Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1998)

559 consumer complaints on file.

#10174553November 28, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER BEING TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL AT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED A NHTSA RECALL # 00V268000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS STATED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 02/16/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173183November 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
THE WIPER BLADES WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING. TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF YOU MUST TURN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OFF THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. IF YOU TURN ON THE WIPERS WHILE DRIVING THEY WILL NOT GO BACK OFF UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED ALSO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172633November 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. TRIED TO START IT AND IT WOULD START AND DIE ABOUT 3 TIMES AND THEN NOT START AT ALL. REPLACE PCM. WORKED A COUPLE DAYS AND THEN STARTED AGAIN. READ ON WEB BOARDS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND IF THEY HIT THE DASH IT WOULD START AND WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN I HIT THE DASH AND IT WOULD START. WHEN IT WOULDN'T START ALL THE GUAGES ON THE DASH WOULD NOT WORK. THIS SEEMED TO WORK. THEN WHEN I WENT OVER A BUMP AND TURNED AT THE SAME TIME THE VAN WOULD DIE. I COULD PUT IT IN "N" AND GET IT STARTED AGAIN WHILE I WAS STILL TURNING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECASE YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER. HEARD ON MESSAGE BORAD IF YOU TOOK THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OFF AND CHECK THE SAUDERING THAT THIS WOUDL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. DID THIS BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEN THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD STOP READING WHEN IT DID HAVE GAS IN IT. THEN THE FUEL GUAGE WOULD START DINGING EVEN THOUGH IT READ FULL. I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. BELOW IS ONE SUCH WEBSITE. HAVE DONE ALL KINDS OF DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. IT STILL LOOSES GUAGES AND WILL NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/DODGE-GRAND-CARAVAN/TPC8IH1LI2S41I22D/P5. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172081October 29, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
STRUT TOWERS FAILING DUE TO CORROSION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170643October 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, DURING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION FAILURE, THE ENGINE WAS SLUGGISH AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169868October 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER, ILLUMINATION OF ALL WARNING LIGHTS, AND THE RISING OF THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED DUE TO WATER SPLASHING UP INTO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BELT, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE SERVICE DEALER MENTIONED THAT A SPLASH SHIELD KIT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164017July 31, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DURING A HARD RAIN SHOWER, THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH DRIVES THE ALTERNATOR, A/C, POWER STEERING AND WATER PUMP JUMPED OFF OF THE PULLEYS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THE BELT TO JUMP OFF. BELT WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS FIRST OCCURRENCE OCCURRED ON 12/16/2005. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OCCURRED ON 7/28/2006 UNDER THE SAME WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP AND CHECKED OUT BY THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS. THE BELT WAS EXAMINED AGAIN AND FOUND NOT TO HAVE ANY SIGN OF DAMAGE. THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS REPLACED THE BELT WITH A NEW ONE AS HE COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE BELT TO JUMP OFF. STEERING OF THE VEHICLE WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. I CHECKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID HE HAD NOT HAD ANY SERVICE BULLETINS FROM CHRYSLER ON THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163490July 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE STRUT TOWERS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A SERVICE BULLETIN, DESCRIBING HOW TO TREAT THE RUSTED PARTS. UPDATED 8/30/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163529July 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELS ROUGH AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TOP OF THE MACPHERSON STRUT TOWERS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED THE STRUTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163402July 25, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
STRUT TOWER CORROSION-DRIVER SIDE-RUST AND METAL BREAKING UP-1998 GRAND CARAVAN-PURCHASED NEW-HAS 83,500 MILES- HAVE HAD BELT PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES-ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMIT FAILURE -RUSTED OUT POWER STEERING MECH. TOTALLY REPLACED-MANY BRAKE JOBS-AND ALSO HEADLIGHT INTERIOR SWITCH SEEMS TO FAIL AT TIMES. I NEED TO MAKE A DECISSION TO BUY A NEW VAN WITH "HAND CONTROLS" OR HAVE THIS VAN "HAND CONTROLS" INSTALLED. ME THINKS I NEED TO BUY A NEW VAN AND BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER MANUFACTOR. AS IT SEEMS LIKE CHRYSLER/DODGE IS NOT STEPPING UP TO ALL THESE FAILURES THAT ARE SEEN BY TOO MANY OTHER VAN OWNERS;OF THIS 1998 MODEL CARAVAN. SAW ON LINE A NEW REPAIR FOR THE STRUT RUSTING CALLED ""FUSOR #112B/MOPAR 05083855AA. CAN BE USED TO FIX THIS PROBLEMTHE TSB #23-044-02 THRU A COMPANY CALLED LORD CORP. LISTED UNDER THEIR OEM BULLETINS AND REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS USING FUSOR ADHESIVES. THINK I MAY USE THIS ON MINE. HOPE OTHERS CAN USE THIS ALSO. THANKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162360July 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THIS IS FOR A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 3.0 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER TWICE IN TWO YEARS. