Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
REPLACED ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION AT 37,485 MILES, DODGE CORPORATION ADMITTED TO IRREGULARITY WITH TRANSMISSION. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH CUSTOMER $100.00 PAYMENT. REPLACED TRANSMISSION BROKE AGAIN WITH 55,000 ON IT DUE TO PROBABLY SAME CONDITION, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AS OF THIS TIME. DEALER THINKS IS THE SAME FAILURE.
INNER TIE RODS HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF THE TIE ROD.*AK
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED FOR A APPOINTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ORGINIAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1996 DODGE, CARAVAN 1995, TIRE SIZE P215/65R15, DOT NUMBER M3T247X395, AND TIRES HAVE 49 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. 1 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES BLEWOUT WHEN DRIVING 60-65 MPH. LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF 12 INCH SECTION, TREAD WAS FLAPPING, THREE OTHER TIRES HAVE DEVOLOPED BUBBLES AROUND THE TREAD. TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND NOTED THERE WAS 50% OF TREAD LEFT. *AK THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT TOO. *YH
BAD SHIMMY FROM 32-42 MPH HAD THE TIRES ROTATED, REBALANCED AND ALIGNED ALIGNMENT SHOP SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH DODGE, AND THAT A RECALL HAD TAKEN PLACE EARLIER, I COULDN'T FIND THAT PARTICULAR RECALL
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V216000.EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING FUEL LEAKAGE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANTWERTEN DODGE IN RANDALLSTOWN,MARYLAND AS INSTRUCTED IN THE RECALL LETTER, SO THAT DEALER COULD PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK 2-3 TIMES, BUT DEFECT STILL WAS OCCURRING. DEALER COULD NOT FIX DEFECT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE JUST CUT OFF AND TOTAL POWER WAS LOST. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT ON AUGUST 6, 2000. DEALERSHIP IS DOING EVERYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VAN IS BEING HELD AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT UNLOCK/LATCH MECHANISM WILL NOT RELEASE, AND DOOR CANNOT BE MANUALLY OPENED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE RELAY SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED.THE PART NUMBER IS 4707286-C(64469)(0376AG) IS THIS THE ORIGINAL PART FROM FACTORY.I DONT THINK THE MACHINIC REPLACED IT.MY VAN RUN HOT 2 MONTHS AFTER THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE REPLACED IT.
AFTERING FINDING STAINS ON THE PAVEMENT VAN WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FOUND RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH, CAUSING POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK. PUMP WAS BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE LIST ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND DIES . VEHICLE WILL RESTART IMMEDIATELY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
WHEN WE ARE DRIVING THE VAN JUST SHUTS OFF THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROX 1 YEAR FROM DATE OF PURCHASE AFTER THE STEERING COLUMN WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED. IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFFTEN AND THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND IT JUST STOPPED ALL POWER IS LOST . WE HAVE HAD THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO AVAIL NOW I AM AFRAID SOMEBODY IT GOING TO GET INJURED OR KILLED IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELLY DANGEROUS . WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THIS IS OUR PRIME TRASPORTATION AND WE DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH OUR CHILDRENS SAFTEY. I WOULD LIKE THIS TAKEN CARE OF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED
CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL REPAIR (99V-216) WAS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY OR HAS EFFECTED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN SOME WAY WHICH HAS CAUSED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. *MJS
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH THE KIDS IN THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VAN SHUT OFF LUCKILY SHE WAS ON OUR STREET I HAD A FRIEND WHO IS A LICENSE MECHANIC HE CAME OVER .HE CHECKED FOR CODES IN THE DASH BUT REVEALED NONE. HE THEN LOOKED UNDER THE VAN TO SEE THE GAS TANK HAD COLLAPSED AT FIRST HE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM THE RESULT OF HITTING SOMETHING. WE HAD IT TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULDNT START. HE PUT IT UP ON THE RACK TO SEE THE THE STRAPS WERE STILL IN TACT. HE SAID THAT THE GAS TANK HAD JUST PLAIN COLLAPSED. HE THEN CALLED THE DEALER TO ASK THEM IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM THEY SAID HOW MANY MILES THEY PROCEEDED TO SAY 78000 THE DEALER SAID IF THERE WAS ABOUT 40000 THEY WOULD COVER IT. MY MECHANIC BUDDY ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO MAKE IT A RECALL.THE IRONIC THING IS THE GAS TANK IS PLASTIC SO I HAD TO PAY 940.00 FOR REPAIRS. I CALLED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND!I AM A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE MY WIFE AND KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT IF THE GAS WOULD HAVE LEAKED OUT AND IGNITED. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME.
