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Road Tests: Long-Term Test
Long-Term Test: 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
Wrap-Up
By editors at Edmunds.com
Date Posted 02-01-2003
Video highlights of this vehicle
Where It Fits in the Minivan Pack
Interior Accommodations
Engine and Transmission
Ride and Handling
Summing Up
Changes to the Grand Caravan Since 2001
Pros and Cons
Best Logbook Quotes
Recalls and Problem History
Dealer Service Reviews
Consumer Commentary
Where It Fits in the Minivan Pack
When we added a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan ES to our long-term fleet two years ago, the veterans on our staff were skeptical about this van's prospects for finding a happy home with our demanding editors — and about DaimlerChrysler's hold on the annual minivan sales crown.
At that time, we were wrapping up our two-year test of a 1999 Honda Odyssey, which proved to be an enjoyable, practical and virtually trouble-free vehicle to own. Additionally, DCX had just completed a total overhaul of its minivan line: Our early impressions suggested that in spite of the vans' attractive sheet metal, excellent driving dynamics and handful of interesting gadgets, they lacked a number of key features that any all-new design should have had for the 2001 model year. Among the items that our '01 Grand Caravan didn't have (and which couldn't be purchased as options):
- a fold-flat third-row seat
- multiconfigurable second-row captain's chairs
- automatic locking retractor (ALR) seatbelts for the rear seats
- three-point seatbelt for center passenger in third row
- a reverse-sensing system
- audio controls in the second row
- a factory-installed rear entertainment system
- stability control
- adjustable pedals for the driver
- power-sliding doors that can be activated by pulling on the exterior door handles
Since our purchase, the Grand Caravan has picked up three of these items — the audio controls and adjustable pedals in 2002 and the factory entertainment system in 2003 (true, dealers were willing to install Mopar entertainment systems before that, but they couldn't be residualized for lease customers). But it's still missing the important stuff at the top of the list — features that the Odyssey has had since 1999, features that the all-new 2004 Toyota Sienna and Nissan Quest wouldn't dare come to market without. What's more, the DGC failed to measure up in the all-important 40-mph offset crash test conducted by the IIHS — 2001 models earned a "Poor" rating largely due to a faulty fuel tank fitting that allowed a fuel leak during testing, while retrofitted 2002 models merited only a "Marginal" rating (the second lowest) due to the possibility of leg and head injury.
Why have we been so hard on the Dodge? We felt the DGC and its Chrysler counterparts needed to be a smash hit in order to atone for the lousy reliability and low resale value that plagued the 1996-2000 generation. Besides, DaimlerChrysler had two years to study up after the '99 Odyssey redesign. Even General Motors figured out how to add a fold-flat third-row seat to its aged minivan line in 2001, so we couldn't excuse the company that pioneered the front-wheel-drive minivan for its oversights during a major redesign.
In spite of our complaints, our long-term Grand Caravan had far-reaching emotional appeal during its two-year stay. Editors liked to drive it; the parents on staff appreciated its kid-hauling ability (though with a few noteworthy exceptions); and everyone else stuffed it full of moving boxes and furniture on one occasion or another.
But our experience suggests that long-term reliability is still a trouble spot for these minivans — our DGC had 10 warranty repairs (third on the all-time list behind our '99 GMC Sierra and '00 Lincoln LS) as well as an automatic transmission that sometimes behaved as though it wouldn't be around for the long haul. Further, this van had the largest two-year depreciation percentage of any vehicle we've ever had in our long-term program. Compare the price we paid two years ago to the private-party TMV® as of January 2003, and you get a 47-percent drop in value. (Other big depreciators in our long-term fleet have been our '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which lost 46 percent of its value, and our '00 Ford Focus, which dropped 41 percent.)
Sales of Chrysler minivans have continued to slip throughout this long-term test, dropping from roughly 483,813 in 2000 to 408,681 in 2002 (according to Automotive News), even with heavy use of incentives and rebates. Meanwhile, Honda, which offers a single brand of minivan in just one size, has opened a new production facility to meet demand for the Odyssey — over 150,000 were sold in 2002, most for full sticker price.
Maybe all this discussion of numbers casts a bleak light on what was generally an enjoyable DGC ownership experience, but if you're a real buyer (and not an automotive journalist), it pays to be aware that America's original minivan is not necessarily the best equipped, most dependable, safest or easiest to resell. Shortcomings notwithstanding, the Caravan family remains the most popular choice among minivan buyers, so here's a rundown of our life with a loaded Grand Caravan ES to help guide future purchases.
Interior Accommodations
Our DGC came with seven-passenger seating, which means captain's chairs in the first and second rows and a three-person third-row bench. As the long-wheelbase Chrysler minivans offer more passenger volume than most competitors (the '04 Sienna and Odyssey are on top) as well as class-leading cargo capacity, editors and their families generally had plenty of room to spread out on long trips. Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed related his experience: "I couldn't help thinking that my family and I were using the minivan at its peak capacity by transporting six people and their luggage over a long distance (from Los Angeles to Death Valley National Park). The Caravan comfortably seated everyone (one seat was still empty), and the cargo area proved large enough to swallow two days' worth of luggage."
