2001 DODGE CARAVAN Suspension Problems

THE REAR AXELS BEND AROUND BACK WHEELS ALSO FRONT MAKES A NOISE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP

Mileage: 2,500

WE GOT INTO OUR 2001 DODGE CARAVAN AND STARTED TO DRIVE IT AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUSPENSION. I PULLED THE VAN OVER AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WAS UP THROUGH INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! I BELIEVE THE HOUSING IS RUSTED THROUGH, WHICH ALLOWED THE STRUT TO POKE ALL THE WAY OUT. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

2001 DODGE CARAVAN CONSUMER'S AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CLOCK SPRING NHTSA RECALL 04V480000 DUE TO VIN. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CLOCK SPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES ON JUNE 27 2002, SEPTEMBER 2003 , AND JANUARY 3, 2007. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT LINKAGE ON THE FRONT SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A NOISE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE DEALER STATED THERE HAS BEEN A MODIFICATION TO THE LINKAGE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,500. *AK

Mileage: 42,500

WENT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR A TIRE PROBLEM, UPON TAKING THE FRONT WHEELS OFF THEY DISCOVERED FAILING SWAY BAR LINKS. THEY SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM BY ACTUALLY PULLING THE LINK APART FROM THE SWAY BAR BY HAND. AS I WAS LEAVING THE SHOP TO GO HOME ONE OF THE LINKS DISCONNECTED AND NOW THE VEHICLE HAS A NOTICEABLE SWAY IN TIGHT CORNERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IN 2001 AND NOW HAS 51,000 ON IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS TOO SOON FOR PARTS LIKE THIS TO BE FAILING. *NM

Mileage: 45,000

MY MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE STABELIZER BAR BUSHINGS, STABELIZER LINKS, INNER TIE RODS, 2 WINDOW MOTORS 900.00

Mileage: 32,000

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF SWAY BAR BUSHING OR SWAY BAR LINKS DATING BACK FROM 03' UNTIL PRESENT. *NM

FOR YOUR READERS, I HAD A PERSISTENT LOOSE WHEEL OR LOOSE SUSPENSION PHENOMENA IN THE FRONT END. MARINE CHRYSLER VANCOUVER WHO SOLD THE CAR COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. DEERLAKE CHRYSLER BURNABY DISCOVERED FAULTY BUSHINGS IN FRONT END REPLACED AT 59K JUST UNDER WARRANTY COVERAGE. READERS SHOULD ASK DEALER TO REPALCE BUSHINGS IF THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS ON THEIR CAR.

WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD THERE WOULD BE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS HAS BEEN A ON GOING PROBLEM WHICH THE MFG., TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR. THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT END AT THEIR EXPENSE ORIGINALLY, WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE AND STILL NOT FIXED. INSTALL SPECIAL ORDER STEERING RACK. *BF

Mileage: 70,000

I KNOW ABOUT THE BALLJOINT RECALL FROM DC. I HAVE A 2002 AND ALREADY RECEIVED MY NOTICE IN THE MAIL. I ALSO HAVE A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN THAT ALSO HAS BAD BALLJOINTS. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, THIS IS DEFECTIVE PARTS. BALLJOINTS SHOULD NEVER GO BAD WITH ONLY 50K ON THE UNIT. THE PROBLEM IS, YOU CAN NO LONGER GREASE THESE PARTS.*AK

Mileage: 45,000

THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT SWAY LINKS AND STABILIZER BUSHINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 56000 MILES. *NM THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB

Mileage: 56,000

DRIVING IN NORMAL WINTER CONDITIONS, LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF SNOW, NOT LESS THAN 20 DEGREES IN WEATHER, MY ANTILOCK BRAKES FROZE UP, CAUSING ME TO SPIN OUT. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR CRASH. $800 WORTH OF DAMAGE, BRAKE LINING FROZE TO DRUM. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS, DRUMS, WHEEL BEARINGS IN BOTH REAR WHEELS. *AK

