7.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $80
- Average Mileage:
- 66,250 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 112 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (56 reports)
- remove and replace the 20 amp fuse as described (24 reports)
- see your chrysler service center for software update (8 reports)
- unhook the negative battery cable for a few minutes (8 reports)
- disconnect the battery or fuse (4 reports)
- try pulling fuse and cleaning terminals (4 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I was surprised the fix was that simple I believed all along that it was a fuse but the Dealer said its best to let them check it out for 90$, economics would not allow that,so I found this forum I did reset the 20amp fuse and it worked, next time I'll replace it.Thanks forum
- ralphfl, Jacksonville, FL, US
After a few months of not having the convenience of my power locks, I went to the Dodge dealership. They 're-flashed' my locks. It's some kind of software update. Anyway, I haven't had a problem since. I will say that it's ridiculous that I had to pay to have this done, since apparently, alot of people have had this same problem! I think it should be a recall that they should fix without cost to the consumer. It only cost $91, but that sucks when everything else is so expensive now days. So, now I don't have problems with my locks anymore, but my engine light stays on and I have to replace the battery already. I had the engine light checked, it's just a sensor that doesn't need to be replaced? There's something very screwy with this electrical system. I will never buy another Dodge!
- S M., Tyler, TX, US
the dealer said it needed a new dash console at the cost of 600.00 parts and labor. The so called wrench at the dealer hit the dash and the locks started working again. That is how they came up with the dash console needed replaced. It works for now. I will get a second opinion on this one from an independent shop.
- Matthew Z., Salem, OR, US
This is not the first time that this has happened. The power locks go out. We do the battery shut down and it fixes it, but the time between occurrences keeps getting smaller. I have seen many, many comments online about this. When we made an appointment with the dealership, they said that they had not hear of it and when I went to the Dodge site, it said that there were no known complaints or recalls on this car. It apparently needs a software update to the BCM to fix it. Apparently the NTSB makes the decision to recall an item. You can make formal complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and they will do an investigation. Their website is www.nhtsa.dot.gov or you can call them at 1-888-327-4236.
- nc dodge owner, Wake Forest, NC, US
I don't understand why this is not on the recall list. I unhooked the battery cable overnight. The locks worked for about a month. Now they are back to not working. Will unhook the cable again.
- kstx, Cumby, TX, US
3yr old soccer mom van with low mileage has no power locks at all. wont work with the key fob, door switch or auto lock when driving. more than an inconvenience, is a safety issue with children and when driving in not so nice neighborhoods. disconnecting the battery to reset the computer is not something that should have to be done daily in this day and age.
- smokinerbs, Willow Grove, PA, US
I HATE DODGE. I had my van for two months and the power door locks quit working, my keypad wouldn't work, and my power doors quit working. After spending $200 at the Dealership to have it repaired, they finally worked again. One month later the same problem occurred. I waited a week or so - and they all started working again. WTF?!?! I've owned 3 Dodge vehicles - A Stratus and two Caravans. I've had nothing but trouble with each of them. I will NEVER buy a Dodge again. Mitsubishi here I come! I'm trading my van in on Monday. Good Riddance!
- Kristy N., Nottingham, MD, US
I have the same problem as all the other threads. Pulled the neg. battery cable. This fixes problem for varied time frame. No more Dodge products for me.
- Dana W., Mount Vernon, IL, US
Just wanted to brag......I almost made it to 70k miles before this one got me. Have not tried any fixes yet but if I find one I'll update.
- maggot, Gloucester, MA, US
WE JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED. AND THE ANSWER I FOUND WAS REMOVE THE BSM FUSE ETC... BUT I FOUND ON MY OWN THAT JUST UNHOOKING THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FOR A FEW MINUTES WORKS JUST FINE. WE DID THE BSM ALONG WITH THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT ONLY WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND IT DID IT AGAIN. WE JUST RECENTLY JUST UNHOOKED THE BATTER CABLE AND IT FIXED IT SO FAR. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK THEN WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT SERVICED. I AGREE THAT DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THIS BECAUSE IT IS A HASSLE AND DANGER. PARENTS DEPEND ON THIS ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. THE VAN I HAVE ONLY HAS TWO KEY HOLES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VAN. THIS IS A PAIN! IF YOU HAVE A BABY OR TODDLERS THE KEY LESS ENTRY IS A PLUS. BUT IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CLIMB IN THE VAN AND UNLOCK EACH DOOR MANUALLY ESPECIALLY IF IT THE WEATHER IS BAD.
- Darlene H., Corbin, KY, US
same here as everyone else , just so annoyed that i will have to buy a foreign car in order to get quality and customer service .