The third-row seat was split into 50/50 partitions — it was certainly easier to remove than a single-piece bench but less comfortable for three passengers than a 60/40-split bench would have been. One of our editors filled the van with seven occupants on a trip from San Francisco to L.A., and it was not an event she cared to repeat: "We had to cast lots to decide which three would be squished into the third row. With every member of the [family] more pudgy than not, it was an uncomfortable ride back there; skin-to-skin contact for several hours makes for cranky passengers." On shorter trips, life in the third row was more bearable with one editor's friend noting that it was "painless for three of us to crawl into the last-row bench. I wish my sport-utility had the same low step-in height and comfortable seating."
Regardless of how many people were in the Grand Caravan, there were always plenty of cupholders and storage areas to go around, our favorites being the ratcheting cupholders and cell phone holster in the front seat. Numerous seat back hooks helped corral plastic grocery bags. The DGC did take a few hits in the ergonomics category, as most editors complained about its triple-zone automatic climate control system's small, fussy buttons. (If you stick with the lower-line EX model, you still get tri-zone coverage but with easier-to-use manual knobs.)
Since most minivans are used as kid haulers, the parents on our staff were dismayed to find that Dodge failed to equip the second-row captain's chairs with automatic locking retractor (ALR) seatbelts, which make it easy to get child safety seats cinched down tightly. Without this common feature, those attempting to install older non-tether-equipped car seats had to make use of a clamp near the seatbelt tongue. Editors reported that it took practice to get their children's seats installed to their satisfaction — a bit disappointing in a vehicle that was supposed to be easy to live with from the start.
Getting groceries and luggage in and out of the cargo area was made simple by our long-termer's optional power liftgate. Although it seemed like a gimmicky feature at first, most of our staff came to appreciate the convenience when their hands were full and/or the van was dirty. The dual power-sliding side doors certainly helped with the loading of passengers large and small, but we found them less user-friendly than the set on our long-term Odyssey. Our editor in chief, Karl Brauer, explained: "You can't use the power option from outside the vehicle unless you have the key fob. This means that if you are holding the keys and your wife wants the door to open while she loads a child, she has to pull the door completely open by herself or ask you to activate it with the key fob. Other vans with this feature let you get the power door started by pulling the outside handle, but not this one."
Engine and Transmission
Our ES model was equipped with the 215-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 engine, an option for 2001 but standard fare for successive model years. Larger in displacement than other minivan engines, the 3.8-liter gave our Grand Caravan surprising thrust when pulling away from stoplights (enough to produce tire squealing on more than one occasion) and ample passing power on the highway. Although aggressive take-offs caused our gas mileage to plummet on a few tanks, our two-year average of 17.8 mpg was only 0.5 mpg off our '99 Odyssey's average.
Our only real complaint about the DGC's V6 was its lack of stamina when climbing highway grades. This shortcoming is apt to become more noticeable to minivan buyers now that the Odyssey, Sienna and forthcoming Quest all offer 230 to 240 hp.
Most drivers were content with the performance of the Dodge's four-speed automatic transmission, which consistently executed on-time downshifts. However, a few editors reported hesitation and slushiness during low-speed upshifts in hot weather — observations that did little to put our minds at ease, given the spotty repair history of Chrysler's minivan transmissions.
Ride and Handling
Without question, Dodge and Chrysler make the most fun-to-drive minivans currently on the market (though Nissan's Altima-based Quest might give them some competition in this area). Whether fun is an essential quality in a minivan is debatable, but the DCX minivans do provide a pleasant balance of ride comfort and agility around corners. Our long-termer took the standard Grand Caravan setup a few steps further with the addition of optional 17-inch wheels, "touring" suspension calibrations and a load-leveling rear suspension (to prevent the van's rear end from sagging under heavy loads). Over the months, editors unanimously praised the DGC's road manners. A quick scan of the logbook turned up these comments:
"The suspension is great. It transmits to the driver exactly what the vehicle is doing and never feels like a top-heavy minivan. If you drove someone around some twisty roads blindfolded and asked them what vehicle they were in, they'd be wrong every time." — Neil Chirico
"Handling was hardly affected by [the full load of cargo and passengers] on board, a big plus on unfamiliar decreasing-radius highway off-ramps." — Christian Wardlaw
"The steering is precise and there's decent heft in the wheel. I really have no complaints in regard to the DGC's dynamics; it's about as good as it gets in the minivan class." — John DiPietro
One thing to keep in mind, though, especially if you demand an impeccably smooth ride, is the Grand Caravan's non-independent rear suspension. While it's only a minor disadvantage in terms of handling, the Odyssey, '04 Sienna and '04 Quest have independent rear setups. Not only does this better enable them to filter out impacts over bumps and ruts, it opens up more space in back for a fold-flat third-row seat.
Summing Up
After two years with a 2001 Grand Caravan, we can't give the current-generation Chrysler minivans a best-in-class recommendation on either the new or used market. Comfortable and fun to drive, our long-term DGC lacked too many of the features we consider important in a minivan. And unlike our mostly trouble-free long-term Odyssey, our Dodge regularly saddled us with nagging warranty issues. None of the repairs were major, but several required an unplanned visit to the dealership — the most annoying of these occurring the day before the Fourth of July when the air conditioning stopped working.
