9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Beware of the ABS sensors
Date of Review: Jul 3, 2008
The Bottom Line: Good family van for the money.
I purchased the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT used, still with a warranty and low miles in March 2007. It has stow-n-go (stow-n-go is compartments in the middle of the van where the floor lifts up and reveals storage space) and for a family of 6 it was perfect for us and within our price range! We also own a 1999 Dodge Caravan Sport and had a great experience with it so we went with another Dodge.
For the first 3 months it was fantastic. Then the ABS (anti-lock brake system)light came on. Since it was under warranty I was able to take it to the local Dodge Dealer and have it fixed. All was well for about 4 months and the ABS light came on again. I took it in again to the dealer and this time it was an ABS sensor in a different location. I had it fixed and went on my way. The next time I was able to go 6 months without any problem. Recently, the ABS light came on again.
I was told by a guy at the Dodge Dealership I went to that it was just the sensor and the brakes were fine but when one sensor goes out, the rest are soon to follow. This is more than just a minor inconvenience to me. If you're not knowledgeable about auto repairs, this can really be confusing not to mention that your anti-lock brake system does stop working while the sensor isn't working. That can be a concern on wet roads or icy roads when you are used to using it. Otherwise, the brakes work in a normal manner. I've not yet seen a recall on this but I will be notifying Dodge. In my opinion it's a chronic problem and needs to be fixed and not at my expense.
In town gas mileage runs between 16 and 17 mpg. The sticker says 18.
The rest of the van has been fantastic. It rides well, handles like a car. The SXT is longer so it took some getting used to the longer vehicle but that was easy. The stow-n-go is wonderful! They are spacious and easy to get to. All of the seats fold into the van and it's a breeze to do. No more hauling seats out! I am glad to say I've been more happy than unhappy with this vehicle.