18 of the 341 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Caravan are about the engine — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 56,000 miles.
18
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
PULLED VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE AND SHORTLY AFTER FIRE STARTED TO COME UP OUT OF THE DASH. COMPLETE LOSS. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT IT SPREAD IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.. THIS WAS NOT MY CAR BUT MY MOTHER IN LAWS.
NHTSA complaint #10653375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03E045000 (EQUIPMENT). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10632528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP REPLACED ON VEHICLE. AFTER THAT WHENEVER IT RAINS, THE FOLLOWING INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT WORK -- WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DEFROST/HEATER, RADIO/CLOCK, POWER WINDOWS. TOOK TO DODGE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. PROBLEM THOUGHT TO BE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM. REPLACED -- THAT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IN SHOP ALMOST A WEEK AND PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THOUGHT TO BE ELECTRICAL.
NHTSA complaint #10173983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2001 DODGE CARAVAN SE AND HAD ENGINE & ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING OVER THE BRIDGE OUT OF NEW YORK CITY, THE CAR FILLED UP WITH WHITE SMOKE OF A REALLY TOXIC SMELL. GREENISH BROWN FLUID LEAKED OUT AT MY FEET. SEVERAL TIMES I WENT TO HAVE IT FIXED, ALL THE FLUIDS WOULD LEAK OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, I WOULD TAKE IT BACK TO ONLY HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN. FINALLY THEY CLAMPED A HOSE UNDERNEATH THE CAR CAUSING FLUIDS TO SWISH BACK AND FORTH IN THE DASH AREA SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MY LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF. (VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE WITH CHILDREN). WENT THROUGH THE LEMON LAW UNIT WITH A JUDGE THAT DID NOT USUALLY WORK IN THAT COURT, AND LOST THE CASE AFTER PAYING A LAWYER $2000. THAT WENT OUT ON DISABILITY! I HAD NO JUSTICE AND STOPPED PAYING ON THE CAR. IT WAS REPOSSESED AND SOMEONE ELSE IS PROBABLY DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS CAR!
NHTSA complaint #10164233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CARAVAN THREE YEARS AGO, DROVE IT HOME ABOUT 100 MILES AND TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, HAD IT FIXED. ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AGAIN, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AGAIN. THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD TRADE THE CAR IN FOR ANOTHER CAR IN MARCH OR APRIL. THEN, THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED HIS MIND AND STATED THAT CONSUMER COULD NOT TRADE VEHICLE IN RIGHT NOW. THE TRANSMISSION WAS MALFUNCTIONING IN JULY 2005. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BOX ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT TELLING THE TRANSMISSION WHEN TO CHANGE GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION BOX WAS NOT ON THE WARRANTY, AND THEY WANTED $900.00 TO FIX IT. DURING A TRIP THE CAR STOPPED WORKING. CALLED THE WARRANTY PEOPLE, THEY HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THE MOTOR WAS GONE. THE WARRANTY PAID FOR A NEW MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10134653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE FILED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR SINCE BUYING IN 2001 THIS LATEST ONE IS THE HEAT CONTROL KNOB IN THE DASH HAS FROZEN DEALER SAYS BROKEN AND WOULD COST 400 TO FIX, AT THAT PRICE IT SHOULDN'T BREAK AT ALL!CAR NOW HAS 50000 MILES. THIS IS THE SAME CAR THAT WITHIN THE FIRST 72 HOURS AND 200 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES AT 20000 AND 36700 MILES MOTOR ON WINDOW ALSO REPLACED CARPET REPLACED BECAUSE WATER SEEPING IN CAR I AM AFRAID OF THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10107613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DRIVER START UP THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO START. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE DRIVER DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10103763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WORKED FINE UNTIL I DROVE THE VAN HOME AFTER THE PLAZA DODGE OF HOLIDAY REPLACED THE SERP BELT. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER THE VAN WAS SERVICED WHICH ALSO INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, THE TRANSMISSION HAD A TOTAL FAILURE. THE ENGINE RUNS BUT THE VAN WILL NOT MOVE.
NHTSA complaint #10068820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FAN BELT BROKE IN HALF, CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. MANUFACTURE IS BLAMING IT ON OIL CHANGE. THEIR OWN MECHANIC ADVISED DUE TO FAN BELT. NEITHER DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WANT RESPONSIBILITY AND ADVISED IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. STILL FIGHTING WITH MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE ENGINE, HAVE NOT HAD MY VAN FOR 5 MONTHS, STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10069762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE TOLD THE COMPRESSOR WAS OUT AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH. THE COST WAS 1100.00 THE BRAKES HAVE GONE OUT TWICE IN AN MATTER OF 6 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10070488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TIRE EQUIPMENT AND ROUGH IDLE AT START UP. *MR (THERE WERE SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF ROUGH IDLE/ERRATIC ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND DEFECTIVE TIRES) *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10046532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10032248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT WAS STILL IDLING. ALSO, REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10031953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTS EACH TIME , AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED COUPLE OF DAYS LATER.
NHTSA complaint #10022708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THERE WAS A SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A DEMO. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOUND OVER 26 DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOLD IN THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED A STRIP CLEANING OF THE ENTIRE INTERIOR. HOWEVER THE SMELL HAD COME BACK, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HEATER WAS BLOWING. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10009910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTS, AND THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT.*JB. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10009327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
COOLING FANS SOMETIMES (MOSTLY IN COOL WEATHER) RUN CONTINOUSLY . FANS COME ON WHEN COMING TO A STOP.I BROUGHT THE VAN IN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE WASN'T ANY THING WRONG. MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 10,000 MILES ON 9/11/2001. BRAKE PADS WERE AGAIN REPLACED ON 12/26/2001 WITH APPR. 16,000 MILES ON MY SPEEDOMETER.
NHTSA complaint #757401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIXED FIRST TIME, THEN HAD NEW ENGINE BY CHRYSLER, NOW BACK AT DODGE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #756804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.