Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1996)

1,157 consumer complaints on file.

#748675July 18, 2001
AIR BAGS
I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS ON WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON 7/3/2001. IT WENT OFF AFTER 5 MINUTES. THE PATTERN OF THE AIRBAG COMING ON STARTED OCCURRING MORE REGULARLY AND STAYING ON LONGER. WE TOOK THE MINIVAN INTO KOON'S DODGE (FALLS CHURCH, VA) ON SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2001. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK-SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HAD GONE BAD AND HAD MADE THE AIRBAG GO BAD. THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $800 TO FIX IT. I ASKED THEM WHETHER DODGE WOULD PAY FOR IT SINCE HAVING AN AIRBAG GO BAD SHOULD NOT BE AN ORDINARY "WEAR AND TEAR" ITEM FOR ANY AUTOMOBILE. THE ASSISTANT MANAGER (SCOTT) TOLD ME THAT HIS BOSS (RAY RASADO) WOULD HAVE TO TALK WITH DODGE ON MONDAY, 7/16/2001 TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. I CALLED BACK ON MONDAY AND THEY SAID THAT DODGE REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. DODGE HAD SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD GONE BAD AND MADE THE AIRBAG GO BAD. I THEN CALLED DODGE MYSELF AND TALKED TO THEIR WARRANTY DEPARTMENT (JESSICA). AFTER TALKING WITH HER DODGE MANAGER, SHE SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. SHE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO ENGINEERING PROBLEMS WITH EITHER THE CLOCKSPRING OR THE AIRBAG. SHE GAVE ME A CASE REFERENCE NUMBER OF 8889836. I CALLED KOON'S, THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, BACK AND ASKED WHETHER THEY WERE POSITIVE THAT THE AIRBAG ITSELF WAS BAD IN ADDITION TO THE CLOCKSPRING. THE REASON BEING THAT A REPAIR OF THE CLOCKSPRING WAS APPROXIMATELY $200 VERSUS $800 FOR BOTH THE CLOCKSPRING AND AIRBAG. THEY AGAIN SAID THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD MADE THE AIRBAG GO BAD AND THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY UNLESS IT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CLOCKSPRING. I TOLD THEM BASED ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING AND AIRBAG. THE FINAL COST WAS $816.37. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING SAFETY DEFECT ON DODGE'S BEHALF. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE PUT AT PHYSICAL RISK FOR THIS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892886July 16, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
RECALL NUMBER 00V268000. VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING RECALL PROBLEM, BUT NOT SELECTED FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FUEL IS LEAKING FROM FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748477July 15, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HORN ,CRUISE CONTROL,DOES NOT WORK AND THE GAS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND MAKE A BEEPING SOUND FOR NO REASON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#6900645July 11, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CLAIM 35-W700-085. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748194July 10, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
1) WHEN YOU WOULD START THE VAN IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE FOR @ 5 MIN. THEN WOULD FINALLY GO INTO GEAR. (2) WHEN TRAVELLING @45 TO 50 THE VAN WOULD START TO SHUDDER BAD AND WOULD LOSE ALL OF ITS POWER FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN WOULD BE ALRIGHT. (3) WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT/ STOPSIGN OR YIELD THE VAN WOULD NOT GO. TOLD AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748262July 10, 2001
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9002779July 3, 2001
SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
BODY CONTROL HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES. WINDSHILD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747437June 26, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER SHAFT SHEARED AS A RESULT OF NO LUBRICATION. INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTED IN A VERY CLOSE CALL. I BELIEVE THE NON-LUBRICATED SHAFT PERMITTED CORROSSION AND SUBSEQUENT SEIZURE AND SHEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY SHAFT. IT IS A DESIGN DEFICIENCY, IN MY OPINION OF COURSE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891187June 26, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH IN PASSING LANE CONSUMER DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL TO PASS AND VEHICLE DID NOT GAIN ANY SPEED . VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN NEUTRAL STATUS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891234June 26, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE: HORN / CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERATIV, AND AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER / MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891120June 25, 2001
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND HORN HAS FAILED TO FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890806June 20, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING LIGHTING ON THE DASH WILL GO OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. DELAER HAS REPLACED CONTROL PANEL MODULE, HOWEVER , PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890637June 19, 2001
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HORN ASSEMBLIES ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747035June 19, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DURING A VEHICLE REPAIR, NON-DEALER REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR RAIL AND O-RINGS. LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED BUT BOTH STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE REPAIRS AT NO COST. YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V268000 IDENTIFIES A RECALL THAT IS NOT BEING HONORED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. FUEL LEAKAGE IS PRESENT CURRENTLY. DEALER SAYS OWNER MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS AND MAY RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT AT A LATER DATE. COMPLAINT WAS GIVEN TELEPHONICALLY TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER ON JUNE 15, 2000 AND RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S COMPLAINT REFERENCE NUMBER IS 8765666. DEALER SAYS NO RECALL APPEARS FOR THIS VEHICLE WHEN SEARCH IS BY VIN NUMBER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890389June 14, 2001
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH HAS COME ON. HORN HAS FAILED TO OPERATE, AND CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746368June 4, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT BEGAN WITH THE GEARS SLIPPING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK, SHUTTER AT LOW SPEEDS. THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT NO HELP THERE AS IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SEEING HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR OF CARAVANS, I AM FURIOUS. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSIONS OF THESE VEHICLES. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746425June 4, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRE HARNESS SHORTING OUT IN STEERING ASSY POSS. SETTING OFF AIRBAGS WHILE DRIVING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889552June 1, 2001
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
VEHICLE LOSES POWER ASSIST IN RAIN OR WHILE RIDING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE. CONSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A SUBDIVISON AND STEERING GOT HARD. CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A LARGE BRICK PLANTER. HAS CONTACTED CHRYSLER BY WRITING LETTERS AND MAKING PHONE CALLS, BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE TENSIONER AND BELT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS SLIPPING WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561413May 31, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, PARKING BRAKE, SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889405May 30, 2001
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COULD COME AND STAY ON FOR WHILE. HORN DID NOT WORK, STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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