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...

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.

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 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

I HAVE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CLOCKSPRING WENT BAD. THERE ARE RECALL ON MANY VEHICLE ON PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT 2001 IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND IT WILL COST AROUND $250 TO REPAIR IT. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN THE CLOCKSPRING WAS A PROBLEM THEY MIGHT TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN 2001 MODEL BUT IT IS NOT PERFECT. 2001 SHOULD BE IN THE RECALL LIST..... *TR

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

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

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

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.

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...

RADIO MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY OVER APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH EVENTUALLY LEADING UP TO COMPLETE FAILURE. SMELLED SMOKE. HEARD OF RECALL ON RADIO. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED WITH RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS RELATED TO RECALL. SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICALLY-RELATED FAILURES IN RECENT MONTHS INVOLVING HEADLIGHTS, FUEL GAUGE LIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPER LIGHT, WASHER FLUID PUMP, DEAD BATTERY. *JB

ENGINE HESITATES AND SPUTTERS BADLY WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR WITH BRAKE ON AND SPUTTERS BADLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUILT UP CARBON WAS CLEANED FROM THE INTAKE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ALSO, THE FAN SPEED SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT ONLY WORKED ON HIGH. IT HAS FAILED AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

TWO INCIDENTS: IN FEB 05, DAYLIGHT DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES @45 MPH DURING RAINFALL, ALL THE DASH INFORMATION LIGHTS CAME ON AND WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. PULLING OFF THE ROAD TO ASSESS THE SITUATION WITH THE VAN STILL RUNNING ALL THE DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND 1 MINUTE LATER ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AFRAID TO GO ON, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, PLACED VAN IN PARK AND DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OUT. TURNED OFF ENGINE, TRIED TO RESTART CAR. FIRST FEW TURNS OF KEY, NOTHING HAPPENED AND THEN THE CAR FINALLY TURNED OVER WITHOUT ANY DASH LIGHTS. DRIVING HOME IN RAIN, TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS/WIPERS AND MOMENTS LATER ALL DASH LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON. AT THAT SAME TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT/WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED UNCOMMANDED. MADE IT HOME/TURNED OFF ENGINE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART ENGINE FAILED, NO DASH INFORMATION LIGHTS DURING START...

DT: 2001 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, CONSUMER SAYS HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED UNPREDICTABLY. ENGINE RAN ROUGH, AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO CHECKED THE VAN BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NO FAULT CODES FOUND IN COMPUTER, UPDATED PCM. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY. PROBLEM BEGAN NOT MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING VAN.*AK *SB THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS PERIODICALLY.*SB *NM

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS, RADIO SYSTEM AND THE LIGHT TO THE GAS GAUGE.*MR *NM

DODGE GC 2001 STALLED WHILE IN MOTION WITH NO WARNING DURING A VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED AREA IN A SCHOOL ZONE WITH MANY POTENTIAL HAZARDS. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 10 MPHS AND COMING TO A STOP. I INTERRUPTED FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT TIME OF FAILURE AND WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME. A POLICE OFFICER HELPED DIRECT TRAFFIC. MECHANIC SAID LEAK DETECTION PUMP WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED THE PCM (POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE) TO SHORT OUT. THIS PCM CONTROLS MANY ELECTRICAL ELEMENTS. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE SPEEDOMETER AND PASSENGER WINDOW DOESNT WORK AND I AM TOLD THAT SEVERAL SYSTEMS COULD FAIL BUT IT IS DRIVEABLE. I HAVE SEARCHED MANY DEALERSHIPS IN MANY STATES WITH ALL THE SAME ANSWER. THE PART I NEED, THE PCM, IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE IN THE US. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN. I...

THE REGULATOR ON THE FRONT POWER DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS IS FAULTY. OUR VAN WAS BUILT IN CANADA AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON TRAIT OF THOSE VEHICLES. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES, SOMEONE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND IMPLEMENT A RECALL TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM- OR DISCONTINUE MANUFACTURING VEHICLES THAT DODGE WILL NOT STAND BEHIND. *NLM

ALL THE LIGHTS FLICKERED WHILE IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM AFFECTED ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN THE REMOTE OR INTERIOR BUTTON WAS USED TO OPEN THE SLIDING ELECTRIC DOOR, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN INCOMPLETE OR POPPED OPEN AND THEN CLOSED IMMEDIATELY.*JB

AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION UNDER THE HOOD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, THE FIRE INSPECTOR CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION BASED ON A CORE THAT THE FIRE BURNED. *YH

AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION UNDER THE HOOD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, THE FIRE INSPECTOR CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION BASED ON A CORE THAT THE FIRE BURNED. *YH

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND GOING OFF CONSTANTLY. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AKTHIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICING SEVERAL TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE REMOTE DOOR OPENER FAILED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW WENT OUT. *JG