2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED GOING TO THE RED SIDE; INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING TROUBLE REGULATING THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND CARBON FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

PERIODICALLY, THE ENGINE OF OUR 2004 GRAND CARAVAN SPUTTERS AND DIES WITHOUT WARNING. TYPICALLY THIS HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. UPON LEAVING THE GAS STATION, THE VAN RUNS NORMALLY FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, THEN CUTS OUT ALL TOGETHER. USUALLY THIS HAPPENS JUST AS WE ARE PULLING OUT OF THE STATION INTO TRAFFIC. ONCE THE VAN IS RE-STARTED, IT RUNS ROUGHLY FOR A MINUTE, THEN QUITE NORMALLY. THIS FIRST OCCURRED IN LATE 2009 AND HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY FOR A TIME. THE OLDER THE VAN BECOMES, THE MORE FREQUENTLY IT HAPPENS - NOW ON ALMOST EVERY FILL-UP. RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, PERIODICALLY AFTER STARTING THE VAN AT HOME, WITH A NEARLY FULL TANK OF GAS, IT RUNS FINE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, THEN THE ENGINE SEEMS TO GO INTO IDLE AND COMPLETELY FAILS TO RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. TYPICALLY THIS HAPPENS AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN NEAR HOME. THE ENGINE RUNS, BUT THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. WE DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BRAKE TO A STOP, WAIT A MINUTE (SOMETIMES SHIFT TO PARK), THEN TRY THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN. THE VAN WILL RESPOND NORMALLY AT THAT POINT AND RUN FOR THE REST OF THE DAY WITHOUT FURTHER TROUBLE. (THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE BETWEEN 50 AND 65 DEGREES.) WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED A NUMBER OF TIMES BY SEVERAL VERY REPUTABLE AUTO SERVICES AND NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 85,000

IN JANUARY 2011, I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN MY VEHICLE AND IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE UNTIL NOW. LAST WEEK, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I MADE A SERVICE APPT. WITH MCKINNEY DODGE IN EASLEY SC TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS CALLED TODAY (04/02/2013) AND WAS ADVISED THE SAME PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THE PART ONLY HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. I TOLD HIM THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A PART THAT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO ONLY HAVE A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. HE PROVIDED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE # (1-800-992-1997). I CALLED THEM AND THE LADY REVIEWED THE RECORD, AND RESTATED THEY COULD NOT ASSIST, AS IT ONLY HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE IS NOW A LITTLE OVER 156,000. I HAVE PUT AROUND 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR SINCE JANUARY 2011. I HAVE HAD THIS VAN FOR YEARS, AND HOW COULD THE ORIGINAL PART ON THE VEHICLE LAST FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEN A REPLACEMENT PART ONLY LAST A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS. I ASKED HAD THE QUALITY OF THEIR VEHICLE PARTS GONE DOWN FROM WHEN THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE WAS MADE. SHE HAD NO RESPONSE, BUT PROVIDED YOUR WEBSITE AND TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON OTHER CHRYSLER OR DODGE VEHICLES. I TOLD THEM I WOULD NOT BE PURCHASING ANOTHER CHRYSLER OR DODGE PRODUCT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 111,114

AFTER GOING THROUGH WATER PUDDLES, THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE WHEEL TURNED BUT AS IF THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE CAR ALSO HESITATES AS IF THE ENGINE WILL STALL. *JS

Mileage: 180,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE SMELL OF BURNED RUBBER EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY SEEMED TO OCCUR WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED OR REPAIRED, IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

1. METAL COOLANT LINES GOING TO REAR HEATER FAILED ,MASSIVE CORROSION WHERE THE HEATER HOSE ATTACHES TO THE PIPE COMPLETELY ROTTED/RUSTED OUT, THE VEHICLE HAD 75K MILES ON IT. 2. IF THE COOLANT LEVEL GETS TOO LOW OF COURSE MY ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT AND SEIZE. 3. THE STEEL PIPES NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR ALUMINUM PIPES OR CORROSION PROTECTION FROM THE FACTORY THAT'S NEEDED TO WITHSTAND HARSH CLIMES, ESPECIALLY ONES WHERE SALT IS USED TO DEICE ROADWAYS. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

WE HAVE HAD OUR VAN IN FOR SERVICE AND OIL CHANGES IN THE PAST. THE ENGINE HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND WAS USING ALMOST 4 QUARTS OF OIL IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS. THE LAST TIME IT WAS SERVICED, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON WHY IT WAS USING OIL. THEY SAID TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT BY CHECKING IT FREQUENTLY, AND THEY COULD TRY TO MONITOR IT TO SEE WHY WE WERE LOOSING OIL. WE COULD ALWAYS FIND SMALL SPOTS OF OIL IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND ON PARKING AREAS/GARAGE FLOOR. THE DEALER DID CHECK THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY OIL LEAKS. THEY DID HOWEVER FIND A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION LINE, WHICH DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY WE WERE HAVING TO REPLACE OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE HAD JUST PLACED 4 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE VAN TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VAN WAS TOTALED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT THE NEXT MONTH, SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE OIL LEAK PROBLEM BUT FELT THAT WE SHOULD REPORT THIS PROBLEM SINCE OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THEY HAVE LOW MILEAGE ON THEIR VEHICLE, AND OIL LOSS FOR NO KNOWN REASON. *TR

