1996 Dodge Caravan complaints

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND NECK INJURIES., AND FRONT END SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *AK

THE SHOCK STRUTS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RUSTED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP, AND THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

PURCHASED THE TIRES ON APRIL 24,2004 FROM SEARS. I HAD MY FIANCE TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK TO SEARS APPROXIMATELY A MONTH OR MONTH AND A HALF AGO AND REPORTED TO THEM THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES AND ALL THEY DID WAS ROTATE ALL 4 TIRES FOR ME. THEN TONIGHT 12/4/04 WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM OUTTING WITH MY CHILDREN AND DRIVING 55M.P.H. AND HAD TO PULL OF THE HIGHWAY FOR A FLAT TIRE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE TIRE YOU COULD SEE WHERE IT LOOKS TO BE THE BEADING SEPERATED. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WITH THE OTHER 3 TIRES BACK TO SEARS TOMORROW, 12/05/04 AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. TIRES ARE MANUFACTURED BY MICHELIN AND ARE ROAD HANDLER 215/65S16. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERABLE WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL(04V480000) FOR THE CLOCK SPRING WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING, THE WIPER STOPPED WORKING. UPON TURNING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER ON, THEY WILL WORK FOR A MINUTE AND THEN STOP AGAIN. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT TRAVELING AT 65 MPH IN A RAIN STORM WAS DANGEROUS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TC

TRANSMISSION AT 91,000 MILES ESSENTIALLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. CHYSLER REFUSED TO HELP ME I ALSO HAD TO CALL THEM BACK TO BE INFORMED OF THE DENIAL. I ASKED FOR THE NAME AND NUMBER OF THE ZONE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD I COULD ONLY GET THAT FROM THE DEALER. TOM ADDIS DODGE REFUSE TO IDENTIFY THE ZONE MANAGER OR GIVE ME HIS NUMBER. I WAS THEN INFORMED THE ZONE MANAGER DOES NOT TALK TO CUSTOMERS, AND UNLESS I COULD PRODUCE RECIEPTS FOR ROUTINE MAINTANCE FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNERS (WHO I CANNOT IDENTIFY) THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION, EVEB IF I HAD THAT PROOF I WAS TOLD DUE TO THE MILEAGE THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE. I ASKED TO SEE THIER TSB'S AND THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO ALLOW ME ACCESS TO THEM, STATING SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY MOTIVE TO READ THEM.*AK

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AND CONSEQUENCES AS STATED IN RECALL 04V2800000 FOR THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. BUT THIS MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON BY THEMSELVES UNDER ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS. LATER THE WINSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT COME ON WHEN IT WAS RAINING. AFTER PULLING OVER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE WIPERS WOULD COME BACK ON. CURRENT STATUS IS THAT THE WIPERS WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL, EVEN AFTER SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED. WE WERE STRANDED FOR OVER 2 HOURS WAITING FOR THE RAIN TO LET UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE "BODY CONTROL MODULE". THIS IS OVER A $300 PART. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.

DASHBOARD GUAGES INOPERATIVE, NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GUAGE, TEMP GUAGE. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. RESEARCH SHOWS IT HAS HAPPEND TO OTHER VEHICLES. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT STRUTS ARE RUSTED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONDEMNED BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST. THE RUST WAS NOT EASILY DETECTED BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER PAINT. *NM

1996 DODGE CARAVAN'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.*MR THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONSUMERS CLAIM, THEY STATED THE INSPECTION SHOWED IMPACT TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. *JB

I COMPLAINED TO THE CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTING THAT THEY FIX A DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FOR FREE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I FIX IT ASAP SINCE ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS A DEFECT AND I HAVE EVEN READ IT AS A RECALL IN OTHER DOCUMENTS. THE AIRBAG AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. TEXAS WILL NOT EVEN SAFETY APPROVE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS BEING FIXED.*AK

