I know anyone who reads this will yell that I should have gotten rid of this van long ago....but having paid it off early, it is easier to not have a monthly car payment and just deal with the repair bill.

Through November 2007 I have replaced 4 tensioners, 1 mounting bracket and 7 serpentine belts. Today the belt installed in Nov. began to shred. It is the problem from hell. The longest I have gone is 12,000 mi between repairs, the shortest about 3,000. The first 2 times it happened it was covered under the extended warranty which my genius husband insisted on. I just recently had the mounting bracket replaced because my "new" (of 1 yr.) mechanic found it to be slightly bent which he felt contributed to the problem...how was this bent? well when another mechanic replaced a serpentine it was also due for the timing belt, so it was wise to have it done then. That idiot has cost me so much more money in repairs, but when you can't prove wrong-doing, you're screwed.

I sympathize with anyone else out there that has these problems. There are many parents that I know with caravans, different years, who don't put as much mileage on theirs that I do that have never even heard of a serpentine belt. I have just about given up on this van, no matter that it rides great and fits the family it is now the official money pit on wheels. Save yourselves.....do not buy a caravan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The fist time the serp. belt shredded was no big deal.After four belts, two tensioners and two idler pully's, all within 92 000 KM.,there has to be a fix. I've contacted several dealers about the problem and have had several responses. The obvious was to change the tensioner,AGAIN!, wire brush the pully grooves, check the end play in the pow. steer pump pully.None seem to have helped as the telltale belt squeal is back indicating imminent belt failure. I heard from a belt manufacturer that Chrysler had a shim made to mount under the alt. or alt. bracket but no dealer can confirm. So just keep a spare belt and a tool kit in the piece of junk on your next family getaway 310Ttech

The belt shredded while in the process of moving into a new home, the van was filled with items. The vehicle was brought to a Dodge/Chrysler Russ Darrow dealership in Milwaukee, WI. and they had it for several days (May 2001). They replaced the serpentine belt and stated that they replaced the tensioner only 13,000 miles on it. The belt broke again exactly 4 months later with 16,000 miles (September 2001). Replaced belt and stated that that they adjusted the tensioner. March 2006 (36,000 miles) belt making noise and slipped off/didn’t break. I was able to get belt on and drove it to nearest Chrysler dealership. I was told that the bracket that secured the pulleys, alternator, tensioner , etc. was probably bent and needed to be replaced. Cost $681.00 and no help paying by Chrysler. I pointed out the fact that it was never properly repaired while under warranty and stated that I could not prove that and it was my opinion. I took the vehicle and didn’t have them repair it because of not trusting them and wanting a second opinion.

I took it to a trusted shop and was told that the tensioner was bent and had been adjusted/fixed by Russ Darrow Chrysler in Milwaukee by placing a metal shim behind it instead of replacing with a new tensioner. Total repair cost $273.00 new belt, tensioner, and include a transmission leak in a line that needed a new clamp. The dealership wanted an additional $68.00 for that repair. I saved nearly $500.00 by not having the work performed at the dealership.

I figure they thought their quick cheap repair would last until the warranty expired and it did.

Never will I purchase another Chrysler product or seek repair from any of their dealerships. I can’t trust them.