Dodge Caravan Questions
Car-and-Safety.com
Dodge Caravan
Fri, 21 Oct 2011
Our 2001 Dodge Caravan is nothing but a PROBLEM! It's one big ...
Our 2001 Dodge Caravan is nothing but a PROBLEM! It's one big lemon, from the transmission module, power locks, and heater blower to the gasline, gas tank fill issues, and door. Trouble lights randlomly appear and disappear (apparently as a warning to the owner of things to come), there is a bizarre magic act it likes to perform where the transmission fluid will be a qt low -- but nobody knows where it goes. Fuses for various things (like the lights) blow (apparently in anticipation of the vehicle surviving to another birthday.) The trip to the gas station is about 4-5 times longer than any other customer's (I try to schedule buisness meetings and family get togethers around when I have to fill it up, as it continually stops pumping every 6.2 seconds, so I've got plenty of time.) Both radiator fans are apparently siamese in origin, as they quit working at the same time (ones goes, then so does the other.) Did you know that the driver-side door and window are completely unique to this make/model/year of Caravan? A little FYI I am reminded of everytime I'm faced with deciding to pay the $475+ for a good used working door and window or another $2 for packing tape and wire to hold the window up in my ghetto-looking shell of a door. Everyone I contact about how-tos and did-you-knows with my 2001, greets me with the same "yeah, I know....that's a recurring problem for that particular year"....or...."it's the only year that was a problem; first and last year they did THAT"....yada-yada.
We are long-time devoted Dodge Caravan owners. We've waited a year to make sure we got the Dodge Caravan we wanted, as opposed to another vehicle. We've been the sole reason several others have become new Caravan owners. When we had the accident, I'm certain it was the Dodge Caravan that attributed to our protection and survival. Why is it, then, that this seems to be the only one we've ever owned that has no recalls on any of the problems most all 2001 Dodge Caravan owners are encountering?! Odd items, major ticket items, or items newly replaced are completely failing that in most vehicles seldom, if ever, have to be replaced. Complaints to the manufacturer and dealer get brushed to the side as unimportant. (One guy actually told me, "yeah, I know, huh?!...[*chuckle*]...guess you won't buy THAT year again..." Are you kidding me?!....Can anyone tell me who to contact? What to do next? (besides the obvious 'avoid the Dodge Caravan 2001') And no, I can't let the local shooting range use it for target practice as I need to rely on it for personal and professional transportation.
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