- Mike N., Coventry, R.I, US
There are roughly 28 complaints underneath one topic and 19 complaints underneath another topic concerning this problem. I found my #20 fuse lying in the fuse box in the engine like it popped off. I have an auto start and I took it there first to see if they could find anything. They were appalled that the only fuse box they saw was in the engine. Like others, it just stopped working, however, I'm able to use my power windows and I'm able to unlock my trunk. Oh, I still get the annoying beep and the lights when I think I'm opening/closing my locks. Due to the fact that I have children capable of opening the doors at anytime, I feel that DODGE needs to look at this problem immediately before they have a lawsuit on their hands! I'm taking my car tomorrow to have them check on this problem along with a rattling heat shield and some humming/rubbing while I'm stopping then turning. Not too happy about the issue with the locks!
- Lori C., Middlesex, NJ, US
The power door locks on my 2005 Caravan SXT 3.3L V6 stopped working the other day. When you push the lock button on the remote, the lights signal that the "lock" occurred, but it doesn't. The lock/unlock switch on the driver and passenger front-seats does not work either - no noise, no action, when they are pressed. I now have to lock/unlock the car manually - which is a pain for sure - but the real issue is safety in my mind. My Caravan has 40,000 miles now. I've found a lot of other people on the web that have the same issue. The solution, they say, is to disconnect/reconnect the BCM fuse and disconnect/reconnect the negative battery cable, and this should restore the locks temporarily. I'll probably take it into the dealer, and have them fix it, and I'm hopeful that Chrysler will issue a recall, as this could be considered a safety issue.
- Bob S., Worthington, OH, US
Unbelievable that Dodge has had so many complaints about this problem and hasn't come up with a long term solution. Since we have owned this van, we have had both power sliding door motors replaced (the right one twice), the rear power hatch motor replaced, the drivers door window motor replaced and now this..... I will never own another Dodge. I guess the Honda Odyssey is worth the price :(
- av8tor, Charlotte, NC, US
I also have door lock issues. I purchased the vehicle with 24,000 miles on it and have had problems since purchase. It has been returned to the dealer at least 10 times for repair and the repair will last up to one week then I am back to not having locks. I am worried about my child riding in a vehicle that does not lock properly. I find myself leaving it unlocked because it is such a hassle to unlock.
- Ruth Y., New Paris, PA, US
This is the FOURTH time my van has been serviced for power door lock failure. It has always been covered under warranty, but I'm very tired of this issue.
It always starts with me getting SHOCKED on the driver's door and then the door locks will not lock manually. They have always locked with the keyfob.
After finding this site, we removed the BCM #1 fuse, but this didn't work.
This time, the dealership replaced a computer module (twice, because the first computer was bad and I didn't have any dash lights). My van was in the shop from Tuesday of the first week to Thursday of the next week. They were nice enough to rent a vehicle for me, after they realized that it was going to take time for the parts to come in.
I have a 6 year 60,000 warranty. I will be trading it in before my warranty expires!
- jlamiller, Kokomo, IN, US
Just wanted to register my beef about the same non functional door lock problem and thank those that have contributed what I hope will be a solution. If the removal of a fuse is not a permanent solution, I (we) need to return to this site and report that to save others a lot of trouble. I like my Caravan, only wish it was not plagued with electrical problems, I had hoped that Chrysler-Daimler would turn out a better product once that combination occurred but that does not seem to be the case - so much for German precision. I took a chance buying this van to begin with, having been a much dissatisfied Dodge customer when I got sucked in on its Dodge Dart "Convertriple" a number of years back, which was a total disaster. If I can keep this one running long enough to get together the difference between its trade in value and the price of an new vehicle, Dodge is off my list.
- glenna, Murphy, NC, US
It is just a pain to move over and lock / unlock the door. Keyless entry and inside buttons do not work. But quite surprisingly rear door lock still works with keyless entry. I wish there was a way to upload the bin file into the central computer system via regular PC.
- Arsalan M., Lomita, CA, US
I bought my caravan used. Problems started immediately.The lights will flash and the horn will honk, making you believe that the doors are locking......but "NO!" It is a royal pain to crawl over the passenger seat and into the back seats just to open the door. I have tried removing the battery terminals for a few minutes and then replacing them, but this solves the problem for only a few hours or less. The Dodge dealership told me that I need to replace some kind of a harness...but I'm not sure they know what they are talking about. I have read several complaints from other dissatisfied Dodge customers and I am convinced that if you buy junk....... you have junk. I will never buy another Dodge. Why won't Dodge stand behind their product and make this right? Obviously reputation means very little to them. I am just one person with a big problem....but I share this problem with many, many others...and the word is getting out to the public about the "Don't care attitude" that Dodge has on this issue. Hopefully this summer I'll be able to unload this piece of crap!
- Carl S., Junction City, OH, US
This has happened to my van twice now, both times my brother-in-law pulled the fuse and the battery. The first time, it lasted less than a day, he just did it again as I'm typing this, we'll see. It's very annoying!! My husband has worked for Chrysler for 15 years in the van plant, never heard of this problem until mine. I do agree that Chrysler should acknowledge this problem and consider it as a recall. Will see how long it's fixed this time!
- Andrea P., Desoto, MO, US