2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport review from North America
"You get what you pay for! If I could afford a Sienna, I would buy that instead"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I Bought this Grand Caravan with 95K on it, off lease, good condition, I wanted the grand for the longer cabin, and with a baby on the way, it fit the bill for $13500 CDN, everything, inc. tax.
I had the dealer change the transmission fluid and filter at 120km. Very important, use the exact type of ATF that is specified by Dodge, using anything else can damage, and shorten the life of the tranny. All purpose doesn't cut it.
Mine also had the front thud thud sound when hitting a bump, that noise is caused by worn out anti-sway bar bushings. They don't look worn out, but trust me, they are. Paid $10 each at the dealer for new ones, a pair of jack stands, a metric socket set, and a couple of hours, I had them replaced, real easy, but you have to take off the black box blocking access to the bolts on the left side, looking towards the front of the van.
I have recently had the ABS light come on, and seeing as it did before then went out, I think it is a faulty sensor. Will have to look when
he temp rises again.
Had a rough idle and acceleration at 120 km, then the engine light came on. Checked the code with the key (cycle key ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON within 5 seconds, odometer with cycle through error codes, look up the error or P-Code on the Internet) Problem was a misfire on cylinder 1. So I changed all plugs and wires. Problem fixed.
No problems with window motors, (fingers crossed) but recently did have the 'Auto-unlock" feature fail on the rear driver door.
General comments?
Without traction control, this van easily spins the tires while turning, gotta listen for that.
Overall, I am happy with this van, OK on gas, comfortable, and engine wise, reliable.
Recommended reviews
| Nice ride, but troublesome and the maintenance is expensive |
|
| Incredible turning radius and is fun and comfortable to drive, but is remarkably unreliable. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 2002 |
| Year of manufacture | 2002 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.4L V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 95000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 146000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 6th February, 2007 |