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2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 298 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, most often about the lights (16% of complaints, typically around 77,500 miles). It is 12th of 21 Grand Caravan model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan problems
Lights
49 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, turn signal.
Headlight malfunction. 1 daytime running light comes on. When I turn on headlights, the one that is on during daytime running light operation turns off, and other light turns on. When I switch lights into high beam mode, the lights reverse to the way they operate while in daytime running light operation. I've already…
I have a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan with headlight problems. When you turn the van on, the right running lamp lights. When you turn the headlights on, the left headlight lights and the right goes off. When you turn the brights on, the right headlight lights and the left goes off. I have seen on the internet a number of…
Air bags
48 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly, side/window.
The air bag light appears randomly on and off. According to my mechanic, if the light is on and there is a crash, the air bags will not deploy. I think this is a very serious issue. I had the clock spring replaced by my mechanic, and all was well for about a week and then it started all over again. Also, failure speed…
The air bag light goes on and off periodically. There was concern that the air bag would not deploy when needed or, conversely, it would deploy without any warning. Took it to the dealer, he indicated that a spring needed to be replaced. As I was looking into recalls for this problem, I noticed that, although there…
Electrical
37 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator, ignition.
When starting my car, the automatic headlights come on, however only the passenger headlight works. When I turn on the lights the passenger lights stay on and the driver side remains off. When I turn my lights onto a bright setting, the driver side lights work and the passenger side goes out. I have replaced both…
For multiple years, the headlights (and other electrical components such as interior lights and climate control) have shuddered or flickered while the vehicle is moving (especially noticeable at night). Hard to notice bad lights until I either a) drive another car or b) pass a large roadside sign or approach another…
Visibility and wipers
29 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, windshield wiper/washer, windshield, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
1) 1st month-the tailgate latch wouldn't open. 2) 1st year - the driver's side window would periodically freeze and not go up. They said they couldn't fix it until it stayed broken 3) 11/06/03 at 45,000 miles the lights which flash when the remote unlocks the doors, flashed & couldn't be turned off. The headlights…
My wife was getting ready to pick up my daughter from school on jan. 14,2005. As she closed the front driver's side door on our 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, the rear (hatch) window shattered into a million pieces, and started to fall out.
Transmission
29 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly.
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. At 57,000 miles the front pump on the automatic transmission failed, resulting in complete transmission failure. $3,500 to replace with reconditioned transmission. Daimler-chrysler customer service refused to pay any amount for repairs.
During normal driving the transmission torque converter failed which tehn resulted in a transmission pump failure. Vehicle became undriveable. Transmission required total build. Vehicle had only 56k miles and was never used to tow anything. Per dealer, chrysler denied any responsibility and refused to offer financial…
Steering
25 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, hydraulic power assist, linkages, hydraulic power assist system.
While driving 30 MPH consumer heard a loud noise coming from the rear and the vehicle jerked. Vehicle was taken to a body shop for inspection, and mechanic determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced.
I own a 2001 Dodge caravan that I purchased from my father two months ago. Last night I noticed a rubbing sound when I turned corners. Looking at the front drivers side wheel, I noticed that the lower control arm came out of the bolt. After doing some research on recalls for the 2001 caravan I saw that there is a…
Fuel system
19 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 113,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact discovered that there was a fuel leak. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel rail needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was…
Nothing unusual leading up to this. Had a check engine light. When we brought it to the dealer, there was a small leak on the fuel filler neck. The car was only 5 years old and is washed, garaged every night, and taken care of. Fuel necks should not be failing in such short time.
Engine
19 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. He noticed a puddle of antifreeze underneath the vehicle while parked. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the lines in the tube supply and return rusted. The contact stated that the previous tubes were made out of steal, and the new ones are made of aluminum.…
I noticed a puddle of antifreeze under my 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. I took it into my local repair shop to be diagnosed and they said that it was a rear cooling/heating system pipe that had rusted and was causing my antifreeze to leak out and not properly circulate in my vehicle. I was told that Dodge had a recall so…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls
Equipment: radio/tape deck/cd etc.
Risk: This could result in a speaker fire.
Fix: Dealers will add a special tape to the top of the radio to prevent the potential of water intrusion. The recall began on january 31, 2005. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans, condensation from the instrument panel air conditioning ducts may drop through vent holes in the top of the radio and result in a short circuit that subsequently sends direct current to the rear speakers.
Body and structure: structure
Risk: This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.
Full defect summary
Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Suspension: lower arm
Risk: If the bolt fractures, the lower control arm could separate from the crossmember, causing a loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right lower control arm bolts and nuts. Owner notification began april 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: minivans. The lower control arm pivot bolt could fracture.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Headlight malfunction
Summary
Owner reports indicate allegations of improper headlight operation of one or both headlights.some report intermittent outage or dimming.many report that the condition is random; it sometimes does not repeat and lasts for a very short duration. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see summary report for additional information.
Headlight malfunction
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation after receiving reports from consumers that their headlights would malfunction in various ways from flickering to complete non-illumination.headlight operation is monitored by the vehicle's body control module (BCM) and front control module (fcm).odi is upgrading this preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis (ea05-009) to further examine the issue.
Power liftgate latch
Summary
This investigation was opened as pe04-054 regarding reports of alleged power liftgate (plg) opening while driving.the investigation was upgraded on november 22, 2004 based on information provided by daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) in its september 17, 2004 response to pe04-054. By letter of april 5, 2005, dcc has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall of 70,235 model year (my) 2003 chrysler town & country and dodge grand caravan vehicles equipped with the plg option.dcc has identified a problem in early production my 2003 plg control modules that can prevent the plg door from latching closed in a power open/close cycle.in this condition the plg can rise (not power open) d
Questions about the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (49 complaints, typically around 77,500 miles); air bags (48 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); electrical (37 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 2, 2004 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Dodge Grand Caravan?
- It is 12th of 21 Grand Caravan model years by number of complaints, with 298 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.