Three problems related to alternator/generator/regulator have been reported for the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
My Dodge keeps on having electrical issues with battery light coming on and battery is new lights flicker on and off on panel while driving. Concerning possibility of charging system not working as well. But alternator is new. Car wont start sometimes like the battery is dead but battery is new bought in 2016 oct. It sometimes wont turn over and fact is the cars power doors are now beeping at me and not sure why. That just started. I got to unlock doors but now they buzz constantly. City driving mostly but scared to drive because it acts like it wants to stop completely . All this happens as I try and drive my car. One time this last week car didn't start, had to jump it started right up then. Im scared to drive this car. No one at bear auto told me this car had electrical problems. Redmond oregon.
Three times in six weeks, the serpentine belt (which powers the power steering, alternator and water pump) has slipped off the pulleys. In one of the three instances, the drive belt was shredded. After a quick search of the internet, literally hundreds of complaints about this were found. Fortunately, in our case, there has not been an injury to date, however a loss of power steering at the wrong moment could easily cause an accident. Likewise, loss of accessories such as the alternator and water pump could leave someone stranded. On this vehicle, the belt tensioner has been replaced and the belt has been replaced three times in less than 1,000 miles.
I am very concerned about the safety of my 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan in rain storms. Twice now the serpentine belt came off when water in the road sprayed onto the belt. When this happens, the power steering, alternator, water pump, and all other components powered by the belt stop functioning. The loss of power steering is very dangerous because it can happen at high speeds. Service bulletin 07-02-99, "serpentine belt slips off idler pulley" installs a bracket to prevent this. My concern is that no one knows about this service bulletin until the belt comes off. There is undue risk to owners of these vans. This needs to be a vehicle recall not a service bulletin. I have contacted Chrysler via the internet (reference number: 7904321) and written to james holden's office, Chrysler president . I was informed to contact NHTSA as the information was proprietary. I have friends with the same van that have had the same problem in rain storms. It is very dangerous to allow this to continue. Do people have to be killed before Chrysler takes a proactive approach to solving this on all vehicles effected? a vehicle recall is needed immediately to prevent injuries. I am very dissappointed in Chrysler for allowing me and my family to be exposed to this design flaw for the past couple of years. Just today a friend has had the same problem with her Chrysler Mini van.