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.
Five separate times while driving this van the engine just shuts down and we coast to a stop. This has happened at various speeds, the last event occurred while driving on the expressway at an aprox. Speed of 55-60 mph. Speed of the van does not seem to matter as we have had this occur at speeds ranging from 15-60 mph. Weather also does not seem to matter as the events happened in winter and summer. We have reported this problem to the Dodge dealership. They kept our van for a week attempting to have the problem occur for them without success. We are fearful every time we drive this van because when the engine shuts off we lose power to the steering and brakes. This is dangerous! Chrysler does not seem to have a solution to this problem. Help!
We bought our 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan new in April of 2010. Shortly after we bought it, I drove over a speed bump and the van engine shut off. This turned off the radio, power steering...everything electrical. I wrote it off to going over a speed bump too quickly. A few weeks later, the van shut down as I was driving about 40 mph down the road. I took it to the dealer and they said my key chain was too heavy. This made sense, so I removed keys. The problem still continued. To date, the van has shut down over 30 times and has been involved in one accident due to this issue. It has shut down while turning left into traffic, driving 60 mph down the expressway in the rain, driving slowly in a subdivision. There is no rhyme or reason as to when or why it shuts down. This is an unpredictable problem. Countless sensors have been replaced. Chrysler has sent the van to three different dealers to fix the problem. When the van shuts down, the engine turns off, the radio, heat/ac, power steering...everything shuts off. If I put the van in neutral and turn the key, the van will typically turn back on. On three occasions the van did not turn back on so I had to manipulate the van over to the side of the road (which is very difficult without power steering), put it in park, then restart it. Dodge is well aware of this problem, but they refuse to take the van back. They have attempted to fix the problem over a dozen times, with no luck. They told me that if I trade the van in, they will "fix it" and resell it. However they can not fix it for me, so how will they fix it for someone else? I am scared that my son who is 15 now learning to drive and he is learning on this van. Please take these vans off the road!!!
Original owner of the vehicle, recall for faulty ignition switch was applied in 2011. This is actually a report of 3 incidents, (#3 the most dangerous) the engine of the vehicle suddenly shuts off while driving. It is instant and silent, with no pre-warning like one would normally experience in a classic engine stall. Vehicle was taken directly to the dealership where they said that they could not reproduce the problem and that there were no codes. They suggested that I keep driving it to see if it happens again! they also suggested (an educated guess) that I change the egr valve. Here are descriptions of the 3 events - the last one was the most dangerous and scary:.#1 Dec 31, 2013. Outdoor temp below 32 degrees. Car shut off while pulling out from a stop sign, about 2-3 blocks after being started. Car was not rough idling, or showing any other signs of a problem. It just seemed like someone reached over and turned the key to "acc" because the blowers and radio were still on, but the engine, power steering and power brakes were gone. The car started right back up. #2 March 1, 2014. Outdoor temp about 32 degrees, similar situation, pulling out after a light turned green, turning right and the car just shut off again. Again I would call it a cold engine, as this happened within 5 minutes of starting the car. Also no sign of a problem with the engine. It started right back up. #3 May 23, 2014. Outdoor temp about 50 degrees. Had driven about 1 mile, (engine still cold), and was at the speed limit of 35-40mph and starting to turn with the curve in the road (a very modest curve)when the car just shut off and started wanting to go straight (no power steering) veering towards the oncoming lane. Once again, the engine started right up and was acting normal before and after the stall/shut down.
With 4000 miles since last oil change, the oil light came on while driving down the road. Put 2 quarts of 5W20 oil in the engine and it was still below the add line on the dipstick. Dealer stated that they don't know what is causing it and they would charge me $50 just to see what is wrong and to see if the warranty covers it.
I was driving down the road and I noticed that my steering was tight. When I looked down, my RPM's were on 0, my car had shut off and the traction control light came on. I pulled over to the side of the road, put car in park and it started right up. This happened again a few weeks after that, going the same speed. Brakes & steering gave out, was able to coast to side of road, put car in park and it started right up. On March 28th I was driving into work, going approx. 45-50 mph, noticed that my steering got tight, car had shut off again. Thankfully I was in the outside lane so I could pull over. Car started right up. It happened a 4th time on April 2, 2014. This time I felt the steering wheel getting tight, I put car in neutral and it started right up. Every time this happens my car shuts off first and then there is a 1-2 second delay before the traction control steering light comes on. My car is at the dealership right now, waiting to hear. I checked on the ignition recall for the 2010 Grand Caravan and I was told that my VIN# does not fall into the recall dates. This is very dangerous for myself, my family and others on the road. I am afraid to drive my car!!
- Mechanicville, NY, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The ignition moved itself from start to accessory, shutting of the engine, disabling the power steering and brakes. Luckily I was already coming to a stop otherwise my lack of power steering and power brakes would have caused me to crash by the time I realized what had happened.
The van will turn off riding down the road. I has reported this several times to the dealership and to NHTSA. Does my wife have to crash to get some ones help? the dealership said to just wiggle the key when the car shuts off. This has been happening since I bought the van.
Please look into the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan shutting off just like the GM models. My van shuts off with loss of power steering and brakes at least once a week. The dealer always tells me there is no error code. Several complaints out there, why is nothing being done? I do not want to die in my van! I have 3 children.