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, MORE OFTEN ON BUMPY ROADS. I'M TEMPTED TO IGNORE IT AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET HOW FREQUENT THIS PROBLEM IS.
VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY IN THE RAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD EITHER STOP WORKING OR CHANGE SPEEDS ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, WHEN THEDY ARE ON WHILE WET, AND CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO TURN THEM OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE, EVEN WHILE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PER TECHNICIAN, NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE GOING TO BE MADE SINCE THERE WERE NO REMEDIES TO THE PROBLEM. *AK
TURN SIGNALS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY IN HOT/HUMID WEATHER. SOMETIMES WOULD NOT WORK WITH INDICATOR TURNED ON. HAD CHANGED THE FUSES EACH TIME PROBLEM HAPPENED. ALSO, SLIDING DOOR LOCK DOES NOT REGULARLY RELEASE WITH THE LOCK/UNLOCK SWITCH. FURTHER, IT IS UNRELIABLE WITH THE MANUAL LOCK/BOTTON. THE HEADLIGHTS, IN HOT/HUMID WEATHER MAY OR MAY NOT GO OFF WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP. *AK
CLOCK SPRING FAILURE, CAUSED AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ALL THE TIME. *AK
VEHICLE A/C HAS NOT OPERATED CORRECTLY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. NEW CONDENSOR, LINES AND EVAPORATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IN THE 4 YRS. I'VE OWNED THE VAN, THE A/C HAS NOT OPERATED ONE SUMMER WITHOUT FAILING.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LOST POWER STEERING/ ALL BELT DRIVEN ACCESSORIES/ WATER PUMP PULLEY FLEW OFF,AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY. A MOTORIST WAS HUNKING HORN TO GET CONSUMER'S ATTENTION. WHEN LOOKING THOUGH THE REARVIEW MIRRIOR HE SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE ROAD, AND HE/ HIS FAMILY JUMPED OUT OF VEHICLE. WHEN OPENING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME BURSTING OUT. VEHICLE BURNED TO A CRISP, AND WAS TOTALED. *AK
MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER, THIS IS OUR SECOND AND LAST CHRYSLER!!*AK
THE INNER TIE ROD END SEPARATED FROM THE OUTER TIE ROD ON DRIVER WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHILE COMING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, CAUSING TIRE TO TURN INWARD AND STOP. *AK
RECALL 99 V 216 000/ FUEL PUMP. AFTER DEALER HAD REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL FUEL TANK LEAKED. SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR , THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNSUCCESSFULLY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 80MPH & OVER. APPLYING BRAKES & TURNING SWITCH DIDN'T DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER MOVED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD & PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WHICH PUT IN IT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING & IT WAS TURNED OFF. DEALER BASICALLY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER WILL BE CONTACTING MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON/HORN WILL NOT WORK/ CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK
AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ALL POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEM CONTACTED. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THEY FINALLY FIXED MY FUEL SYSTEM RECALL PROBLEM . I REPLACED MY OXYGEN SENSORS, IT STILL WON'T GO OFF, I HAVE FOUND SAND UP IN MY ENGINE AND I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THIS CARAVAN WAS IN A FLOOD,OR SUCH
DECEMBER 1999, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, DEALER REPLACES AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. EXTENDED CHRYSLER WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER REPAIR COST OF $270. JULY 18, 2000 RETURN TO DEALER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS THE CLOCK SPRING IS OK BUT NOW THE AIR BAG MODULE HAS FAILED AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE AIR BAG SYSTEM COST ESTIMATED AT $600 PLUS. DECLINE THE WORK AND COMPLAIN TO CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED BEYOND 36,000 MILES. WHAT DOES MILEAGE HAVE TO DO WITH A AIR BAG, IT IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM? I EXPLAIN THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM AND MY FAMILY IS IN DANGER. CHRYSLER DISCUSSES WITH SUPERVISOR AND REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR. PLEASE CALL ME AS I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO HAVE CHRYSLER TO ISSUE A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY ITEM. THANK YOU!. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED, FIRE APPEARED TO START IN THE UPPER ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE IN MOTION, CLAIM 11-3493-153. *SLC
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GAS. WHEN THE NEEDLE SHOWS HALF A TANK, TANK IS REALLY EMPTY. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF GAS. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *ML
