1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline Problems

AS I AM DRIVING MY VAN WILL SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE VAN SUDDENLY DIES. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER MANY,MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN FEB,2004 AND THEY HAVE DROVE IT AND PUT IT ON MACHINES AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT AND WHY IT'S DOING THIS. I JUST FOUND OUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND ORIGINAL ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SO HE GOT RID OF IT.WHEN IT SUDDENLY DIES I HAVE NO STEERING, BRAKES ETC. AND THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVY 4 LANE TRAFFIC AND NO WHERE TO GO. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED AND CORRECTED, I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY AND HOW THIS CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE I...

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN, THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COULD SMELL SMOKE, WHEN ARRIVING HOME, A FIRE WAS DETECTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 42-1396-385. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT, CLAIM 25-5411-610. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 55-S384-563. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT, CONSUMER TURNED OFF ENGINE, BUT IT KEPT ON RUNNING, CONSUMER CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4650-711. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THIS IS THE 2ND FIRE FOR THIS VEHICLE, CLAIM 16-N100-392. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WHEN ARRIVING HOME THERE WAS A FIRE DETECTED, CLAIM 42-1396-385. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING FAILED, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE, CLAIM 25-5411-610. *SLC

CONSUMER WENT INTO THE STORE AND WHEN COMING OUT, SHE SAW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTTING OUT A FIRE FROM HER VEHICLE, THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 55-S384-563. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD LOUD NOISES, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT SO THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF, HOWEVER IT KEPT RUNNING, FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE AND PULLED THE BATTERY CABLES, CLAIM 05-4650-711. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 2 FIRES, THE FIRST FIRE HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND WAS COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY, CLAIM 16-N100-392. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED BUT THE ENGINE WAS BURNED BADLY, DRIVER WAS TREATED FOR SMOKE INHALATION. *YD

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED BUT THE ENGINE WAS BURNED BADLY, DRIVER WAS TREATED FOR SMOKE INHALATION. *YD

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WHEN ARRIVING HOME THERE WAS A FIRE DETECTED, CLAIM 42-1396-385. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING FAILED, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE, CLAIM 25-5411-610. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN, THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC

CONSUMER WENT INTO THE STORE AND WHEN COMING OUT, SHE SAW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTTING OUT A FIRE FROM HER VEHICLE, THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 55-S384-563. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD LOUD NOISES, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT SO THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF, HOWEVER IT KEPT RUNNING, FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE AND PULLED THE BATTERY CABLES, CLAIM 05-4650-711. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 2 FIRES, THE FIRST FIRE HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND WAS COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY, CLAIM 16-N100-392. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS LEAKING OIL PRESSURE. THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT FRACTURED WHILE ON A FAST AND WINDING MOUNTAINOUS ROAD. *JG

VEHICLE HAS LEAKING OIL PRESSURE. THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT FRACTURED WHILE ON A FAST AND WINDING MOUNTAINOUS ROAD. *JG

UPON SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN THIS OCCURS OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COULD SMELL SMOKE, WHEN ARRIVING HOME, A FIRE WAS DETECTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 42-1396-385. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT, CLAIM 25-5411-610. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 55-S384-563. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT, CONSUMER TURNED OFF ENGINE, BUT IT KEPT ON RUNNING, CONSUMER CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4650-711. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THIS IS THE 2ND FIRE FOR THIS VEHICLE, CLAIM 16-N100-392. *SLC

ENGINE STARTED TO HAVE A LOUD SQUEEKING SOUND ON START-UP & SQUEEK CONTINUED AFTER BUT NOT AS LOUD. BRAKES NOTED TO HAVE A LONGER BRAKING TIME WHEN TRAVELLING AT 50 MPH. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING;.VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MAJOR PROBLEMS FOLLOWED MONTHS AFTER ENGINE REPLACED. WHILE TRAVELLING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS, SUDDENLY ENGINE SPUTTERS, LOSES POWER, STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO FREQUENTLY - ON DANGEROUS HIGHWAYS - RT. 1 IN FLORIDA KEYS, RTS. 20 AND 26 IN NC AND SC. ALSO OCCURRED IN VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS IN ASHEVILLE, NC AND MYRTLE BEACH, SC.

THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO OUR 97 GRAND CARAVAN SE, 3.3L V6, 45,000 MILES DIED AT AN INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER THAT SUNDAY EVENING. ON TUESDAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ($700) AS TWO ADJACENT CLYINDERS WERE LOW ON PRESSURE. LATER THAT WEEK I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS OK BUT THE CAMSHAFT WAS BROKEN ($1400). ON THURSDAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAMSHAFT BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO EITHER PURCHASE A REBUILT SHORTBLOCK OR LONGBLOCK ($3,300/$3,800). I WENT TO THE DEALER TO VIEW MY ENGINE (NOW DISASSEMBLED ON A BENCH) AND THE CAMSHAFT WAS IN TWO PIECES. A CLEAN BREAK WITH NO BLUE COLOR ON EITHER THE CAMSHAFT NOR THE CAMSHAFT BEARINGS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT CAMSHAFT BEARINGS WERE ONLY SERVICED BY USING THE SHORTBOCK (I.E., THEY...

VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AT ANY RATE OF SPEED , EITHER APPROACHING A STOP OR WHILE VEHICLE IS MOTION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSES IT TO LOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MOST OF THE TIME THE ENGINE HAS TO BE RESTARTED BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONS WHERE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES INITIALLY LOST POWER, WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WILL THEN JUST KICK BACK ON HOWEVER, AGAIN CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SINCE WE ARE TRYING TO OVERSTEER IT DUE TO THE ORIGINAL LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE FAILURES OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERS ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR REPAIR BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE POWER LOSS HAPPEN WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING IT. THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES SINCE...

WARM START, ENGINE MAY STALL OR STUMBLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT, ACROSS AN INTERSECTION MAY RESULT IN BEING STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY/RANDOMLY WITH HARSH ENGAGEMENT (APPARENTLY RELATED TO ENGINE CONTROL TRYING TO PROCESS ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER OUTPUT). SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC/RANDOM OUTPUT FROM 0 TO 120 MPH AND AS A RESULT ENGAGEMENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL RESULTS IN ENGINE ATTEMPTING TO MATCH RANDOM SPEEDOMETER READING. CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM RESULTS IN RANDOM & UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION.

LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, DUE TO TENSION PULLEY SNAPPING OFF AT ENGINE BLOCK AND CAUSING BRAKE + STEERING ON THE ONE BELT SYSTEM. SERVICEMAN STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM?DOESN'T SOUND SAFE TO ME!

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN LOSSING ALL POWER TO BRAKES AND STEERING AS WELL AS ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE RADIO PLAYING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE JUST DIES OUT. BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS STILL WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT NOTICE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, LEAVING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DISABLED

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS AND LOSES ALL POWER WHICH ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HAPPENED 7 TIMES. THE DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE BURNS TOO MUCH OIL.