Total Complaints
857 filings
DODGE GRAND CARAVAN · model year
857 NHTSA complaints, 40 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997DODGEGRAND CARAVAN carries 857 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 40 crashes, 68 fires, 48 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 GRAND CARAVAN is air bags with 84 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (61) and electrical system:horn (47). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 1997 GRAND CARAVAN, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
857 filings
Crashes Reported
40 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 84 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 61 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 47 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 46 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 46 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 41 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 36 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 24 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 23 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 22 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 16 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 15 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 14 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 13 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 12 |
MY VAN WAS PARKED OUT SIDE LUCKYS ON MITALDA NEAR W MAUDE AVENUE IN SUNNYVALE CA 94086 I WAS USING THE WATER REFILLING STATION AND STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE WHEN I TURNED AROUND I IMIDEATLLY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT WAS ON FIRE. NOT HAVING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER I TOOK THE BOTTLE OF WATER I HAD IN MY HANDS AND STARTED TO THROW WATER ON IT UNTIL THE FLAMES WENT OUT. WHAT IN THE HELL WOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN? IS MY VAN UP FOR RECALL? I JUST PURCHASED THE VAN JUST A WEEK AGO. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHT MARE FOR ME NOT TO MENTION EXTREMELY COSTLY REPLACING EVERYTHING'S THAT'S BEEN GOING OUT. THE A/C CLUSTER THE DASH CLUSTER THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR. THE REAR VENT MOTOR. COUNTLESS BULBS AND FUSES.
Mileage: 158,182
MY VAN WAS PARKED OUT SIDE LUCKYS ON MITALDA NEAR W MAUDE AVENUE IN SUNNYVALE CA 94086 I WAS USING THE WATER REFILLING STATION AND STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE WHEN I TURNED AROUND I IMIDEATLLY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT WAS ON FIRE. NOT HAVING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER I TOOK THE BOTTLE OF WATER I HAD IN MY HANDS AND STARTED TO THROW WATER ON IT UNTIL THE FLAMES WENT OUT. WHAT IN THE HELL WOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN? IS MY VAN UP FOR RECALL? I JUST PURCHASED THE VAN JUST A WEEK AGO. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHT MARE FOR ME NOT TO MENTION EXTREMELY COSTLY REPLACING EVERYTHING'S THAT'S BEEN GOING OUT. THE A/C CLUSTER THE DASH CLUSTER THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR. THE REAR VENT MOTOR. COUNTLESS BULBS AND FUSES.
Mileage: 158,182
MY VAN WAS PARKED OUT SIDE LUCKYS ON MITALDA NEAR W MAUDE AVENUE IN SUNNYVALE CA 94086 I WAS USING THE WATER REFILLING STATION AND STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE WHEN I TURNED AROUND I IMIDEATLLY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT WAS ON FIRE. NOT HAVING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER I TOOK THE BOTTLE OF WATER I HAD IN MY HANDS AND STARTED TO THROW WATER ON IT UNTIL THE FLAMES WENT OUT. WHAT IN THE HELL WOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN? IS MY VAN UP FOR RECALL? I JUST PURCHASED THE VAN JUST A WEEK AGO. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHT MARE FOR ME NOT TO MENTION EXTREMELY COSTLY REPLACING EVERYTHING'S THAT'S BEEN GOING OUT. THE A/C CLUSTER THE DASH CLUSTER THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR. THE REAR VENT MOTOR. COUNTLESS BULBS AND FUSES.
Mileage: 158,182
CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH; ENGINE REMAINED ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN AND DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES. 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT LOST POWER AGAIN, I SLOWED AND THEN TRIED TO REACCELERATE, AND IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MILES, ENOUGH TO GET ME OFF THE FREEWAY AND TO A SAFE LOCATION. I CHECKED THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION LEVELS, WHICH WERE OK, AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEAKING UNDER THE CAR. WENT TO AN APPOINTMENT, AND CAME BACK TO THE CAR, WHICH STARTED UP AND DROVE OK FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE, THEN IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T START BACK UP AGAIN, SO I PUSHED IT ONTO A SIDE STREET, WHERE IT STARTED UP FINE AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS/REPAIR STATION. NOW, THE VAN WON'T START AGAIN. VAN WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT IN ALL SITUATIONS.
