD ROW WINDOW/HINGES HAD SUDDENLY FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14293. UPDATED 01/12/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOW SEPARATED AND FLEW INTO TRAFFIC. UPDATED 01/13/10.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 14,293 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294937 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-02-05 (February 5, 2009)

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 6,138 MY 2009 TOWN AND COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES. UNUSED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM MAY BECOME CORRODED AND COULD SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN CAUSE A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS.

Consequence: IF THE FUSE FOR THIS CIRCUIT DOES NOT BLOW, THE CONNECTORS COULD OVERHEAT AND POTENTIALLY CATCH FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL SEAL THE POWER CIRCUIT AT THE SUBJECT CONNECTOR AND REPLACE THE FUSE FOR THIS CIRCUIT IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2009-09-11 (September 11, 2009)

ELDORADO NATIONAL IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 AMERIVAN MOBILITY VEHICLES BUILT ON CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN PLATFORMS VEHICLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED AND NOT SECURED PROPERLY DURING THE ALTERATION. IF NOT ROUTED AND SECURED PROPERLY, THE BRAKE LINES COULD RUB AGAINST THE VEHICLE CAUSING A BRAKE FLUID LEAK.

Consequence: A BRAKE FLUID LEAK COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH.

Remedy: ELDORADO NATIONAL AMERIVAN DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND IF THE BRAKE LINES WERE IMPROPERLY ROUTED THEY WILL BE CORRECTLY REINSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ELDORADO NATIONAL AT 1-800-955-9086. THESE MINIVANS HAVE BEEN ALTERED INTO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES BY ELDORADO. THIS RECALL IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED BY CHRYSLER GROUP LLC AND WILL NOT BE PERFORMED AT NO COST BY DODGE OR CHRYSLER DEALERS UNLESS THEY ARE ALSO AN ELDORADO NATIONAL DEALER.

Reported: 2010-06-03 (June 3, 2010)

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2009. SOME OF THE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN IMPROPERLY ROUTED WIRE HARNESS THAT MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE LOWER SLIDING DOOR HINGE BRACKET CAN MAKE CONTACT AND WEAR THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION.

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR INSIDE THE SLIDING DOOR, OVERHEATING THE LATCH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2014-02-11 (February 11, 2014)

Freedom Motors Inc., (Freedom Motors) of Savaria Vehicle Group (formerly The Liberty Motor Company) is recalling one model year 2009 Volkswagen Routan and certain model year 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country wheelchair accessible vehicles modified by The Liberty Motor Company from February 2008 through January 2011. Over time and with use, the vehicle's rear axle may develop cracks which could lead to axle failure.

Consequence: Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Freedom Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected axles, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2014. Owners can contact Freedom Motors at 1-800-561-9600. Freedom Motors' number for this recall is ENGF0216-3.

Reported: 2014-06-26 (June 26, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured June 29, 2007, to June 17, 2010, and 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, to June 17, 2010. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R03. Note: This is an expansion of recall 11V-139.

Reported: 2016-01-29 (January 29, 2016)

FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured December 31, 2007, to August 31, 2008, 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured June 18, 2007, to August 31, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.

Consequence: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S07.

Reported: 2020-07-07 (July 7, 2020)

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan and 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro vehicles. These vehicles may have a loose or missing brand emblem in the center of the steering wheel. The loose emblem or the securing nuts for the emblem within the driver air bag module may become projectiles in the event of a driver air bag deployment.

Consequence: Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag cover with a redesigned cover, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W09.