1996 Dodge Caravan complaints

SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR VAN IN AUGUST OF 1997, WE HAVE HAD MANY REPAIRS AND VISITS TO THE DEALER. AS OF TODAY, THEY HAVE NOT FIXED OR DIAGNOSED THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR APPLYING MY BRAKES, A CRUNCHING SOUND OCCURS ,AND I CAN FEEL IT IN THE PEDAL. IT IS A FAIRLY LOUD SOUND AND THE VIBRATION IS DISTRACTING BECAUSE YOU LOSE YOUR BRAKE PEDAL FOR A PERIOD OF 1-2 SECONDS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS AND PLAN TO TAKE A DETAILED SURVEY ON THIS MATTER, BUT, NONE TO THIS POINT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM OR ANTILOCK BRAKE COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH IS UNDETECTABLE. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, AND NOT UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. THIS, ALSO, LEADS ME TO THE CONCLUSION THERE IS A MAJOR SAFTEY DEFECT HERE. I HAVE HAD THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY CANT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, GET IN AN ACCIDENT? I HAVE ASKED THAT THEY RECALL MY VAN, REFUND FULL PURCHASE PRICE OR REPLACE MY VEHICLE WITH ONE SIMILAR TO MINE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM: TODAY IT WAS IN FOR BRAKES AND A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. PREVIOUSLY, CATALYTIC CONVERTER/ BLOWER MOTOR/BATTERY/ SPEED SENSOR AND ANTI RATTLE BUMPERS THAT STILL HAVENT CORRECTED PROBLEM/FUEL FILTER GROUND STRAP AND FUEL FILLER TUBE GROUND STRAP HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ALSO, DEGLAZED BRAKES, BUT STILL BRAKES SQUEAK.FINALLY, HEADLIGHTS REPLACED W/HOUSING/LAMP, AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY HAVE DONE TO IT WHILE IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW. IT HAS BEEN THER

COOLING FAN MODULE BROKEN CAUSING COMPRESSOR TO LEAK.

NONE OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS LOCK. WHEN PULLED THEY EXTEND ABOUT TWO FEET. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE COMPUTER DID NOT SECURE THE SEAT. COULD BE REMEDIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YC

THE VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE WE WERE GETTING GAS,THE ENGINE WAS OFF.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE.THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR GOT TOO HOT, CAUGHT THE WIRING SYSTEM ON FIRE, AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE. HE SAID AS WE WERE GETTING GAS WE WERE FEEDING THE FIRE.ALL MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS BURNING. THE FIRE DEPT. FILED AN OFFICIAL REPORT. CHRYSLER INVESTIGATED, KEPT US WAITING FOR A MONTH. THEN SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THEY WON'T LET US SEE THE REPORT. THEY WON'T LET US SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. WE HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE CAR SINCE THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT MAY BE EVIDENCE. THE INSPECTOR TOLD US OFF THE RECORD THAT THERE WERE HOLES BURNED IN THE TOP OF THE GAS COMPARTMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.ANOTHER MECHANIC QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THE CONVERTOR WAS SHIELDED AND WAS A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE GAS COMPARTMENT. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SLIFING DOOR WAS WORKING FINE. THEN ON 1/24/99 WE TRIED TO OPEN DOOR TO GET MY SON OUT OF HIS CAR SEAT, BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS STILL LOCKED. SO MY HUSBAND UNLOCKED IT AGAIN WITH THE KEY. IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. ON 1/28/99, I TOOK THE CAR TO A BERTERA DEALER IN PALMER, MA (CLOSER TO HOME,) AND THEY CHECKED THE FUEL DOOR SAFETY MECHANISM AND IT WAS OK. SO THEY CALLED CHRYSLER CORP AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMETIMES THE LOCK ACTIVATOR SEIZES UP. THE ENTIRE INSIDE DOOR PANEL MUST BE REMOVED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. POSSIBLY NEED TO REPLACE THE PART IF BROKEN. *AK

