2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Electrical Problems

Your instrument gauges and lights flicker erratically, and your van loses electrical power to the ignition without warning, causing it to stall while driving—including in front of traffic. The engine restarts fine sometimes but then dies again when accelerating or slowing down, with the problem repeating unpredictably. Your van runs normally one moment and then lurches, jerks, and stalls the next, creating a serious safety hazard. The issue likely involves the alternator, battery, or ignition switch, and needs professional electrical diagnosis to identify the intermittent fault.

Your airbag warning light stays on all the time, and the buttons on your steering wheel don't work. The dealer says this is likely caused by a defective clock spring, which could prevent your airbags from deploying in a crash. This needs to be fixed to ensure your airbags work properly if you're in an accident.

Your van is stalling at stops and while driving, causing you to lose power steering and brakes. When you try to restart it, the engine accelerates on its own even with the brake pedal pressed. A mechanic found that the wiring harness for the fuel rail is melted because it's positioned directly above the hot exhaust manifold, and this damage can potentially cause a fire. The fix will require replacing the fuel rail wiring harness and repositioning it away from the exhaust manifold heat.

You discovered that your minivan's odometer mileage has been tampered with and is inaccurate. The seller claimed the vehicle had 90,000 miles, and while the odometer showed just over 90,000, the Motor Vehicle Department determined the reading was not accurate. This is a documentation and title issue rather than a mechanical problem with the vehicle itself.

Your instrument panel lights go out when you use your turn signal to make a right or left turn. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle but couldn't locate the specific cause of the problem. The issue may involve a faulty turn signal switch, a wiring problem, or a failing instrument cluster that needs repair or replacement.

When you use either turn signal, the dashboard lights cut off completely and then return a few seconds later. The exterior turn signal lights don't blink properly, and the interior turn signals blink inconsistently without making any sound. This issue may require diagnosis of the turn signal relay, wiring, or lighting control module.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 10/12/11 *BF UPDATED 10/21/11

I HAVE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CLOCKSPRING WENT BAD. THERE ARE RECALL ON MANY VEHICLE ON PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT 2001 IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND IT WILL COST AROUND $250 TO REPAIR IT. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN THE CLOCKSPRING WAS A PROBLEM THEY MIGHT TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN 2001 MODEL BUT IT IS NOT PERFECT. 2001 SHOULD BE IN THE RECALL LIST..... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, AND LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED AND STAYED ON. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FLASHING BY TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND KEEPING THEM ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING FRONT SEATS AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING MIRRORS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AUTO ADJUSTING SEATS OR MIRRORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 157531 MILES, INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPS WORKING WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE USED. TOOK TO THE DEALER DIAGNOSED AS BCM FAILURE. PARTS NOT REPLACED. *TR

HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL BE OUT, NEXT TIME ANOTHER ONE WILL BE OUT, NEXT TIME THEY WILL BOTH WORK. THERE IS NO ORDER. SAME WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. SOMETIMES ALL LIGHTS WORK. WE HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS. MORE THAN ONCE. SOMETIMES THEY WORK. SOMETIMES NOT. NO CONSISTENCY. *TR

I OWN A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. DURING OPERATION ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, ONLY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT COMES ON. ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WORKS AT ANY TIME. NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. *TR

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HEADLIGHTS - PASSENGER SIDE WON'T WORK ON LOW, ONLY ON HIGH, DRIVER'S SIDE IS THE OPPOSITE - WORKS ON LOW, NOT ON HIGH. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH NO KNOWN FIXES. MANY DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. PLEASE VIEW THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES, THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE ONES I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE.: HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/FORUM/2001-DODGE-CARAVAN-HEADLIGHTS-VT75224.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/DODGE-GRAND-CARAVAN/TFGKS9O3LLH1ABOBM/P3 HTTP://WWW.DODGETALK.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=33586. *TR

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 VEHICLE FROM BEHIND ON A NON-STREETLIGHT HIGHWAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND THE CLOCK ASSEMBLY WENT OUT. *TR

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 HEADLIGHTS AND THIS STILL OCCURS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. BECAUSE LIGHTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE, I STRONGLY BELIEVE DAIMLER-CHRYSTLER MUST DO A SAFETY RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE COULDN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF CALLS ON THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE SOMETHING HEAVY AND TAP ON THE KEY SO THAT THE CYLINDER COULD CONNECT WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY URGED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59800 ,AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59700.*AK

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING: HEADLIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHT FAILURE/FLASHING, TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE/BRAKE PULSING, RADIO FAILURE, SEAT BELT CONNECTOR FAILURE. *JB

WE WERE ON OUR WAY FROM FLORIDA TO PENNSYLVANIA WHEN WE WERE TOLD THAT ONE OF OUR HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT. WE PURCHASED NEW BULBS AND REPLACED THEM, THEN AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION REALIZED THAT WHEN THE DAYLIGHTS WERE ON, ONE LIGHT WAS ON AND ONE OFF, WHEN WE TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE OPPOSITE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ONE THAT WAS ON FOR DAYLIGHTS WENT OUT, THEN WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED ON THE LIGHT THAT WORKED SWITCHED SIDES AGAIN. THE NEW BULBS DID NOT FIX IT, SO WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME WITH ONE LIGHT, ONCE IN AWHILE BOTH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED. THE WORST PART WAS THAT THE CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED 14 MONTHS PRIOR BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM (WORSE, THE WHOLE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS!)! THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE TO WHY THE CONTROL MODULE WENT AGAIN. I'M HOPING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN ANOTHER 14 MONTHS (THERE IS ONLY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY ON THE PART)! *JB

