Problems with 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Headlight switch on 2005 chrysler town and country and 2005 dodge grand caravan malfunctions while driving. extremely dangerous while driving at night. *tr the switch on some of these vehicles seem to be installed incorrectly. there are 4 settings on the switch that when connected will turn on the lights appropriately. in some cases the switch is misaligned and the contact will either not work at all, or, make random disconnections. this is extremely dangerous when driving at night as this is a family vehicle, known to have multiple passengers. if the headlight fail at night, this could be deadly. there have been numerous forums, and blogs describing these issues with town and country, and caravan, and grand caravan owners. the failure occurs randomly, and the only way to fix this is to either open/repair the switch, or replace the switch. currently i am having to flip this switch off and on back and forth until the contacts connect. if it does not work, then i have to drive while i hold the hi-beams on. this is not safe for myself nor other drivers driving toward me.

Low beam headlamps intermittently don't work. when this occurs, the high-beams will work only by holding back the stalk. turning the headlight switch on and off a few times seems to fix the problem temporarily. *tr

we are constantly having problems with the power door locks failing which is a huge issue with two small children and them being able to pull on the door handle and have a door open without warning. we are also having issues with the dash lights not working therefore you cannot see anything at night . . . not the speedometer, not the fuel gauge, not the heat controls, nothing!!! *tr

Headlights go out in my wifes 2005 grand caravan. *tr

Took my 2005 grand caravan to the dealership due to a loud noise when turning. was just informed by dealership that i need a power steering pump, and rack and pinion, bushings and bearings. also need a new radiator. this is ridiculous for a barely 6 year old vehicle with 70,000 miles on it. i have also had the problem with headlight not coming on when you flip the switch. that is a huge safety issue! *tr

2005 dodge grand caravan has problem with headlights turning on. when i turn the switch, the headlights will not come on. parking lights do come on. i can have the engine running and have the high beams on, but the low beams do not work. i have replaced the bulbs, and the headlight switch is next - many complaints on many websites about this problem. *tr

While driving, headlights turn off on my 2005 dodge grand caravan. the problem can be fixed by turning headlight switch off and on several times. a google search tells me that this is a very common issue with 2005 models. i have examined the headlight switch and i feel the issue is due to the design of the switch. *tr

Randomly, head lights do not turn on, have to turn the switch on & off multiple times to get them to come on eventually. also, on days when having problems with headlights turning on, after you get them to turn on they shut off as you are driving down the road. we have not fixed them, chrysler dealership told me it could be the switch or the electrical components, they didn't know?!!!!! *tr

Since purchase, the headlights have randomly stopped working. the dealer couldn't replicate the action. at this point, the headlights were not turning off unless the switch was wiggled. now the headlights work sporadically, and the parking lights will not go off when switch is in off position. they do however go off over time. we will try replacing light switch to see if this resolves the problem. this is a concern for us with teenage drivers using the vehicle! *tr

Lights off during operation.... off at turn on and now will not come on no matter what i do.... told by several they are having same trouble... real safety issue the first time as it went out while driving down dark road. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the vehicle was parked and shut off when the contact smelled a burning odor and noticed that the rear passenger side taillight was on fire. the fire was extinguished but the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the current and failure mileages were approximately 100,000.

2005 dodge grand caravan - headlights randomly turn off - they do not dim - they just simply turn off. *tr

Headlights on my 2005 dodge grand caravan randomly turn off by themselves. no event leading up to the incident. the failure occurs randomly while driving. nothing done so far to fix the problem. *tr

I have been having problems with my headlights for some time now. when the problem began, i would turn on the light switch and after a delay the headlights would come on. sometimes when turning the switch off they would remain on. for the past few months my headlights would just turn off while driving, which is very dangerous at night. when this happens, the dashboard lights remain on as well as the yellow lights and tail lights. some days they don't come on at all. i have taken it to several auto shops for repair, however the lights would come on when taken in so nobody has been able to fix the problem. *tr

Headlights turn off while driving. mechanics and dealerships have no idea why. looked on internet and this is not something rare. major safety hazard for me, my kids and others on the road. *tr

Intermittent problem of headlights not turning on when operating headlight switch or shutting off on their own while driving. *tr updated 07/25/11 *bf

