2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Electrical Problems

Your heater blower fan stopped working, and when you checked it, you found the wiring harness was burnt and the wires had melted together. The exact cause isn't known yet. This is an electrical issue that will need professional inspection and rewiring or replacement of the damaged components.

When you drive through puddles or wet roads at speeds between 10-30 mph, your power steering stops working and a battery warning light appears on the dashboard. You have to pull over, turn off the engine, and restart the vehicle to get the power steering back. This suggests water is getting into electrical connections and causing temporary power loss.

Your fuel rail cap is leaking gasoline onto the spark plugs, engine, and electrical components when you first start your vehicle in the morning. Gas pooling on electrical parts creates a fire hazard and can damage engine components. The fix will likely involve replacing the fuel rail cap and possibly inspecting the fuel rail connection for damage.

After starting your engine, your wipers, radio, power windows, and interior fan frequently stop working for anywhere from a few seconds to an hour before coming back on. The problem seems to happen more often in bad weather and doesn't always occur, making it unpredictable. You've already replaced the fuse box and computer without fixing the issue, and the real concern is that your wipers may not work when you restart the vehicle in rain or snow, creating a safety hazard. This likely involves diagnosing an electrical control module or wiring harness issue that's preventing power from reaching these components intermittently.

You received a recall notice for your 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan's electrical system (NHTSA Campaign 14V234000), but the dealership told you the required part was unavailable to complete the repair. You haven't experienced any actual electrical failure yet. The manufacturer has been notified of the parts availability issue.

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, WHEN I USE TURN SIGNAL TO TURN LEFT THE RIGHT ONE COMES ON AND VICE VERSA, ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL COME ON AND AFTER A WHILE THE OTHER ONE WILL TURN ITSELF ON, WENT OUT ONE NIGHT TO EAT AND WHEN ENTERING THE VAN WITH THE AUTOMATIC UNLOCK KEY THE SECURITY ALARM WENT OFF NOTHING WORKED WHAT WE DID SO WE HAD TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY FOR 20 MINS. I WAS TOLD THAT WEIRD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN THE CLOCK SPRING GOES BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN'S HAD RECALLS ON THE CLOCK SPRING AND WHEN I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER CLOSE TO ME I WAS TOLD MY VIN WASN'T IN THE SYSTEM AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS. MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE ENGINE AND DASHBOARD AREAS. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW. NOW, SINCE EARLIER THIS YEAR, MY FRONT AIR FANS AND MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. NOTE, MY REAR RUNNING LIGHTS WORK, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE CIRCUIT BOARD. I WAS LOOKING ON-LINE AT VARIOUS SEARCH SITES AND SEE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE CIRCUIT BOARDS GOING BAD AND CAUSING MANY ISSUES. WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS GOING OUT (I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE NOT WORKING UNTIL SOMEONE CAME UP TO ME AND TOLD ME SO), I COULD BE REAR-ENDED AT ANYTIME BECAUSE OTHER VEHICLES DO NOT KNOW I AM BRAKING. I SAW MANY OTHER SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING OTHER DODGE CARAVAN & CHRYSLER TOWN&COUNTRY VEHICLES THAT SOUND LIKE THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE NOTICED THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES. BUT THE OTHER ISSUES, WHEN RESOLVED, NEVER TAKE CARE OF THIS MAIN ISSUE. ON YOUR REQUEST FOR INCIDENT DATE, I AM JUST GOING TO PUT DOWN THE MOST RECENT ISSUE DATE. *TR

WHILE GOING TO PICK MY CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING OFF BY THEMSELVES AND THE RADIO STARTED CHANGING CHANNELS. THE VAN QUIT AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, NOTICED A FIRE ON WIRES BELOW. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BUT CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND THE HORN QUIT WORKING. I HAD TO HAVE CLOCKSPRING AND PASSENGER AIRBAG JUMPER WIRING REPLACED COSTING $524.00. THESE ARE PARTS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ON EARLIER MODELS, SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS "WEARABLE" PARTS, AND INVOLVE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL FOR THIS YEAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I SMELLED SMOKE. I COULDN'T SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM SO I CONTINUED DRIVING. THEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR. I THEN PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I COULDN'T SEE A FIRE FROM INSIDE AND THE DOOR DIDN'T FEEL HOT. I WALKED AROUND TO THE OUTSIDE AND TOUCHED THE DOOR, WHICH WAS HOT. I THEN NOTICED BURN MARKS THROUGH THE PAINT. I WENT BACK INTO THE VAN AND PULLED PART OF THE PANEL AWAY AND SAW FLAMES INSIDE THE DOOR. I THEN TOOK A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND ASKED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *TR

