2015 Grand Caravan first issue and...

[KrisZ]

... great dealership service.

Our 2015 Grand Caravan just had its first issue fixed, hopefully things will not get downhill from there.
Garmin navigation system was freezing and resetting all the time. It did not affect the function of the radio nor the DVD system, but few times when we needed the GPS, it did not work and we had to use our smartphones.

On the other hand, the dealership service was excellent. My wife called to make an appointment with the dealership we bought the van from. When she got there it took about 30 minutes for them to diagnose and approve the replacement, but since they did not have a replacement unit, we would have to bring it back. They said they will call back within 5-10 business days and they did.
Again my wife brought the car in for service. She was in and out within 30 minutes, it would've been about 20, but she wondered off and they could not find her. The car was returned the same way it came in, minus a new nav unit, no dirty marks, dings or other damage was found when we inspected it.

I'm very pleased.

 

[cptbarkey]

I wish they would update the NAV, it looks like something from 2002, but it still functions okay. The heavy usage of cyan and hot pink has me remembering fond days of a CGA monitor.

 

[shinyWheels]

I had a CGA monitor many years ago.

Yeah I wish some of these Nav manufacturers would make the screens higher res and more touch sensitive. Smartphones seem like they are 10 years ahead of the built in nav systems.

 

[Dorian]

My neighbor has had numerous issues with their new Caravan. He is a mastermind with cars, and works hard to save money. They have wanted a new car for a while and finally purchased this one and it is more problematic than the Caravan it replaced. Sad.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: Dorian
My neighbor has had numerous issues with their new Caravan. He is a mastermind with cars, and works hard to save money. They have wanted a new car for a while and finally purchased this one and it is more problematic than the Caravan it replaced. Sad.


Exactly why I went with a Sienna instead of the Chrysler...

 

[badtlc]

50k miles on my 2015 Chrysler T&C and zero issues. From research, the late model dodge/chrysler is less troublesome than the toyota and honda counterparts.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
50k miles on my 2015 Chrysler T&C and zero issues. From research, the late model dodge/chrysler is less troublesome than the toyota and honda counterparts.


Not! I could pass your claim along to my mechanic and give him a good laugh!

 

[AZjeff]

Here we go.

FWIW the NAV/head unit on our brand new '14 RAV4 failed on the drive home from delivery. So much for Toyota legendary build quality. Though now forgotten the first month of ownership was not pleasant.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff

Here we go.

FWIW the NAV/head unit on our brand new '14 RAV4 failed on the drive home from delivery. So much for Toyota legendary build quality. Though now forgotten the first month of ownership was not pleasant.


I'd take that any day over a failed transmission on the way home from the dealership, which I have seen with a newer Chrysler T&C...

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: AZjeff

Here we go.

FWIW the NAV/head unit on our brand new '14 RAV4 failed on the drive home from delivery. So much for Toyota legendary build quality. Though now forgotten the first month of ownership was not pleasant.


I'd take that any day over a failed transmission on the way home from the dealership, which I have seen with a newer Chrysler T&C...


I dropped off my Camry one day at the dealer, and they had wheeled out a RAV missing its entire drivetrain (engine trans anyhow) out into the parking lot. Nevermind the pile of rotting frames out back. Anything and anything can have a ppm failure rate, but Toyota has plenty of problem childs.

Don't forget, I'm a Toyota fanboi...

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
50k miles on my 2015 Chrysler T&C and zero issues. From research, the late model dodge/chrysler is less troublesome than the toyota and honda counterparts.


My niece and nephew said the same thing. Two kids and three dogs they've been a mini van family for quite a while and love their 2015 T&C. They said it was better than the Honda and Toyota mini vans they've owned.

 

[KGMtech]

Glad the OP has good service to report.

To the others turning this into FCA bashing...keep in mind that FCA sells more GC and T&C than the others do. Can these repeat buyers all be so dumb? I doubt it. My FIL has had his own issues with past Toyota Previa, then 2 Honda Odys, but he still feels these MUST be far better than the FCA stuff, well.....well....because. He's 82 now, no changing that mindset.

Bring data, otherwise you're just another person with an opinion.

 

[KrisZ]

The bashing did not take long to start I see.

For the record the van is fantastic. The second and third row stow and go came in handy few times already, H and T cannot touch this. It rides quiet and smooth, the Odyssey has more road noise. The new bigger brakes address the weak feeling brake issue and are very good. Yes, the interior is not as upscale but we don't care because it's a workhorse not a luxury vehicle.
And of course we saved a bundle, which is always a big plus.

 

[maximus]

I can't fathom paying extra for a nav option.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: maximus
I can't fathom paying extra for a nav option.


Our Toyota came with it. It's very nice for quickly finding general directions how to get unfamiliar places. It doesn't chew up data, and doesn't go dead in a few hours. The screen is also a lot bigger than any smartphone we could reasonably carry, and doesn't impinge on windshield space like a tablet would.

There are some pluses, enough to offset the considerable minuses.

 

[dishdude]

I do like built in nav for road trips, I like watching the mileage and time count down. I wouldn't buy a car without it.

 

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted By: grampi
I'd take that any day over a failed transmission on the way home from the dealership, which I have seen with a newer Chrysler T&C...


Major components are more likely too fail in the first few thousand miles, Every Manufacturer has such failures!

 

[maximus]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: maximus
I can't fathom paying extra for a nav option.


Our Toyota came with it. It's very nice for quickly finding general directions how to get unfamiliar places. It doesn't chew up data, and doesn't go dead in a few hours. The screen is also a lot bigger than any smartphone we could reasonably carry, and doesn't impinge on windshield space like a tablet would.

There are some pluses, enough to offset the considerable minuses.


Unlimited data, phone placed horizontally between speedo and tach plugged into charger = win. The only pitfall is spotty data in rural areas.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: KGMtech
Glad the OP has good service to report.

To the others turning this into FCA bashing...keep in mind that FCA sells more GC and T&C than the others do. Can these repeat buyers all be so dumb? I doubt it. My FIL has had his own issues with past Toyota Previa, then 2 Honda Odys, but he still feels these MUST be far better than the FCA stuff, well.....well....because. He's 82 now, no changing that mindset.

Bring data, otherwise you're just another person with an opinion.


McDonald's sells the most burgers, does that mean they're the best burgers?

 

[JTK]

Does anyone really buy a Grand Caravan or T&C because of their extreme qualility? I don't think so. People buy them because they are a lot of van for the money. We've had two issues that happened very early on with our 2013. The windshield washer fluid sending unit went bad and the PS pump had a slight leak. Both replaced. No other issues up to the current 59k miles.