Mileage: 60,000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED SEVERE VIBRATION UNDER HIS FEET. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS THE NORMAL CHARARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. ALSO, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

Mileage: 48,198

FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK

Mileage: 28,000

I OWN A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT WITH 39,501 MILES. THE WIELD THAT HOLDS THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT TO THE STEERING ASSEMBLY RUSTED AND BROKE LEAVING THE STRUT DANGING AND USELESS. THE DEALER, MECHANICSVILLE DODGE, WANTS $800.00 TO REPLACE BOTH STRUTS AND REPAIR THE WIELD. WE DID NOTHING IN OUR DRIVING HABITS TO CAUSE THIS MALFUNCTION. THE STRUTS THEMSELVES ARE IN GOOD OPERATING ORDER. I FEEL ITS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT DODGE SHOULD FIX AT NO CHARGE.*AK

Mileage: 41,200

THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO WANDERS WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CONSIDER AT SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM IN HIS VEHICLE. *NM

CONSUMER HAD THE SWAY BAR LINKS REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. MANUFACTURER INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK *MR

Mileage: 40,000

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE INNER SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE WORN OUT, AND THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD WAS LOOSE. ALSO, RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

I RECENTLY HAD TO TAKE MY 2001 CARAVAN IN FOR SERVICING AT CHARAPP DODGE NORTH (NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA 15065)AND I HAD A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE MECHANIC SERVICING MY VEHICLE TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BAD SWAY BAR LINK AND BUSHINGS, WHICH REQUIRED HIM TO REPLACE THE BUSHING - SWAY ELIMINATOR AND THE LINK-SWAY ELIMINATOR. I FEEL THIS COULD NOT BE CORRECT AS MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 AND THESE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT AS SOON AS THEY DID. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH THE SAME YEAR VEHICLES BUT ONE IS A DODGE AND THE OTHER IS A CHRYSLER AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM I DID AND WE ALL BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE WITHIN A MONTH AND A HALF OF EACH OTHER. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PARTS TO BE DEFECTIVE COMING FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE FROM WHERE THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT. *JB

WHEN VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD IT MADE NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER,AND DEALER REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR.*AK

STRUTS CAME UNDONE AND FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS. DEALER HAS SERVICED 8 TIMES. STRUTS HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY TIGHTENED EVERY 6000-9000 MILES.*AK

I RECENTLY SENT THIS LETTER TO CHRYSLER IN AN E-MAIL. I AM CONTACTING THIS AGENCY TO SEE IF I CAN GET SOME JUSTICE. MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. HOWEVER, I STILL DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS PERFORMING CORRECTLY. I WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE AND DIRECTION. THANKS. RECENTLY MY 2001 NEEDED THE RACK AND PINION, LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARM AND COMPLETE FRONT SUSPENSION REPAIR AT ANTWERPEN DODGE IN RANDALLSTOWN, MD. THEY REALLY GAVE ME A PROBLEM WITH THE TIME TO COMPLETE THE JOB AND THEY KEPT SAYING THAT THE RACK AND PIN WAS A "STAR PART". I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO CHARGE, THEREFORE NO WORK ORDER. ALL I WANT IS A SMOOTH RIDING VEHICLE THAT'S NOT SHAKING RATTLING AND ROLLING DOWN THE STREET. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND MOST OF THE DRIVE IS HIGHWAY DRIVING. YOU CAN FEEL EVERY LITTLE BUMP.I FOUND THIS ARTICLE IN USA TODAY. IT READS: "APRIL 25, 2001 '' THE CHRYSLER ARM OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF SOME NEW MINIVANS, CITING A POSSIBLE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM. NEARLY 11,000 CUSTOMERS ARE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL OF THE 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, CHRYSLER VOYAGER, DODGE CARAVAN AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN MINIVANS BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 22 AND APRIL 21 OF 2001. OWNERS OF RECALLED VEHICLES ARE URGED NOT TO DRIVE THEM. THE AUTOMAKER SAID A BOLT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION CAN BREAK, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL." NO ONE MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM. SO I AM STILL TRYING TO FIX THIS SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL PROBLEM. THIS 2001 SUSPENSION IS TRULY JUNK. NOW THE BOTTOM-LINE OR SHOULD I SAY " BOTTOM OUT" IS WHAT CAN I DO TO GET A SMOOTH RIDE? I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE MECHANICS NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AND BE RIGHT. THIS COULD BE A FLUKE IN THE ASSEMBLY LINE, BUT I DOUBT IT. THERE ARE TOO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFLUENCE WITH ANTWERPEN DODGE IN RANDALLSTOWN, MD, PLEASE HELP ME TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE.

