2004 Dodge Grand Caravan Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED AS PRECAUTION THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURED NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED AFTER CHANGING THE THERMOSTAT PIECES OF PLASTIC CAME OUT OF THE MOTOR. PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING HAS OCCURED FOR 4 YEARS. *JB*DT*JB

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.

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.

AFTER TAKING ON GAS, ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES STUMBLE AND MOST OF THE TIME QUIT RUNNING. TRIED NOT OVER FILLING IT AND IT STILL WILL JUST DIE SOMETIME AFTER TAKING ON GAS. ON TWO OCCASIONS, IT DID THIS AFTER HITTING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND YOU HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NORMALLY START BACK UP AND HAVE NO MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL NEXT FILL UP. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE DON'T FILL UP AND HIT THE ROAD. WE DRIVE AROUND BEFORE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ONCE, IT DIED IN FRONT OF SEVERAL CARS AND A BIG TRUCK HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND SWERVE OFF THE ROAD. SO FAR, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY KNOWN ACCIDENTS BUT FEEL IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH A VALVE IN GAS TANK AND THAT YOU CAN'T BUY THE PART. WE DON'T LOAN OUR VAN TO THE KIDS ANYMORE SINCE MY OLDEST DAUGHTER ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK AND ALMOST GOT HIT WHEN THE VAN LOST POWER. *TR

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.

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

FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS OR SO, ALMOST EVERY TIME AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK, THE 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ANNIVERSARY EDITION STALLS. I CAN BE JUST PULLING AWAY FROM THE PUMP WHEN IT HAPPENS, OR STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES FROM LEAVING THE GAS STATION. YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR 'JUMP' LIKE SOMEONE IS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL QUICKLY AND IT JERKS THE VAN A BIT FORWARD. THEN IT STALLS. IT TAKES A FEW TURNS OF THE KEY AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL VERY QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE HABIT OF DRIVING THE VAN AROUND A PARKING LOT FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL IT FEELS BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, AS I'M CONCERNED IT WILL STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS ONLY HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. IT CONCERNS ME NOW MORE THAN EVER SINCE MY SON IS LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE AND I WANT HIM TO BE SAFE. *TR

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

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.

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

SINCE THIS DATE, AFTER EVERY FILL UP, THE CAR WILL HESITATE, BACKFIRE, AND IN MANY CASES DIE. THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED, AND THEN WILL OPERATE WITH NO DIFFICULTY. ON ONE OCCURRANCE THE BACKFIRE WAS SO PRONOUNCED THAT IT BLEW THE AIR CLEANER OFF, BREAKING ALL OF THE MOUNTING CLIPS. THE CAR MUST BE DRIVEN VERY CAREFULLY AFTER A FILL UP DUE TO THIS CONDITION. YOU CANNOT RELY ON GETTING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC DUE TO THE HESITATION AND FREQUENCY OF THE ENGINE DIE OUT. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN TO THE DODGE DEALER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION AND THEY CLAIM NO KNOWKLEDGE OF THE ISSUE. I WRITE THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE KENOSHA NEWS, DATED WEDNESDAY MAY 15TH, 2013 WHICH DETAILED 3 CHRYSLER, DODGE BRAND CARS PROBED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THEY MENTIONED ONLY V8 ENGINES, BUT I WANT TO LET SOMEONE KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE INCLUDES OTHERS SUCH AS MY 3.3L V6. I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EXPERINECE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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

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

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

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