I HAD CONTINUALLY ADDED OIL EVERY MONTH STARTING AFTER ABOUT 10,000 MILES. I CHANGED OIL EVERY 3-5,000 MILES. DRIVING BACK FROM UP NORTH AND I HEARD A TICKING NOISE. I HAD CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL BEFORE OUR TRIP ON 8-3-07 AND ADDED 2 QUARTS OF OIL TO BRING IT UP TO FULL. AS WE HAD THE WINDOWS CLOSED AS THE TEMP HAD FALLEN TO CHILLY, I COULD NO LONGER HEAR THE NOISE UNTIL WE WERE WITHIN MILE OF OUR HOME. IT BECAME LOUDER AND AS WE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, IT WAS VERY LOUD. I WAS GOING TO BRING IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT THE NEXT DAY, BUT THE VAN WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT CHRYSLER AS THEY WOULD TOO. I DID AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE. THEY WANTED OIL CHANGE RECORDS AND I DID SOME MYSELF BUT HAD 3 FROM A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY WANTED 2 MORE AND I COULD NOT SUPPLY THESE AS I HAD DONE THEM MYSELF. I DID HAVE A RECEIPT FOR THE OIL I ADDED IN LAST JULY, BUT THAT WAS IT. I HAVE ABOUT 37,000-38,000 MILES ON THE VAN. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD THE FIRST WEEK THAT CHRYSLER HAD OK'D THE TEAR DOWN TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND WANTS ME TO PAY FOR A TEAR DOWN SO THEY CAN LOOK INTO WHY IT BROKE. I TOLD THEM , YOU ALREADY TOLD ME THAT YOU HAD THE OK TO DO THIS AND IT SHOULD BE ALREADY DONE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VAN WAS ON THE HOIST AND WAS PARTICULARLY DISASSEMBLED. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE TEAR DOWN AND A NEW ENGINE THAT WILL COST ALMOST $5,000. I HAVE IT DOCUMENTED ON AT LEAST ONE OIL CHANGE THAT IT HAD USED 2 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. I HAD NO LEAKS BELOW MY VAN SO I WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS ENGINE WAS EATING OIL. OTHER THAN HAVING TO ADD SOME EVERY MONTH. MORE IF YOU NEED IT. *JB

Mileage: 38,000

2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CUSTOMER HAS CONCERNS WITH THE TIMING BELT**NAR**CC THE CRANK WAS UNDERSIZED ON THE BEARINGS AND THE BEARINGS WERE UNDERSIZED CREATING A LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE BEARINGS AND THE CRANK WHICH WAS CAUSING THE NOISE KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. A FOREIGN PIECE OF METAL WAS FOUND UNDER THE MAIN BEARING CAP WHICH CAUSED EXTRA CLEARANCE. AND THE CRACK WAS ONLY TOUCHING TWO-THIRDS OF THE BEARING SURFACE. *JB

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS AND REPEAT PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND WE GET NO HELP FROM THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE MAIN COMPLAINT THAT IS MOST CONCERNING IS OUR BRAKES AS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. WE HAVE TERRIBLE SHAKING, VIBRATION AND GRINDING. THE VEHICLE HAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT FROM THE MOMENT WE PURCHASED IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES. COINCIDENTALLY IT IS THE RIGHT SIDE THAT WEARS MORE THAN THEN LEFT. UPON TAKING IT TO AN AAA APPROVED AUTO CENTER AND ASE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN BINDING AND THE ROTORS WERE TOO THIN TO MACHINE. WE HAVE KEPT THE PARTS THAT THE REPAIR SHOP REMOVED SO THAT THE CONDITION AND WEAR CAN BE DOCUMENTED PHYSICALLY SHOULD A REPRESENTATIVE OF DODGE WISH TO SEE THE ACTUAL PARTS. WE PAID OVER 32,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE 18 MONTHS AGO AND IT CONSISTENTLY UNDER PERFORMS AND AS MENTIONED ABOVE HAS HAD SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS BUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS MORE THAN INCONVENIENT AND EXPENSIVE, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I DO NOT TRUST THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE AND THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER MAINTAIN THAT THIS IS VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS INTENDED. THEREFORE WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT THE 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS DESIGNED TO PERFORM POORLY AND BE IN THE SHOP REGULARLY. *NM UPDATED 11/4/2005 - THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK. THE SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLEWAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND FAULT CODES FOR CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE AND MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE. THE DEALER INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS, REPLACED PLUF WIRES AND FLASHED THE PCM. *NM

Mileage: 43,825

DT: CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING NEAR HOME AND LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY STANDING ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED AND THEY PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY. A YEAR LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT AND PULLEY HAD BROKEN AGAIN. IT WAS REPAIRED. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. NO MORE PROBLEMS AS OF YET. *AK *NM

Mileage: 745

VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IF IDLING. ALSO BATTERY DIED TWICE WITHIN FIRST YEAR. HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING DEVELOPED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THE VAN VIBRATES, ESPECIALLY STEERING WHEEL ONCE SPEED EXCEEDS 50 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY AND ALSO THE ALTERNATER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. THE SQUEALING HAS STOPPED. ADJUSTMENTS WERE ALSO MADE TO REDUCE THE ROUGH RIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIBRATING STILL OCCURS AND IT IS NOT SMOOTH WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. *AK

WHEN IN DRIVE AND SITTING AT STOP LIGHT OR STILL THE MOTOR RUNS ROUGH. IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF.*AK

Mileage: 100