Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1998)

559 consumer complaints on file.

#767032September 11, 2002
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT WORK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766578September 2, 2002
AIR BAGS
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY INDICATION OF AIR BAG PROBLEM.WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT CLOCKSPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT.WAS TOLD THIS CLOCKSPRING IS IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTS TO AIRBAG.WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND THAT ABOUT 10 A WEEK ARE REPLACED.I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG HAD NEVER BEEN ACTIVATED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER.WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF AIRBAG LIGHT DID NOT COME ON ,THEN IT COULD BE A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEM.I DID NOT HAVE THE PART REPLACED SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON.ON THE WAY HOME,THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.I CALLED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT BACK AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN.SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A FEW MILES WITH AN INTERMITTANT AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATION.THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017185August 26, 2002
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, COULD RESULT IN NONE DEPLOYEMENT OF AIR BAG OR PERMATURE DEPLOYEMENT OF AIR BAG. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE CLOCK SPRINGS BEING DEFECTIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016766August 20, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765842August 19, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING MY APPROXIMATELY 10MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. WE NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALER, LANCASTER DODGE. THEY IMMEDIATELY IMPLIED THAT THE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF AND THAT IT WASN'T A CHRYSLER AIRBAG. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND REPEATEDLY STATED "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL HERE?". MY WIFE AND I WERE SHOCKED AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE IMPLYING. I TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER DODGE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG DID IN FACT GO OFF (NO SURPRISE TO US). I CALLED TO DISCUSS WITH CHRYSLER AND DESCRIBE THE SITUATION. THE CLIENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WASN'T INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THE SECOND CHRYSLER DEALER'S FINDING EVEN WHEN I REPEATEDLY EXPLAINED HOW THE FIRST DEALER'S REPORT HAD TO BE INNACCURATE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. I SINCE INVESTIGATED REPORTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CLOCK SPRING ON MY VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FIRST CHRYSLER DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ARE FRAUDULENTLY COVERING-UP THIS ISSUE BY PREPARING INACCURATE REPORTS OF THE FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765529August 12, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN OUR GARAGE ONE MORNING LED US TO FIND THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765407August 9, 2002
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MY CLOCKSPRING BROKE,IT MAKES THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON AND DISABLES THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND AIRBAGS. DEALER WANTS ABOUT $200 TO REPAIR, I BOUGHT THE PART FROM THE DEALER FOR $73.15 AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. I HAVE FRIEND WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN HER 97 CARAVAN.S
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015866August 8, 2002
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING: AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765223August 5, 2002
AIR BAGS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765145August 3, 2002
AIR BAGS
THIS IS A FOLLOWUP LETTER TO NHTSA FROM ME REGARDING FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IN MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. PRODUCTION PROBLEMS FOR THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY WERE FROM 1996 AND 2000. NOW COMES THE PART I DO NOT UNDERSTAND....MY VEHICLE FALLS BETWEEN 1996 AND 2000 AND....MY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED...DAIMLER CHRYSLER TELLS ME I DO NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT ON THEIR LIST OF RECALLS. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON? THIS IS VERY PUZZELING. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME ON THIS. I HOPE YOU CAN. I'M 70 YEARS OLD AND ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR JOB, BY MY STANDARDS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765021July 31, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
STARTING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES, THIS CAR PRODUCED CLICKING NOISE FROM THE HEAD/VALVE TRAIN. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, A DEALER (NOT THE ONE WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT) TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AT 35K, DURING A HIGHWAY TRIP, THE NOISE BECAME PRONOUNCED. SOON THEREAFTER, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND EXPLAINED THE NOISE AND THAT I NOTICED THE HEAD WAS RUNNING DRY WITHOUT THE TYPE OF OIL SPLASH I HAVE SEEN IN ALL OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMS THAT CHYSLER MINI-VANS HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VALVES AND THAT IT WAS, IN HIS OPINION, AN OIL DELIVERY PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE HAD 2 IN DURING THE PRIOR FEW WEEKS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, ONE THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST IN A CAR WITH 35K MILES. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, TO MY SHOCK, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO MAJOR REPAIRS DUE TO "CAMSHAFT FAILURE". ALTHOUGH I ASKED FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MANY TIMES, BOTH IN WRITING AND ON THE PHONE, "CAMSHAFT FAILURE" IS ALL THEY WOULD SAY ABOUT THE PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, THEY AGREED TO PROVIDE A FULL "LONG BLOCK" ENGINE REPLACEMENT (UNDER "COURTESY" WARRANTY WITH $300 "DEDUCTIBLE.") BECAUSE OF WHAT MY NON-DEALER MECHANIC SAID (THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CHRYSLER MINI-VANS OF MY CAR'S VINTAGE AND BECAUSE HE OPINED THAT THERE MAY BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH OIL DELIVERY, PLUS THE FACT THAT WHEN I CHECKED THIS SITE, I FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD REPORTED LIKE SOUNDING PROBLEMS, I FEEL I SHOULD REPORT THIS. FYI, THIS CAR ALWAYS SEEMED TO RUN DRY (NO OIL SPLASH WHEN ENGINE RUN WITH FILLER CAP OFF). I THINK NHTSA MIGHT WISH TO CONSIDER INVESTIGATING TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR. THANKS FOR THE HELP KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764739July 25, 2002
AIR BAGS
FAILURE OF CLOCKSPRING AFFECTS HORN & SPEED CONTROL ALSO.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566848July 24, 2002
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER STATES THAT A PERSON CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY WITH A KEY, THE DOORS CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE BY PULLING UP ON THE LOCKS OR BY TRYING TO PULL OPEN THE DOOR HANDLES, THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT IS BY USING THE REMOTE CONTROL AND BY USING THE LOCK BUTTON, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER, THE POWER LOCKS WOULD BE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCK MECHANISMS NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8014665July 24, 2002
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON AND OFF. CURRENTLY, AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8014355July 19, 2002
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
AIR BAG LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. AFTER CONTACTING DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT AIR BAG MIGHT NOT WORK. ALSO, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8014008July 16, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, KEY NOT IN IGNITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED ON ITS OWN. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013785July 11, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY / CONTINUALLY BEEP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763571June 27, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OUR CLOCKSPRING BROKE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT CONTROLS THE HORN, AIRBAG AND UNFORTUNATELY THE CRUISE CONTROL. WE WERE ON A TRIP AND APPROACHING A TOWN. I TAPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AND IT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. IN FACT, I COULDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 OR 65 WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND EVENTUALLY I WAS AT THE SPEED OF 90. THE VAN WAS ACCELLING WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP IT. WE FINALLY GOT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN EITHER NEUTRAL OR PARK JUST SO WE COULD GET IT TO STOP. OUR HORN DOESN'T WORK NOW AND OUR AIRBAG PROBABLY WON'T DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THIS COULD CAUSE ALOT OF ACCIDENTS AND MAY HURT PEOPLE IF SOMETHING DOESN'T GET DONE ABOUT IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762207May 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
BELTS HAVE BEEN BRAKING AFTER ~ 18000-20000 MILES. DODGE DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761869May 14, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON & GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY,HORN DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Grand Caravan