THE BELT TENSIONER AND SERPENTINE BELT WHEREIN THE TENSION MOUNTING BELT IS SHEARED OFF AND THE BELT BECOMES TORN APART RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. NLM
LIGHT SWITCH HAS SHORTED OUT, CAUSING BATTERY TO DIE. WHEN BATTERY IS CHARGED WITH JUMPER CABLES AND VEHICLE IS STARTED, SMOKE FROM LIGHT SWITCH FILLS CAB. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (ENGINE RADIATOR FAN) PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS
GAS TANK SEEMS PARTING CAUSING GAS LEAK
ON 2/9/00 WE BROUGHT OUR 1996 DODGE CARAVAN TO CERRITOS DODGE TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE "CLOCK SPING" PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THIS PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO OPERATE PROPERLY. I DID NOT HAVE IT FIXED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I FELT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY CRYSLER AS A RECALL ISSUE. ALSO IT IS NOT COVERED BY OUR WARRANTY. THEN ON 6/29/00 I BROUGHT MY CARAVAN IN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING- ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE- AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT WORKING DUE TO THE "CLOCK SPRING" PART. SO I WENT AHEAD AND HAD IT FIXED BECAUSE I FELT IT HAD TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL THAT THIS PART NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP AS A RECALL FOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WITHOUT IT THE AIRBAG AND THE HORN CANNOT WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LARRY HILL. *AK
I BROUGHT MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN IN TO CERRITOS DODGE ON 4/4/00 TO HAVE MY PASSENGER WINDOW CHECKED OUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT GOING UP AND DOWN. CERRITOS DODGE CLAIMED THE WINDOW WAS STICKING DUE TO HEAT AND WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT AT THE TIME. THEN ON 6/29/00, I BROUGHT MY CARAVAN IN AGAIN DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY PASSENGER WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN. THIS TIME CERRITOS DODGE DID FIX IT AND REPLACED THE WINDOW REGULATOR, THIS PART IS COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. THE WINDOW DOES WORK AT THIS TIME, BUT I WILL NEED TO TAKE IT BACK IN BECAUSE IT IS STICKING OCCASIONALLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LARRY HILL. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. CONSUMER FEELS THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS.*AK
THE RECALL ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS NOT A COMPLETE REPAIR TO THE PROBLEM, OWNER MUST REPLACE THE UNIT TO COMPLETE REPAIR AND IS BEING DENIED FULL REIMBURSEMENT. (98V-185) *MJS
I RECEIVED A RADIATOR FAN RELAY RECALL, COULD THIS DEFECTIVE RELAY HELP THE MAJOR TRANSMITION SEALS FAIL? IF SO, IS DODGE/CHRYSLER RESPNSIBLE FOR THE $1300 REPAIR OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISION SEALS? IF SO, HOW DO I FILE A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER? THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP CLAIMS THE SEAL FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXTREME HEAT, HE STATED THAT THE SEALS WERE VERY BRITTLE, LIKE DRY NOODLES, NOTHING LIKE THE SOFT RUBBER THAT THEY SHOULD RESEMBLE.
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON TWO OCCASIONS, CAUSING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. *MJS
CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE OBTAINING A RESPONSE IN ORDER TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED, THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING POOR GAS MILEAGE AND GAS FUMES CONTINUALLY WHICH MAY BE THE RESULT OF THE RECALL COMPONENT WHICH IS EXPERIENCING FAILURE AT THIS TIME (99V-216). *MJS
HORN ASSEMBLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK *ML
AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THEN, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON . MECHANIC REPLACED CLOCK SPRING. FAILED PART CAUSED AIR BAGS TO BE DISARMED. *AK *ML
WHEEL RIM FAILED, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR AND DAMAGE TO TIRES, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. NLM
INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE TOLD US OF MANY FAILURES OF TRANSMISSIONS AND HEAD GASKETS, AND THEY SAY THAT DODGE IS PAYING HALF THE COST AS THEY DID WITH US TO AVOID A RECALL WHERE DODGE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL COST OF REPAIR. REC. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, WINDSHILD WIPERS WOULD OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK DEALER REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. THEY SAID IF NOT REPLACED COULD EITHER DRAIN BATTERY OR CAUSE WIRES TO MELT CAUSING FIRE. *YH
THE A/C AND HEAT VALVE STICK. YH
MANY SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VEHICLE
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Dodge Caravan → · Every Caravan year → · How the figures are calculated →