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER SO WE WANTED TO ADD THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO OURS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162130July 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - WHEN NEW, RECALLED FOR SAFETY BELT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND AIR BAG CLOCK SWITCH REPLACEMENT. FOR ABOUT THE PAST 2 YEARS, THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS SWITCH FROM DIM TO LIGHT WITH A CLICKING SOUND BUT HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM I FEEL NEEDED IMMEDIATE ADDRESSING. MORE RECENTLY, REAR AIR VENTS BLOW COLD/WARM/HOT AIR WHEN A/C IS TURNED ON. HOWEVER, FRONT VENTS BLOW ICE COLD AIR. REAR AIR VENTS FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY EACH TIME WE START THE CAR. ALL THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSE ME GREAT CONCERN FOR OUR FAMILY OF 5 REGARDING OTHER ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED IN THE FUTURE. AFTER READING ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND, I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN WE WILL BE PURCHASING A MORE REPUTABLE BRAND WHEN WE REPLACE OUR CAR. WHAT IS CHRYSLER DOING TO ADDRESS THESE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161271July 3, 2006
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE HORN AND CRUISE DON'T WORK. THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING A FEW YEARS AGO BUT I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS THEN BUT I AM NOW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158954June 4, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
AFTER I HAD CLOSED THE LIFTGATE ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, I HEARD A "POP". I HAD HEARD THIS "POP" BEFORE - I HAD PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1992 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL. WHEN I RE-OPENED THE LIFTGATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT SHOT THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LIFTGATE AND THE ROOFLINE. IT WAS STILL SECURED BY THE LOWER BOLT, BUT THE TOP BOLT HAD SHEARED, JUST AS HAPPENED ON THE 1992 PLYMOUTH MODEL . HOWEVER, DUE TO DESIGN CHANGES IN THE AREA OF THE WHERE THE STRUT IS, THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THE STRUT TO GO BUT TO SCRATCH THE PAINT ON THE VEHICLE. THE 1992 PLYMOUTH HAD A "POCKET" THAT THE UPPER BOLT SAT IN AND IT WOULD FORCE THE STRUT INTO THE AREA BETWEEN THE ROOF AND ROOF LINER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ON THIS 1998 DODGE, I HAD TO FORCIBLY REMOVE THE STRUT FROM THE LOWER BOLT, SINCE IT WAS ATTACHED WITH A STAR DESIGN HEADED BOLT, THEREFORE EFFECTIVELY RUINING THE LOWER PIVOT AREA OF THE STRUT. THIS IS THE FIFTH (5TH) STRUT (1ST ON THE 1998) THAT I HAVE HAD FAILURE WITH, AND ALL HAVE BEEN TO BOLT FAILURE IN THE THREADED AREA OF THE BOLT. I WILL CONTACT LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF FIXING UNDER SAME RECALL AS 1992 RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152470March 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT KEEPS COMING OFF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147697January 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (3.3 L ENGINE VIN: [XXX] ), THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN, OR WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLE. WHEN THIS HAPPEN, THE VEHICLE LOSE POWER BRAKES POWER STEERING, CAUSING VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES DURING THE LAST 18 MONTHS OUT OF WHICH 2 WERE ON FREEWAY AT 60MPH. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. REPLACED THE BELT, TENSIONER ETC, STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. TOOK IT TO DODGE DEALER (DAYTON DODGE, DAYTON, NJ) ON 01/10/2006, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX, SITING "CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT HAS NO FIX" A SEARCH ON GOOGLE SHOWS NUMEROUS HITS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CHRYSLER MINIVANS. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER HAS A TSB FOR THIS, BUT HAS NOT A RECALL. SEE BELOW LINKS BELOW. HTTP://WWW.DODGETALK.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-4450.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_30931.HTML. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147102January 6, 2006
AIR BAGS
I OWN A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN AND WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION. NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10143700November 26, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CRAZED, FOGGED HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURES BOTH SIDES; FACTORY DEFECT DUE TO LACK OF DURABILITY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143632November 25, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
THE INTERMITTENT MODE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DOSE NOT WORK. THE WIPER CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE A TOTAL OF FIVE DAYS FOR THE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142325November 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
BESIDES ALL THE 1998 RECALLS ON THIS VAN, I FOUND A PINHOLE LEAK IN THE HEAD ITSELF. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A GASKET LEAK BUT ITS NOT. WHEN IT RAN OUT OF WATER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT TELL ME IT WAS HOT BUT INSTEAD REGISTERED COLD. ON TOP OF THE FRONT SPEAKERS GOES OFF AND ON AND THE REAR SPEAKERS DO IT ON OCCASION. STEREO GETS REALLY HOT TO THE TOUCH. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE DOING STRANGE THINGS LIKE NOT KICKING DOWN WHEN STOPPED AND THEN LUNGING WHILE STOPPED OR ACCELERATING WHEN STOPPED. I THINK THIS WHOLE VAN SHOULD BE ON RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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