1996 Dodge Caravan complaints

AFTER SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE SLIDING DOOR. *AK

WE HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT . I AM NOT CLEAR ON THE SPECIFICS OF IT BECAUSE I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS, BUT I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK ON WHAT EXACTLY WAS DONE. ANYWAY AT ROUGHLY 42000 MILES, WE BEGAN HEARING LOUD "KLUNKING NOISE" COMING FROM UNDER MINIVAN. HAD IT CHECKED AND WE WERE GIVEN THE GREAT NEWS THAT IT DEFINITELY WAS THE TRANSMISSION, AND IT WAS SHOT. CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY STATED IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO SORRY. WE TOOK IT TO VERY GOOD AND RESPECTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY REBUILT IT FOR AROUND 1000 DOLLARS I BELIEVE. IT JUST PISSES ME OFF THAT A TRANSMISSION DOES NOT LAST PAST 40000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. AND WE HAD ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. AND THAT DODGE SAYS SORRY, BUT YOUR OVER 36000, SO WE CANT HELP YOU.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. HE WAS LOOKING IN HIS REAR MIRROR AND HE NOTICED SMOKE TRAIL. GASOLINE WAS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE PIPE, AND THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. WHEN HE APPLIED BRAKES,THE CAR KEPT MOVING. *AK THE VEHICLE CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC GOING 55 MPH DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WHICH THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED. 15 MONTHS LATER FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE CAUSING FIRE WHILE THE CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING. *YH

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OUT SHORTHLY AFTER ENGINE STARTS. BUT THEN WILL COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS AN AIR BAG FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF IF THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ONLY. WILL THE AIR BAG WORK IF THE LIGHT IS OUT AS ONE WOULD EXPECT AND NOT WORK IF THE LIGHT IS ON WHICH ONE WOULD ALSO EXPECT. THE INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON THEN AFTER A BIT GO OUT. PLEASE ADVISE. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED TOO LOW. NLM

VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE SWEPT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BACK THROUGH THE FIREWALL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARMENT, CLAIM 38-J468-878. *SLC

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS INTO GEARS AT UNUSUAL SPEEDS. AT INITIAL START UP EACH DAY, CAR LURCHES INTO GEAR WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF 6 TIMES (AT LEAST) SINCE JAN 99. TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SPEEDS OF 65MPH. THE BELT FAILURE CAUSES A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND WITHIN MINUTES LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. ALL KINDS OFF PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND YET IT STILL HAS FALLEN OFF THREE TIMES SINCE DEC 99. THE GARAGE HAS CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERS FOR FIXES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE BELT STILL FLIES OFF AND THE SQUEAK THAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE FIRST REPLACEMENT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND WORSE. I HAD A DEALER SO MUCH AS SAY IT WAS GOING TO FLY OFF WHE IT GOT WET. WELL IT'S COME OFF WET AND WHEN IT'S DRY. TWO TIMES AGO ON A DARK COLD NIGHT 45 MINUTES FROM HOME WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE CAR GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK GOD I WAS DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZZARD AND MUST BE ADDRESSED. THERE IS AN EXISTING TSB ON THIS ISSUE ON YOUR WEB SITE BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT COVERS MY CAR. A DEALER I CONTACTED TODAY WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF I HAD A SPLASH GUARD INSTALLED. HE IS LOOKING AT IT TOMORROW. TENSIONERS (3), PULLEYS, AND MANY BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SO FAR. PLEASE HELP ME FIND A SOLUTION.

SERPENTINE BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFI *AK

WE NOTICED THAT OUR MINIVAN WAS LEAKING OIL ON THE GROUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. STATED THAT WE HAD A FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD GASKET REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. WE HEARD THAT OTHER CARS SUCH AS THE DODGE NEON AND MINIVANS FROM DODGE/CHRYSLER ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. REQUEST THAT NHTSA REVIEW THIS SITUATION AS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, IF NOT ALREADY INITIATED. THE COST FOR THIS JOB IS $900.00-1100.00. IF WE PERFORM THIS JOB AND THIS DEFECT BECOMES A RECALL SITUATION, CAN WE RECEIVE A REFUND FROM THE MANUFACTURER? THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE RESPOND TO US ASAP. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE CRACKED ,CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. PROBLEM OCCURS IN SLOW OR HIGH SPEED OR AT A STOP POSITION, AND WHEN APPLYING THE ACELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

A SHEARED BOLT ON MAIN PULLEY TO THE ENGINE, CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO BE STRIPPED AND INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHILE IN USE, CAUSES POOR VISSIBILITY WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAS COME OUT OF DIFFERENTIAL UNIT RUBBING THOUGH CASE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LEAK. YH

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 DODGE CARAVAN THAT I PURCHASED USED SIX MONTHS AGO AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED SIMILURE PROBLEMS AND IF ANY OF THESE ARE RECALL ISSUES. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

UNIT DIES WHEN COLD,TOOK UNIT TO COLISEUM MOTORS THEY SAID ALL DIESELS (DIE WHEN COLD THIS IS MY 5TH DODGE DIESEL AND NONE OF THEM DIED WHEN COLD THIER FIX FOR THE PROBLEM WAS TO SET IDLE UP NOW IN ORDER TO RUN UNDER 30 MPH I HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES.IT IS VERY SCARRY TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON ICE OR SNOW AS IT PUSHES YOU THRU INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE CONTACTED COLISEUM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD SET IDLE BACK DOWN I GUESS I CAN EITHER SLIDE THRU AN INTERSECTION WITH A DODGE TRUCK OR DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. ANY HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED THANKS. *AK

THE DESIGN OF BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE/ PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR LOCKS FROM THE INSIDE / OUTSIDE CAUSE AN OCCUPANT TO BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A FAILURE. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS SEEMED TO BE COMING OUT. ALSO HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. IF THE AIRBAGS WERE TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY, IT MIGHT RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IT TOOK THE DEALER WITH THE PRODDING AND HELP OF THE MANUFATURER MORE THAN A MONTH TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IN THE WINSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ITSELF BUT IN THE 'ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX'.

