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.
Central locking system does not lock or unlock the doors even though it gives the beep letting driver think it does the job. Sometimes this problem can be cured by removing iod fuse, but the problem comes back after a few days or even almost immediately. This appears to be a very common problem, however it is not listed as a recall.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. While activating the keyless remote on the vehicle, the doors failed to lock. The exterior lighting flashed and the horn sounded, but the doors did not lock. While driving between 18-20 mph, the doors were supposed to lock, but did not. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 80,000. Updated 10/03/08 updated 10/06/08.
No specific event, it just started happening. Instrument panel lights, headlights and gauge needles flicker erratically, warning bell rings periodically, radio cuts out temporarily. Usually worse when warm engine and weather. Dealer fixed the problem temporarily for period of two months by reprogramming the BCM. Took vehicle to another dealer and they had no clue how to fix the problem.
Headlights do not come on have to turn switch many times before you get them to come on and then sometimes it still does not work. Lights will also dim on their own while you are driving have actually gone off and had to pull over until I could get them back on. Mechanics say they can not do anything until they see it happen. There are never any mechanics open when it is dark so you can never prove this really happens. They have checked switches and things all seem to be fine. Automatic door locks just stopped working one day. Tried the other key thought maybe the battery in my key was dead. Nothing. The lights will still flash and the horn will sound when you use buttons on the key but locks do not open or close. The back door hatch seems to work but other four locks do not. Very frustrating and unsafe these days to be in some areas we drive without having our doors locked. Also you can only get into one side of the car and the have to reach over to unlock all others very inconvenient! I'm actually afraid they will lock and never unlock at this point. I've read many complaints about the locks and think Dodge should be looking into this seriously. I have also read a report about the lights and am glad someone else has experienced this so I know I am not crazy. This is also a very huge safety issue and should be looked at immediately!
Air bag light came on at 49,000 miles. There was also a recall for the airbag sensors. The dealer replaced the sensors but the airbag light stayed on. They said the clock spring needed to be replaced. This sounds like the same clock spring problems that Dodge has had in previous years.
- Northampton, PA, USA
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Almost 1 year after buying the car the dash and lights began to flicker, then flicker to the point it would loose power. While driving, lights would function like strobe lights, visually outside and inside. The radio would cut on and off. I took the vehicle back to carmax and they replaced the battery. The car would work a couple of weeks and then started with same problem. We returned vehicle back to carmax and they forward vehicle to Dodge. They replace both the alternator and valve assembly @ a cost of $236.49. This time it lasted several weeks longer but return back to same problem. We took vehicle back to carmax, they only experienced minor flickering that they said was normal. Our vehicle has now gotten far worst than before and has almost caused accidents by shutting off or loosing power while driving then suddenly accelerating. Vehicle now cuts off unexpectedly while driving and/or looses power then suddenly accelerates while driving making it very dangerous to drive. We have no idea what to do, please help.
I drove 2 hours on the highway and parked the car when I arrived at my destination. After 10 minutes I went to leave and I put the car in drive; it started cranking and started to roll backwards. Parts of my car started falling out of the transmission. My car only had 32,000 miles on it. The axel got caught in the transmission and broke all the pieces in the transmission. It took 3 weeks for my car to be repaid and I was not able to get a loaner car from Dodge even though I complained.I could have been killed if this had happened an hour earlier on the highway. The second incident occurred in October. I was driving on my way home with my sister and my 6 year old daughter in the car. It was raining and all of a sudden my electrical system went haywire. My windshield wipers stopped working and my windows wouldn't open. A few minutes later when I arrived home, I noticed that my car was smoking. About 15 minutes later, I went out to check on my car and found that it was running without the key in the ignition. I put the key in and the car shut down. The next morning, I went to call the dealership and when I went to look at my car, it was running once again. By the time the tow truck arrived, my battery was dead. Once again we could have been killed in an accident. These are two major safety issues. I am afraid to drive my car now. I think that I should receive a new car that doesn't have all of these major safety issues.
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. While driving 55 mph in dry conditions the front strut failed and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The driver side front tire was punctured and began to smoke without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The current and failure mileages were 26,000. The consumer experienced an electrical problems with headlights. Updated 05/04/07. 8jb
- the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. The contact's vehicle has been in the repair shop 5 times for electrical failures. While driving at 65 mph the warning indicator lights began to flash. The contact's exterior lights also began to flash while driving. The vehicle has been at the repair shop since December 15, 2006. The mechanic and a Dodge technician made several unsuccessful attempts to diagnose the vehicle. The contact was the second owner, and was advised by the attorney general that per the lemon law it only applied to the original owner, and the mileage must not exceed 20,000. The vehicle was purchased on July 31, 2006. The service manager also observed the failure. Updated 03/07/07.
-the contact stated that the transmission in the 2005 Dodge Caravan has been replaced at 17,000 miles and 34,000 miles. The vehicle currently has an odometer reading of 48,000 miles. Also, the contact stated vehicle experienced electrical problems. He was traveling on a highway at approximately 25 mph. The road conditions were snowy. The contact stated he lost all power to the vehicle. The interior and exterior lights went out on the vehicle, there were no warning indicators. The contact stated he was able to safely pull over and after a few minutes the vehicle restarted. This happened after 34,000 miles.
The power locks do not work, and the air bag light is on. When taken to a service center they could not find the problem but my locks still do not work.
I have had to replace the airbag sensors or my airbags could have deployed! I have a 2005 Dodge Caravan SXT. The brakes and rotors for this vehicle are bad to they have had to been replaced and this was costly!
Contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. On 10-11-05 was driving home from a trip when the airbag warning light came on. Took it to the dealer the next day, the vehicle was put on a machine where they found that the sensors and the wiring harness were defective. This was located on the passenger's side. The one on the left side which was the driver's side was not fixed. The contact felt that the manufacturer should pay to have the driver's side sensors and the wiring fixed at no charge to the contact because they also were defective.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jefferson, GA, USA