People don't purchase minivans as pleasure vehicles; instead, these are workhorse family vehicles intended to minimize parental hassle. For this mission, there are several other vans — the Odyssey, Sienna and Kia Sedona among the current offerings — that we'd recommend ahead of the Dodge.
Edmunds.com TMV® at End of Lease: $17,2901
Depreciation: $15,085 or 47 percent of original price paid2
Final Odometer Reading: 37,339
Best Fuel Economy: 23.3 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy: 17.8 mpg
Total Body Repair Costs: $3,647.32
Total Routine Maintenance Costs: $338.42
Additional Maintenance Costs: $444.093
Warranty Repairs: 10
Non-Warranty Repairs: 1
Scheduled Dealer Visits: 4
Unscheduled Dealer Visits: 4
Days Out of Service: 20 (all for body repair)
Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None
1This is the private-party sale TMV for a white 2001 Dodge Caravan ES with 37,339 miles in "clean" condition in the 90404 zip code as of January 2003.
2To calculate the two-year depreciation, we subtracted the private-party TMV, $17,290, from the price paid before the $1,000 customer cash rebate in January 2001 ($32,375).
3Additional maintenance amounted to a new set of front tires and a front-end alignment. Normally, we don't include the cost of tire replacement due to damage or wear; however, the original tires wore unevenly — most likely because our dealer failed to perform an alignment after replacing the front struts under warranty.
Changes to the Grand Caravan Since 2001
2002 — Dodge brought out the Grand Caravan eL, a value leader that listed for around $24,000. The luxury factor on higher-line trims was boosted with the availability of power-adjustable pedals and rear-seat audio controls with wireless headsets. Additionally, the 3.8-liter V6 was made standard on the top-line ES trim level to maintain its status above the value-packaged EX.
2003 — Two new options debuted — a power sunroof and a factory-, not dealer-, installed DVD entertainment system that comes with wireless headphones. The in-dash CD changer has been upgraded from four-disc capacity to six. Yet another trim level was added to the lineup: This one was called the CV, and it came with most of the SE model's equipment, along with the big 3.8-liter V6 that you can't get on the SE. At the same time, the CV cost less than the SE — we're still scratching our heads over this one.
Similar Vehicles: Dodge Caravan (short wheelbase), Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler Voyager
Pros and Cons
Pros: Excellent ride and handling characteristics, good low-end pull from 3.8-liter V6, roomy cabin, comfortable seats, hands-free loading with power liftgate.
Cons: No fold-flat third-row seat, missing key convenience features, subpar offset crash test score, ongoing repair issues leave long-term reliability in question, low resale value.
Edmunds.com Says: While enjoyable to drive, the Grand Caravan trails its rivals in family-friendly features, crash test scores and reliability.
Best Logbook Quotes
"If it were just the non-fold-flat third-row seat, or just the growing list of mechanical problems, or just the annoying power-sliding doors and seatbelts, I'd consider this van a viable alternative to the Odyssey. Unfortunately, it's all those things, plus a questionable resale value." — Karl Brauer
"When I dropped my parents at the airport, my mother said, 'Tell Mr. Edmunds how much we enjoyed using that nice minivan!' I looked for Mr. Edmunds to give him her compliments but never could find him." — Philip Reed
"I went into my month in this vehicle thinking that it was a necessary evil. Now I understand its appeal; it was even fun piloting the Caravan, thanks to its smooth-revving V6 and the affable nature of its ride. However, I would definitely not enjoy having to lug my $30,000-plus vehicle in for service so dang often." — Liz Kim
"The Honda Odyssey is still the one to beat overall, with its increased power, superb reliability and build quality, and that hideaway third seat. But in terms of handling dynamics and seat comfort, I have to give the Dodge the nod." — John DiPietro
"The Grand Caravan does some things nobody expects of a minivan quite well, but doesn't do the things everybody expects of a minivan well at all." — Christian Wardlaw
Recalls and Problem History
Recalls:
1 — We received an update notice in April 2002 instructing us to get the Grand Caravan into the dealership to have the controller mechanism for its rear air conditioner reprogrammed.
Problem History:
1. One editor noted that the seal for the passenger-side sliding door dangled loose when the door was closed in February 2001.
2. We noted pedal pulsation during moderate braking in April 2001. Santa Monica Dodge diagnosed warped rotors and replaced the front rotors and pads under warranty.
3. The airbag warning light began illuminating intermittently in May 2001. Santa Monica Dodge found no problems and reset the light. The problem resurfaced in August 2001. One editor found a technical service bulletin (TSB) that appeared to cover the concern in September 2001 — it had to do with loose sound-deadening material interfering with something called a clockspring ribbon that controls the airbag. Our diagnosis was apparently dead-on, and Buerge Chrysler-Jeep performed the repair under warranty.
4. In August 2001, drivers reported odd snaps, crackles and pops emanating from the steering column when the tires encountered bumps and expansion joints. Buerge Chrysler-Jeep couldn't find anything wrong with the vehicle in September 2001. Buerge technicians were subsequently able to confirm the problem in December 2001, and a new power steering hose was ordered and installed under warranty. Alas, we began to hear noises from the steering column once again in April 2002, but Buerge was never able to duplicate the problem.
