2005 Dodge Grand Caravan: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 10, 2015 · Fuel system · 85,000 miles · AZ

I had noticed the smell of gasoline outside of my car a week or so before. My husband and I went to the gas station to fill up my tank. We pulled out on to a major road with traffic. The car began jerking and trying to stall. After a few minutes it was fine. Yesterday, I got gas again and pulled out with my kids in the car. The car started doing the same thing. There have been multiple reports of this happening. Please help before someone gets killed!

Filed Jul 2, 2014 · Fuel system · 120,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle jerked and then stalled. The failure occurred after the contact filled up the fuel tank. The dealer stated that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Sep 13, 2011 · Transmission · 102,000 miles · MI

Flywheel cracked at around 102,000 miles causing major jerking of the vehicle when the transmission shifted from first to second gear. I was told by my mechanic that this is a common problem with this vehicle and there has never been a recall. I did replace the flywheel which cost close to $800.00.

Filed Mar 10, 2010 · Body, Locks · 42,000 miles · NC

Dodge 2005 grand caravan. Driver side door would refuse to open with inside button by door. Would open if pushed console button. The door would decide that it was not closed properly and fully open while driving. (very dangerous). The passenger side would open only if you used the key bob and had a jerky motion that would trip a sensor and close the door(usually on a passenger getting in or out of the vehicle. The door was adjusted and door motor replaced. Still had a problem with the door occasionally bumping the side of the vehicle. Verified that the vehicle had not been in an accident and resolved by leaving the plastic interior door cover off. The problem with the doors opening and closing by themselves was found in both cases to be linked to the door wiring harness. Also both door refuse to lock (not a thing that you check when looking at a car and was found by accident) searching the internet showed that this was a well known problem.

Filed Feb 20, 2008 · Tires · 39,500 miles · MA

I had a flat tire on my 2006 dodge grand caravan and was unable to get access to the spare tire, stored under the front of the car. The system to lower the spare tire only lowered it a few inches and then the piece that you turn with the handle assembly only would jerk around if you turned the handles extremely hard. I tried doing about 30 turns though to no effect. The mechanism in the floor was turning with alot of effort but the tire was not being lowered. This was on a cold snowy day and I was on a side road with little room to lay down on the pavement and reach under trying to see what was wrong. I spent 3 hours waiting for aaa and then gave up and took the damaged tire to a walmart leaving my wife in the car on the jack - my only choice. While I was getting the tire patched, which was lucky, aaa arrived and refused to work on the situation as they said it might end up with equipment dragging underneath the car. So if there had not been a tire center nearby we would have been really stuck with no way to remedy the situation. My mechanic tells me this should never happen - there was ice all over the release mechanism and it was broken. He said he sees this alot on fairly new cars like mine. This is a huge safety hazard. I don't think I should pay for the expensive repair, which I will have to do to sell the car. I travel in remote northern parts of new england and not being able to access my spare could cost me my life. I am now storing the spare dangerously in the passenger compartment. I think this should be fixed for free, but if its going to wear out again, I hesitate to have the spare down there. This is a horrible, dangerous design and I think these cars should be recalled and a different system developed. It is also ridiculous to have to have several feet on the side of the car to kneel and pull the spare out. That can be very dangerous on many road situations. I would like to know what the manufacturer suggest I do.

Filed Mar 21, 2006 · Acceleration, Transmission · 12,385 miles · IN · crash

After stopping vehicle in driveway,with foot on brake. The vehicle lurched forward and struck the vehicle that was parked there.

Filed Nov 16, 2005 · Airbags, Brakes · 16,300 miles · FL

Dt: the contact stated there have been problems with the brakes since he purchased the vehicle. He felt a jerk while driving the vehicle. He pulled off the road and found the back wheels locked. There was smoke coming from the rear passenger side wheel. The dealer made several attempts to repair the vehicle. The repairs consisted of: bleeding of the brakes, replacement of the master cylinder, and replacement of the air bag wiring. None of the repairs have corrected the problem.