1996 DODGE CARAVAN SUFFERS FROM INTERMITTENT "BODY CONTROL MODULE". ONE OF THE POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAILURE IS RANDOM FAILURES OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS FAILURE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND APPARENTLY WIDESPREAD OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IS REPLACEABLE ONLY AT CHRYSLER DEALERS WHO CHARGE OVER $700 TO REPLACE THIS MODULE. THEY HAVE CONTRACTED WITH SOME NATIONAL SERVICE FACILITIES TO REPAIR THE MODULES (INCLUDING "UNITED RADIO" IN SYRACUSE NY) BUT THESE SERVICE FACILITES ARE CONTRACTUALLY PROHIBITED FROM PERFORMING REPAIRS ON MODULES SUBMITTED BY ANYONE EXCEPT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER. THIS FAILURE IS DANGEROUS AND DAIMLER/CHRYSLER IS USING IT AS A CASH-COW INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT AT NO CHARGE.*AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE CLOUDED OVER. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, EVEN WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING RECALL 02V293000 ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A ACCIDENT. *AK *SC *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS LENS DEVELOPED A DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE STATE INSPECTOR CHARGED CONSUMER $155.00 TO CLEAN THE LENS. THE CAUSE OF THE DISCOLORATION WAS DUE TO THE TYPE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL BEING USED. *AK

AS A PRECAUTION TO OTHER DRIVERS.MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN 125000 MILES,UPON LEAVING A PARKING LOT AFTER A HIGHWAY SPEED AND CITY SPEED TRIP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD.A POLICE OFFICER WAVED ME TO STOP.UPON INSPECTION OF THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WE FOUND THE OUTER TIE ROD JOINT BROKE SEPERATING AT THE BALL SOCKET CAUSING THE WHEEL TO NOT MOVE WITH THE STEERING.BY THE GRACE OF GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE WAY WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD.WE WERE ABLE THE CHANGE THE TIE OUTER TIE ROD SO WE COULD RETURN HOME.THE OTHER DRIVER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AS A PRECAUTION.IS THERE A RECALL ABOUT THESE TIE RODS? THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM A AFTERMARKET PARTS STORE APPEAR HEAVY DUTY COMPARED TO THE ORIGINALS.THE ORIGINAL PART SHOWED WEAR ON THE BALL ASWELL AS THE SOCKET.THE REPACEMENT PART HAS A GREASE FITTING TO LUBE THE JOINT AND THE ORIGINAL DOES NOT.PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA E-MAIL IF A RECALL EXIST OR WITH QUESTIONS.PLEASE INFORM THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THESE PARTS INSPECTED BEFORE A PROBLEMS OCCURS FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND BEST REGARDS /DAVID DEROUEN. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON BY THEMSELF WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED. DEALERSHIP URGED CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR ARMS AND THE BCM. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED, AND CURRENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. TSB 083198A WAS ISSUED. *AK

SHOCK TOWERS WHICH LEAD TO THE SPRINGS OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY WEEK DUE TO A OIL LEAK FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT WITH NO WARNING. USUALLY WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR TO TURN, SUCH AS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP. ALL THE SUDDEN NO POWER STERRING AN CAR IS DEAD. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES SEVERAL TIMES.NOTHING DONE, CZN'T FIND PROBLEM WHEN HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK, THE ELECTRICAL DOORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HORN DID NOT BLOW. *AK *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. *AK *NM

IN 2003, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, IN MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN, AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, WHICH BOTH HAVE CREATED AN UN-SAFE OPERATING VEHICLE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THE "RECALL" FOR THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS AS MY VEHICLE WAS OVER 70,000 MILES. NOW 2004 AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND NOW THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 95,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SERIOUS SAFETY AND POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY AND SHOULD NOT COST THE CONSUMER ANY MONEY WHATSOEVER. *NM

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH TO BE REPAIRED. *PH THE WIPERS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. OVER TIME THE PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. *PH LETTER WAS FORWARDED TO NHTSA BY CPSC.