5. The power liftgate mechanism broke in September 2001, when its single small control arm dislodged itself from the liftgate (fortunately, the gate could still be opened and closed manually). Buerge Chrysler-Jeep repaired it under warranty. When it broke, the control arm scraped an adjacent interior trim panel, which Buerge also replaced free of charge.
6. One editor's wife noted that the driver window wouldn't go up on one occasion in December 2001; the problem had begun to occur more frequently by February 2002. Buerge replaced the regulator under warranty.
7. The passenger window stopped working in January 2002 — at least it was rolled up at the time. Buerge replaced the regulator under warranty in February 2002.
8. Drivers observed a rattle from a left front suspension component in April 2002. Buerge replaced both front struts under warranty in June 2002.
9. The air conditioning stopped working in July 2002. Glenn E. Thomas Dodge replaced the condenser under warranty.
10. We noted that the van had a serious pull to the left in September 2002. Since this condition was accompanied by abnormal front tire wear, we surmised that Buerge had failed to perform an alignment after replacing both front struts. As a result, we had to pay $444 for a new pair of front tires and another $50 for an alignment.
Dealer Service Reviews
Santa Monica Dodge in Santa Monica, Calif. (now out of business)
May 2001
Road Test Editor Liz Kim took the van to be serviced at Santa Monica Dodge, where a courteous service advisor took a test-drive around the block and felt the reported pulsation in the brake pedal, as well. The problem, as we suspected, was caused by warped rotors, which they replaced under warranty.
After she picked it up, however, she noticed that there was still a slight vibration in the pedal when it was pressed halfway at various speeds, but only once it had warmed up on the freeway. She also noticed that the airbag light was illuminating at various intervals with an accompanying "ding!" Not good; she took it back to Santa Monica Dodge. They couldn't reproduce the vibration this time, but did seat the brakes more firmly. They checked the code, and since no repairs were needed, they reset the light, which seems to have done the trick. These services were covered under warranty; good thing, since she dropped off the van at 9 a.m. and it was only after a 6 p.m. inquiry that she found out the van wouldn't be ready until the next day. "Gee, thanks," she said ruefully.
July 2001
The Grand Caravan went in for its 7,500-mile service at Santa Monica Dodge, requiring only an oil change and tire rotation. The service representative, Charles Lawless, quickly and cheerfully arranged for this work to be done without attempts to sell the unnecessary extra services so often pushed at other dealerships. The work was performed on the spot and completed in less than an hour.
Buerge Chrysler-Jeep in West Los Angeles, Calif.
September 2001, Part One
Senior Editor Christian Wardlaw expounded upon the details of the Grand Caravan's service appointment in the logbook: "I had an appointment and arrived on time. The service drive was backed up with cars, leaving waiting customers on the street. Nobody approached me or asked me if I needed help for 15 minutes. Finally, I was introduced to a service advisor, who was not the person with whom I had the appointment.
"When asked what I needed done, I whipped out the maintenance schedule for the Grand Caravan (the one that came with the manual) and told the service advisor I wanted exactly what was listed on the schedule, no more and no less, but with a tire rotation tossed in for good measure. I also told him about the errant airbag warning light.
"The service advisor became somewhat befuddled. Apparently, he couldn't figure out what I wanted done from Chrysler's own service schedule, so he grabbed the price sheet for the dealer's service schedule, which included a whole bunch of stuff for which the factory didn't call. I told him the van was leased, I wasn't keeping it at the end, and I only wanted done what was in the schedule provided with the van, plus a tire rotation. Then I pointed those items out for him: - Oil and filter change
- Inspect tie rod ends and boot seals
- Check PCV valve and replace, if necessary
- Replace spark plugs and ignition cables
- Inspect exhaust system
- Inspect brake hoses
- Inspect front suspension and CV joints
- Check coolant level, hoses and clamps
- Rotate tires
"Only half of the items landed on the service request — my fault that I didn't catch this until later. The airbag diagnostic system recorded no error codes, so the dealer couldn't pinpoint the source of the airbag-light problem I experienced as I drove cross-country. We were charged $85.38 for half a proper 15K service.
"I did not feel that I had a good service experience at Buerge Chrysler-Jeep. They could improve as follows: - Know the factory service schedule and how to read the documentation that comes with the vehicles you sell. That way, when a customer resists your push for the dealer package, the advisor will seem professional and knowledgeable.
- If you're going to go through the trouble of scheduling service, make sure someone is available to at least greet a customer at the appointed time."
September 2001, Part Two
Road Test Editor Erin Riches decided to make a second run to Buerge Chrysler-Jeep's service department after the power liftgate's control arm managed to detach itself from the liftgate. Our other concern was the increasingly sensitive airbag warning light, which had begun to illuminate whenever we backed out of a parking space, made a turning maneuver at any speed above a crawl or drove over rough pavement, freeway expansion joints or speed bumps. The warning light's accompanying chime heightened our editor's awareness that the airbags might not inflate in the event of a crash. So she called Buerge on a Tuesday and made an appointment for Friday. Our previous service advisor was on vacation, so we were assigned to the assistant service manager, Pat McMahon.
