Faults:

Thermostat stuck 1 week after we bought the car.

Transmission went out at 42,000 miles.

A/C air moves from upper vents to lower vents, depending on engine speed.

General Comments:

This car epitomizes "unreliability". We had previously owned a 1994 Plymouth Voyager and put nearly 150,000 miles on it with no major problems. We felt we needed to upgrade to have a more reliable vehicle. But this 2001 model has left us at the side of the road in 20,000 miles than the 1994 did in 145,000 miles.

I work for a company that makes cast aluminum parts for various automotive manufacturers. If one of our parts fails, then the automotive manufacturers come down on us, big time. We also hear from them when they want annual price decreases. But, if they can't pass the buck they won't take care of their customers and when was the last time they gave THEIR customers price reductions year after year?

Faults:

I have had the computer "brain" replaced twice because the power sliding doors quit working. This 2nd time, I got 3 months on the doors before they've quit working again. Compared to the first replacement, this was good. I only got one week on the first replacement before the doors quit. The doors did work for one full year after I bought it. Of course, the Dodge dealer/service says they cannot work on the doors until "they" see them not working. Since the initial phase of the problem is sporadic, I have to be lucky to be close to the dealer's shop when the doors aren't working. So, the doors basically have to be "dead" before the dealer service is any help.

I had the driver's side seat heater replaced in the second winter of use. Now, in the third winter (beginning of winter), the passenger side seat heater has quit working. Naturally, I'll have to go through the process of taking the van to the dealer, let them see it's not working, they'll order the part, and then I'll have to go back for the replacement.

After a 1 1/2 years, the speedometer started running in reverse. That wasn't nearly as good, though, as when the latest new computer was put in. I lost 6,000 miles on the odometer on that replacement. The dealer did not respond to my query when I told the service manager that I lost 6,000 miles.

The engine has picked up a "heartbeat," and the service folks cannot find out what it is. So, they've told me not worry about it.

I had the sway bar links and bushings replaced at 37,000 miles.

The bottom line on this car... I went back and purchased the maximum car extended warranty before the 36,000 mile warranty expired. The van has spent more time in the shop than all other cars combined that I've ever had.