Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1998)

559 consumer complaints on file.

#10071262January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ALMOST ALL OF THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THAT LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER, JULY 2003, THE EVAPORATER IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750.00.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069767January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VAN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS LAST WEEK.IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER REVERSE OR AFTER STOPPING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN IS BROKEN AND WILL TAKE ANYWHERE FROM $1700 TO $2300 TO REPAIR. I AM TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO COVER THE COST OF THIS AS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070507January 15, 2004
STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN
THE CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD TRANSMISSION. WE LIKE THE CARAVAN AS A PACKAGE, BUT QUALITY IS LACKING AND PROBLEMATIC. THE MOST CRITICAL PROBLEM IS BODY RUST THROUGH. THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOCK MOUNT TOWER IS RUSTED THROUGH AND CHRYSLER OWNER RELATIONS REFUSING TO FIX IT. NEVER MIND THAT THE DEALERS SAY THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT AND CHRYSLER USED TO FIX IT BUT RECENTLY STOPPED PAYING FOR (PERHAPS DUE TO FINANCIAL AND MARKET CONDITIONS).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068809January 15, 2004
STRUCTURE
THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER, UNDER THE HOOD, IS RUSTING. I HAVEN'T APPROACHED CHRYSLER, BUT WILL TRY. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON TWO MINIVANS AND AM WONDERING IF CHRYSLER IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT ITL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048540January 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENTLY, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT RESPOND WHEN USING THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053153January 14, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF. SOMETIMES THE INTERMITTENT FUNCTION DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION AND ALSO A BIG HAZARD IN THE RAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053154January 14, 2004
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE WERE DRIVING OUR CARAVAN AND HAD TO USE THE HORN. ONCE I PRESSED THE PAD FOR THE HORN, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE HORN DID NOT BLOW AND THEN I DETERMINED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. BEFORE DOING ANY RESEARCH I HAD THE REPAIRS COMPLETED AT THE DEALER. IT WAS A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING AND THE COST TO REPLACE IT CAME TO $269.01. I THEN CAME TO THIS SITE AND FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE. I WOULD LIST EVERYONE I FOUND BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP FASTER THAN I COULD TYPE THE ID NUMBERS. I ALSO FOUND A RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V293000 ON YOUR SITE. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY CLAIM OUR CARAVAN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELEAVE SINCE THEY ADMIT THEY ARE DEFECTIVE IN THE RECALL SO WHY ISN'T OURS COVERED UNDER IT?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052886January 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WHICH I PURCHASED NEW) HAD "THROWN" ITS' SERPENTINE-BELT 4 TIMES (APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES- IT NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER). THE DANGER/HAZARD IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE IS THAT POWER-STEERING, WATER-PUMP, ALTERNATOR, & POSSIBLY OIL-PUMP ARE DRIVEN BY THIS BELT! DODGE HAS REPLACED THE BELT, TENSIONER, TENSIONER-MOUNT BRACKET SUCCESSIVELY: I.E.- BELT AT 1ST INCIDENT, TENSIONER AT 2ND, BRACKET AT 3RD. NOW IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN & THEY WISH TO CHARGE FOR ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED. THE VEHICLE HAD CAMSHAFT FAILURE AT 41,000 MILES & NOW HAS A REBUILT ENGINE- THE BELT/ TENSIONER/ BRACKET ARE SAID BY DODGE NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY THE REPLACED ENGINE. SO, DOES THIS MEAN THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TENSIONER/ BELT/ BRACKET EVERY 10,000 MILES? *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053381January 5, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 40 MPH. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC.*AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051299December 30, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THIS VEHICLE, THE FRONT SUSPENSION TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS SEVERELY RUSTED AROUND THE STRUT MOUNT. THE RUST IS COMING THROUGH FROM UNDERNEATH. IF IT RUSTS THROUGH COMPLETELY THE STRUT WILL COME UP THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE WILL PROBABLY GET HURT. IN MY INVESTIGATION OF THIS DEFECT, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS INCIDENCES OF THE SAME RUST FAILURE IN THE SAME LOCATION ON CHRYSLER MINIVANS BUILT FROM 1996 TO 1999. THIS INCLUDES THE CARAVAN, VOYAGER, AND TOWN & COUNTRY MODELS, AS WELL AS THE GRAND VERSION OF EACH. THESE SIX MODELS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER WHEN INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. THEY EACH EXHIBIT THE SAME DEFECT IN THE SAME LOCATION. I REFER TO IT AS A DEFECT BECAUSE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEIR MECHANICS REFER TO IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. THEY HAVE A WARRANTY PART#05086513AA FOR REPAIRING THIS DEFECT; YET THEY OFFER NO COMPENSATION TO OWNERS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT YOU WILL SEE IT CLEARLY WARRANTS RECALL STATUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052048December 29, 2003