Although Erin arrived on time for her appointment, getting into the dealership was every bit as infuriating as Senior Editor Christian Wardlaw had described. Except this time, it took us 40 minutes to get the Grand Caravan physically into the service drive. Traffic was so backed up on the side street that it was impossible to maintain a semblance of a line. A Jeep Grand Cherokee cut in front of our Dodge, and Erin nearly found herself in a shouting match with the driver of a Jeep Wrangler.
Once she was inside, however, McMahon ensured that Erin had a pleasant service experience. Throughout their exchange, he proved to be knowledgeable and a good listener. Our editor had uncovered a technical service bulletin (TSB) on the NHTSA site (Bulletin Number 0801001, Item Number SB620059) that seemed to cover the airbag light issue. She presented this information to McMahon, and he knew exactly what she was talking about and agreed to look into this TSB — he actually typed it on the service receipt. And he carefully inspected the detached liftgate control arm, even noting the scrape on the plastic trim piece that had occurred when the arm popped out.
In spite of the overcapacity at the dealership, McMahon had the Grand Caravan ready by 5 p.m. the same day. Evidently, the recall and TSB that we found were right on the money, so Buerge replaced the clockspring assembly, and finally, the dreaded airbag light illuminates the gauge cluster no more. Technicians repaired the control arm, too, and our van has power assist once again. A replacement trim piece has been ordered, and McMahon said that he would call when the part comes in. Both repairs were covered by the basic warranty.
December 2001
This was the second time Editor in Chief Karl Brauer had dealt with Buerge Chrysler-Jeep. It was also the second time he had used the Internet to set up his service appointment. And, as Karl feared, it was the second time he filled out the on-line service request, was sent an e-mail saying "someone from our service department will call you immediately" and never heard from anyone at Buerge. A week later, Karl used the telephone to schedule an appointment. He relates the experience:
"I set up an 8:30 a.m. drop-off time, and arrived at 8:25. I had to wait a few minutes before a man checked in my car, and I had to wait a few more to see my official service writer, Jerry. Jerry offered to perform $180 in services to my Dodge, but I only wanted the recommended factory service for 22,500 miles, so both of us went to get the owner's manual and see what, exactly, that required. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any service information in the owner's manual. I later discovered that a separate booklet contains this information, and it was nowhere to be found in the Grand Caravan. Jerry pulled up the manufacturer's recommended service for a 2000 Grand Caravan (he didn't have the 2001 information). Knowing that the vehicle had been redesigned since 2000, I wasn't thrilled at the idea of basing my service on the previous-generation van. But because we had now spent about 15 minutes trying to figure out what the Caravan was supposed to have done to it at 22,500 miles, I said 'Fine, do to it whatever the 2000 model calls for.'
"I also mentioned a shudder in the steering wheel that was obviously coming from the power steering pump. Finally, I mentioned the damaged interior panel on the liftgate, and that a part was supposed to have been ordered to replace this several months back. Jerry found the reference to said part and offered to look into it.
"I went into the lounge and told the cashier I needed a ride back to work (about two miles). She said the shuttle would be back in 15 minutes. After 20 minutes of waiting I asked again and was told that the shuttle would be back in five to 10 minutes. I had lost faith in these estimates and called a co-worker to come get me. Sure enough, three minutes after hanging up the phone, the shuttle driver appeared. I told him someone else was coming and waited another 15 minutes for my ride to show up. Total time spent dropping off the Dodge Grand Caravan: 1 hour.
"At 2 p.m., I called the dealership back to check its progress because I was leaving town the next day and wanted to make sure the van would be ready by the end of business that day. The service was still being performed, and the other issues were still being checked into. At 3 p.m., I received a call from Jerry, who informed me that a special tool was needed to confirm the bad power steering pump, and his service center didn't have said tool. He was getting the tool from a nearby Ford dealership and would have the pump checked out soon. The interior part, according to Jerry, had indeed been previously ordered, but because no one from Edmunds ever called back to check on it, the part had eventually been returned. Since it had been three months since our last visit to Buerge, I consider this our fault for not following up on the interior piece. Jerry said that he could order both the power steering pump and the interior panel, and they'd be ready in a few days. I could bring the car back then to have them installed, and he even offered me a rental car. He also said that the service was being performed, and the van would be done around 4:30.
"At 4:40 I received a voice mail from Jerry saying the car was ready. I picked it up and paid $94.43 to have the fluid levels checked and topped off, the coolant hoses inspected, the oil and filter changed, the tires rotated, the chassis lubed, the brakes inspected and the maintenance reminder reset. I was able to pay the bill and pick up the Grand Caravan in less than 15 minutes."
