1996 Dodge Caravan complaints

POSSIBLE CLOCK SPRING FAILURE IS CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

DEFECTIVE TEMPERATURE RELAY FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND THE FAN MALFUNCTIONED. YH

CONSUMER WAS STOPPED ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CLAIM 11-3444-113. *SLC

IN FUELING OUR VAN, ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WE HAVE HAD A FIRE. THE FIRE COMES FROM THE FILLER PIPE ON THE VAN! THE VAN WAS TOTALLY TURNED OFF. IT DOES EXTINGUISH ITSELF AFTER AWHILE. WE ARE EXPERIENCING SHOCK CONSTANTLY WHEN WE TOUCH THE VAN. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE SHOCKING PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE FIRE. WE ASSUMED IT WAS WITH OUR PERSONAL GAS TANK. CONTACTED THE GAS CO. AND THEY INVESTIGATED AND CORRECTED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. NO OTHER VEHICALS THAT ARE FILLED AT THIS TANK HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS DIFFICULTY. MY SON AND I WERE INVOLVED THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A FIRE. HE WAS BURNT SLIGHTLY. THE SECOND TIME, ONLY MYSELF. WE ARE CONCLUDING NOW, THAT THE DIFFICULTY IS WITHIN THE VAN. WE ARE CONTACTING A DEALER IN THE AM BUT WOULD YOU PLEASE ASSIST. NOT ONLY WAS THE FILLER PIPE ON THE VAN ON FIRE, THE HOSE FROM THE STATIONARY TANK AND THE GROUND WAS ON FIRE. OUR MACHINERY SHOP AND EQUIPMENT COULD HAVE BEEN LOST, NOT TO MENTION LIVES! NEEDLESS TO SAY - WE ARE SCARED! THE FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED BOTH TIMES! PLEASE HELP!!! *AK

MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT WITH APPROXIMATELY 82,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS GOING TO COST NEARLY $2500.00 TO MAKE THIS REPAIR. SHOULDN'T THE COMPANY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS COST? WHY SHOULD I? I HAVE HAD GM CARS THAT EXCEEDED 100,000 MILES WITHOUT A SINGLE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL FACING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE COMPANY.*AK

VAN WAS NOT STARTED OR BRAKE DEPRESSED WHEN THE VAN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BY A 3 YEAR OLD BOY. THE VAN THEN WENT BACKWARDS DOWN A DRIVEWAY THEN ACROSS A ROAD INTO WOODS WHERE IT STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A TREE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE COMMENCED TO RUN VERY POORLY, AND IT STARTED TO VIBRATE/HESITATE AND LOSE POWER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A DEFECTIVE ROCKER ARM, AND A SNAPPED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

I AM REPORTING THE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG "CLOCK SPRING" AFTER THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD OF THIS VEHICLE. THE ITEM IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE PASSENGER AND SHOULD NOT FAIL. THE FREQUENCY OF THESE FAILURES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO INSURE THAT IT IS NOT ENDANGERING DRIVERS AND PASSENGER OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING LOST POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT. DEALER REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT IN 1998. BUT SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AGAIN, AND WAS REPLACED. THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 1999, ON SATURDAY MARCH 25, 2000, ALL POWER WENT OUT WHILE KIDS WERE IN THE CAR, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE FOR DRIVING ON THE ROAD. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 99V216000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 845. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP, BUT AT FIRST THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK, THEN CAUSED ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK, AND ENTIRE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS TOOK ABOUT A MONTH TO COMPLETE, OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS SHOULD TAKE AN HOUR. *AK *ML

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WOULD COME ON OR GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS CAUSED VISIBILITY PROBLEMS FOR DRIVER. ALSO, TURN SIGNAL SOMETIMES ACTIVATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. NO REPAIRS DONE.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH HE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY STUCK. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. CONSUMER STOPPED AT A GAS STATION BECAUSE ENGINE WAS ROARING UP. TOOK FUSE FROM THE FUSE BOX. *AK

FAILURE OF THE 'CLOCK SPRING' CAN PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR EVEN CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN TO BIND, RENDERING IT INOPERABLE. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY DEFECT, CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REPAIR AT NO COST AS PER FEDERAL LAW.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON BY ITSELF. YH

A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS TANK BECAME SMALLER (DISTORTED) PROSSIBLY DUE TO IMPROPER VENTING.