AIR BAGS
CLOCK SPRING FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050694December 18, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FAILED A STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO SAFETY RISKS CAUSED BY SIGNIFICANT RUSTING OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT SUPPORT TOWER. TOP OF STRUT SUPPORT TOWER WAS APPROXIMATELY 75% RUSTED THROUGH. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN OBSERVED IN OTHER SIMILARLY AGED DODGE VANS. MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE LEVEL OF RUSTING WAS HIGHLY EXCESSIVE AND NOT NORMAL SINCE STRUT TOWER LOCATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IS NORMALLY PROTECTED FROM ELEMENTS. POSSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE RUSTING DUE TO DESIGN OR STRUCTURAL DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051660December 17, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER INDICATED THE NEED TO INSTALL BRACKET TO RETAIN THE SERPENTINE BELT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051607December 16, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WARMED UP BEFORE BEING DRIVEN, IT WOULD HESITATE. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050435December 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF THE TENSION PULLEY, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TSB 6088784 WAS ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM, WHICH INDICATED THAT CAUSE WAS RAIN/STAGNANT WATER, AND SNOW.*AK 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WHERE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF THE TENSION PULLEY CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES AND ENGINE FAILURE. CHRYSLER CORPORATION SENT A MEMO TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS ADDRESSING HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MEMO ALSO STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.*MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049244December 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT OF MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I LOST ABS, POWER STEERING, RADIO, AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. MY DAUGHTERS WERE IN THE CAR AND I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I COULD BARELY STEER THE VAN. I WAS ALARMED TO FIND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING, I'M NOT SURE IF SHE COULD HAVE STEERED THE VAN. I COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT/INJURY/DEATH TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. THE BELT WAS NOT FRAYED, THE TENSIONER IS FINE. THE THING JUST SLIPPED OFF. IT WAS RAINING AT THE TIME AS WELL, MAKING A DANGEROUS PROBLEM ALMOST CATASTROPHIC.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049134December 3, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL, FUEL LEAKS PROFUSELY FROM THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE, POOLING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE CAR. THIS SAME PROBLEM RESULTED IN A RECALL OF 96 MODEL YEAR CARAVANS AFTER ONLY SIX SMALL FIRES. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048851November 30, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE INTSURMENTS WILL HAVE A LOSS OF POWER. NO GAUGES, ODOMETER SPEEDOMETER. WHEN IT COMES BACK THE DOORS RELOCK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047024November 16, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
OUR 1998 DODGE CARAVAN AND MANY OTHERS HAVE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHTS (HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY). THE PLASTIC DETERIORATES IN THE SUN AND SALT AIR WHICH CAUSES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT GIVEN OFF DRIVING AT NIGHT TO BE MUCH REDUCED. DODGE DEALER SAID BUY NEW ONES AT ALMOST $300 APIECE. I SAY IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM - CARS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 5 YEARS AND THE PRODUCT IS POOR QUALITY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047953November 13, 2003
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NO HORN AND NO CRUISE CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCKSPRING MALFUNCTIONED. CLOCKSPRING ON SOME OF THE 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS ON RECALL BUT NOT ON HER'S. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 1998.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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