2005 Dodge Grand Caravan: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Mar 25, 2009 · Steering · 40,000 miles · IN

We have taken our 2005 dodge sxt grand caravan in numerous times for electrical problems which most of the time they can not duplicate. Then on monday march 23 after leaving the city and bringing my children home from school I went to make a left hand turn and my steering column locked up and I could not complete the turn. With oncoming traffic and traffic behind I had no choice but to gun the engine and go into the field. I stopped the car with brakes that worked, at least, and turned the vehicle off. I then restarted the vehicle and there was complete free play in the wheel. I turned the wheel all the way to the right and there was a clunk and then I again had regular movement of tires with the wheel. I immediately called my dealership and told them what happened and that I was bringing it in with my dad following behind. Tomkinson dodge has had it for 2 days and told me that they know there is a problem but since it is under warranty and they can't pinpoint the problem, warranty won't pay until they know what the problem is. It is too expense to let a tech get inside and take things apart to find the actually problem. They told me I need to drive it again and it will be fine, but if it happens again to let them come and tow it and don't touch anything. If it happens again! If it happens again my children and I could be dead. I was just lucky to not be in too busy of a place unlike I had been a half hour before. So there was a failure but nothing is being done to fix it because it may be to expensive for the dealership.

Filed Apr 9, 2008 · Engine · 40,000 miles · NY

Clunking noise from under van when breaking hard. Only heard 1 time in either direction. Missing bolts in center of cradle (engine mount). Bolts were replaced and tire alignment was adjusted as it had also changed. Chrysler, as a good will gesture, refunded the cost of the repair, wheel alignment and partial cost of the 4 tires worn on the outside edge side edge.

Filed Jun 12, 2007 · Airbags · 42,392 miles · OH

I took my vehicle, a 2005 dodge caravan, to kempthorn dodge in canton ohio because the air bag light came on and the fob keys were making the left front and rear lights flash and locks click when you got the keys close to the vehicle. There was also a clunking noise in the right front suspension. Kemthorns told me that there was a short in the passenger air bag, the key transmitters were bad and that the front sway bar links and bushing were worn out. The vehicle had 42,392 miles on it. They told me that to fix the short in the air bag, the dash board had to be pulled and the total cost to fix everything would be 1,000.00. I was charged 150.00 just to find the problems. I took the vehicle to another mechanic and he verified the short in the air bag but found that the sway bar links and bushings were in good shape. The problem was the right front strut at the top. He also had the two keys replaced at a fraction of the dealer's cost. Since then the air bag light went out.

Filed Nov 21, 2006 · Suspension · 36,000 miles · OH

2005 dodge grand caravan which has 38500 miles on vehicle. The front swaybar bushings are wore out and it now makes a loud clunking noise every time it goes over a bump . Dodge says it is a wear item and will not replace it even though I have an eight year/80000 mile warranty. If they will not fix this I will say this is the last american car I will buy.

Filed Oct 18, 2006 · Suspension · 40,384 miles · KS

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was a clunking noise coming from under the vehicle whenever it was driven over an uneven surface. This was accompanied by looseness in the steering. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined the front sway links and bushings needed replacement. The parts were replaced, which corrected the problem.

Filed Mar 8, 2006 · Airbags, Body · 24,400 miles · OH

Have 2005 grand caravan. It has 24,000 miles. The air bag light came on. I am taking it to the dealer tomorrow. Also, the driver interior map light doesn't work, eventhough the bulb is ok. (am having that checked tomorrow, too.) when the light first went out, the automatic side doors stopped working. They didn't work for about 2 weeks and when I decided I had time to go to the dealer to get it checked, the doors started working again and have seemed fine since. The light , however, still doesn't work. The rear passenger map lights also come on randomly (usually overnight). There is a clunking noise in the driver side front end. We had some parts repaired on it in dec. (though the dealer did say they weren't sure what the problem was), but the noise is still there. (am having that checked tomorrow as well.)