MOVING FROM WASHINGTON TO NEW MEXICO OUR DODGE CARAVAN TRANSMISSION BURNED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT POWER STEERING BELT BECOMES WET AND CAUSES COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK *ML

SERPENTINE BELT BROKE TWICE WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE ARE TSBS ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA RECALL 99V216000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 845/FUEL PUMP. HAD THE NECESSARY REPAIRS DONE ON 11-MAR-2000, AND THE REMEDY FAILED ON 12-MAR-200. FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE BOLT WHICH HAD EITHER LOOSENED UP OR WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE TORQUE SETTING WAS NOT ADEQUATE. MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TO INCREASE TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER ON 13-MAR-2000. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V216000 CONCERNING FUEL PUMP. CONTACTED DEALER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

PROBLEM WITH GETTING A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CONCERNING FUEL PUMP HONORED. NO ACCESSIBLE AUTHORIZED DEALER. CONTACTED DEALER IN ANCHORAGE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER TO FILL TANK WITH FUEL. HOWEVER, IF VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGN OF LEAKAGES, NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

AFTER RECALL REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE SEAL (99V216) THE TANK SEAL BEGAN TO LEAK. NLM

CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS DENIED, VEHICLE HAD TO BE EMPTY OF GASOLINE IN ORDER TO COMPLETE RECALL REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE, THE NOTIFICATION DID NOT STATE THIS. (99V-216) *MJS

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR GAVES PROBLEM AT ABOUT 3 MONTHS SINCE PURCHASE. WE BROUGHT IT AND EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG, BUT THEY LIED TO US AND SAID IT WAS NOT. EVENTUALLY, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE TRANSMISSIN FINALLY BROKE AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. AFTER THAT THE CAR CONTINUED TO JERK VIOLENTLY WEHENEVER WE WERE GOING UP HILL AND AT 45 MPH. WE KEPT BRING IN IT IN FOR THEM TO FIX IT, KNOWING THAT THIS MIGHT CREATE OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY CONTINUED TO REFUSE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE JERKING MOTION WAS NOT QUITE AS PRONOUNCED WHEN THEIR MECHANIC DROVE IT. ACCORDING TO THEM, CHRISLER WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO SEE THE TRANSMISSION UNLESS IT JUSTIFIED IT BY BEING COMPLETELY OUT OF COMMISSION. WE HAD THEM TRY TO SERVICE IT ONE MORE TIME, BUT INSTEAD, THEY TRIED TO FIX OTHER THINGS IN IT AND EVEN TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR THEM. I DID NOT PAY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND THE OTHER THINGS ADJUSTED HAD NO RELATION TO THE PROBLEM. ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AFTER THIS SERVICE, I WOKE UP TO GO TO MY CONGREGATION WITH MY CHILDREN, WHEN MY CHILD INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS BURNING. I WENT TO LOOK CLOSELY AND AND SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SMALL CANDLE LIGHT. I TOLD MY CHILDREN TO GO INSIDE THE HOUSE AS GAS FUMES COULD BE LEAKING AND THE CAR COULD EXPLODE. I WENT UP TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT,WHICH TOOK ME ABOUT A MINUTE, AND BY THE TIME I GOT BACK, THE CAR WAS ALREADY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THIS OCCURRED, WITHOUT ANYONE TURNING ANYTHING

THE LEFT BRAKE SHOES CRACKED, FLAKED OFF AND FELL APART CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. NLM

AIR CONDITIONER CAUSING A LOUD, GRINDING NOISE WHILE RUNNING. SLIGHT HESITATION OF ENGINE WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. PROBLEM INCREASING IN INTENSITY OVER TIME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TWO DOGS RAN OUT INTO THE STREET, CONSUMER PUT ON BRAKES AND TRIED TO BLOW HORN, AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. TOOK TO DEALER , AND THEY HAD TO ORDER A CLOCK SPRING. *AK *ML

NHTSA RECALL 99V216000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 845/ FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 98V185000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 791/INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