Mileage: 62,000

STEERING VIBRATION AT LOW SPEEDS AND GRINDING NOISE FROM UNDER FRONT OF VEHICLE.*JB

VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. *AK

LEFT FRONT STRUT WAS FRACTURED AND DRAGGING TO THE GROUND WHEN DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVERWAY. TIRE WAS MAKING A GRINDING SOUND DUE TO TIRE RUBBING AGAINST IT. *AK *JB

SEVERE SHUTTERING STEERING WHEEL. *AK

AT 35MPH CONTROL ARM SNAPPED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL. . DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL WANDER TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 6 OR 7 TIMES, AND HAS TRIED TO ALIGN VEHICLE AND TIRES. AFTER DEALER FIXED VEHICLE, IT WOULD PULL TO OPPOSITE DIRECTION.*AK CONSUMER HAS FILED FOR ARBITRATION. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.THERE IS REAR BUMPER DAMAGE. THE REAR DOOR IS INOPERATIVE WHEN USING REMOTE OR INTERIOR BUTTON. LEFT SLIDING DOOR RATTLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. DEALER REPLACED SLIDING DOOR PANEL MOLDING AND CLIPS THAT WERE BROKEN. DASH RATTLE IN FRONT DRIVER AREA OVER 40. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. PASSENGER FLOOR GETS WET FROM EXTENDED DRIVE WITH A/C ON. DEALER CLEANED DRAIN WITH COMPRESSED AIR. *TT

WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH A CONSTANT RATTLING ON FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO DAMAGED INNER TIE ROD. MECHANIC REPLACED TIE ROD. HOWEVER, RATTLING NOISE STILL OCCURRING AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF NEW TIE ROD . *AK

ALL SEEM TO BE RELATED TO A HANDLING PROBLEM. THE VAN/MOTORHOME VIOLENTLY WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 60 + MPH. IT IS EXTREMLY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE. WHEN YOU PAY $60K PLUS FOR A VEHICLE, YOU EXPECT A BETTER HANDLING VECHICLE THAN THIS VAN/MOTORHOME. I'M VERY DISAPOINTED WITH DODGE. THE REAR SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED, BUT WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE HANDLING. THE HANDLING IS EVEN WORSE WHEN THERE'S A SLIGHT SIDE WIND. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE "LEMON LAW" BUT IF I COULD RETURN THE VECHICLE TO DODGE AND GET THE PURCHASE PRICE BACK, I WOULD DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MIGHT TAKE TO FIX THE HANDLING PROBLEM, STRONGER FRONT SPRINGS, DIFFERENT TIRES, DIFFERENT STEERING BOX, DIFFERENT STEERING RODS AND ARMS, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO GET CHANGED AT DODGE'S EXPENSE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING UP A DRIVEWAY AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, ONE OF THE TWO BOLTS FELL OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISLODGING IT FROM THE SUSPENSION FRAME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE, DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT SWAY BAR LINK AND INSTALLED A RIGHT CAMBER BOLT. *SLC

THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT, THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNENT BUT NOW THE VEHICLE PULLS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. NLM