general problems of the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan

My 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan se can be easily shifted into gear while in auxiliary power, and it sometimes locks out my brakes, as there is a locked steering wheel you can't steer it and can't turn it on without shifting back to park which can be difficult if the brakes lock. A child could easily set it in gear if you are running the air and you leave the car briefly, I do not have kids but I do run some taxi work in the neighborhood. It could be done anywhere as long as it's in auxiliary power to radio and electrics but not fully on.

My stepdaughter was driving my van after we were returning from a trip to California. We got to her house to drop her off where she put the van in park . I then walked (behind) from the passenger side to the drivers side while she went to her mail box to get her mail. I opened the driver side door, that's when the van started rolling backwards down her driveway. I couldn't see her so I screamed her name so it didn't run over her, she was directly behind the van looking down at her mail. She got out of the way in time to see that the van door had caught me, was able to reach me, luckily, to grab and yank me from behind it. Then we watched as it rolled down her driveway into the street. Luckily when it hit the bottom of her driveway the wheels turned or it would have gone down her street and crossed a side road. The door caught a large recycle bin causing front end damage and bent the door backwards ending up with the rear end hitting a large snow bank where it came to rest. This was a frightening incident, one or both of us could have been killed! even worse others could have been if the van had gone into the street(s). The van went into neutral, I physically saw it and had to shift it into drive to get it off the curb. Since then, numerous times, when I have been backing up or just starting to drive, it will pop into neutral. Each time I have to put it back into reverse or drive. This is dangerous!!! what if it happens when I am driving out of my driveway or pulling out onto a street etc? my husband heard a story today that other Chrysler vehicles are having the very same issue. I think this is an ongoing problem that they have had for many many . It needs to change. Who else can I complain to? I informed Chrysler/Dodge when it happened and heard nothing back.

I just completed filling up my vehicle with regular gasoline. About 100 yards from the filling station, my van stuttered and stalled. It does this every time I fill it up. It stalled in the middle of an intersection. I did some research and it looks like it is the result of a failed component of the emissions system and a pretty common problem with Chrysler/Dodge vans. . Read more...

Four separate instances of an unintended acceleration occurred within 5 minutes while traveling at low speeds (5 - 15 mph). Each of these instances is described below: 1. While turning right out of a gas station at about 5-10 mph, the car lurched forward and the power steering system seemed to fail (I. E. , the car was steering right and it was very difficult to keep from continuing right into a curb). The brakes worked fine and prevented a collision with the curb. I headed for a friend's house located nearby. 2. Approximately 500 - 1000 feet later, while turning left at 15 mph onto a side street, there was another unintended acceleration and the steering wheel was 'locked' left (I. E. , the power steering system again seemed to fail). The brakes on and the car collided with the curb at a low speed (1-3 mph). Had traffic been coming down the road, a car heading toward me would have hit the side of my car. 3. Approximately 500 feet down that street, while turning left onto another side street, the engine revved again for a second, and returned to normal. The steering and brakes were not adversely affected. 4. I proceeded slowly down that street for a distance of about 200 feet and was slowing down to park along the right hand side of the street. While going only about 2 mph, the car revved hard again, and lurched forward about 3 feet until I could stop the car. I stayed at the friend's house for 3 hours. 5. A service station was nearby and I drove slowly toward it. The car made a total of 3 right turns and 2 left turns without incident. However, when just starting to make a 4th right turn, the engine revved and the power steering seemed to fail again. I stopped the car and turned off the ignition. I proceeded a half mile to the repair station (with 3 left turns and 1 right turn), without incident.

This issue has occurred around 20 times since purchase of the vehicle. While driving the van and stopping in traffic (transmission in drive), when pushing the gas pedal (foot off the brake) the rpm gauge will respond but the van will not move. The van behaves like the transmission is in park despite the transmission being in drive. In order for the van to move again you must put the van in park and then back to drive. At this point the transmission works as it should. At least twice I have had to turn the van off and back on before the transmission would work correctly. Have taken to dealer but they could not replicate and there were no codes to pull. I feel this is a serious safety issue as it could lead to an accident.

The Dodge Grand Caravan dies while driving down the highway. It has happened twice. I'm bringing it in to a Dodge dealer in vegas in a couple of weeks. I've been told the error code in the computer system will zero out once the car has been started three times after this problem occurs so there is nothing for the dealer to look at. I'll take it in anyway because maybe they have run into this before. It almost has to be a computer problem I believe. In my case this problem occurred right after I accelerated on the interstate to pass a car. Everything goes dead just like I turned the car off. I put the van into neutral while it is going and restart the car. Never heard of this before. It may be important to get on the record because this could be a dangerous situation depending on where and when it happens. If it results in an accident I'll file legal action. Dodge should know they have a problem and provide a new computer chip or chips if they really can't figure it out since that is the most probable cause.