February 2002
We had been waiting for the dealer to get a new interior panel in to remedy a previous tailgate actuator incident. We got a call that the part was in, as well as a replacement power steering hose to correct a steering issue. Apparently, the power steering hose was an updated part from Dodge to correct an acknowledged steering shudder concern. We also had a new problem, though, as the passenger-side front window was no longer operational. Shortly before our dealer visit, the driver-side front window started to act erratically and sometimes wouldn't go up. We called Buerge Chrysler-Jeep and made arrangements to bring the Grand Caravan in to fix these problems. The window situation turned out to be the window regulators, and the dealer elected to replace both under warranty. Neil asked the Chrysler service representative if this also was a known concern, like the steering hose issue, and he answered "no." In the next sentence, though, he stated that other Chrysler vehicles had had a number of problems concerning the window regulator. Our service visit went smoothly, with all four issues being resolved in one day. Better yet, everything was covered under warranty.
April 2002
We received a recall notice asking us to get the van to the dealership as soon as possible to have the power controller for the rear climate system reprogrammed. An appointment was made with Buerge Chrysler-Jeep in Los Angeles, and we arrived at the proper hour right on time. Buerge swiftly and efficiently processed our recall and had the work done within hours. Upon arrival to retrieve the van, our paperwork was in order and the vehicle was delivered to the service drive post haste. All in all, this constituted an outstanding service visit to an extremely busy dealership.
June 2002
We dropped off the Grand Caravan at the dealership, telling the service advisor that we needed a 30,000-mile tune-up. We didn't specify "manufacturer suggested," which, we should know by now, is a sign for the dealer to devise its own ideas on what should be done on the vehicle. The service advisor drew up an estimate sheet and rattled off the list of items to be addressed. Many of the items suggested included visual inspections and things like "flushing out the transmission," which sounds impressive but isn't actually required. Yadda, yadda, yadda, ultimately the estimate came out to about $435.
Huh? What? Previously, our regular maintenance bill landed in the vicinity of $100. Slightly divergent, no? We asked our service advisor to check the regular maintenance schedule and perform only the services suggested by the manufacturer. Unfortunately, he didn't have a service manual at hand, and, echoing the experience in our December 2001 update, we couldn't find the service manual in the glovebox of the minivan either. We told him to have the fluid levels checked and topped off, the coolant hoses inspected, the oil and filter changed, the tires rotated, the brakes inspected and the maintenance reminder reset. The new estimate was $91.30 — much better. When we returned to the office, we found that the air filter needed to be replaced, as well, so we called the dealer to perform that service, too. The total bill turned out to be $115.26, much more palatable than the previous estimate. We also complained of a clicking noise coming from the steering column (similar to the one in our Chrysler PT Cruiser that required a replacement of the whole unit), but the advisor was unable to duplicate the sound, so it went untreated.
Lest you think that the above "padding of bills" was an aberration, let us relate what happened next. We also previously noted a rattling in the left front side of the suspension system, which we asked to have examined. Buerge determined that it should replace both front struts, post haste. This was performed under warranty, and we had the car back by the end of the day. However, the service advisor also suggested that we replace the brake pads, which he said were at 20 percent for both front and rear. He then quoted us the astronomical figure of about $950 for the total estimate ($235 each for the front and rear brakes and $480 for labor). We'll take it to another dealer next month to see if we get the same diagnosis, and compare the rates.
Glenn E. Thomas Dodge in Signal Hill, Calif.
July 2002
This month, it was the air conditioning that was malfunctioning. While the repair was covered under warranty, it entailed scheduling a service visit and leaving the van for half a day. It was the day before the Fourth of July and Consumer Advice Editor Phil Reed was unable to get an appointment at the dealership near the Edmunds.com offices in Santa Monica, Calif. Instead, he took the car to Glenn E. Thomas Dodge near his home in Long Beach. Anticipating a busy day, he arrived 15 minutes before opening and watched the cars stack up behind him in the service driveway.
When the dealership opened, Phil was waited on by Service Advisor Jerry Lord, who was friendly and efficient. Mr. Lord called at 10:30 a.m. to say the air conditioner was repaired and that the problem had been caused by a malfunctioning condenser.
Returning to the dealership at 3 p.m., Phil was told that there would be no charge for the repair. He went outside to wait for the van to be brought to him from the service bay. A few minutes later, a customized camping van appeared and was left in the driveway with the keys in the ignition. Phil continued waiting. After about 15 minutes, an alert service advisor came over and asked what Phil was waiting for. He said he was waiting for his Dodge Grand Caravan. "Oh! But I thought…" and then he realized that a mistake had been made, and the wrong van had been delivered. "It was a nice van, fully equipped for camping," Phil recalled. "I would have liked to have taken it for the long weekend, but I think the real owner might have objected."
Consumer Commentary
E-mail from Readers
"It's been a great vehicle for me, my wife and two kids. Although it would be nice to have a disappearing rear seat, the van is very flexible from taking six adults for a night on the town to hauling Boy Scouts and gear on camping trips — and especially towing our 2,000-plus-pound pop-up camper on family camping trips. Solid road feel, and the interior layout is great, but the radio and temp controls took some time to get to know. Overall, I am a happy camper!" — J. Steinbrunner, Midland, Mich.
