Three times in six weeks, the serpentine belt (which powers the power steering, alternator and water pump) has slipped off the pulleys. In one of the three instances, the drive belt was shredded. After a quick search of the internet, literally hundreds of complaints about this were found. Fortunately, in our case, there has not been an injury to date, however a loss of power steering at the wrong moment could easily cause an accident. Likewise, loss of accessories such as the alternator and water pump could leave someone stranded. On this vehicle, the belt tensioner has been replaced and the belt has been replaced three times in less than 1,000 miles.
1999 Dodge Grand Caravan engine complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 59, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
Serpentine belt falls off tensioner repeatedly and have replaced several tensioner pulleys and serpentine belts without any remedy to the problem.
Driving home in ice storm our 1999 dodge caravan lost power steering, lights dimmed, overheated. Apparently this is a recurring problem with the caravans and the serpentine belt and tensioner.
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 dodge grand caravan. While driving 30 MPH in the rain, the serpentine belt detaches. The mechanic replaced the belt eight times; however, the failure recurred on january 25, 2008. The mechanic advised that the dealer should perform a diagnostic. The dealer replaced the pulley bracket, the bolts, and the serpentine belt according to the manufacturer's technical service bulletin. The failure recurred on january 27, 2008. The current mileage is 160,669 and failure mileage was 605. Updated 02/14/08. *lj updated
The serpentine belt on our 1999 dodge grand caravan has slipped off several times. Visit carsurvey.org and you'll see that many other dodge owners are experiencing the same problem regularly. Some are getting stuck in the freezing snow as a result. We've had other problems, such as a burned out computer board owed to a short in the driver's side seat. And the driver's side power window will not function. We will not buy another chrysler vehicle. Furthermore, as a journalist, it's interesting to note that dodge has not taken responsibility for all the glitches in the caravan and issued additional recalls. I'd have much more respect for the company if they did. We've only had one recall, and that was for a clock spring in the steering wheel.
The serpentine belt has come off three times to date. Once in 3 inches of snow, once on a sunny day and once when on slick roads but no puddles. Almost caused accidents twice with three children in the car! The belt has been replaced as has the tensioner and this has not solved the problem.
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!!!!
Continual serpentine belt issues with dodge grand caravan. We purchased this vehicle new in 1999, it has less than 100,000 miles and has required replacement of the serpentine belt at least 4 times. Additionally, the belt has come off on 2 occasions when vehicle was driven through a puddle. This seems extremely excessive.
1999 grand caravan - serpentine belt comes off when it rains or vehicle is driven through water, even minor amounts. Causes sudden loss of steering ability, especially if it occurs without warning during a turn. I have owned this vehicle for 6 years and 125,000+ miles without incident. During the last 25,000 miles belt has come off unpredictably 6-8 times in wet weather. Occurrences started following replacement of front tires and a wheel alignment. Dealers and service stations have blamed the tensioneer, a pulley, the belt itself, and water. Replacement of these parts does nothing to resolve the problem which occurs again with the next rain storm. Something changed at 125,000 miles that causes the belt to disengage the pulleys and /or tensioner when water is sprayed up by the tires in wet weather. I changed tires to a different tread design and this helped for a time, but with wear the problem recurred.
The serpentine belt on my 1999 dodge caravan keeps coming off. Especially when it rains. The belt has been replaced several times. The idler pulley has been replaced. The belt tensioner has been replaced. An engine bracket for the idler pulley has been replaced. When the belt comes off , power steering is lost which makes it hard to control the van. If I was not a fairly strong person I would have hit a semi-truck at the last incident. My wife could not have controlled it. There is an after market fix for the problem through goodyear or gates. Chrysler does not have a fix for it. Below is the latest incident. It has happened five times in the last two years.
1999 dodge grand caravan,3.3 liter engine, started out about once a year the serpentine belt would slip off and have to be reinstalled. Then started every 6 months, usually during wet weather, came off with my wife, she would lose steering almost causing a wreck. I would have to leave work and go where ever she was and put belt back on. Finally noticed the tensioner pulley leaning to the left allowing belt to slip off. Replaced pulley thinking problem solved, but once again belt would slip off during a rain and wipers on. Very dangerous situation for my wife again, no steering. Tried a better quality belt, same thing, belt would slip off during rain. 2 weeks ago it slipped off with my wife on major freeway in birmingham, al , I had to go about 50 miles and put belt back on with traffic speeding by and all during a rain storm of course. Yesterday I drove the van to my job and on the way home ran into a rain storm and guess what, it came off again, luckily on the street I live on. I've read about thousands of people with same problem with this type of van. I've owned the van since the beginning, loved it except for this problem, even bought a new 05 grand caravan because they are good vans. I just wish dodge would admit the 99 and similar years had a recall issue on this serpentine belt. Or why can't they tell us, the owners how to fix this problem?
Despite regular (3,000-mile or less) oil changes at dealer or certified independent repair shop, 1999 dodge grand caravan with 3.3 liter engine developed severe oil sludge problems. First indication of problem was a soft clicking engine noise. Certified independent mechanic diagnosed problem as oil sludge, showed us caked engine components. Replaced rockers arms and some valves and bearings and flushed engine. Repairs not successful, noise continued. Returned to mechanic who kept the van for several days and did several more engine flushes and oil changes. This did not solve problem and mechanic warned me that driving would soon lead to massive engine failure. The only solution was an expensive overhaul ($7,000-$8,000) or a new/rebuilt engine ($5,000-$6,000) that might still have these problems. After internet research, I realized this was chrysler problem with engine. Now my van is an expensive yard ornament--at least until I drive it one last time to trade it in. I do not consider it safe to drive as massive failure could lead to fire or accident.
I have repeatedly had the serpentine belt come off while driving in my 1999 dodge grand caravan. This is unsafe. I lose power steering, A/C or defroster, the van overheats unless you park it instantly. This has happened at least a dozen times and I have replaced the tension pulley and it still didn't help. This needs to be recalled.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 20-40 MPH, the engine stalls. This occurs intermittently and the vehicle restarts. The vehicle has been to two dealerships, but the diagnostic test shows no codes.
Vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop for a routine inspection, and mechanic determined that the exhaust pipe was cracked and needed to be replaced. *ak the consumer engine exhaust crossover pipe cracked. *tc
While driving muffler/intake manifold exploded. Consumer was unable to start the vehicle, and it was towed to the dealer for inspection. Consumer informed the mechanic that the muffler and other parts needed to be replaced.
1. Routine maintenance check. 2. Manifold bolts rusted and broken, which could cause sudden loss of coolant with sudden breakdown while driving. 3. Overhaul coolant system.
When serpentine belt gets wet itwill come off of the pulley. This problem occurred three times and consume rlodt control. *ak the consumer stated that there was as recall on this issue but the vehicle did not fall under the recall
Problems with vehicle's instrument panel, air bag sensors and associated printed circuit board modules. *mr 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. *sc
1999 dodge grand caravan 3.8 engine camshaft broke with 54,000 miles on it.had oil change every 3 to 5000 miles.now I need a new engine and dodge wont help and I think they should since I spent 28,000 on this van.
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.
Surpentine belt keeps coming off randomly causing a very dangerous condition of not being able to steer the car. The dealer has repaired many times and says there is no known fix. Because the vehicle in not safe I can no longer have my family in the vehicle. I look at the web site for other complaints on this minivan and I see many othe people have the same un-safe problem with this model.
The serpentine belt tensioner has a broken spring there fore not putting tension on the serpentine belt causing water pump and altinator and later battery problems.ive done some research on this and it seems to be a problem all over the country to which belts are falling off etc.....the vehicle has been taken to the dealership before and we were told that all was well.ive heard the belt slipping for a while now usually at start of vehicle. This seems to be a proplem with many more 99 grand caravans at or around 40-50,000 miles.this should be a warrenty fix but is not!
When driving at 30 MPH and without warning, the serpentine belt disconnected from vehicle, which causing the vehicle to lose power steering and all other functions controlled by the belt.*ak. The consumer stated a new belt and tensioner was installed at 26,215 miles and less than 10,000 miles later the belt fell off again.
The fan belt and tensioner have failed twice, and after doing research, it appears that this is a very common occurrence. I even found a web site of people who have had the same problem, some more than six times on the same van.
Consumer sates when backing up or down the hills vehicle would stop. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ts
While traveling on highway and without prior warning power steering went out. Also, vehicle started to overheat. Dealership was aware of problem.
Vehicle stalled at 20 MPH. Consumer noticed a belt hanging from undercarriage of vehicle. Vehicle is at dealership at this time.
The engine gave no signs or symptoms of an impending failure. The vehicle had been inspected by my mechanic 1200 miles earlier and the tensioner replaced. The main bearing failed sending metal fragments throughout the engine. The side-effects of the bearing blowing apart destroyed the engine and necessitated that a new engine be installed. This will cost approximately $3500 and take about 2 weeks. This type of failure is absolutely unacceptable for a vehicle that is only 3 years old and has only 55k miles on it. Dodge should be ashamed that a failure like this would occur in such a late model vehicle.
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