BATTERY FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

THE BUILT-IN CSS LATCHING MECHANISM WOULD PRESS UP AGAINST THE CHILD'S CROTCH AREA, CAUSING THE CHILD TO BE IN PAIN OR CLAIMS TO BE HURTING CHILD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE MECHANISM EXTENDED. WAS REFUSED DUE TO FEDERAL REGULATIONS. *AK

BUILT IN CHILD SAFTY SEAT LOCKS DO NOT WORK.THE PART THAT GOES OVER THE CHILD WILL NOT RETRACT TO RELEASE THE CHILD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UP THE DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CUTS OFF. HAD NO WARNING. ALSO, THE GAUGES ON DASHBOARD DO NOT WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD, ESPECIALLY, ODOMETER/FUEL AND PRESSURE GAUGES. IN ADDITION, BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE/SLIDING DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED PROPERLY WITH OR WITHOUT KEY. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEMS. *AK

RADIATOR FAN SWITCH BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT CONTINUOUSLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALR REPLACED SWITCH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

THE TENSIONER BELT DRIVE PULLEY BROKE A PIECE OF METAL FROM IT AND HIT VEHICLE BEHIND.

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 35MPH CRASH, WIFE HIT STEERING WHEEL AND DASH BOARD.

THE SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR HAS FALLEN DOWN INTO THE CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CANNOT READ THE GEAR THAT VEHICLE IS IN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

IF TRYING TO GO INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT, GIVE IT GAS, THEN TRY REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES JUMP INTO REVERSE AND FORCED SPEED ALLOWS VEHCLE TO LUNGE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TWICE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. THE THIRD TIME DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDED TRANSMISSION REBUILTED. SPITZER DODGE---614-861-0250. *AK

CONSUMER HAD RECALL # 98-V-185-000 REPAIRED YESTERDAY. THE DEALERSHIP ADDED EMERGENCY RELEASE CLIPS WHICH HELPS TO RELEASE THEM. BUT WHEN PULLING UP OVER CHILD'S HEAD THE BELT GETS TIGHTER ON THE CHILD'S CHEST, NOT COMPLETELY RELEASING. *AK

PLASTIC GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING. WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND HAD TO CALL FIRE DEPT. TO CLEAN UP SPILL, AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER IN TOWN. DEALER STATED THAT A LOT OF THESE TANKS HAVE FAILED AND EXPECTED A RECALL. STOCKTON DODGE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP. FOR ME AND ADVISED ME THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME . *AK

WHEN GOING UP A HILL AT HIGH SPEEDS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE VAPOR LOCK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION/ALTERNATOR/BELTS/POWER WINDOWS/SHOCK ABSORBERS/BATTERY/COIL/SPARK PLUGS AND RADIO FAILED.

THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE DODGE CARAVANS ARE DEFECTIVE. WE OWN A 1990 THAT IS ON IT'S 4TH TRANS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU

TRANSMISSION LEAKING FLUID, STARTING TO GO.

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN OR STALL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT ANY MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT A NOTICE, LEAVING CONSUMER ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD SOME OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER HAD REPAIRED VEHICLE A FEW TIMES BEFORE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THE CHILD'S SAFETY DEAT DOES NOT ACCOMODATE A CHILD UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE--THE BUCKLY MECHANISM IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GROIN OF THE CHILD, CAUSING PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. ALSO, THE LATCH MECHANISM OFTEN GETS OBSTRUCTED BY FOOD/CRUMBS AND WILL NOT RELEASE.

