1999 Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems

Filed Jul 21, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 193,000 miles · OR

My dodge keeps on having electrical issues with battery light coming on and battery is new lights flicker on and off on panel while driving. Concerning possibility of charging system not working as well. But alternator is new. Car wont start sometimes like the battery is dead but battery is new bought in 2016 oct. It sometimes wont turn over and fact is the cars power doors are now beeping at me and not sure why. That just started. I got to unlock doors but now they buzz constantly. City driving mostly but scared to drive because it acts like it wants to stop completely .all this happens as I try and drive my car. One time this last week car didn't start, had to jump it started right up then. Im scared to drive this car.no one at bear auto told me this car had electrical problems. Redmond oregon.

Filed Dec 25, 2016 · Engine · 255,000 miles · AZ

Serpentine belt repeatedly comes off during rain, car wash, etc. Power steering goes out, water pump quits working, alternator stops working. This creates serious safety hazard, especially in traffic and/or at highway speeds. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of people with this complaint. Chrysler/dodge turns a deaf ear to the request for a fix, always pointing to other possible issues (which at times are legitimate), while ignoring the design defect in their vans (which is always present). This is a multi-year problem involving several dodge vans and there is still no recall issued by the government. Where is the protection the federal safety agency states is their mission? There is a simple, effective fix for this problem: gates 38379k enhancement component kit price: $125.74 found on ebay. Please issue a recall!

Filed Nov 2, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · 275,000 miles · NC · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 1999 dodge grand caravan. While driving 35 MPH, an abnormal fuel odor was present inside the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder lane and the engine compartment caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a fire report. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 00v268000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 275,000. The vehicle was destroyed.

Filed May 28, 2014 · Engine, Steering · ND

My serpentine belt falls off every time it gets wet. It falls off in heavy rain, it falls off in snow. As you could imagine when you suddenly don't have steering on wet and/or icy roads it becomes very dangerous, especially in a family van. Even after I get the vehicle to the side of the road I have to get the belt back on. Road side repairs are never safe or easy but they are made even more so when done in the rain or in a blizzard when it's 60 below wind chill. This needs to be addressed and fixed!!!!!

Filed Mar 25, 2011 · Engine, Steering · 170,000 miles · MD

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).

Filed Jan 11, 2011 · Engine · 109,000 miles · TN

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.

Filed Aug 25, 2010 · Airbags, Electrical · 125,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that the power windows, windshield wipers, and cruise control would fail sporadically. The emergency brake warning light would also illuminate intermittently. The radio had also failed in addition to the air bag warning light remaining illuminated. The contact took the vehicle in for recall repairs in 2008 under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v480000 (air bags) where the clock spring was replaced. The repair corrected the failure for approximately one month before recurring. In addition, the contact stated that the drive belt was defective and was repaired several times to no avail. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000 and the current mileage was 180,000.

Filed Jul 8, 2010 · Engine, Steering · 108,000 miles · AZ

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 caravans, 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.

Filed Jul 9, 2009 · Engine, Steering · MD

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.

Filed Mar 4, 2009 · Engine · 109,000 miles · VA

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.