2.5
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 60,909 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Serpentine belt came off pulleys while driving in heavy rain. Lost ability to steer van. Headed directly for another car and collision narrowly avoided. Belt coming off when wet appears to be a common problem with this series van, and would seem to be a very serious hazard. It is beyond me why Dodge is not required to retrofit a better belt/pulley system (which does exist and is on the market).
- Westminster, MD, USA
After hitting approximately 3 inches of snow/slush in the road the serpentine belt slid off causing loss of power steering. Driver was able to avoid accident and pull to side of road. This is the 5th such incident since the vehicle was new.
- Collierville, TN, USA
1999 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3L. Serpentine belt slips off pulleys when driving in wet conditions, even slightly. This produces an immediate loss of power steering, water pump, etc., and within 15-20 seconds the vehicle overheats. This creates severe safety hazard with impaired steering ability along with attempts to remove vehicle from traffic before it overheats, stalls, or engine catches fire. This slippage occurs consistently to the point we must avoid driving when raining (even drizzling) or even if roads are still moist after a rain. We found hundreds of the same complaint affecting numerous model year Dodge Caravan, as well as Chrysler Town & Country van. Two independent mechanics stated the cause is poor design of the pulley system. Two of the pulleys are smooth-surfaced and one side of the serpentine belt is smooth. When a liquid (rain/snow/lubricant, etc.) is introduced to the pulley system, these smooth surfaces allow the belt to easily slip off. Dodge offers to replace the two smooth pulleys with grooved pulleys, as well as provide a serpentine belt with dual sided grooves for around $400. This is not a matter of normal wear and tear, but rather a poor design that has continued for over a decade despite early complaints. Consumers have spent hundreds if not thousands in towing and repairs for this problem. Consumers should not be required to pay to fix the manufacturers' safety defects and add to their profits in doing so. Was it an intentional defect to boost service dept profits? this problem needs to be addressed immediately and should warrant a recall to replace the two pulleys and serpentine belt.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
The serpentine belt came off several times in the rain, on our 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan, resulting in loss of power steering. I had gone through a puddle and as I turned a corner I lost power steering. I made it onto the side grass as I was unable to complete the turn. I was only a couple feet away from hitting a brick building. This was a very unsettling experience. I should not have to be terrified to drive in the rain.
- Silver Spring , MD, USA
The serpentine belt fell of during wet road conditions. I drive a 3.3L Dodge Grand Caravan. I had no idea how popular this problem is. Chrysler could fix it with a tensioner with a sidewall or a ribbed tensioner.
- Portsmouth, VA, USA
1- noise serpentine belt. 2- sudden temporary loss of power steering while driving in rain. Occurs everytime it rains. Resulting in temporary extremely dangerous situation as I am unable to steer even though I am a strong 350lbs. 3- have changed serpentine belt several times but problem persists.
- Miami, FL, USA
Driving home in ice storm our 1999 Dodge Caravan lost power steering, lights dimmed, overheated. Apparently this is a recurring problem with the Caravan and the serpentine belt and tensioner.
- Owensboro, KY, USA
In Feb 2007, a new mopar serpentine belt was installed on my 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan (89,000 miles) by a local Dodge dealer. After one week belt started a loud squeal. At the suggestion of mechanics I tried belt dressings, sprays and wire brush, all with no help to the problem. One mechanic suggested I replace the plastic pulley on my properly working tensioner with a metal pulley. This I did with no help. All pulleys were checked and found O.K. dealer installed another belt in June of this year. Same problem after one week. Ended up going to local independent repair shop (not dealer) and they installed "kit", which corrected problem. "kit' consisted of belt with grooves on both sides and idler pulley and tensioner pulley with grooves. Problem solved. The Dodge dealer never heard of this "kit"....come on Dodge boys, get with it!!!!
- Yorktown, VA, USA
Problems with vehicle's instrument panel, air bag sensors and associated printed circuit board modules. There were problems with the PCM, the sensor failed, the engine stalled, the check engine light had come on along with the malfunctioning indicator light, the shift indicator light had gone out, the dash lights had gone out, and the odometer malfunctioned. The circuit board had to be replaced twice and the air bag and air bag light returned. The clock spring and air bag control module was replaced. The consumer requested reimbursement.
- Holland, MI, USA
While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer was able to restart vehicle and pull over. Engine check light flashed on the dashboard. Consumer drove vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic placed the vehicle on diagnostic machine. Then, mechanic replaced input and output sensors.
- Dallas, OR, USA
- Emerado, ND, USA