2000 Dodge Grand Caravan Engine Problems

I was driving at 75 MPH on an Interstate Highway. The 3.3 liter V6 engine, with 120,800 miles on it, threw a rod and cracked a 3 to 4" diameter hole in the block. I have cared for this car religiously for 14 years. It had full oil level. It is available for the next couple of weeks for examination if desired. I was able to get off the highway onto the shoulder safely.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH A FULL TANK OF FUEL, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AS EMPTY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DEPRESSED THE RESET BUTTON SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN FUELED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT OTHER TIMES IN A FOUR MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE DECREASED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

I HAVE A DODGE RICON ACTIVAN WHEELCHAIR VAN. IT IS A 2000 MODEL. I PURCHASED IT WITH ONLY 29000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING THE VAN FOR 60 MILES IT WILL START STALLING, LOOSES POWER AND DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD MY SON WITH ME (HE HAS SPASTIC QUAD CEREBRAL PALSY) WE BROKE DOWN NEXT TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP. GETTING MY SON HOME WAS A NIGHTMARE. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WORKED ON THE VAN. YET,THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. AFTER 60 MILES IT STALLS AND DIES. ON SATURDAY I WAS BROKEN DOWN WITH MY CHILD ON THE INTERSTATE.IT WAS 92 DEGREES OUT SIDE, HOW HORRIFIC. I CAN SEE IF THE VAN HAD 100,000 MILES TO HAVE ISSUES. I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET THE VAN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IF NOT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT AND KILLED.THIS IS A ISSUE THAT NEEDS RECALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS FALLEN OFF 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT CAME OFF I WAS GOING 35 MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, A FRIEND HELPED MY DAD PUT THE BELT BACK ON, THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT CAME OFF AGAIN GOING 55/60 MPH, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER PULLEY REPLACED. ABOUT ONE TO TWO WEEK(S) LATER THE BELT FALLS OFF AGAIN DURING EXCELLERATION TO GET ONTO AN EXPRESS WAY, THIS TIME TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEY REPLACED THE TENSIONER ITSELF. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON AUGUST 12, 2014, IT WAS RAINING AND I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH AS I TURNED ONTO MY STREET, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE DRIVE WAY BEFORE MY VAN STARTED TO OVERHEAT. *TR

WHENEVER IT RAINS, AND WATER IS SPRAYED UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE SERPENTINE BELT IS KNOCKED OFF. VEHICLE LOOSES POWER STEERING AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GETS VERY HOT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE BELT ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERY TIME IT RAINED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND HITTING A POT HOLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED WHIPLASH DUE TO THE STALLING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. *TR

THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHENEVER IT RAINS. I HAVE HAD THE BELT, HARMONIC BALANCER AND THE TENSIONER ARM (2 X'S) REPLACED BUT IT STILL COMES OFF IN THE RAIN. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR MOMENTARILY EACH TIME AND HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS. LUCKILY I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO STEER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. BUT A SMALL WOMAN WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NOT SOMETHING THE OWNER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT CONSTANTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PERSONALLY REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 281,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, WHERE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DETECTED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT DISLODGED AND WAS RECONNECTED SECURELY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED SEVEN TIMES BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING ON A SLUSHY CITY STREET THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. I WAS STRANDED AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC. I HAD IT TOWED AND THEY PUT THE BELT BACK ON. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS DURING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WHEN I DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THE SERPENTINE BELT AGAIN CAME OFF. THIS HAPPENED JUST AS I WAS PULLING ON TO THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL CAR OVER ON TO SHOULDER. THANKFULLY, THERE WASN'T A SEMI COMING OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I WAS JUST INFORMED THERE IS A FIX BY GATES FOR THIS AND WILL BE HAVING IT INSTALLED. *TR *KB

FOR THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR, THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF THE BELT-TENSIONER IN MY 2000 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. THIS INCIDENT RESULTS IN POWER STEERING, ENGINE COOLING, AIR CONDITIONING AND OTHER SYSTEMS TO STOP WORKING IMMEDIATELY. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH CHRYSLER FAMILY OF MINI-VANS. *TR

OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS, THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS OFF ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN REPLACING THE BELT, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE TENSION PULLEY APPEARED TO BE BENT. REPLACED TENSION PULLEY AND ENSURE ALL PULLEYS LINED UP. NEW BELT PLACED ON, BUT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO SLIP OFF AGAIN. OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS ALONE, HAVE REPLACED UPWARDS OF 5 SERPENTINE BELTS AND THE TENSION PULLEY ON MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN WET WEATHER SHE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER STEERING, AND HEAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED, DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AT THE SCENE AND ADVISED HER THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.

I HAVE AT 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS FALLEN OFF TWICE WHILE I AM DRIVING IN RAIN. THIS LATEST TIME, A VEHICLE COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WENT THROUGH STANDING WATER, SPLASHED MY VAN AND CAUSED THE BELT TO COME OFF IMMEDIATELY. I LOST POWER STEERING WITH CARS BEHIND ME AND TURNING A CORNER. MY YOUNG SON WAS WITH ME IN THE VAN AT THE TIME. THIS IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. MY SHOP IS VERY GOOD, THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND TRY TO DO EVERYTHING TO HELP PREVENT IT. SHIELDS ARE IN PLACE, BUT ARE NO HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHED EACH TIME A WATER PUDDLE WAS DRIVEN OVER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT A SHIELD BE PLACED OVER THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER INSTALLED THE SHIELD COVER OVER THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO RUN TO THE STORE. WHILE DRIVING PEOPLE WERE JUMPING UP AND DOWN WAVING. AFTER SEEING THE THIRD OR FOURTH PERSON I REALIZED SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG. I ROLLED DOWN WINDOW AND THEY WERE SCREAMING YOUR VAN IS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND FIRE INVESTIGATOR PRESENT STATED I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY ONE MORE PUSH ON THE GAS COULD OF BLOWN MY VAN UP. HE STATED ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING THIS PAST WINTER A SNOW PLOW RAN ME INTO A PILE OF SNOW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF. AFTER HAVING THIS PROBLEM FIXED THE SERPENTINE BELT THEN SLIPPED OFF SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE I FOUND A PART CALLED A PULLEY BRACKET TO PUT ON BECAUSE THERE IS NO COVER ON THE SERPENTINE BELT TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

VAN STOPS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. JUST STARTED IN SUMMER HEAT. TRANSMISSION ACTED UP, HAD IT SERVICED---NOW TRANSMISSION MADE HUGE NOISE, NO REVERSE, LOUD WHINING, ALL GOING OUT. LOUD SQUEAKS IN SUPPORTS, BRAKES REPLACED BUT STILL SQUEALING EVEN WHEN PEDAL NOT PUSHED. HORRIBLE FOGGING PROBLEMS, HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER AND WIPE WINDOWS INSIDE AND OUT WHEN RAINING. ALMOST WRECKED WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. CAN'T SEE DUE TO FOGGING WHEN RAINING. JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN---GOING TO THE JUNK YARD. MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO OWN UP TO PROBLEMS. WON'T OWN ANOTHER. *TR