Mileage: 104,233
CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH; ENGINE REMAINED ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN AND DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES. 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT LOST POWER AGAIN, I SLOWED AND THEN TRIED TO REACCELERATE, AND IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MILES, ENOUGH TO GET ME OFF THE FREEWAY AND TO A SAFE LOCATION. I CHECKED THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION LEVELS, WHICH WERE OK, AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEAKING UNDER THE CAR. WENT TO AN APPOINTMENT, AND CAME BACK TO THE CAR, WHICH STARTED UP AND DROVE OK FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE, THEN IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T START BACK UP AGAIN, SO I PUSHED IT ONTO A SIDE STREET, WHERE IT STARTED UP FINE AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS/REPAIR STATION. NOW, THE VAN WON'T START AGAIN. VAN WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT IN ALL SITUATIONS.
Mileage: 104,233
CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH; ENGINE REMAINED ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN AND DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES. 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT LOST POWER AGAIN, I SLOWED AND THEN TRIED TO REACCELERATE, AND IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MILES, ENOUGH TO GET ME OFF THE FREEWAY AND TO A SAFE LOCATION. I CHECKED THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION LEVELS, WHICH WERE OK, AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEAKING UNDER THE CAR. WENT TO AN APPOINTMENT, AND CAME BACK TO THE CAR, WHICH STARTED UP AND DROVE OK FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE, THEN IT SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T START BACK UP AGAIN, SO I PUSHED IT ONTO A SIDE STREET, WHERE IT STARTED UP FINE AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS/REPAIR STATION. NOW, THE VAN WON'T START AGAIN. VAN WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT IN ALL SITUATIONS.
Mileage: 104,233
SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACES. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ABILITY TO REGAIN VEHICLE CONTROL WAS COMPROMISED BY LACK OF STEERING ASSIST CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE.THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS A SCHOOL BUS WAS NEAR MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATED. *TR
Mileage: 271,000
SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACES. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ABILITY TO REGAIN VEHICLE CONTROL WAS COMPROMISED BY LACK OF STEERING ASSIST CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE.THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS A SCHOOL BUS WAS NEAR MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATED. *TR
Mileage: 271,000
PART 2 I'VE READ ON HERE THAT GATES HAS A BELT/PULLEY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF THEY HAVE ONE, CHRYSLER CAN MAKE ONE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME TO MANY DODGE VANS, IT RESULTS IN OTHER DAMAGES, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLE INJURY EVEN DEATH TO MANY PEOPLE AT ONE TIME. MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE SERPENTINE BELTS WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM SO IT CAN BE FIXED. IT'S A REPEATED DESIGN FLAW & SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. A NTSB RULE GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS "A COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FORESEEABLE PROBLEMS IN THEIR PRODUCT" THE SAME GOES FOR THE BRAKE LINES CORRODING ENOUGH FOR FAILURE TO OCCUR IN JUST A FEW YEARS, THIS IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A $29,850 VEHICLE NOT A $2,000 1967 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, MY BEETLE HAS THE ORIGINAL BREAK LINES. AND IN GOOD SHAPE. ALL BREAK LINES ARE TO BE STAINLESS STEEL TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION. THIS IS PURELY LACK OF QUALITY IN MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THESE LINES AND THE COMPANY ALSO SHOU