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INTERNAL INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONSOLE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN MY 2002 GRAND CARAVAN. MY MECHANIC SAID THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY/HAS A SHORT AND IT'S AN APPROX $800 REPAIR. I HAVE 128,000 MILES ON THE CARAVAN. I ALSO HAVE A 1996 CARAVAN AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO THAT VAN, EVEN THOUGHT IT'S 12 YEARS OLD. *TR

HEAD LIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS WILL ONLY WORK ONE AT A TIME. ONE SIDE ON HIGH THE OTHER ON LOW. HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF THIS DODGE CARAVAN. TRIED CHANGING BULBS, DISCONNECTED PLUG AT MODULE WORKED ONE TIME . FIND THIS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THIS IS A 02 . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ACTIVATED, THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BECOMES DAMP. ALSO, THE LCD SCREEN ON THE RADIO NO LONGER OPERATES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

1) 2002, DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, "SPORT" EDITION WITH V6 3.3L ENGINE, 76,600 MILES. WIFE WENT TO WORK AND PARKED VAN AS USUAL. 2A) CO-WORKERS NOTICED THE VAN'S WIPERS WERE ON; VAN HAD STARTED ALL BY ITSELF AFTER BEING PARKED WITH IGNITION TURNED OFF, KEY REMOVED, AND DOORS LOCKED. TO GET THE ENGINE STOPPED AGAIN, VAN WAS PUT INTO GEAR AND TURNED OFF, THEN PUT INTO PARK TO REMOVE KEY. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THAT DAY. 3A) WIFE TOOK VAN TO CHRYSLER DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. DEALER CHARGED 3 HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING LABOR AND ONLY FOUND THAT THE ABS CAB WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. DEALER ORDERED ABS CAB. DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF THE STARTUP/RUNNING WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION. 2B) 6 DAYS LATER (DEC. 21, 2006) VAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER DRIVING ~300 MILES. ALSO, THIS TIME ALL THE ACCESSORIES SUCH AS THE CABIN FANS, RADIO, WIPERS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. ALL ACCESSORIES EXCEPT INTERIOR LIGHTS COULD BE TURNED OFF WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE SWITCHES. +BATTERY CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED TO GET LIGHTS OFF. VAN WORKED FINE FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS. DEC. 24, 2006, VAN WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING ONCE ON THE RETURN TRIP AFTER KEY WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND VAN WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF, ALL ACCESSORIES CAME ON, BY THEMSELVES, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. +BATTERY CABLE WAS ONCE AGAIN DISCONNECTED TO PREVENT FURTHER MALFUNCTION. 3B) ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR JAN. 4, 2007 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND/OR THE KEY CYLINDER SWITCH AT THE DEALER. *NM

GRAPHIC ILLUMINATION BULBS ON THE 3 ZONE CLIMATE CONTROLS FOR THE 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BURN OUT AND ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. THE ENTIRE CLIMATE CONTROL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500 BECAUSE A $0.50 BULB HAS BURNED OUT. LOSS OF ILLUMINATION ON THE CLIMATE CONTROLS RESULTS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CONTROL SETTINGS. SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE INSTRUMENTS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. NOT TOO MANY CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO PAY $500 TO RESOLVE A BURNED OUT INSTRUMENT LAMP. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. THIS APPEARED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 02V293000 FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT NOT FOR THE MODEL YEAR. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - THE HEADLAMPS CUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FCM WAS REPLACED BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH FLICKERING. *NM

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEACTIVATED AND CANNOT BE REACTIVATED DUE TO INSTALLATION OF A HANDICAPPED POWER CHAIR. *NM THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED OFF MAJORITY OF THE TIME. THE SERVICE DEPT INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REMOVED. THE COMPANY WHO INSTALLED THE SEAT STATED THAT THEY FAILED TO HOOK UP A WIRE. *SC *JB

I EXPERIENCED RAMDOM FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY DODGE CARAVAN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN". I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE WAS PROBABLY THE "FRONT CONTROL MODULE" BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT POSITIVE IT WAS THE CAUSE, AND BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE PART. AFTER THIS OCCURED THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE MODULE AT A COST OF $307.05. THE REPLACEMENT OCCURED 9/15/2004. I HAVE HAD NO SIMILAT PROBLEMS SINCE THE MODULE WAS REPLACED. I HAD PURCHACED THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WITH THE VEHICLE BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE MODULE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE POLICY. IT COVERS 7 DIFFERENT NAMED CONTROL MODULES BUT NOT THIS ONE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT-#12641005.

