Have a 2006 Dodge Caravan SXT with an extended warranty to 100,000 km or five years whichever comes first. This May the car was only 4 years old but in June it hit 103,000 km. Of course in June when we finally had some hot weather I noticed the A/C wasn't working. Dealership said the rear evaporator coil and line connection had corroded that leaked out all the refrigerant. Replacement estimate was about $1300.00. Because it was over the 100,000 km not much they would do, except maybe reduce the price a couple hundred dollars. Checked the internet and it appears corroding rear A/Cs coils on 2005, 2006, and maybe newer SXT or equivalent models (Stow and Go seating) is fairly common. Chrysler made an extension on the regular warranty to 70,000 miles (~112,000 km) on some caravans with these problems but only if your VIN number was within a certain sequence.
Contacted Chrysler Canada twice to complain about my problem that seemed to be the same as those with the warranty extension but to no avail. Since I did not want to spend $1300.00 and rarely use the rear A/C I chose to have it disconnected and get the front working. At least this would also keep the A/C compressor from probably crapping out if discharged for an extended period. From the internet a company in Minnesota (StreetRodGuys.com) sells custom caps for different makes of automobiles. The two caps for my minivan were only about $70.00 including shipping and exchange on the US/Canadian dollar. On the caravan it is easy access to disconnect the rear A/C lines and put the new caps on the front lines. I had an A/C technician test and recharge the system for about $60.00. The front A/C works fine. The only downfall is when I want to resell the vehicle there will be no rear A/C so will probably loose some value.
Anyone owning a newer grand caravan with stow and go seats - check your A/C regularly prior to the warranty expiring. According to some opinions on the internet it is the stow and go design that exposed the rear A/C connections to premature corrosion. I had a 1999 grand caravan with rear A/C for seven years and no problems with corrosion but then again it did not have stow and go seats. Finally, I may still look at Dodge Caravans when I buy a new car but their price will have to be several thousand dollars less than the competition for the same features. Even though this is the fourth Dodge minivan I have owned the competition now has taken away Dodge's edge.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Have a 2006 Dodge Caravan SXT with an extended warranty to 100,000 km or five years whichever comes first. This May the car was only 4 years old but in June it hit 103,000 km. Of course in June when we finally had some hot weather I noticed the A/C wasn't working. Dealership said the rear evaporator coil and line connection had corroded that leaked out all the refrigerant. Replacement estimate was about $1300.00. Because it was over the 100,000 km not much they would do, except maybe reduce the price a couple hundred dollars. Checked the internet and it appears corroding rear A/Cs coils on 2005, 2006, and maybe newer SXT or equivalent models (Stow and Go seating) is fairly common. Chrysler made an extension on the regular warranty to 70,000 miles (~112,000 km) on some caravans with these problems but only if your VIN number was within a certain sequence.
Contacted Chrysler Canada twice to complain about my problem that seemed to be the same as those with the warranty extension but to no avail. Since I did not want to spend $1300.00 and rarely use the rear A/C I chose to have it disconnected and get the front working. At least this would also keep the A/C compressor from probably crapping out if discharged for an extended period. From the internet a company in Minnesota (StreetRodGuys.com) sells custom caps for different makes of automobiles. The two caps for my minivan were only about $70.00 including shipping and exchange on the US/Canadian dollar. On the caravan it is easy access to disconnect the rear A/C lines and put the new caps on the front lines. I had an A/C technician test and recharge the system for about $60.00. The front A/C works fine. The only downfall is when I want to resell the vehicle there will be no rear A/C so will probably loose some value.
Anyone owning a newer grand caravan with stow and go seats - check your A/C regularly prior to the warranty expiring. According to some opinions on the internet it is the stow and go design that exposed the rear A/C connections to premature corrosion. I had a 1999 grand caravan with rear A/C for seven years and no problems with corrosion but then again it did not have stow and go seats. Finally, I may still look at Dodge Caravans when I buy a new car but their price will have to be several thousand dollars less than the competition for the same features. Even though this is the fourth Dodge minivan I have owned the competition now has taken away Dodge's edge.
- Dave G., Winnipeg, MB, Canada