"I am the owner of a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan ES. Purchased in December of 2000, I have had it for over two years now. Overall I am satisfied with its performance and handling. It does feel like a very solid vehicle. I did have some problems with it. The engine stalled when I first got it, and it took them a few months to figure out it was a bad throttle body positioning sensor. I think I helped develop the technical service bulletin that was finally issued on this problem. I also had a problem with a rattle in the front end that took them many months to fix and many different parts replaced. This is partly my fault for breaking one of my car-buying rules, never buy a first-year model. The power-sliding doors and power liftgate work great. The rear liftgate does not work when the temp falls below 15 degrees or so. I live in Wisconsin so that does happen a lot in winter. That is frustrating. I don't think that the comments regarding confusing controls are valid when you are talking to someone who will buy the van and drive it everyday…. I think there is a learning curve for every new vehicle you get into. It might be more difficult for your editors since you are switching cars every month. Once you have been in it for a few months, you know every control blindfolded, as you would with any car you owned." — B. Borkin, Wis.
"I've read your long-term review of the DGC with great interest, first as a very wary potential buyer, and, since May 2002 as an owner. My most frequent thought is 'why did I resist buying one of these for so long?' It has logged 15,000 trouble-free miles. With the base six-cylinder engine I average 20-21 mpg, which is impressive when you consider how much it weighs and all the stuff I throw in there from time to time. My fear of owning a Chrysler was offset by the generous 7/100K warranty that came standard. I moved my three big dogs, two aquariums and various computers and other vital stuff 1,200-plus miles from Ohio through the mountains to my new home in Florida without so much as a water spill. I then went back and hauled my parents' three dogs and their vital stuff down here as well, no problem. It was the nicest vehicle I have ever driven on such a long trip, and I've owned some fairly nice vehicles. One of my dogs developed lymphoma shortly after my purchase, and once a week for nine weeks, it became the 'Grand Chemo-van.' The big lug, Brutus, (a mastiff mix) rode in total comfort with the middle seat removed and a nice little mattress inserted in its place. I have never owned a vehicle that was so pet-friendly. I hate removing the seats. I'm pretty strong and have difficulty doing it gracefully. I can imagine some poor housewife or elderly person. It wouldn't be a pretty sight. Thank you for braving the path of Caravan ownership. If you had gotten a lemon I would have never done it. BTW, the Honda was too expensive (and UGLY!) and the Toyota too small (and UGLY!). Not buying Fords anymore and why buy the GM? The Dodge is easy on the eyes." — R. Coulter, Fla.
"The ride on my 2002 Grand Caravan Sport is soft and a little mushy (somebody should tell Dodge what 'Sport' means). The powertrain is smooth and output of the 3.3-liter V6 is adequate. Maneuvering is further complicated by the short hood that drops out of sight and the rear view from the driver seat provides only vague clues as to where the corners of the vehicle are. I suppose this is the price you pay for having the best styled minivan on this planet (Honda and Toyota apparently don't feel styling is important). I have experienced fuel economy in the range of 18 to 25 miles per gallon with an average of about 21 mpg." — J. Walsh
"The car is in one word super! In only 18,000-plus miles, so far we have experienced almost total joy (more later on this). There have been no mechanical and only one electrical failure, that was the rear window wiper. The car steers, brakes and handles very well. It is a joy to drive on the turnpike or back roads. The two main objections we have come up with so far are the slope of the body around the front doors and the poor rear window wiping system. We are in our 60s and many buyers of minivans are in this group. We find it difficult to bend in under the front body slope behind the windshield to get in either the driver or front-passenger seats. Older age makes one's body less supple but my 2000 GMC Sierra offers great entry and exit when compared to the Caravan. The rear wiper system on the tailgate door is a problem. It just does not cut it in severe freezing weather which we are now experiencing here in the Northeast. The dealer has had to replace the defective wiper blade and motor, but the system is not that great. Previous to this car, we owned a Plymouth Grand Voyager for seven years and the rear window wiper on that always worked great, even the wiper blade was never replaced as far as I recall." — P. Lucas, Lincoln, Maine
"Where to start? In the first 12 months I had the thing, it was in the shop around 10 times. Brakes, locks, power liftgate, wipers, steering noise… I'm getting ticked off remembering all the crap that went wrong. I tried to trade it for an Odyssey, but it had depreciated more than 50 percent in one year. Also, the thought of bowing to the jerks at Honda was revolting to me. The Odyssey was not at all impressive with the exception of Honda's reliability record (ride quality was grossly inferior to my dilapidated Dodge, and the 'magic' seat is truly less versatile than the Dodge's 50/50). Plan B….wait until the warranty expires, then toss the thing. Glad I waited…I'm at 30,000 miles and the new Sienna looks pretty sweet. Anybody want a good deal on a Dodge? PS: I gave up on the power liftgate…nobody was ever able to fix it." — F. & J.G.