Driving through a school zone to take my daughter to school. The engine just stopped with no warning. This caused me to loose power steering and brakes. This happened on 6 subsequent occasions in different areas and at different speeds between November 2013 and March 2014 the most recent was March 11, 2014.
On several occasions (5 to date) the engine has stalled while the vehicle is moving at a steady speed. Each time the vehicle has been moving at less than 20mph and has been running for a relatively short period of time 5-10 min from cold start. We took the car to the dealer, but no codes were set and they couldn't find anything wrong. They say the engine is not due for maintenance for another 15,000 miles. We are extremely disappointed in this response given the seriousness of having the engine stall while the car is moving. Heaven forbid it occur while on the highway.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the tires would become bald prematurely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the technician stated that the vehicle needed an alignment. Additionally, the motor mount and the lower intake gasket was fractured, causing an oil filter housing leak in the lower intake gasket. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.
The distance was about 35 miles from our home, bout 45 minutes drive. Driver didn't notice anything wrong with the engine or see any warning lights. The car was swaying like on a windy day, another car honked at us, then we heard loud road noise. We pulled over and turned off the engine. Saw the rear passenger tire was flat to the rim. Noticed a smoky smell. Saw little puffs of white smoke coming from under the hood. To be safe we removed children from the car; two 4 yr old children were in the backseat buckled in their car-seats. Infant was in the middle drivers side seat buckled in his car seat. Driver and car owner were in the front. Keys were removed from the ignition. We walked away from the vehicle, waited at the fence-line away from the vehicle while calling for a tow. Smoke appeared to have stopped for about 5 minutes. Suddenly black smoke started pouring out of the engine, embers dropping to the road from under the front of the car. We moved the children further away from the vehicle. Several truckers pulled over and brought fire extinguishers. One opened the hood flames flared up the fire truck arrived after the fire had been extinguished. One said the fire appeared to have started in the fan. The chp officer said the firefighters would disconnect the battery. When we looked at the inside of the front of the car everything was burnt and melted, the hood was buckled, front grill melted. The fire was extinguished before the rest of the car was damaged.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that when abruptly braking, the vehicle would stall. The failure would also occur when decelerating to attempt a turn in either direction. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 50,939.
Jan 31, 2:00pm I parked the vehicle to pick my son up from pre-school. After securing my children to their respective car seats, I buckled myself in and proceeded to start the engine, the vehicle's engine would not start. Strong electrical-smelling fumes were emitted and the etc light came on. We had the vehicle towed to a Jeep, Dodge, & Chrysler dealership for servicing for 5 days. The service tech insisted that nothing was detected aside from slight corrosion in the battery plugs, which needed to be replaced. We did what was advised and took our vehicle back on Feb 6. Feb 13, 9:45am after making a quick stop at a grocery store, the same problem occurred. The vehicle engine would not start, but the radio was coming on. I turned off the vehicle and proceeded to restart the vehicle. Once again the etc light came on and this time, white smoke was coming out from under the hood. After seeing the smoke, I quickly turned off the vehicle and took my child out. Our vehicle is now stranded in the parking lot of a grocery store waiting to be towed to the same dealership.
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that when driving at low speeds of when attempting a turn, the vehicle would stall without warning. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a diagnostic was performed, which was unable to generate a failure code. The dealer also test drove the vehicle but was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer cleaned the fuel rail system as a precaution however, the failure was not corrected. The vehicle continued to stall without warning. The vehicle was not further repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,694 and the current mileage was 41,000. Updated 01/29/13 the consumer also stated the passenger rear door was repaired four times. Updated 01/30/13
Prior to 9/6/2012, engine light came on for what the dealer said no reason. Then on 9/6/2012, van broke and would not start. It appeared as if stuck in all gears and I was told this was an electrical problem. There is a recall on this type/year of van for electrical problems, recall #11V139000;however, no recall shows up for my van VIN #. I don't feel this vehicle is safe. The dealer has had my vehicle for a week now along with another one same make and model/year that they are having the same issue. There is a definite problem with this model vehicle. My vehicle is still not repaired or exact problem diagnosed. Yet, they expect me to drive it again when I get it back. These electrical issues need to be further evaluated. Yes my van was in a parking lot but that was lucky. Please look into this further. The dealer don't even understand the problem on these 2 Grand Caravan per our last conversation we had today.
Our 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, has been for the past 6 months been stalling sporadically. Today, it came to a head. We were 45 minutes North of our house and heading home. 10 minutes of driving to get to the freeway and 20 minutes on the freeway, in the center lane, 3 lanes wide, pouring outside, it is 8:50pm, and lightening out as well. Our minivan just died on the freeway, with a fair amount of traffic. We were able to pull over quickly as the minivan shook to a halt, we were going 70 miles per hour. Yesterday, when I tried starting it died right away, twice. The dealership knows about this as they see the minivan for this about every month, and they always say nothing comes up on the computer, nothing is wrong with it. I have complained to Chrysler about this. They say it is because it happens right after we have filled up with gas. Well, we didn't just fill up with gas today, and have only a half tank of gas, when this happened. Out of the countless times this has died on us, it has only died 2 times after filling up. There is no rhyme or reason when this happens, can be morning or afternoon, we rarely drive in the evening. Cold or hot days. Chrysler has said that this issue is related to the new key, and recalled it, well we have had that changed at least 3 times already.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rochester, NY, USA