REAR BRAKE SHOES ARE WEARING OUT TOO SOON FOR 30,000 MILES OF WEAR; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35MPH. THE POWER STEERING BELT HAS POPPED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND MAKING THE TURNING VERY HARD. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

STARTER WIRE SHORTED OUT AND STARTED A FIRE INSIDE UNDER THE HOOD, FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND HAS A REPORT. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIR WORK DONE, VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR COMES OPEN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. -NOW VEHICLE IS MAKING A NOISE. *AK

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION. DEALER CONTACTED AND WILL TRY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BLOWER MOTOR RESISTED BLOCKING AND CONNECTING HARNESS WAS MELTED, WHICH CAUSED FAN TO OPERATE ON HIGH SPEED ONLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE MADE AT OWNER'S EEXPENSE. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNALS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH STEERING COLUMN VIBRATION, AND ODOR THAT COMES FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL IS VIBRATING ,AND THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. ALSO ,THE PEDAL VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD STALL PREVENTING BRAKES FROM WORKING PROPERLY. CV JOINT WENT THROUGH TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE WAS IN ARBITRATION FOR 37MPH VIBRATION, BRAKE FAILURE AND ENGINE STALLING

RETRACTOR FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN CONSUMER WANTED TO REMOVE CHILD FROM THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT. BELT WOULD CONTINUALLY TIGHTEN . CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE BELT TO REMOVE HER CHILD. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS HAVE NOT ARRIVED SINCE 14-SEP-98. MFR. NOTIFIED, AND CONTINUED TO INFORM CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE IN ; BUT NO DATE COULD BE GIVEN. PART HAS FINALLY BEEN REPAIRED. *AK *ML

WHEN DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING OFF AND ON. CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE AIR BAG AND HORN SWITCH TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW AIR BAG AND HORN. 831047 DUP 0F 831604; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN OTHER DRIVERS NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM FUEL TANK. BARELY OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES. HAD NO WARNING & SMELLED NO SMOKE. INSURANCE ADJUSTER & MECHANIC SAID FIRE WAS CAUSED BY HOLE IN FUEL TANK, CAUSING IT TO LEAK & IGNITE. THERE'S RECALL #96V002000. AFTER THE RECALL ITEM WAS REPAIRED, OWNER EXPERIENCED BATTERY AND COMPUTER RELATED FAILURES. *AK *ML

FILLED VEHICLE WITH FUEL. NOTICED THAT FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT OF TANK. MECHANIC CHECKED IT & NOTICED DEFECTIVE "O" RING. RECALL ON FUEL TANK 396V002000. *AK

VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, LATER BELT POPPED AND TENSIONER WENT, THEN REPLACED. THIS REOCCURRED 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES. DEALER CONTACTED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG SENSOR. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON AND OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN WATER SPLASHES OF INSIDE OF TIRES ON A SLOW TURN ENTERING THROUGH DRAIN HOLES IN BOOT INSTALLED TO STOP SLUSH OR SNOW FROM DILODGING SERPENTINE BELT. 3.8 V6 ENGINE. CHRYSLER HAS NO CURE SAID WOULD CHANGE ENGINE TO A 3.0. I USE VEHICLE FOR HEAVY LOADS SOMETIMES AND WANT LARGE ENGINE PRCHASED. I FOUND THAT BY COVERING THE TWO DRAIN HOLES WITH DUCT TAPE THE WATER STOPED SQUIRTING INTO BELT THAT CAUSED BELT TO SPIN BY POWER STEERING PULLY. BELT TENSION BEARING HAS FAILED 3 TIMES AND THE BOLT THAT HOLDS PULLEY ON HAS SHEARED OFF ONCE. LOSS OF STEERING AND NO BELT TO RUN ENGINE

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED BETWEEN 20-35 MPH THE VEHICLE WOBBLES/SHAKES. CONSUMER HAD TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED. THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

FUEL LINES WERE DISCONNECTED FROM THE GAS TANK, VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK IS CRACKED AND LEAKS FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAS A HEAVY FUEL ODOR. THE DEFECTS DESCRIBED WITH VEHICLE ARE RELATED TO INVESTIGATION NUMBERS EA 97002, IE 96066, AND PE 96051. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING THEIR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN MANEUVERING. INVESTIGATION NUMBER IE 98054 "POWER STEERING LOSS." THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE AND BACKING UP HEARD A SCRAPPING NOISE, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BELTS SEPARATED ON TIRES.(MICHELIN XW4 P215/65R15).

3 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

MECHANISM ON SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

REAR WHEEL BRAKE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK