2011 Dodge Grand Caravan: jerking or lurching

Filed Jan 1, 2019 · Body · 83,000 miles · IN · 1 injury

First thing I noticed was the tire pressure gauges come off and on randomly even though the pressure is correct. Sometimes, my vans sliding doors when they should be opening, start closing before the door is even open completely and without anyone hitting the button to close (my 3 year old fingers were smashed in the door due to this. Luckily, xrays revealed none were broken, but I am left with an expensive hospital bill)). When I go from reverse to drive, sometimes it feels as though I'm being jerked forward because the shift is so hard. Lastly, my van started not wanting to start in the mornings. After testing battery and replacing spark plugs, the problem continued to get worse. It's like it wants to start but can't get gas so it dies. Repeatedly trying got it to start, but then it quit. I was able to get it to start one more time and drove to mechanic. They informed me it's a faulty tipm module, and it now won't even continue to run once it's started. So they informed me they cannot fix it because only a dealership can reprogram it, and that because it's the module it's not safe to drive even if I could get it to start to take it to the dealership because it can die in the middle of driving it leading to dangerous situations. So now I'll have to pay to tow it. I just purchased the van 3 months ago because I needed room for my 4th child and wanted a safe, reliable vehicle. Now I have a car payment and a vehicle with only a little over 80,000 miles that isn't reliable and is sitting because I don't have the money to repair what should have never been placed in the vehicle to begin with given it was defective before installation. Please help people like me by holding the manufacturer accountable for falsely reporting a safe vehicle when they knew it had a defective part that can only be fixed by a dealership since it has to be programmed.

Filed Mar 6, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · CA

Don't buy dodge grand caravan 2011 to 2015 they have major problem with engine and transmission engine 3.6l making ticking sound fix it on warranty and after 40,000 miles I have same problem ticking from engine and the transmission in trafic jerking engine had recall on heads still has problems

Filed Jun 4, 2015 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge grand caravan. While driving at approximately 70 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle jerked violently. The brake light illuminated on the instrument panel. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Oct 3, 2013 · Body, Tires · 38,003 miles · FL

Continued issues regarding vehicle performance including front tires, transmission, window switch, sliding pass. Doors. Financed a 2011 dodge grand caravan on jan 25 2013, VIN # [xxx]. Upon delivery I had issues with car and returned to dealership the nex day. Issues included hard shifting, car veering off the road and some noises and no manuals or paperwork for warranty. Numerous repairs were made on car throughout past 6 months some of which made on car, some of which caused other issues to come up with repairs including failure to properly repair the car, brake issues, alignment and steering wheel, front tires, sliding door scraping, transmission issues and more. Numerous unsuccessful repairs and other problems not addressed or unwilling. Front tires/ rear never matched and were suppose to be replace per sales and never happen causing treads to show and still does, transmission jerks and hesitates, doors rip paint off side of car and scrape. Other issues include passenger door window switch and pickup. ** 2 chrysler cases created against dealer to fix issues. Case # [xxx] case # [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 3, 2012 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 41,000 miles · MS

Start engine, put into reverse, the check engine light and ESC light comes on. Only seems to effect vehicle operation when driving down road and slowing down to make turn or stop. Then it sort of jerks or downshifts roughly. Bought this vehicle used on july 13, 2012. This has happened 4 times already. When I took it back for them to check it for codes, they said nothing showed up and just reset it. It happened again before I got home.

Filed Feb 20, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 7,500 miles · MI

Check engine light came on in early december. Dealer reset the error code and said it was probably nothing. Light came back on a few days later so we brought back to the dealer - the consulted with chrysler and replaced the cam phasers and said that should fix the problem. Within a couple of days the check engine light and traction control light both came on and the car lost all ability to accelerate. Driving on highway at 70mph, gas pedal to the ground did nothing and car coasted to 50mph before it would lurch forward and coast back down and eventually corrected itself but lights remained on. Dealer consulted with chrysler again and they replaced the cam phaser sensors and said that should fix it. Within a few days same thing happened, driving on highway, check engine and traction control light turned on and car lost all acceleration and coasted down to 50mph and would lurch forward and then cost down - rpms wouldn't go above 1300rpm and couldn't get acceleration back. Took car back to dealer (fortunately was only a few miles from the dealer) and they had it for 2 weeks and chrysler recommended replacing both wiring harnesses and that should fix the problem. Within a week, same problem, driving on highway at 70mph - check engine and traction control light comes on, no ability to accelerate or maintain speed, car coasted down to 50mph and would lurch forward and cost back down. Returning car to dealer again (mid february). Quite dangerous to (repeatedly) loose acceleration and with no ability to maintain speed when driving at 70mph on a highway.

Filed Oct 24, 2011 · Transmission · 51 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH the vehicle started to jerk followed by an abnormal acceleration. The contact also mentioned that the check engine warning lamp was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer a total of three times but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. As a precautionary measure, the dealer decided to reprogram the central computer and replaced the transmission sensors. The remedy failed to repair the problem. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was 51 and the current mileage was 6,500.

Filed Mar 23, 2011 · Transmission · 200 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 2011 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH the vehicle began to down shift and lunge forward. When the accelerator pedal was engaged the vehicle currently does not increase in speed. The contact had to quickly react because of the traffic behind the vehicle and drive onto the emergency lane and shut to the vehicle off. The contact restarted the vehicle and it began to function normally. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to diagnosed the failure. Immediately after the contact drove away from the dealer the failure recurred. The contact drove onto the emergency lane over to the side of the road and the check engine light came on. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer ran a diagnostic test and a faulty transmission control module is what's causing the vehicle to suddenly down shift and jerk. The failure mileage was 200.