NO SUMMARY

REPLACED SERPINTINE BELT AT 39432 MILES,

MY NEW CARAVAN HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 23,577 MILES. THE CASE OF TRANSMISSION WAS RUBBED THROUGH BY THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN MOVING OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT.

HEARD PEBBLES UNDERNEITH THE CAR. STOPPED AT A MECHANIC'S SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE ALTERNATER WAS GOING OUT, BUT IT WASN'T TRUE, IT WAS THE ENGINE.WHILE TRYING TO GET HOME THE CAR JUST QUIT AND HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE BY ITSELF IN THE ENGINE BY THE BACK FIREWALL, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE EGR VALVE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. VEHICLE USES LESS FUEL NOW. VAN SHAKES LEFT AND RIGHT AT 37MPH, AND UP/DOWN AT 48 MPH. AT FIRST, DEALER DENIE DPROBLEM. HOWEVER, AFTER THEY CHECKED OTHER VANS AND FOUND SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER BELIEVES SHAKING HAS TO DO WITH A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. ALSO , MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

THE GARGO DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. DEALER REPLACED DOOR LOCK. PROBLEM EXISTS FOR THE SECOND TIME. *AK

PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED SINCE THE TRANSMISSION IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE INTO THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD. NLM

POOR DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION CAUSED DIFFERENTIAL PIN TO COME OUT OF THE DIFFERERTIAL UNIT, RUBBING THROUH CASE AND CAUSING OIL LEAK. NLM

SOCKET FOR THE LIGHT BULBS HAD MELTED THE PLUGS. ALSO, SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES DUE TO BREAKING. LAST BELT WAS SHREDDED TO PIECES. THE TENSIONER GAUGE WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON & THE HORN FAILED TO WORK WHEN USED. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK PROBLEMS. *AK

TRANSMISSION ENGAGES WITH LOUD AND FORCEFUL "CLUNCK', WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. IMPROVES WHEN WARMED THOUGH. TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM ONE GEAR TO NEXT: ALSO UNTIL VEHICLE WARMS UP. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE "AS IS" BY BACKING INTO PARKING SPACE BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN FOR EVENING AND DID NOT REPORT UNTIL JANUARY OF 1998. SERVICE WAS DONE AT THAT TIME TO "ADJUST BANDS" BUT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH CHRYSLER AGAIN, SINCE OCTOBER FOR REPAIR, BUT VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CONDITION IS NOW DETERIORATING SUBSTANTIALLY AND NEEDS REPAIR. *AK

FRONT ROTORS WARPED. MECHANIC REPORTED THAT WHEN HE TURNED THEM ON THE LATHE HE UNCOVERED PITS ABOUT 1/4" IN DIAMETER JUST BELOW THE DISC SURFACE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS POSSIBLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND HE REFUSED TO SAY YES OR NO. *AK

THERE IS AN OIL LEAKAGE COMING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET FROM WHICH THE OIL IS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE AND ROADS. *AK.

THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR FAN. *MJS

FUEL TANK DEVELOPED LEAK IN SEAL AROUND FUEL TANK PLUG PRESSED IN AT THE MAUFACTURER'S FACILITY. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND TOLD THEM MY PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING BUT CHARGE ME FULL PRICE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY CHRSLER , BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT A SPEED OF 5-10 MPH DRIVEBELT TENSIONER SUPPORT ROLLER FELL OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP, DUE TO THIS LOCK UP, LOST CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN STOPPED WORKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ENGINE OVERHEATED. DEALER HAS VEHICLE RIGHT NOW. *AK

AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE ON TWO OCCASION ONCE IN A FRONT RIGHT SIDE COLLISION AND ONCE DURING FRONT END COLLISION. NLM

BOTH FRONT AND REAR ROLLOVER VALVES TO TANK JOINTS WERE LEAKING, TSB #665 WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO INCIDENT/FAILURE. MJS

MY MECHANIC COMMENTED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THIS FAILURE COULD BE CAUSED BY DRIVING HABITS OR POOR MAINTAINENCE. HE IS CERTAIN THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS FAULTY AND IS COOPERATING WITH ME TO RECLAIM MONIES OWED BY THE CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION. THANK YOU! *AK

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL, AND VEHICLE LEAKS GAS. DEALER COULDNT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

ROCKER PANEL ON THE BEAD HAD SNAPPED OFF. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE SHORT BOLTS WHICH HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS FROM THE CYLINDER POUNDING. HAD LOST POWER & HAD NO OVERHEATING HEATING. ALSO, HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

I DETECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE UNUSUAL SOUND DURING ACCELARATION ESCALATED TO A STRONG VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH AGAIN WAS NOT INVESTIGATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS NOT DETECTED UNTIL THE OIL LEAK WAS INVESTIGATED (OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY). CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED AFTER THIS INCIDENT AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT, NOT TO MENTION THE POOR TREATMENT BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT.

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY THREE VEHICLES, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

WHEN FILLING UP GAS TANK, GAS WILL SPILL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO TILL TANK. *YC

THE VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD AND WILL NOT GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR IF SPEED IS INCREASED. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHEN FILLING GAS TANK , FUEL WILL LEAK ONTO GROUND, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. *AK