2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Body & Structure Problems
12 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Body & Structure Recalls (1)
STRUCTURE
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.
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.
Owner Complaints (12)
Your rear door handle melted from sun exposure and won't open. Additionally, your driver's side dashboard melted and cracked from the sun, causing pieces to break off and hit you while driving. The dealer and manufacturer were notified but didn't offer help. Fixing this will likely require replacing the door handle and dashboard panel.
Parts you may need:
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VAN WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR. DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK BY PULLING UP ON THE ACTUAL LOCK OR VIA THE POWER DOOR SWITCH. IT'S NOT A POWER SLIDING DOOR. THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW MANY, MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
MY DODGE 2002 GRAND CARAVAN SLIDING DOOR LOCK HAS SEIZED IN LOCK POSITION. THIS FIRST OCCURRED EARLY IN 2010 WITH THE LOCK STICKING IN THE UNLOCK POSITION. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON DODGE VANS. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE LOCK SUDDENLY UNLOCKED AND THE SLIDING DOOR STARTING WORKING AGAIN. NOW RECENTLY THE LOCK HAS SEIZED ONLY NOW IN THE LOCKED POSITION SO MY CHILDREN HAVE TO EXIT MY VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH USUALLY IS FACING THE STREET. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!! I WENT ONLINE AND GOOGLED PROBLEMS WITH DODGE VANS AND FOUND SO MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME THING. PLEASE HOLD DODGE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS ACTIONS BEFORE ( GOD FORBID) SOMEBODY'S CHILD GETS HURT OR WORSE. *TR
I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME TIME BUT AFTER FOOLING AROUND WITH IT MANUALLY AND WITH REMOTE, I COULD SOMEHOW GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. NOT THIS TIME. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE NOT JUST A REPAIR. IT IS A DEFECT BY DODGE/CHRYSLER. MY CAR IS TOTALLY UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE THE BACK DOOR WILL NOT ENGAGE. *TR
2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SLIDING DOOR LOCKS AND CAN'T BE OPENED MANUALLY OR REMOTELY. PASSENGERS MUST EXIT OPPOSITE SIDE OF CAR. STARTED 3 DAYS AGO, HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO BRING TO DEALER YET. THIS COMPLAINT IS COMMON ON SITE: HTTP://AUTOFORUM.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/DODGE-GRAND_CARAVAN/POWER_LOCKS_WILL_NOT_LOCK_OR_UNLOCK. *TR
WHEN A/C IS ON PASSENGER FLOOR GETS SOAKED. ROTTING OUT THE CARPET AND FLOOR MAT. AS WELL THE RADIO STOPS WORKING FOR PERIODS OF TIME. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED DOWN HILL THE MANUAL SLIDING DOORS SLAMMED SHUT. THE DOOR GOES INTO THE LOCK POSITION BUT, THE PLASTIC MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE DOOR LOCKED HAS A CRACK WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR TO SLAM SHUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.
VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND HIT A POLE. THE IMPACT FROM THE POLE DAMAGED THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS A CONVERSION VAN TO ACCOMODATE A WHEEL CHAIR PASSENGER. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAST THERE WAS COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE VAN. *AK
THE VEHICLES SLIDING DOORS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED IT THREE TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM
I HAVE A 2002 GRAND CARAVAN WITH DUAL SLIDING DOORS. SOMETIMES, THE DOORS DO NOT DETECT AN OBSTRUCTION AND ATTEMPT TO CLOSE ANYWAY. YESTERDAY, MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER RECEIVED MINOR BRUISING TO HER WAIST AFTER CLIMBING OUT OF THE VAN WHILE THE DOOR WAS IN MOTION. THE DOOR DID NOT RETRACT UNTIL I FORCIBLY PUSHED THE DOOR AFTER SEEING HER IN DISTRESS. IT DID NOT RETRACT AFTER SENSING HER TORSO IN THE PATH. SHE WAS OK BUT RECEIVED A BRUISE ON EACH SIDE OF HER WAIST (DOOR AND VAN BODY CONTACT). I HAD TO USE UNNECESSARY FORCE TO FORCE THE DOOR OPEN AND DOING SO DISENGAGED THE AUTOMATIC CLOSING MECHANISM WHICH REQUIRED A MANUAL CLOSING AFTERWARDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT HAS NEVER RESULTED IN AN INJURY UNTIL NOW. THE DEALER SAYS THAT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE IS REQUIRED FOR THE AUTOREVERSAL TO ACTIVATE. EVIDENTLY IT REQUIRES MORE FORCE THAN MY CHILD'S BODY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *NLM
BOTH POWER SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT STOP WHEN CONSUMER PUTS HAND IN PATH OF DOOR AT BOTTOM, IT SHUTS AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER ADMITTED THEY ARE MADE THIS WAY. *AK THE SLOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDING DOOR WAS WIDE AND COULD CATCH HAND OR FOOT OF PASSENGER. *YH
VEHICLE GENERATES EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE IN THE COCPIT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH. NOISE IS FOCUSED AROUND WINDSHIELD AREA AND IS LOUD ENOUGH TO OBSCURE RADIO AND CONVERSATIONS IN A NORMAL VOLME BY PASSENGERS. ON EXTENDED TRAVEL, NOISE IS QUITE ANNOYING TO DRIVE AND PASSENGERS AND INCREASES FATIGUE FACTOR. THIS CREATES A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING IS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WITH THIS NOISE LEVEL, I WOULD CONSIDER THE VAN UNACCEPTABLE.