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL 02V293000 AND FUEL TANK FILLER NECK RECALL 96V002000 PARTS WILL TAKE 3-4 DAYS TO BE ORDERED, WHEN THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT, IT HAS BEEN 3 WEEKS AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE MOTOR TO GO BAD.*AK

ENGINE LOSES LOTS OF OIL AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. ALSO SMELL BURNING SMELL WHEN ENGINE SHUTS OFF. RADIATOR LOSES COOLANT. DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE THINGS. ALSO OIL LIGHT ONLY COMES ON WHEN YOU TAKE A SHARP TURN. ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR, SINCE WE GOT IT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HORN/CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHT HOURS, INTERMITTENTLY THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WOULDN'T REVERSE. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FILLER NECK FRONT SEAL. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

WHILE DRIVING (SRS) LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH BOARD AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURN OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN ARE MALFUNCTIONING. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. *AK THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT WAS CLOUDED DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE HEAD LAMPS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GAS STATION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK THE FRONT AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING, THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE REAR SHOCKS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

THE HORN ON MY 1996 CARAVAN HAS STOPPED WORKING; THE AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME; THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS STARTING TO FAIL.*AK I SAW THE REPORT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ON NEWER MODELS. I THINK THE RANGE OF MODEL YEARS NEEDS TO BE BROADENED. I HAVE ALSO SEEN REPORTS OF OTHER 1996/1997 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS ON INTERNET AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES.

THE BELT LATCHES REGULARLY UNLATCH WHEN BUMPED. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT AND IF ONE CHILD BUMPS THE OTHER'S BELT LATCH, IT COMES UNLATCHED MOST OF THE TIME.

VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS BREACHED BY A DRIVE PIN WHICH WAS COMING LOOSE FROM THE ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER WAS DETERIORATING AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC

RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE VAN AT 33,000 MILES THE BUMPER PAINT STARTED PEELING AWAY AND THE PAINT ON TOP OF THE BACK TRUCK DOOR, IT'S TERRIBLE AND LOOKS LIKE HELL. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED! I HAVE A WARRANTY AND THEY SAY IT WON'T COVER , I HAVE HEARD DODGE HAS HAD A RECALL ON SOME YEARS OF PAINT PEELING

I WANT TO GET YOUR ADVICE ABOUT MY CARAVAN. EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED THERMOSTAT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM RECENTLY THAT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR A LONG TIME. CARAVAN LOSES POWER WHILE RUNNING, I MEAN THAT ENGINE IS RUNNING BUT VERY UNSTABLE AND GOING TO STOP IF DEEPLY PRESS GAS PEDAL. ONCE I LOSE POWER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT POWER. BUT IF I WAIT UNTIL ENGINE COOL DOWN (TYPICALLY AN HOUR OR SO), IT RECOVERS TO NORMAL CONDITION. EVEN THOUGH I CHECKED IT AT THE CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON. ONLY WHAT THEY CAN DO IS BASED ON THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS FROM MULTIPLE MISFIRE. WHEN IT WAS CHECKED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. BUT SOME PEOPLE, WHO WORK AT A GARAGE, TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT NORMAL. THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM MAY NOT BE MONITORED BY COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED A LOT OF PARTS; SPARK PLUG CABLE, (NOT SPARK PLUG BECAUSE IT IS LESS THAN 20000 MILE AFTER REPLACED), ROTOR, ROTOR CAP, FUEL FILTER AND AIR FILTER. IF THESE PARTS ARE REPLACED AND THERE IS STILL SAME PROBLEM, WE NEED TO SUSPECT FUEL PUMP. HE TOLD ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE SOUND THAT CAN BE HEARD WHEN WE PUT THE KEY TO THE IGNITION POSITION WHEN STARTING ENGINE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HEAR FUEL PUMPING SOUND FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING IF TURN THE KEY TO IGNITION POSITION

I RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WHICH WAS REPAIRED ON JANUARY 25, 2001, BY MY MECHANIC WITH ONE STOP AUTO. I RECEIVED A TWO RECALL NOTICES (1) DATED 1/25/01 AND 10/27/01, IN WHICH I AM STILL GETTING THE SAME LETTER FOR RECALL FROM THEM. WHAT HAPPEN IS THAT I HAD FUEL UP AT A SERVICE STATION BACK ON JANUARY 24,2001 AND NOTICE GAS COMING OUT OF MY CAR AND I CALLED MY MECHANIC THAT EVENING AND HE TOLD ME (MECHANIC) TO BRING THE CAR DOWN THE NEXT DAY. I WENT TO THE SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT IT NEED A GAS TANK SENDING UNIT ASSY. UNIT AND IT WAS REPLACED THAT DAY. I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER FOR THE REASON OF RING AROUND THE GAS TANK. I WROTE THEM A LETTER BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE MATTER AND THEY RESPONSE TO ME THAT IT WAS NOT WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. I THEN WROTE THEM A LETTER AND THE RESPONSE THAT THE FACTS PRESENTED IN MY LETTER TO THEM THAT I HAD NOT MET THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF THE RECALL. SO, DAIMLER/CHRYSLER DECLINE MY REQUEST. IT COST ME $523.05 TO REPLACE THE UNIT.

I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF MY USED 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN 2000, AND SINCE THEN HAVE REPLACED MINOR MECHANICAL FAILURES SUCH AS THE STARTER, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, TIRES (TWICE), WIPER BLADES, BULBS, BRAKES (TWICE) AS WELL AS THE ROTORS. AT PRESENT I AM DEALING WITH THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: PEELING PAINT, WIPERS ENGAGING AND NOT GOING OFF EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT TURNED ON, HARD JERKS EVERY NOW AND AGAIN (POSSIBLY FROM TRANSMISSION), AND THE BREAKAGE OF A STABILIZER BAR BUSHING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION.

LEFT FRONT STRUT MTG TOWER RUSTED THROUGH BY THE TIME THE RUST WAS SEEN THE METAL IN THE STRUT TOWER HAD FAILED CHRYSLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING STATING IT WAS OVER 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE FOR MANIFACTURERS DEFFECT REPAIR YET THIS IS KNOWN AS A COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL IF IT FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY.

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT. IT CAN SLIP OFF. WHEN IT DOES, YOU POWER STEERING GOES (SAFETY) AND YOUR CAR CAN OVERHEAT WITHIN MINUTES. YOU ARE STRANDED. PUTTING THE BELT YOURSELF IS NOT EASY, EVEN WITH THE DIAGRAM (THANK GOODNESS THEY HAVE THE DIAGRAM UNDER THE HOOD FOR OTHER MECHANICS, DO IT YOURSELFERS) THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT NOT A RECALL. I THINK THEY PUT ON A BRACKET WHICH WILL HELP KEEP THE BELT ON TRACK IN CASE OF WET WEATHER.

1996 DODGE CARAVAN- GEN 3 SEATLBELTS. TWICE THE SEAT BELT HAS COME UNBUCKLED AROUND MY CHILD'S CARSEAT. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE IT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH IT UNLATCHED. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT (ABOUT A YEAR AGO) I HAVE CHECKED THE SECURITY OF IT EVERY TIME WE GET IN THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED IT UNLATCHED ONCE MORE SINCE THEN. NOT SURE HOW IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING ON OR AROUND THE SEAT THAT COULD HAVE UNLATCH THE BELT. I RECENTLY SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF PARENTS MAGAZINE WHICH LED ME TO THE WEBSITE DISCUSSING THE CONCERNS AROUND THESE SEATBELTS. I PERSONALLY AM ALARMED. OUR CARAVAN HAS BEEN OUR MAIN VEHICLE AND I HATE KNOWING MY CHILDREN ARE NOT SAFE. THESE BELTS REALLY NEED TO BE RECALLED. *LA

CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE WAS CONSUMING TWO QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. ALSO, OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-35 MPH VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL SHAFT NOT BEING PROPERLY BOLTED AT THE FACTORY. AS A RESULT, IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE HOUSING. *AK THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS BREACHED BY A DRIVE PIN THAT HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE ASSEMBLY. *SC