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN NEW. OVER THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BASICALLY TWO EFFECTS. THE FIRST ONE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AND EITHER NOT START OR HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE SECOND WAS THAT EVERY TIME YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES, THE WIPERS, HEAT, AND RADIO WOULD QUIT.AT FIRST THE DEARLER BONNEVILLE & SON COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER PUTTING A SCOPE ON IT AT THE EXACT TIME THE TROUBLE OCCURRED. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEY FOUND A GROUNDING STUD IN THE DOOR JAM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS VERY LOOSE, $250.00 LATER IT WAS OK. AFTER A MONTH THE TROUBLE CAME BACK. THIS TIME THE DEALER, BONNEVILLE & SON FOUND THAT ONE OF THE WIRES IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS ROTTED, $215.00 LATER IT WAS OK. ANOTHER MONTH GONE BY, HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AGAIN. BONNEVILLE SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE TO FIX THIS COMPLETELY IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AT A MATERIAL COT OF $1400.00. I'VE TRIED TO GET CRYSLER AND THE DEALER TO FIX THIS WITH OUT ME SPENDING MORE MONEY ON ROTTING WIRES IN A VEHICLE THAT'S JUST THREE YEARS OLD. THEY WOULD NOT. I WILL NEVER BY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN!!!*AK

HI, I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH A 3.8L, I HAVE HAD MY VAN IN ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS TO CENTURY DODGE IN TAYLOR, MICHIAGN. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS THAT APPEAR TO FLICKER ALL THE TIME, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY COULD NOT FIX IT, AMAZING THAT A POSSIBLE RECALL NOW MAY HAPPEN FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. ON ONE FINAL NOTE, AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME 2004 I THOUGHT I WAS OVER TIRED FROM WORK, I COULD SWEAR MY LIGHTS COMPLETELY WENT ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES (VERY QUICKLY). P.S. I AM A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE @ TRENTON ENGINE SIGNED, CARRYING A FLASHLIGHT (JUST IN CASE) *AK

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DID NOT TURN ON WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. *AK *SC *JB

THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND ODOMETER, KEEPS SHORTING OUT. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE ON THE SAME CIRCUIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. INITIALLY THE SHOP REPLACED THE FUSE. THE SECOND TIME, THEY STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. A NEIGHBOR OF OURS WHO OWNS A TOWN & COUNTRY HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE TURN SIGNALS, NOT TO MENTION NOT KNOWING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB

ON 9/3/04 THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE LEFT SLIDING DOOR OF OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN EX (PURCHASED NEW). PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DODGE DEALER WITH COMPLAINTS OF RIGHT & LEFT SLIDING DOORS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. DEALER RELEASED THE CAR STATING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. MY 2 KIDS AND I WERE IN THE CARS MINUTES PRIOR TO IT CATCHING FIRE. MAJOR DAMAGE DONE BUT DODGE WANTS TO REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE AND FOR US TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT HOPING THAT THE RIGHT SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CATCH FIRE. CANNOT BE SURE THAT THE SMOKE SMELL WILL EVER COME OUT OF THE UPHOLSTERY OR THAT MOLD WILL NOT BUILD UP IN THE SEAT CUSHIONS FROM THE FIRE DEPT PUTTING OUT FIRE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE!!! *JB

WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE AND IDLING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THAT FIRE WAS RISING UP FROM BENEATH OF VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.*AK

I OWN A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY INDICATED IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO CHECK OUT THE WIRING. AS AN ELECTRONIC ENGINEER I FIND THIS TO BE BIZARRE. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE AND THE IMPLICATION OF THE DAYS TO CHECK RESPONSE IS THAT THERE IS A FRAYED WIRE SOMEWHERE AS THE CONNECTOR HAS CHECKED OUT ALL RIGHT. IF THE CAUSE IS A CHAFED WIRE THEN THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW COMPROMISING THE AIRBAG SAFETY FEATURE. *AK

MY VAN WAS BOUGHT NEW AND IS JUST ABOUT 1 YEAR OLD. I HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD GO 30 MPH BY ITSELF ALTHOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE. THIS EVEN HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL. ALL THE VEHICLE'S LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES, SOMETIMES LOCKING MY KEYS IN IT BEFORE I CAN GET THEM OUT. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE HEATER AND AIR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. A FIRE BURNED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, SEAT, FLOOR RUGS AND WINDOW. THE FIREMAN SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, WHICH STARTED IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR BY THE WIRES. THE FIRE HAPPENED ON THE WEEKEND THEREFORE THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE FIRE YET. I PLAN TO GO TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AND THE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS OVERWHELMING. EVERYTHING ON DRIVERS SIDE IS BURNED. I WILL ASK FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. *NM