Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (1998)

559 consumer complaints on file.

#10097652October 25, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATED THAT BATTERY WAS CRUSHED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE CLOCK SPRING.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096163October 21, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY ELDERLY MOTHER PURCHASED A USED 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM THE LOCAL CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALER IN APRIL 2002 AND ALSO PURCHASED THE POWERTRAIN CARE PLUS COVERAGE. NOT TOO LONG AFTERWARDS, THE DASH INSTRUMENTS FAILED TO WORK, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS. NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG AND WE WERE TOLD TO SIMPLY "KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND BRING IT IN WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING." WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TWICE MORE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM -- SPEEDOMETER, TACH, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE -- ALL NOT WORKING, BUT THESE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AIRBAG AND ABS LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THESE THREE TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER THIS EXTRA COVERAGE AND ALL THREE TIMES, WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG! THE LAST STRAW CAME ON OCTOBER 13, 2004 WHEN WE TOOK THE VAN IN FOR THE 4TH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS TIME, WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE MASSIVE OIL LEAKS WHICH HAD SPRAYED OIL ON THE WIRE HARNESS, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WE HAD THAT REPAIRED TO THE TUNE OF OVER $300. THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REASON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WAS NOT DUE TO THE WIRE HARNESS, BUT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) HAD FAILED. IT WOULD COST ANOTHER $500 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WE POLITELY TOLD THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WE'D TAKE THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE FOR REPAIRS (WE'VE GOTTEN THE QUOTES, BUT NOT HAD REPAIRS DONE AT THIS TIME). IT JUST SEEMS STRANGE TO US THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093556October 4, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH AT FIRST WOULD GIVE ME SOME TROUBLE BY NOT TURNING AT ALL. BUT I WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY GET IT TO WORK. AFTER SOME TIME WITHOUT FAILURE, IT FINALLY DID IT AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME, IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I TRIED TURNING THE WHEEL, I TRIED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER, ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO SEE IF IT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM. BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS COMPLETELY FROZEN, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL, BECAUSE THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE LOCKED STATE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR, NOT INCLUDING THE TOW, WAS $250.00. DEALER WANTED $325.00. THIS PROBLEM LEAVES YOU STRANDED, AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE MOVED BECAUSE THE SHIFT LEVER IS LOCKED. COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE IN A REMOTE AREA, HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WILL BE WARM AT THE TIME! I ALSO KNOW FROM MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN DODGE/PLYMOUTH MINI VANS, RANGING IN YEARS 1997 TO 2000, AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. WILL CHRYSLER RECALL THIS, REPLACE FAULT UNITS WITH BETTER QUALITY UNITS, OR EVEN REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095002October 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER STATED THAT BRAKES VIBRATED AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE. SHE SOME TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS GOING ON THIS FOR 4 MONTHS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093973September 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN PARKED AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK UNTIL CONSUMER GAINED CONTROL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092063September 14, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE AIR BAGS ARE INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092082September 14, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 02V293000. ALSO, HORN WAS INOPERABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092126September 14, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH. PROCEEDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED VERY BADLY CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO STATES THE AIR BAG CAUSED THE INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090198September 1, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEREBY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, INJURING THE NECK/BACK AND SHOULDERS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10089486August 23, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE HATCHBACK DOOR STRUT HINGES FAILED, CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10088157August 18, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT 60,000 MILES. DIFFERENTIAL PIN RELEASED AND SHATTERED THE CASING. THE CAR JOLTED AS I WAS DRIVING AS IF I FELL IN A DITCH. LUCKILY I HAD JUST PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED(25 MILES/HR). TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS RELEASED ALL OVER THE ROAD.. THE VAN IS AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP RIGHT NOW AND WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $2500. COMPLETE REBUILD IN A NEW CASING REQUIRED. I CAN ASK FOR THE OLD PART SINCE THE CORE IS NO LONGER USABLE FOR A TRADE IN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087760August 12, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087617August 10, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087122August 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
THE STRUT TOWER RUSTED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082795July 27, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
I HAVE A 1998 GRAND CARAVAN SE WITH 85000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED RUSTING AND CRACKED METAL IN THE AREA OF THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS COMMON, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. ALSO CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE IN DETROIT, AND WAS ALSO TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD AS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE 3 YEAR/36000 MILES WARRANTY. I SINCERELY HOPE THIS SITUATION IS LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ONE OF THE STRUTS GOES LAUNCHING THROUGH THE HOOD!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081033July 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE "BLEW UP". APPARENTLY THERE WAS AN OIL PROBLEM" ON THE INSIDE OF ONE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND A CHUNCK OF IT ACTUALLY "BLEW OFF". THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING HOSES, ETC. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE HAD ONLY 77,326 MILES!!! I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR ENGINES IN THIS SAME MINI-VAN AT OR AROUND 70,000-80,000 MILES! NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I SPOKEN WITH AND WAS WARNED THAT THIS WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN BY THE OWNER OF AN AUTO BODY SHOP, PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. HE SAID "WE SEE THESE ENGINES ON THESE MINI-VANS GO BAD RIGHT AROUND 70,000 MILES, LYNN". THIS SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM FOR THE DODGE/CHRYSLER MINI-VAN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081722July 12, 2004
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING THE V IGNITION. RECALL02V293000 WA SISSUED. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080642July 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I PURCHASED MY 1998 GRAND CARAVAN IN OCTOBER OF 2003. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS EVERYTHING I WANT AND NEED. I PURCHASED THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AFTER THE OTHER ONE WAS TOTALED BY A DEER. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE AIR CONDITIONER? I REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR IN MY OTHER VAN AND THIS ONE NEEDS THE SAME THING DONE TO IT. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN THE COOLER MONTH, BUT NOW THAT IT REACHES 100 DEGREES HERE IN FLORIDA, I NEED AN AIR CONDITIONER THAT WORKS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY $1,400 TO FIX THIS ONE, I DID IN MY OTHER VAN AND AM STILL MAKING THE PAYMENTS ON THAT REPAIR BILL. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND CANNOT GO ANYWHERE WHEN THE HEAT IS SO INTENSE. MANY PEOPLE WITH A CARAVAN HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MALFUNCTIONING PROBLEM? THANK YOU!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10078881June 27, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SAME ISSUE AS ODI COMPLAINT 10074411 - METAL AT TOP OF WELL HOUSING STRUT/SPRING COMPONENTS, DRIVER FRONT, RUSTING. COULD CAUSE SUSPENSION FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074151June 24, 2004
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED IN A FIVE CAR COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE REAR SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED, CAUSING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO FLY FORWARD, HITTING THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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