PART 2 I'VE READ ON HERE THAT GATES HAS A BELT/PULLEY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF THEY HAVE ONE, CHRYSLER CAN MAKE ONE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME TO MANY DODGE VANS, IT RESULTS IN OTHER DAMAGES, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLE INJURY EVEN DEATH TO MANY PEOPLE AT ONE TIME. MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE SERPENTINE BELTS WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM SO IT CAN BE FIXED. IT'S A REPEATED DESIGN FLAW & SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. A NTSB RULE GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS "A COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FORESEEABLE PROBLEMS IN THEIR PRODUCT" THE SAME GOES FOR THE BRAKE LINES CORRODING ENOUGH FOR FAILURE TO OCCUR IN JUST A FEW YEARS, THIS IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A $29,850 VEHICLE NOT A $2,000 1967 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, MY BEETLE HAS THE ORIGINAL BREAK LINES. AND IN GOOD SHAPE. ALL BREAK LINES ARE TO BE STAINLESS STEEL TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION. THIS IS PURELY LACK OF QUALITY IN MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THESE LINES AND THE COMPANY ALSO SHOU
PART 1 1/2 THE GAS LINE DECAYING AND THE SUSPENSION STRUT MOUNTS RUSTING AWAY, BOTH OF THESE ARE DEADLY, A RUSTY/CORRODED BREAK LINE WILL JUST LEAK A DROP AT THE TIME, MOST PEOPLE JUST REFILL THE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NEVER THINK ABOUT AGAIN, EVENTUALLY THE BREAK LINE FAILS ALL AT ONCE, THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE LINES THAN USUAL AND THE WEAK SPOT RUPTURES LIKE A WEAK SPOT IN A BALLOON WOULD. THAT MEANS THAT YOU WERE IN A BAD SITUATION ALREADY AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BREAKING POWER AT ALL. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NEXT??? ALL BREAK LINES ARE STAINLESS STEAL SO AS TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION, THE ONLY REASON A BREAK LINE FAILS IN THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME IS BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE IS PRODUCING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW,, THE STRUT MOUNTS, AS SOON AS THE COMPANY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS RUSTING THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLES AND SPRAYED $10 WORTH OF UNDERCOATING OV
PART 1 1/2 THE GAS LINE DECAYING AND THE SUSPENSION STRUT MOUNTS RUSTING AWAY, BOTH OF THESE ARE DEADLY, A RUSTY/CORRODED BREAK LINE WILL JUST LEAK A DROP AT THE TIME, MOST PEOPLE JUST REFILL THE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NEVER THINK ABOUT AGAIN, EVENTUALLY THE BREAK LINE FAILS ALL AT ONCE, THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE LINES THAN USUAL AND THE WEAK SPOT RUPTURES LIKE A WEAK SPOT IN A BALLOON WOULD. THAT MEANS THAT YOU WERE IN A BAD SITUATION ALREADY AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BREAKING POWER AT ALL. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NEXT??? ALL BREAK LINES ARE STAINLESS STEAL SO AS TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION, THE ONLY REASON A BREAK LINE FAILS IN THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME IS BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE IS PRODUCING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW,, THE STRUT MOUNTS, AS SOON AS THE COMPANY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS RUSTING THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLES AND SPRAYED $10 WORTH OF UNDERCOATING OV