"We bought a 2001 T&C to replace our 1994 Nissan Quest (which I sold to my brother and is still going strong). We narrowed the choice to between the T&C and the Odyssey and made the decision based on comfort, ride and performance. One key for me was the leg space in the front passenger area. I'm over 6 feet and when my wife drives on a long trip, I like to stretch. The leg space is cramped in the Honda's front passenger area. Overall, the T&C has been terrific. It handles city and highway driving beautifully, has lots of power and torque and handles our cold climate in comfort. We have been going north to ski every weekend and are always assured of being able to handle snowy conditions. The sound system is awesome, too. The split seat in the third row is handy. We have three boys and can take out half of the split to load up for long trips, and the kid in the back is comfortable. Service has been good and there have been no need for repairs, just regular maintenance over 40,000 km. I do note that they said that I would likely need to replace the brakes in 10,000 km which seems early but this is mostly city driving." — D. Fitzgerald
"Once inside, I forget I'm driving a minivan. Power is excellent. Sound system is very good. I like the convenience of the remote rear opening hatch (don't get my hands dirty). It even looks sporty with the chrome wheels, rear spoiler and color matching running boards. The ride is smooth. I have found that repairs are higher than I would expect. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it an 8.5." — T. Strickna
"Would just like to say that with 32,000 miles on our Caravan with every bell and whistle, all continues to go well. No unscheduled maintenance, although I did opt to pay the for the extended service contract due to concerns about the long-term reliability of these mechanical options. Overall it has been a very good buy, with the sticker being just over 35K and paying invoice for the vehicle around $31,500, received multiple options not available in 2001 on the Honda. Enjoy the leather, entertainment system, Infinity sound system, three-zone climate control, power rear liftgate, remote operated power-sliding doors, good midrange torque and carlike driving experience. When you put this all together mixed with low-interest financing (1.9 percent for 60 months at time of my purchase), you have a winner. As for the magic disappearing rear seat, for most families such as mine (three children) cannot put down the seat anyway and like the option of being able to remove one half of the split rear space for more cargo space during long trips. As for disappointments, poor resale and only 19 mpg. Would recommend anyone looking at paying invoice for a Caravan ES with zero-percent financing rather than being gouged for an Odyssey. " — B. Lather
"My wife and I own a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan SE that we bought new. Needless to say, this has been as big a piece of junk as our 1995 Grand Caravan SE. On our 1995 Grand Caravan, we had to replace our first of three transmissions at 53,000 miles. On our 2001 Grand Caravan, we have just lost our first transmission at 39,000 miles. This is in addition to five rear wiper motors, two sliding door panels, one new distributor and coil, one power window motor and problems with power door locks. The sales VP at Chrysler may not have liked your representation of their product, but as a consumer I think you hit the nail on the head. Just as soon as I get done arguing with the dealer over who is going to repair this junker, my wife and I are going to run to our nearest Honda dealer and unload this minivan. I wish we would have read your report before we bought another problem." — J. Grey
"We bought our caravan three weeks before 9/11 and did not get the zero-percent financing that most people got, but paid about $25K for a $31K list van. It was about the same price as a Honda. This is our third Caravan. We love it! Consumer Reports rips it apart for handling?? This Sport of ours is the best handling vehicle I have ever driven (except for my brother's Vette). Repairs are next to nil. A rear windshield wiper that did not work one time, and dimmer switch that flickers the light once in a while. They were so minor that I did not take the van back till 35,000 miles. We drove our first van to 130K and our second to 170K and hope to make 200K with this one! The third-row seat seems to be a big deal to everybody; we have three kids and often haul five kids so a disappearing seat means nothing to me. If I want to haul plywood, I use my truck! Oh well, I had to vent after reading so many Godlike reviews of the Honda Odyssey." — S. Moore
"We purchased our new 2002 Grand Caravan in May of 2002 after five long years of yearning and financial preparation. We barely manage the payments but the pleasure that we have (correction — had) while driving and riding more than made up for the payment. We have two beautiful grandchildren which were our main reason for wanting the minivan — room for everyone!!! Anyway, around mid-November of 2002 we heard a noise coming from the engine that sounded like a power steering pump. On the way to the dealership to have them check out the noise, the battery light came on. Since that time the van has been in the shop 6-plus times with various 'reasons' for the battery light being on and then 'fixed.' When the light comes on, the battery boils over so you must turn the van off, let it 'rest' and then can restart it and drive again. There was a time that both Chrysler and the dealership admitted that they could not figure out any reason for the light to keep coming on. Then the last time we took it back for the dealer to fix, they 'discovered' a dead ground from the wiring harness for the hitch that my husband installed on the van a couple of days after we bought the van. This wiring harness was expressly for Dodge vans (where you just plug it in). The dealer said that this was the problem all along and of course, it wasn't covered under the warranty as it was not factory installed and so we paid the $60 for a factory wire harness and the dealer graciously installed it for us at no charge. The dealer kept the van and drove it 400-plus miles to verify that the problem was fixed. We were so happy to have the van back!!! We picked it up on Friday afternoon. We went shopping the next day and came home. My husband then went back out in the van to go to another store and GUESS WHAT — here's the battery light again. We've already sent the certified card, etc. (for lemon law) to Chrysler but we're really beginning to get fed up. When I called Chrysler CS line today, they indicated that it has to be brought back in AGAIN for dealer to verify problem. I mentioned that when the light came on Saturday, I took a digital picture which shows the battery light ON along with the odometer reading. The dealer saw this picture when my husband went by the dealership on Monday. My husband didn't want to leave the van for them to check out AGAIN, but the CS person at Chrysler says we must take it AGAIN. When does this end? Thank you for allowing me to vent." — G. Jamerson
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