When driving at night, the headlights will come on and off and flash for no apparent reason. lights will completely turn off and then when you turn the switch on and off again, the lights work again on and off. you will be driving down a dark road and the lights will just turn off. this happened last year for a few days or so and then worked fine for a few months then started turning off again. this is a very dangerous situation. i believe this has been reported by more people having the same issue. we have three children that ride in the van and my wife also drives every night delivering the newspaper. *tr

Headlights on 2005 dodge grand caravan will not always turn on it will sometimes require turning the switch on and off repeatedly. headlights randomly will turn off while driving. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated the headlights were activated while driving approximately 50 mph, then suddenly without warning, the headlights became inoperative. the vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road and after several attempts, the headlights began to function as normal. the failure recurred sporadically. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. the failure mileage was approximately 100,000. the vin was unavailable. updated 09/07/2011 *ln *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that the headlights would fail sporadically. the contact would often have to continuously engage the headlight switch to get the lights to illuminate. the contact had to utilize the high beam headlights. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired. the vin was not available. the current mileage was 103,000.

No specific events prior, just parked car for the evening. car started but no headlights or interior gauge lights including gear indicator, also no electric door locks. after several restarts all work but check engine light is on. no check engine light now. cruise control light flickers on and off. this happened a few times when the car was new and the dealer was able to stop it by replacing the computer. *tr

Headlights went out at night while driving. turning the headlight switch a few times and they came back on. next day, headlights would not come on, after turning the headlight switch a few times they came on. all lights work correctly except for headlights. holding back on high beam switch and lights will stay on "high", however, release high-beam switch and lights go out. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that when he engaged the turn signal, it would stop flashing when he was halfway through the turn. he then noticed that when he turned the turn signal on, it would not function at all intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that a turn signal module needed to be replaced. the turn signal lever was repaired at an automotive repair shop. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was approximately 70,000. the failure mileage was approximately 65,000. updated 01/31/11 *bf the consumer stated the turn signal lever was replaced by an independent repair shop after being told by the dealer the vehicle needed a turn signal module. updated 03/22/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the headlights failed to operate until after numerous attempts the headlights began to function normally. the failure occurred on five different occasions. also, the headlights were activated when driving at night and unexpectedly became inoperable. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

My headlights won't come on sometimes. i have to repeatedly turn the headlight switch off & on (sometimes dozens of times) until they will finally come on. also the headlight have went off by themselves several times while driving down the road, and came back on within a few seconds. this problems has been happening for about the last 2 yrs, but getting worse & worse. *tr

The headlights do not operate as expected. sometimes they do not illuminate when the switch is rotated to headlight position, sometimes the headlights flicker while driving, sometimes the headlights shut off automatically while driving. the problem has been intermittent since about 6 months after the vehicle was purchased but frequency has increased drastically in the last 3 month. now the operation of headlights has become completely unreliable yet difficult to troubleshoot because failure cannot be reproduced on demand (i.e. headlights function properly when at dealership). *tr

The headlight switch does not always turn on the headlamps. we have to switch it back and forth several times, and sometimes it only turns on parking lights, sometimes only fog lights, and eventually headlamps will turn on. it is not consistent of when and where the switch will work and how many times it takes to switch it back and forth to turn on. since this issue started happening - we have experienced the headlamps actually turning off during driving in the dark. luckily they have come back on if i mess with the switch - but this is dangerous and it is not consistent when it happens either. i have also had the fog lights flicker on and off while driving even though i do not have the switch pulled out for them to come on at all. *tt

Headlights intermittently fail to illuminate when rotary switch is placed in on position. multiple rotation of the switch from off to on position is required to get headlights to illuminate. in some cases, 20+ tries were required. i am afraid that complete failure may happen and make vehicle undriveable if it occurs at night. online forums indicate that this is a fairly common problem. *tr

2005 dodge grand caravan. the headlights will work fine, then not work at all. sometimes if i move the switch back and forth several times real fast the lights will work again. sometimes lights work for weeks without problems. *tr

Headlights turn off on their own while operating vehicle. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that the headlights would shut off intermittingly without warning. in addition, the contact would attempt to turn on the lights several times before illuminating. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised the contact that the switch would possibly need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. updated 02/09/11*lj updated 02/28/11

Lights on my 2005 dodge grand caravan do not come on all the time and when they do come on they turn off while driving down the road. i have checked the relay and it is fine, i am able to mess with the switch sometimes to get them to work. very dangerous when traveling in dark. *tr

