This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Headlights turn off while driving. Mechanics and dealerships have no idea why. Looked on internet and this is not something rare. Major safety hazard for me, my kids and others on the road.
When driving at night, the headlights will come on and off and flash for no apparent reason. Lights will completely turn off and then when you turn the switch on and off again, the lights work again on and off. You will be driving down a dark road and the lights will just turn off. This happened last year for a few days or so and then worked fine for a few months then started turning off again. This is a very dangerous situation. I believe this has been reported by more people having the same issue. We have three children that ride in the van and my wife also drives every night delivering the newspaper.
I purchased my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT new in 2005. From the time it was new I have had problems with the headlights. In the beginning they would randomly turn off while driving at night. I took it to the dealership and was told that my headlights worked for them and since they could not duplicate the problem, they couldn't diagnose and repair it, and that I needed to bring it in while it is happening (it happens at night-there are no dealerships open!). of course after the warranty ran out, I am constantly having problems. They still go off at random while driving at night, and they rarely turn on when the switch is turned off, and sometimes stay on when the switch is turned off, or they do turn off then turn themselves back on while the car is parked. Sometimes I have to sit and turn the switch on and off repeatedly (so much that my wrist hurt)before they will come on, this has taken up to 15 minutes (while in a dark parking lot). I contacted Dodge again and was told that my car was out of warranty. I know this is a manufacturer defect, as it began when the car was new. But, Dodge doesn't care. In my daily commute to and from work I am on I-35 where there is construction going on, with narrow lanes and concrete walls and no shoulder to pull off onto, my headlights turning off and not coming back on can get me killed. I don't know what else to do. I called Chrysler assistance 800 # and was told that my complaint was denied because of the mileage and warranty being out. I argued that the problem began when the car was new, so they should fix it. It has been escalated to a supervisor, and I am awaiting their denial at this time. While searching the internet for a possible cause/fix I found numerous people with the same vehicle and the same complaints. Minivans are regularly purchased by families with children (as was mine). These vehicles need to be recalled and repaired before someone gets injured or killed. I believe that Chrysler will not help voluntarily.
No specific events prior, just parked car for the evening. Car started but no headlights or interior gauge lights including gear indicator, also no electric door locks. After several restarts all work but check engine light is on. No check engine light now. Cruise control light flickers on and off. This happened a few times when the car was new and the dealer was able to stop it by replacing the computer.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
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The lights will randomly come on and off while driving. Sometimes you are unable to turn head lights on. I have replaced the lights switch and the dealer does not seem to know what the problem is. The last problem occurred on 8/26/2004.
Headlights went out at night while driving. Turning the headlight switch a few times and they came back on. Next day, headlights would not come on, after turning the headlight switch a few times they came on. All lights work correctly except for headlights. Holding back on high beam switch and lights will stay on "high", however, release high-beam switch and lights go out.
My headlights won't come on sometimes. I have to repeatedly turn the headlight switch off & on (sometimes dozens of times) until they will finally come on. Also the headlight have went off by themselves several times while driving down the road, and came back on within a few seconds. This problems has been happening for about the last 2 yrs, but getting worse & worse.
Headlight switch goes off intermittently, you have to turn the headlights off and back on. This has happened several times. There is no set condition for this to happen, it just does it when it feels like it. I've had it happen around town and on the interstate while driving.
The headlights do not operate as expected. Sometimes they do not illuminate when the switch is rotated to headlight position, sometimes the headlights flicker while driving, sometimes the headlights shut off automatically while driving. The problem has been intermittent since about 6 months after the vehicle was purchased but frequency has increased drastically in the last 3 month. Now the operation of headlights has become completely unreliable yet difficult to troubleshoot because failure cannot be reproduced on demand (I.e. headlights function properly when at dealership).
My Caravan has had numerous electrical problems and is now sitting in my driveway unable to be driven or to sell. Power window and door failure, gauges jumping, radio disconnecting itself, lights turning on and off when no one is in the car, and finally the end result is total power failure (sometimes in the middle of an intersection). Scared for my life and the life of my children I have stopped driving it. I have spent $1600 at the Dodge dealership only to finally be told they can no longer help me. I have talked to Chrysler directly and they stopped calling me back. There is clearly thousands of complaints about similar problems. I am sick over the junk pile I can't remove or replace in this economy. When will Chrysler be held accountable?
We have 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan, the lights on the van keeping turning on when opening the door they stay on for a long time, then they shut off and during the day they turn on by themselves and even in the middle of the night because the battery will loose power after it happens so many times, have not been able to find the problem, went by Dodge dealerships and they say they have never heard of such complaint.
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. The headlights will work fine, then not work at all. Sometimes if I move the switch back and forth several times real fast the lights will work again. Sometimes lights work for weeks without problems.
Steering column switch controlling turn signals, windshield wipers. Intermittent failure of wipers, washer, turn signals and turn signal reversal (indicate turn right signal for left actuates) to correct on a short term operating the tilt function corrects failure temporarily. This event occurs regularly at least every other time vehicle is used. Dealer can not replicate failure. I am a automotive quality engineer trained in root cause and corrective actions this failure in my opinion is due to the harness connection either wire pull out or connector failure. I have had wipers fail during heavy rain driving. Turn signals indicating incorrect direction nearly causing a rear end collision and washer not operate while driving in salt laden conditions. I have spoken to many owners who indicate this is an issue in their Caravan as well.
1. turn signals occasionally reverse signal right but left signal actuates, windshield wipers are intermittent. 2. seldom, needed to pull over in rain shower, had to use hand turning signals 3. the wiper / signal switch was replaced by a mechanic.
Lights on my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan do not come on all the time and when they do come on they turn off while driving down the road. I have checked the relay and it is fine, I am able to mess with the switch sometimes to get them to work. Very dangerous when traveling in dark.
When the headlights are turned on, they do not work. The parking lights and interior lights work but not the headlights. It was happening once or twice a month, but now it's 3-4 times a week. When driving at night, it is a hazard.
I have a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Last night my wife and I were traveling on I-15 from las vegas at aprox.time 9pm in the dark and our headlights turned-off and then turned on randomly. This was an awful experience driving like this for more than 100 mile in the mojave desert. Cars thought I was flashing them. I was driving in the slow lane at one point behind a trucker, I believe he thought I was flashing him. I passed him and then he got on my bumper and he flashed his lights on off several times at me..I was scared... this should be a recall....its not safe.!!....an accident could have happened not being able to see the road... [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Holland, PA, USA