PART 1 1/2 THE GAS LINE DECAYING AND THE SUSPENSION STRUT MOUNTS RUSTING AWAY, BOTH OF THESE ARE DEADLY, A RUSTY/CORRODED BREAK LINE WILL JUST LEAK A DROP AT THE TIME, MOST PEOPLE JUST REFILL THE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NEVER THINK ABOUT AGAIN, EVENTUALLY THE BREAK LINE FAILS ALL AT ONCE, THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE LINES THAN USUAL AND THE WEAK SPOT RUPTURES LIKE A WEAK SPOT IN A BALLOON WOULD. THAT MEANS THAT YOU WERE IN A BAD SITUATION ALREADY AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BREAKING POWER AT ALL. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NEXT??? ALL BREAK LINES ARE STAINLESS STEAL SO AS TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION, THE ONLY REASON A BREAK LINE FAILS IN THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME IS BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE IS PRODUCING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW,, THE STRUT MOUNTS, AS SOON AS THE COMPANY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS RUSTING THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLES AND SPRAYED $10 WORTH OF UNDERCOATING OV
PART 1 1/2 THE GAS LINE DECAYING AND THE SUSPENSION STRUT MOUNTS RUSTING AWAY, BOTH OF THESE ARE DEADLY, A RUSTY/CORRODED BREAK LINE WILL JUST LEAK A DROP AT THE TIME, MOST PEOPLE JUST REFILL THE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NEVER THINK ABOUT AGAIN, EVENTUALLY THE BREAK LINE FAILS ALL AT ONCE, THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE LINES THAN USUAL AND THE WEAK SPOT RUPTURES LIKE A WEAK SPOT IN A BALLOON WOULD. THAT MEANS THAT YOU WERE IN A BAD SITUATION ALREADY AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BREAKING POWER AT ALL. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NEXT??? ALL BREAK LINES ARE STAINLESS STEAL SO AS TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION, THE ONLY REASON A BREAK LINE FAILS IN THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME IS BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE IS PRODUCING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW,, THE STRUT MOUNTS, AS SOON AS THE COMPANY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS RUSTING THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLES AND SPRAYED $10 WORTH OF UNDERCOATING OV
PART 1 1/2 THE GAS LINE DECAYING AND THE SUSPENSION STRUT MOUNTS RUSTING AWAY, BOTH OF THESE ARE DEADLY, A RUSTY/CORRODED BREAK LINE WILL JUST LEAK A DROP AT THE TIME, MOST PEOPLE JUST REFILL THE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NEVER THINK ABOUT AGAIN, EVENTUALLY THE BREAK LINE FAILS ALL AT ONCE, THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE LINES THAN USUAL AND THE WEAK SPOT RUPTURES LIKE A WEAK SPOT IN A BALLOON WOULD. THAT MEANS THAT YOU WERE IN A BAD SITUATION ALREADY AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BREAKING POWER AT ALL. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NEXT??? ALL BREAK LINES ARE STAINLESS STEAL SO AS TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION, THE ONLY REASON A BREAK LINE FAILS IN THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME IS BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE IS PRODUCING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW,, THE STRUT MOUNTS, AS SOON AS THE COMPANY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS RUSTING THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLES AND SPRAYED $10 WORTH OF UNDERCOATING OV
PART 1 1/2 THE GAS LINE DECAYING AND THE SUSPENSION STRUT MOUNTS RUSTING AWAY, BOTH OF THESE ARE DEADLY, A RUSTY/CORRODED BREAK LINE WILL JUST LEAK A DROP AT THE TIME, MOST PEOPLE JUST REFILL THE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NEVER THINK ABOUT AGAIN, EVENTUALLY THE BREAK LINE FAILS ALL AT ONCE, THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE LINES THAN USUAL AND THE WEAK SPOT RUPTURES LIKE A WEAK SPOT IN A BALLOON WOULD. THAT MEANS THAT YOU WERE IN A BAD SITUATION ALREADY AND NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BREAKING POWER AT ALL. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NEXT??? ALL BREAK LINES ARE STAINLESS STEAL SO AS TO RESIST RUST AND CORROSION, THE ONLY REASON A BREAK LINE FAILS IN THIS LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME IS BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE IS PRODUCING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NOW,, THE STRUT MOUNTS, AS SOON AS THE COMPANY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MOUNTS RUSTING THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLES AND SPRAYED $10 WORTH OF UNDERCOATING OV