Headlight switch not working. *tr

I have a 2005 dodge grand caravan. last night my wife and i were traveling on i-15 from las vegas at aprox.time 9pm in the dark and our headlights turned-off and then turned on randomly. this was an awful experience driving like this for more than 100 mile in the mojave desert. cars thought i was flashing them. i was driving in the slow lane at one point behind a trucker, i believe he thought i was flashing him. i passed him and then he got on my bumper and he flashed his lights on off several times at me..i was scared... this should be a recall....its not safe.!! ....an accident could have happened not being able to see the road... [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Intermittent headlight function with 2005 dodge grand caravan. my headlights turned off by themselves on 2 separate occasions last night while driving in the dark. i had to cycle the headlight switch a few times to get them to work. this is a very dangerous situation. internet research revealed many complaints about this exact issue. *tr

Headlights will not turn on and have turned off (on their own) while driving. this has happened before and i had to mess with the switch repeatedly on multiple occasions before the lights would come back on. also, the door locks stop locking/unlocking and we have to pull the fuse, then put it back in for them to work again. vehicle is a 2005 dodge grand caravan sxt. *tr

1. turn signals occasionally reverse signal right but left signal actuates, windshield wipers are intermittent. 2. seldom, needed to pull over in rain shower, had to use hand turning signals 3. the wiper / signal switch was replaced by a mechanic. *tr

Headlights randomly go out. *tr

We have 2005 dodge grand caravan, the lights on the van keeping turning on when opening the door they stay on for a long time, then they shut off and during the day they turn on by themselves and even in the middle of the night because the battery will loose power after it happens so many times, have not been able to find the problem, went by dodge dealerships and they say they have never heard of such complaint. *tr

2005 dodge grand caravan has problem with headlights turning on. it has happened 2 times this week. when i turn the switch, the headlights will not come on. parking lights do come on. but an hour later when i turn the switch, the headlights come on.

2005 dodge grand caravan headlights intermitently will not turn on or turn off while driving down the road resulting in loss of visibility. may cases of this can be found on internet and my own dealership service center indicated is a known issue with switch ($100+ for new switch). feel this is a safety issue and should be required recall. *cn

When the headlights are turned on, they do not work. the parking lights and interior lights work but not the headlights. it was happening once or twice a month, but now it's 3-4 times a week. when driving at night, it is a hazard. *tr

My 2005 dodge grand caravan headlights intermittently go off and won't work. this is a real safety issue. *tr

I have a 2005 dodge grand caravan... the head lights sometimes go out and will not come back on.... i am sometimes able to get them turn back on by turning the light nob back and forth... and other times will not come on... the longest i have gone with out head lights is 2 weeks.. *tr

My 2005 dodge grand caravan lights short out random times. i can be driving down the highway and they will quit working. i have to turn the lights on bright for them to work again. *tr

The headlights on my 2005 dodge grand caravan went out while driving. fog lights come on and go off randomly. without key in the ignition. this happen shortly after we bought the van in 2005. the dealer said it was the switch and replaced it. but the lights have been coming on randomly every since. now, the headlights went out while we were driving. a switch isn't that complicated. *tr

Turn signals - sometimes they don't work, and sometimes when you use indicator to turn left the right signal will operate, and visa versa. it wont do this when you take vehicle to dodge and they don't acknowledge this as a common problem although there are numerous complaints with nhtsa and on internet. *tr

Headlights and dashboard lights flicker. airbag light also goes on and off. read up on this problem online and noticed others have the same issue. their headlights went off while driving in the dark!!!! *tr

Headlights will not turn on or will turn off while driving. *tr

Our head lights would not come on. after turning the switch on and off several times they would come on. now when driving down the highway they will start going on and off then completely go off. i have to travel a lot at night for my work. if you pull the dimmer/wiper switch toward you and hold it the high beam will come on but will not stay on. now i am afraid to go any where after dark. have called several dodge garages service departments and when ask if they think replacing the switch could fix the problem they tell you, well you can bring it in and we can try that but can't guarantee that will fix your problem. why should we pay to replace something that they don't know what the problem is. we believe that dodge should have recall since there is so many of the same problems with other owners evidently there is a defect in the switching of the headlights and this is a serious problem. *tr