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.
My 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan (which I purchased new) had "thrown" its' serpentine-belt 4 times (approximately every 10,000 miles- it now has approximately 50,000 miles on the odometer). The danger/hazard in this circumstance is that power-steering, water-pump, alternator, & possibly oil-pump are driven by this belt! Dodge has replaced the belt, tensioner, tensioner-mount bracket successively: I.e.- belt at 1st incident, tensioner at 2nd, bracket at 3rd. Now it has occurred again & they wish to charge for all the aforementioned. The vehicle had camshaft failure at 41,000 miles & now has a rebuilt engine- the belt/ tensioner/ bracket are said by Dodge not to be affected by the replaced engine. So, does this mean the vehicle needs a new tensioner/ belt/ bracket every 10,000 miles?
Serpentine belt fell off the tension pulley, causing a loss of power steering. Tsb 6088784 was issued on the problem, which indicated that cause was rain/stagnant water, and snow. 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan experienced problem where serpentine belt fell off the tension pulley causing a loss of power steering, power brakes and engine failure. Chrysler corporation sent a memo to their dealerships addressing how to correct the problem. The memo also stated that this problem was not a safety issue.
Serpentine belt of my 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan came off while driving down the highway. I lost ABS, power steering, radio, and the engine overheated almost immediately. My daughters were in the car and I was in heavy traffic. I could barely steer the van. I was alarmed to find that many others have had this same problem. If my wife had been driving, I'm not sure if she could have steered the van. I could have easily caused an accident/injury/death to myself or others. The belt was not frayed, the tensioner is fine. The thing just slipped off. It was raining at the time as well, making a dangerous problem almost catastrophic.
On two occasions, both during a heavy rainstorm, the serpentine belt had fallen off the vehicle while driving at a high speed. This caused a lost of power steering, overheating and the alternator light had come on. The service could not find a reason as to why this occurred. The consumer was also told that this was common on the East cost due to the rain and snow. (model/sport)
- Springfield, VA, USA
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We purchased this vehicle used in August 2001. After two months of having the vehicle we had to replace the serpentine belt, which broke as soon as I turned a corner, (we were told the dealership, maroone Toyota in weston, fl sould see nothing wrong) we then had to have the vehicle looked at as our engine light came on (we were told there was nothing wrong with the engine) within the next 2 years of having this car, we have replaced the serpentine belt 4 addiotnal times, we have had the motor in the driver door break and we cannot get that window down, we have the warning lights come on for the air bag system (which I just noted is a recall issue that I never received notice), we have just experienced the A/C breaking down, wich looks in turn that this will be a problem with the pulley or system it is attched to ( a coil problem). We have 3 small children and I must admit that this has been the worst experience that I have ever encountered with a used vehicle. We have had nothing but complications with this vehicle - I should have returned thevehicle and count my blessings, I'm afraid the next time something goes wrong with this vehicle - it may cost us ourlives. Can someone please contact me and tell me my options.
I have had to replace the serpentine belt 5 times since I bought the 1998 Grand Caravan a year and a half ago. I have also replaced all idler pulleys, tensioners etc multiple times trying to get rid of the squaking noise and the belt falling off when you get it wet.
Serpetine belt has shredded two times in the last two months. A small section of the belt on the inner side next to the engine appeared to have been cut, both times this occurred the damage was the same. Vehicle had 99,000 miles and was well maintained. This event never occurred until the vehicle was over 95,000 miles.
The drive belt came partially off while driving. The belt shredded and then came off completely. The belt was replaced 6000 miles ago. It was a wet day outside (light rain).
Tension, idler pulley. Second time this has occurred. Wet pavement causes belt to slip and loss of power resulting to vehicle during operations. This has occurred during regular driving, as well as highway driving under what should be normal operating conditions.
Serpentine belt fell off when driving through a puddle. This disabled all of the accessories and made the van undrivable. This has happened once before. Vehicle was disabled in the middle of a busy street
Serpentine belt comes off often causing loss of steering and other functions.this is something that happens very often in the short time that I have owned this car.there must be some way this can be prevented or corrected!!
Engine belt has had to be replaced five times since date of purchase. Also, all electrical components including lights and hazard lights and power steering are lost. Vehicle cannot be driven more than twenty miles per hour when this happens. Dealer has been contacted. Consumer stated that the tensioner failed and was replaced for the fifth time on 1-04-02.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tampa, FL, USA