14 of the
857 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the
doors, latches and locks — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
136,000 miles.
A
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Latch
1071.4%
Lock
214.3%
Latch
17.1%
Latches/Locks/Linkages
17.1%
Doors, Latches & Locks across every Dodge Grand Caravan year
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE HYDRAULIC LIFT SNAPPED. THE REAR HATCH DOOR CAME DOWN AND HIT THE CONTACT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10150454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aptos, CA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THIS IS ON A '97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.8 LITER. 1) ORIGINALLY THE BRAKES WERE TERRIBLE, (HARD FOOT PRESSURE WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.). AFTER 30KMILES, I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC. IN HIS EXPERIENCE, THE DEALER EQUIPPED FRONT DISC "PISTONS MADE OF PHEOLIC MATERIAL" WOULD OFTEN 'STICK'.. AFTER REPLACING W/ "STEEL" PISTONS THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. 2) THE PROBLEMATIC 'CLOCK-SPRING' FAILED RIGHT BEFORE I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE! BUT, AFTER 30K MORE MILES, IT FAILED AGAIN... THIS TIME THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FREE. OF COURSE THE "LEGALLY REQUIRED HORN" IS ALSO NO-FUNCTIONING. 3) THE POWER LOCKS FIGHT ME WHEN OPENING WITH A KEY. ON REMOVING SAID KEY, THEY THEN 'RELOCK' BEFORE I CAN OPEN THE DOOR. I MUST OPEN THE DOOR WITH KEY TURNED IN THE LOOK. (SAFETY, NO, INCONVENIENT YES.) HOWEVER, NOW THE POWER LOCKS "SOMETIMES UNLOCK THEMSELVES" WHEN LEFT IN A LOCKED POSITION, OR WHEN DRIVING. 4) THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN, THOUGH IT COMES ON WHEN THE NEEDED, "SHUTS OFF" WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. SHOULDN'T' IT "STAY ON" TILL THE RADIATOR COOLS A BIT?? 5) THE "ENGINE STALLED" AND HESITATED/MISFIRED?. NUMEROUS TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.. FINALLY AN INDEPENDENT "REPLACED CAM SENSOR". THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR "IMPORTANT SERVICES". SINCERELY, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10129044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 152,000 milesDetroit, MI
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
THE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT NEARLY EVERY MONTH. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SWAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON FREEWAY OR WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKES. THE EGR VALVE KEEPS GOING OUT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.
NHTSA complaint #10128830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pleasanton, CA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE POWER LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR BECAME INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE, HAD LOCK ASSEMBLY REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #564352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EGG Harbor Township, NJ
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
THE LIFT GATE BOLT BROKE OFF ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. THE GATE CRASHED DOWN ON THE BACK OF MY NECK AND BACK. THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED MY FIVE YEAR OLD IF HE WERE THERE. IT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER. TWO OTHER PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO PLEASE REPORT IT. I THINK THE 91-93 MODELS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE NOT AS SERIOUS AS THIS. I HOPE NO ONE HAS TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THE GATE IS SO HEAVY. I CAN NOT LIFT IT TO USE IT. THE BOLT IS STILL BROKE OFF INSIDE THE PANEL. THE DEALER SAID THE LABOR WOULD BE AROUND $175.00, AS THE PANEL MUST BE REMOVED. THE PART IS A REMAN PART. COST $21.00 #G0004532.I AM VERY UPSET THAT A FAMILY VEHICLE IS THIS UNSAFE, AND THE COMPANY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DON'T CARE IF THERE WERE ONLY THREE REPORTED CASES. THAT'S THREE TOO MANY.
NHTSA complaint #754312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weirsdale, FL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LOCKS ON THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK.THE KEY CONSTANTLY TURNED, AROUND AND THE DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #847470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clearwater, FL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
HAD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HAD PLACED THE CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. CLOSED THE SLIDING DOOR AND ALL THE DOORS WERE IN THE LOCKED POSITION, LOCKING THE CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER ADMITTED TO THE CARAVANS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #827120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, SC
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS ON ITS OWN. INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED A DOZEN OR MORE TIMES. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VECHICLE IS SAFETY DEFECT, AND OWNERS HAS CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #834280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Whitesboro, NY
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCKS ON SLIDING DOORS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #527764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scottsdale, AZ
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOORS CAN BE OPENED WITH DOOR LOCKS DEPRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #521117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Naperville, IL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
AUTOMATIC LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #520157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Laguna Hills, CA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE RIGHT REAR DOOR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #517022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bedford, NH
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
A MALFUNCTION IN THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR LATCH, IS CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #813095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, AL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCKS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #515894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.