PART 1.... I USED TO BE A MECHANIC AND TOW TRUCK OPERATOR. MY MINI VAN "LIKE MOST OTHERS" IS USUALLY DRIVEN BY A FEMALE & WITH A LOAD OF CHILDREN. IF DRIVING IN RAIN OR THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE THE BELT JUMPS OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING OVERHEATING BATTERY DRAIN ETC, IS A DANGEROUS EVEN DEADLY PROBLEM, IF A TURN IS NEEDED AT THE TIME THIS BELT JUMPS OFF, EVEN A STRONG HEALTHY MAN CAN LEAVE THE LINE OF INTENDED TRAVEL AND HIT WHAT EVER IS IN THE WAY, A CURB, A PEDESTRIAN OR EVEN CAUSE A HEAD ON COLLISION. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS DURING RAINY/NASTY DAYS & BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF REPLACING THE BELT, AND THE DAMAGE THAT IS CAUSED WHEN IT COMES OFF, THE VEHICLE USUALLY REQUIRES A TOW 4 REPAIR. IT IS STATED THAT, WHEN A CONSUMER MAKES A COMPLAINT & IF THE SAME COMPLAINT IS REPEATED AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE STARTED. THIS IS AN OLD PROBLEM WITH MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS YET, I SEE "NO ACTION, NOT EVEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM", WHY?? CONSUMERS ARE DEPENDING ON YOU
PART 1.... I USED TO BE A MECHANIC AND TOW TRUCK OPERATOR. MY MINI VAN "LIKE MOST OTHERS" IS USUALLY DRIVEN BY A FEMALE & WITH A LOAD OF CHILDREN. IF DRIVING IN RAIN OR THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE THE BELT JUMPS OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING OVERHEATING BATTERY DRAIN ETC, IS A DANGEROUS EVEN DEADLY PROBLEM, IF A TURN IS NEEDED AT THE TIME THIS BELT JUMPS OFF, EVEN A STRONG HEALTHY MAN CAN LEAVE THE LINE OF INTENDED TRAVEL AND HIT WHAT EVER IS IN THE WAY, A CURB, A PEDESTRIAN OR EVEN CAUSE A HEAD ON COLLISION. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS DURING RAINY/NASTY DAYS & BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF REPLACING THE BELT, AND THE DAMAGE THAT IS CAUSED WHEN IT COMES OFF, THE VEHICLE USUALLY REQUIRES A TOW 4 REPAIR. IT IS STATED THAT, WHEN A CONSUMER MAKES A COMPLAINT & IF THE SAME COMPLAINT IS REPEATED AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE STARTED. THIS IS AN OLD PROBLEM WITH MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS YET, I SEE "NO ACTION, NOT EVEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM", WHY?? CONSUMERS ARE DEPENDING ON YOU
PART 1.... I USED TO BE A MECHANIC AND TOW TRUCK OPERATOR. MY MINI VAN "LIKE MOST OTHERS" IS USUALLY DRIVEN BY A FEMALE & WITH A LOAD OF CHILDREN. IF DRIVING IN RAIN OR THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE THE BELT JUMPS OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING OVERHEATING BATTERY DRAIN ETC, IS A DANGEROUS EVEN DEADLY PROBLEM, IF A TURN IS NEEDED AT THE TIME THIS BELT JUMPS OFF, EVEN A STRONG HEALTHY MAN CAN LEAVE THE LINE OF INTENDED TRAVEL AND HIT WHAT EVER IS IN THE WAY, A CURB, A PEDESTRIAN OR EVEN CAUSE A HEAD ON COLLISION. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS DURING RAINY/NASTY DAYS & BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF REPLACING THE BELT, AND THE DAMAGE THAT IS CAUSED WHEN IT COMES OFF, THE VEHICLE USUALLY REQUIRES A TOW 4 REPAIR. IT IS STATED THAT, WHEN A CONSUMER MAKES A COMPLAINT & IF THE SAME COMPLAINT IS REPEATED AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE STARTED. THIS IS AN OLD PROBLEM WITH MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS YET, I SEE "NO ACTION, NOT EVEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM", WHY?? CONSUMERS ARE DEPENDING ON YOU
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Mileage: 77,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.