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.
The automatic door locks stop working. This has been discussed on the internet quite a bit. The problem is that the door will not lock or unlock with the key fob or door switch. The also do not automatically lock when the car starts moving thus creating a safety concern for kids riding in the back. Removing the negative battery terminal resets it so that it works again briefly. The problem recurs again after a brief time.
The headlights on my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan would not turn on. Only my parking lights would turn on. After several dozen attempts at turning on the low-beam headlights they would finally turn on. This is not the first time this has happened. The headlights on my Dodge Grand Caravan have also failed at night while I have been driving. Fortunately, I was only a couple miles from home. The lighting system in this vehicle is not reliable and I would hope the government would examine this matter closely.
- Corry, PA, USA
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Every once in a while, my headlights won't turn on when I start my van. If I turn them off and on a few times, they will eventually turn on. A couple of times, my lights have shut off while I was driving in the van. Turning the lights off and on brought them back on, so I was not in an accident. Also, a couple of times all of my dashboard lights and gauges have gone crazy all at once. After about 10 seconds, they would be fine again.
Dash light will flicker then go out then come back on, so will the radio at the same time. Also engine will cut out but not always at the same time. Also sensor light will come on.
Our head lights would not come on. After turning the switch on and off several times they would come on. Now when driving down the highway they will start going on and off then completely go off. I have to travel a lot at night for my work. If you pull the dimmer/wiper switch toward you and hold it the high beam will come on but will not stay on. Now I am afraid to go any where after dark. Have called several Dodge garages service departments and when ask if they think replacing the switch could fix the problem they tell you, well you can bring it in and we can try that but can't guarantee that will fix your problem. Why should we pay to replace something that they don't know what the problem is. We believe that Dodge should have recall since there is so many of the same problems with other owners evidently there is a defect in the switching of the headlights and this is a serious problem.
We are constantly having problems with the power door locks failing which is a huge issue with two small children and them being able to pull on the door handle and have a door open without warning. We are also having issues with the dash lights not working therefore you cannot see anything at night... not the speedometer, not the fuel gauge, not the heat controls, nothing!!!
The power locks on my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan do not work consistently. Just like the many other people experiencing the same problem, I have to take the iod fuse out for 10 seconds, and put it back in to get the power locks to work. Even then, the power locks will work for maybe a few hours, and then they stop working. Very frustrating. This is also a safety concern. Dodge needs to recall these vehicles and fix this electronic/computer problem.
Door lock function failure. Can't find a fix. Have to reset PCM to get locks to function, and can work temporarily for 1 to several times, and always fails again.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the key fob could not lock or unlock the vehicle. The contact also stated that only one of the door locks would unlock the vehicle, but it would cause the alarm to sound. The dealer was not notified of this failure, but the manufacturer was not. The failure mileage was 56,700. Updated 01/24/12 the consumer stated when the malfunction occurred, the key fob would no longer work and the electric door locks won't work. So, the van remains locked or unlocked. Updated 01/25/12
The power door locks are failing regularly. Pulling the iod fuse and reinserting resolves the issue for a few hours to a few days, at which time the door locks stop working again. Failure prevents key phob, inside lock switch and auto lock features from working.
Right side van door stopped closing and opening correctly. It gets stuck part-way. Now it doesn't close properly or lock, you have to work hard to close it.
Turn signal intermittently fails to work at all. Worse, left signal will be selected, but right signal will be delivered. Sometimes, signal works correctly. Dangerous. Wipers work very unpredicatably, or not at all. Will not come on, then will not go off. Will run very fast or very slow, and won't adjust.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that none of the interior or exterior door locks would function. The contact replaced the vehicle's battery, but the failure recurred approximately one week later. The contact then replaced the fuses for all of the locks. The failure began to recur a few weeks later. The contact also stated that the automatic rear sliding doors no longer functioned and would only open and close when operated manually. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the electrical software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The power door locks repeatedly fail - I understand this to be a common issue with this vehicle - making it difficult to get access to vehicle from the outside, especially problematic with children in the backseats who have difficulty unlocking the doors manually. Also, the passenger side power sliding door has not been operational for some time. We have also recently experienced a, as yet still undiagnosed, complete power failure in the whole electrical system - this occurred suddenly while the vehicle was traveling 65 mph with the cruise control engaged (it had been engaged for several miles). These issues range from very inconvenient to potentially hazardous.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Washington, DC, USA