1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: EACH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED AFTER OR DURING A SUMMER VACATION TRIP THAT INCLUDED 700+ MILES. USE OF THE AC USUALLY CONTINUES ON LOW FAN SPEEDS (1 OR 2). 2) FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: FIRST FAILURE WOULD BE THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD BEGIN NOT TO WORK. SECOND A RELAY FUSE WOULD GO BAD. THEN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE FAN SPEEDS WOULD SHORT OUT ONLY ALLOWING FOR HIGH FAN SPEED ONLY. 3)HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE SWITCHES DUE TO DEALER CHARGING HIGH RATES JUST TO LOOK FOR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE FAULT AND STILL WANTING $70+/HOUR BEFORE ANY REPAIR WORK IS STARTED. WE HAVE OWNED A 1996 CARAVAN AND 2001 GR CARAVAN AND THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH VEHICLES. *JB

RADIO MALFUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY OVER APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH EVENTUALLY LEADING UP TO COMPLETE FAILURE. SMELLED SMOKE. HEARD OF RECALL ON RADIO. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED WITH RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS RELATED TO RECALL. SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICALLY-RELATED FAILURES IN RECENT MONTHS INVOLVING HEADLIGHTS, FUEL GAUGE LIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPER LIGHT, WASHER FLUID PUMP, DEAD BATTERY. *JB

TWO INCIDENTS: IN FEB 05, DAYLIGHT DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES @45 MPH DURING RAINFALL, ALL THE DASH INFORMATION LIGHTS CAME ON AND WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. PULLING OFF THE ROAD TO ASSESS THE SITUATION WITH THE VAN STILL RUNNING ALL THE DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND 1 MINUTE LATER ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AFRAID TO GO ON, PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, PLACED VAN IN PARK AND DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OUT. TURNED OFF ENGINE, TRIED TO RESTART CAR. FIRST FEW TURNS OF KEY, NOTHING HAPPENED AND THEN THE CAR FINALLY TURNED OVER WITHOUT ANY DASH LIGHTS. DRIVING HOME IN RAIN, TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS/WIPERS AND MOMENTS LATER ALL DASH LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON. AT THAT SAME TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT/WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED UNCOMMANDED. MADE IT HOME/TURNED OFF ENGINE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART ENGINE FAILED, NO DASH INFORMATION LIGHTS DURING START SEQUENCE, HAD TO HAVE VAN TOWED TO DODGE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED MAIN COMPUTER WAS FRIED. AFTER MANY HOURS/DAYS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING, WE WERE TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS TO COMPUTER WAS CHAFFED CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER WITH A REBUILT ONE. IN EARLY AUGUST 05 WHILE DRIVING IN DARKNESS, THE DASH LIGHTS/HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO CYCLE ON AND OFF UNCONTROLLED, ALL GAUGES WENT TO ZERO AND ALL SQUARES AROUND THE TRANSMISSION STATUS LIGHTS (P,R,N,D,L) WOULD ALL LIGHT UP. THE FAN WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN TURN ON UNCOMMANDED AND NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. TOOK VAN UNDER OWN POWER TO DEALER. DETERMINED WIRING HARNESS BAD. TOOK ABOUT 3 WEEKS FOR HARNESS TO ARRIVE (9/23/05). EXPECT WORK TO BE COMPLETED BY 30 SEPTEMBER????? *NM

2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS, RADIO SYSTEM AND THE LIGHT TO THE GAS GAUGE.*MR *NM

THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND NO DEFECTS FOUND. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ALSO, DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CAME AND OFF WHENEVER THEY WANTED TO.*AK

THE REGULATOR ON THE FRONT POWER DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS IS FAULTY. OUR VAN WAS BUILT IN CANADA AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON TRAIT OF THOSE VEHICLES. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES, SOMEONE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND IMPLEMENT A RECALL TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM- OR DISCONTINUE MANUFACTURING VEHICLES THAT DODGE WILL NOT STAND BEHIND. *NLM

ALTERNATOR BOLT BROKE IN ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING STRESS ON TIMING CHAIN/ALTERNATOR BRACKET FROM SERPENTINE BELT THUS BREAKING BRACKET, CAUSING BELT TO COME OFF. *TT

ALL THE LIGHTS FLICKERED WHILE IN OPERATION. THE PROBLEM AFFECTED ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN THE REMOTE OR INTERIOR BUTTON WAS USED TO OPEN THE SLIDING ELECTRIC DOOR, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN INCOMPLETE OR POPPED OPEN AND THEN CLOSED IMMEDIATELY.*JB

AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION UNDER THE HOOD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, THE FIRE INSPECTOR CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION BASED ON A CORE THAT THE FIRE BURNED. *YH

AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION UNDER THE HOOD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, THE FIRE INSPECTOR CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION BASED ON A CORE THAT THE FIRE BURNED. *YH

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND GOING OFF CONSTANTLY. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AKTHIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICING SEVERAL TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE REMOTE DOOR OPENER FAILED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW WENT OUT. *JG

DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND 25 AMP FUSE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK