2000 Dodge Grand Caravan: engine overheating

Filed Feb 28, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 290,000 miles · AK

The serpentine belt on 96-2000 chrysler minivans slipping off is a known issue and has been for years. Time and time again chrysler has refused to issue a recall for it. It is due to a manufacturing defect in one of the engine mounts causing a pulley misalignment. The belt slipping off causes loss of power steering, water pump, and alternator. The power steering loss can cause a driver to not be able to correct in time and cause an accident. The loss of the water pump can cause overheating resulting in engine damage. The loss of the alternator can cause the car to eventually stop running when the battery is drained, causing motorists to be stranded. I live in alaska and I'm not always in cellular signal when driving and temperatures in the winter get down to -30 f at times. I can't wait sometimes several hours for a tow truck to get to me without risking hypothermia at those temperatures. This needs to be made into a recall so it can get fixed.

Filed Aug 12, 2014 · Engine · 202,579 miles · PA

I have a 2000 dodge grand caravan sport, the serpentine belt has fallen off 4 times since I have had the vehicle. The first time it came off I was going 35 MPH in a residential area, a friend helped my dad put the belt back on, then a few days later it came off again going 55/60 MPH, took it to a local mechanic and had the water pump, serpentine belt and tensioner pulley replaced. About one to two week(s) later the belt falls off again during excelleration to get onto an express way, this time took it back in and they replaced the tensioner itself. I thought the problem was fixed, but it happened again on august 12, 2014, it was raining and I was only going 25 MPH as I turned onto my street, luckily I was able to pull into the drive way before my van started to overheat.

Filed Mar 3, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 207,000 miles · CA

Significant risk ? Complete loss of control due to poor design (unresolved manufacturer known issue): during a moderate rain storm, the serpentine belt once again slipped off the pulleys, which disabled power steering, causing a complete loss of control of the vehicle as it was accelerating from a stop (my wife was unable to fight the weight of the vehicle). Luckily, the vehicle had just left a stoplight and had only attained about 20 - 25 MPH. The vehicle was stopped before hitting anyone or anything in a very crowded pedestrian area of downtown san diego's historic gaslamp quarter. Given the reduced visibility from the rain and nighttime city illumination, it?s amazing this did not result in pedestrian injuries or even deaths or damage to waiting taxis or parked cars. This is the second time this has happened to this vehicle in the rain, but the first in which total loss of control occurred. The first instance also occurred at night, in the rain, while waiting in heavy airport terminal traffic. Numerous reports of dodge grand caravan serpentine belts slipping off in the rain can be found online in dodge forums. A technical bulletin was issued for prior model years but does not include the 2000 model year. Also of note, after the vehicle stopped it began to overheat as the water pump was also disabled by the loss of the serpentine belt.

Filed Mar 5, 2008 · Engine · 132,000 miles · MA

Serpentine belt keeps falling off whenever the vehicle goes through a puddle, rendering the power steering useless, engine overheats, alternator stops. 2000 dodge grand caravan 3.3l with AC, 132,000 mi, serpentine belt, tensioner, and water pump replaced; the belt slipped off once per week for three weeks, each time during a heavy rain 3/4/2008, 3/27/2008, 2/28/2008.

Filed Mar 9, 2007 · Engine · 54,000 miles · AZ

2000 dodge grand caravan sport with the 3.3l engine has lost its serpentine belt in rain. This results in immediate loss of power steering and leads to serious overheating. This is a known problem that has been experienced by many owners for many years.

Filed Aug 25, 2006 · Engine · 120,000 miles · OH

Serpentine belt has come off during highway speeds twice on this vehicle. Appears the tensioner pulley design is not robust. Second time the engine overheated destroying 2 cylinders and the head stranding my wife and 5 boys on the interstate. The resulting failure modes could have very serious consequences - recommend improvement to the design by recall.

Filed Aug 2, 2004 · Engine · HI · fire

On february 8, 2004, herman lino, co owner of car, called me to report some trouble with the dodge caravan. The red light came on and the cruise control light also came on. He pulled over to the side and felt that the engine was warm. He opened the hood and saw some smoke which he thought may have been from an overheated engine. I told him, by phone, to add some coolant to the radiator. He purchased a container but the radiator only took 1/2 of the container. After a while, the red light and cruise light went off so he started the car to drive home which was about 2 miles away. As he ascended a slight incline, he saw smoke coming out of both sides of the hood, more from the driver's side. He immediately stopped the car, turned off the engine and stepped out to the front of the car. He opened the hood and something immediately burst into flame. The flame was about 5-10 ft high. Herman said it looked like a house on fire. He stepped back when another explosion erupted. Police and firemen converged on t he scene and after things cooled down, an inspection was made. A report from the fire dept was issued. The fire erupted about 8pm. The car was towed to ace towing about 5 miles away from the scene the car had less than 15,000 miles, is in good shape and had regular service at the dodge dealer. The entire engine was burned and needs replacement. There's a large hole in the windshield when the fire entered the vehicle. Top of the dashboard sustained melting and damage. Front seats, upholstery incurred little damage. The ceiling of the van shows soot marks. This vehicle had it's original battery. There was only one driver . Owners had no otc coverage. Please tell me what I need to do to get some assistance to replace or repair the car. It is an ims vehicle. It appears that it is a company defect. I have the car here on my premises. Mrs. P. Caindec.

Filed Aug 7, 2002 · Engine · GA

Freezer plugs in engine are rusting out which resulted in engine overheating. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide any furhter information.

Filed Jun 24, 2002 · Brakes · CA

Requested inspection disclosed " front brakes were overheated annd were blued and had front brake pads separating from the pad backing we avoid crash stops and do little hill driving. Probable manufacturing defect.