A FIRE STARTED IN THE A/C VENT BY THE STEERING WHEEL, FROM WHICH FLAMES CAME OUT AND ENGULFED THE CAR. ALSO, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE SHUT OFF. VEHICLE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

RECALL 99V216 000/ FUEL PUMP: WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE FROM HOOD. PULLED VEHICLE OVER, AND POPPED HOOD, AND SAW THE FIRE ON TOP OF ENGINE. WHILE TRYING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS TO THE EYE AREA. A DAY LATER, RECALL NOTICE CAME BY MAIL. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ONCE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND CAUSES HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO WORK. DEALER WAS CONTACTED 6 MONTHS AGO, AND THEY CONTACTED THE CONSUMER 3 MONTHS AFTER THAT TO TELL CONSUMER THAT THERE WILL BE A CHARGE FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER BELIEVES IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK *ML

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON WITHOUT APPLICATION. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STAY ON ANYWHERE FROM 10 SECONDS TO A MINUTE. MANUFACTURER/DEALER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

RECALL 99V216000/FUEL PUMP: AFTER PICKING UP VEHICLE FROM DEALER SHOP FOR RECALL REPAIRS, CONSUMER WAS FILLING VEHICLE WITH FUEL AND WAS ABOUT TO START VEHICLE WHEN SOMEONE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED OF REPAIRS FAILURE. *AK

RECALL 99V216000. FUEL LEKAGE RESULTED WHEN THE TANK WAS FILLED AFTER THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED. DEALER HAS SINCE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THE TANK CONTINUES TO LEAK FUEL, THIRD ATTEMPT TO FIX REPLACED NEW GAS TANK AND FUEL PUMP.. *AK

BRAKES SQUEAKING CONTINOUSLY. YH

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER ADVISED FAILED AIR BAG MODULE, NOT COVERED BY EITHER STANDARD WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. PART FAILED FOR REASONS UNKNOWN. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO EFFECT REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE TO CONSUMER. NOTED ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH SAME PROBLEM. RECOMMEND OPENING OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *AK

INT. FAILURES OF ABS HYD. PACKAGE. DLR. EST. $800 TO REPAIR. RECOMMENDED DRIVING AS-IS W/O ABS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ABS EXPLODED. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE UNIT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

INTEGRATED CSS HARNESS STRAPS DOES NOT RETRACT. CHILD WON'T BE PROTECTED IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER IS WILLING TO PAY HALF OF THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH BOLT TO ENGINE PULLEY/CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

AUTOMATIC SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH IS USED. DOOR HAS TO BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE MANUALLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING OVER A MAN HOLE COVER OR HOLE IN GROUND AND WHEN DEPRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL FOR A SUDDEN STOP, VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, AND DOOR LATCH CAME OPEN. INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE DOOR WAS A AJAR AND EVERYTHING ELSE. BACK DOOR COULD NOT CLOSE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION RESULTING IN LEAKAGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. (99V-216) *MJS

CAR NEEDED 1800.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF ENGINE WORK, AGAIN FOR FAULTY VALVES AND CYLINDER HEAD. BURNING OIL AND DESTROYING O2 SENSORS, POOR GAS MILEAGE AND PROBLEMATIC EXPENSIVE ENGINE WORK. MITUSBISHI ENGINE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM. SUGGEST MANUFACTURER CORRECTS DEFECT.

TRANSMISSION FELL APART. YH

ENGINE SHUTS OFF, CHRYSLER MECHANCICS CAN'T FIND PROBLEM ALSO SHAKES AT 40MPH (VIOLENTLY) AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES. *AK

DODGE COMPROMISED WITH ME ON THE COST OF REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT WITHIN A YEAR I WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN WITH THE EVAPORATOR COIL LEAKING. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT THEY WILL REPORT IT SO THAT YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. DODGE NEEDS TO EITHER RECALL OR AT LEAST REPLACE FOR FREE THESE EXPENSIVE COMPONENTS THAT ARE FAILING PREMATURELY. *AK

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN COLD, AND DOES NOT SHIFT INTO OTHER GEARS PROPERLY.WHEN ENGINE IS WARM TRANSMISSION GETS BETTER. *AK