2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN USING THE TURN SIGNAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,936.

THE CAR INSTRUMENT GAUGES BECAME ERRATIC ALONG WITH THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS. THE CARE JERKED AS THOUGH IT LOST ITS ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE IGNITION BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THEN QUIT IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY A SEMI-TRUCK. I GOT THE CAR OVER AND RE-STARTED IT AND IT RAN FINE UNTIL LATER IT STARTED TO DIE OUT AGAIN AFTER STARTING TO RUN. I HAD TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE TO GET THE CAR MOVING BUT THE CAR JERKED AND WENT DEAD AGAIN. THE CAR WILL START AND RUN FINE AT TIMES AND SHIFT WELL AT TIMES AND THEN STARTS TO REPEAT THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER. I ONLY KNOW THAT THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOMEONE KILLED AND I DO NOT WANT IT TO BE MY CHILDREN OR WIFE OR ME. I ONLY HAVE ONE WAY TO GO NOW AND HAVE NO WAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD A THOUSAND THINGS IT COULD BE AND CANNOT AFFORD NON-SENSE LIKE THIS. THIS 2001 VAN RUNS AT TIMES LIKE A BRAND NEW ONE AND SHIFTS OUT LIKE BRAND NEW AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE GAUGES GO CRAZY, IT LURCHES AT STOPPING, GO DEAD WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT TIMES AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS IN OVERDRIVE AND JERKS LIKE MAD, THEN RUNS FINE AGAIN. IT IS A REPEAT AND IT IS DANGEROUS.

PURCHASED USED MINIVAN TOOK IT TO GET REGISTERED AND FOUND OUT THE MILEAGE HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH AND ITS NOT ACCURATE. SELLER SAID IT HAD 90000 MILES ODOMETER READ A LITTLE OVER 90000 BUT MVD SAID IT WAS NOT ACCURATE. *TR

USING EITHER TURN SIGNAL CUTS OFF POWER TO THE DASH. DASH COMES BACK ON A FEW SECONDS AFTER USING. I CHECK THE LIGHTS (EXTERIOR), BUT NO BLINKING THE INTERIOR TURN SIGNALS BLINK SOMETIMES, BUT NO SOUND ANYBODY FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM? I'VE SEEN MANY SIMILAR CONDITIONS. *TR

SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT AND MY VAN STALLED. WHILE I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. IT WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AND LOSE ALL POWER AND THE STEERING/ BRAKES GET HARD. IT WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE THE BRAKE IS PUSHED. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED YESTERDAY AND IT IS A MELTED WIRING FUEL RAIL HARNESS THAT WAS PLACED RIGHT ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT CAN MELT AND CATCH FIRE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. PLEASE HELP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. IF A CRASH OCCURRED, THE AIR BAG COULD POTENTIALLY NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 10/12/11 *BF UPDATED 10/21/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, AND LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED AND STAYED ON. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FLASHING BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND KEEPING THEM ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING FRONT SEATS AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING MIRRORS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AUTO ADJUSTING SEATS OR MIRRORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 157531 MILES, INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPS WORKING WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE USED. TOOK TO THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AS BCM FAILURE. PARTS NOT REPLACED. *TR

HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL BE OUT, NEXT TIME ANOTHER ONE WILL BE OUT, NEXT TIME THEY WILL BOTH WORK. THERE IS NO ORDER. SAME WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. SOMETIMES ALL LIGHTS WORK. WE HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS. MORE THAN ONCE. SOMETIMES THEY WORK. SOMETIMES NOT. NO CONSISTENCY. *TR

I OWN A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. DURING OPERATION ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, ONLY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT COMES ON. ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKS AT ANY TIME. NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. *TR

FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, THE HEADLIGHTS (AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS INTERIOR LIGHTS AND CLIMATE CONTROL) HAVE SHUDDERED OR FLICKERED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING (ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT). HARD TO NOTICE BAD LIGHTS UNTIL I EITHER A) DRIVE ANOTHER CAR OR B) PASS A LARGE ROADSIDE SIGN OR APPROACH ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND ON A NON-STREETLIGHT HIGHWAY. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND THE CLOCK ASSEMBLY WENT OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

WHEN STARTING MY CAR, THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS COME ON, HOWEVER ONLY THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WORKS. WHEN I TURN ON THE LIGHTS THE PASSENGER LIGHTS STAY ON AND THE DRIVER SIDE REMAINS OFF. WHEN I TURN MY LIGHTS ONTO A BRIGHT SETTING, THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS WORK AND THE PASSENGER SIDE GOES OUT. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND THIS STILL OCCURS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. BECAUSE LIGHTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE, I STRONGLY BELIEVE DAIMLER-CHRYSTLER MUST DO A SAFETY RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF CALLS ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE SOMETHING HEAVY AND TAP ON THE KEY SO THAT THE CYLINDER COULD CONNECT WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY URGED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59800 ,AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59700.*AK

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING: HEADLIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE/BRAKE PULSING, RADIO FAILURE, SEAT BELT CONNECTOR FAILURE. *JB

WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM FLORIDA TO PENNSYLVANIA WHEN WE WERE TOLD THAT ONE OF OUR HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT. WE PURCHASED NEW BULBS AND REPLACED THEM, THEN AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION REALIZED THAT WHEN THE DAYLIGHTS WERE ON, ONE LIGHT WAS ON AND ONE OFF, WHEN WE TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE OPPOSITE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ONE THAT WAS ON FOR DAYLIGHTS WENT OUT, THEN WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED ON THE LIGHT THAT WORKED SWITCHED SIDES AGAIN. THE NEW BULBS DID NOT FIX IT, SO WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME WITH ONE LIGHT, ONCE IN AWHILE BOTH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED. THE WORST PART WAS THAT THE CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED 14 MONTHS PRIOR BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM (WORSE, THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS!)! THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE TO WHY THE CONTROL MODULE WENT AGAIN. I'M HOPING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN ANOTHER 14 MONTHS (THERE IS ONLY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY ON THE PART)! *JB

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HEADLIGHTS - PASSENGER SIDE WON'T WORK ON LOW, ONLY ON HIGH, DRIVER'S SIDE IS THE OPPOSITE - WORKS ON LOW, NOT ON HIGH. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH NO KNOWN FIXES. MANY DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE VIEW THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES, THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE ONES I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE.: HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/FORUM/2001-DODGE-CARAVAN-HEADLIGHTS-VT75224.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/DODGE-GRAND-CARAVAN/TFGKS9O3LLH1ABOBM/P3 HTTP://WWW.DODGETALK.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=33586. *TR

1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: EACH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED AFTER OR DURING A SUMMER VACATION TRIP THAT INCLUDED 700+ MILES. USE OF THE AC USUALLY CONTINUES ON LOW FAN SPEEDS (1 OR 2). 2) FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: FIRST FAILURE WOULD BE THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD BEGIN NOT TO WORK. SECOND A RELAY FUSE WOULD GO BAD. THEN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE FAN SPEEDS WOULD SHORT OUT ONLY ALLOWING FOR HIGH FAN SPEED ONLY. 3)HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE SWITCHES DUE TO DEALER CHARGING HIGH RATES JUST TO LOOK FOR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE FAULT AND STILL WANTING $70+/HOUR BEFORE ANY REPAIR WORK IS STARTED. WE HAVE OWNED A 1996 CARAVAN AND 2001 GR CARAVAN AND THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH VEHICLES. *JB