1996 Dodge Caravan complaints

CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

HEIGHT SENSOR VALVE, REAR LEFT BRAKE (THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE INCIDENT WAS JANUARY 5, 2003, HOWEVER, THE INCIDENT DATE SEGMENT DID NOT PROVIDE THE YEAR 2003. ALSO, THE NUMBER OF FAILURES SECTION...ONCE FAILURE OCCURRED, IT CONTINUED) WENT TO MECHANIC TO FIND PROBLEM. THERE WAS ANOTHER 1996 VAN THERE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (QUITE COINCIDENTAL, WHICH PROMPTED THIS COMPLAINT). MECHANIC SAID THE HEIGHT SENSOR VALVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT, COULD ONLY BE DONE BY DEALER DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A DEALER PART ONLY AND THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED REMOVAL. THE REASON I AM PROCEEDING WITH THIS COMPLAINT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAD LITTLE TO NO WARNING THAT BRAKE FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. DURING ONE TRIP (APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES TOTAL), BRAKES BEGAN TO FEEL "SPONGY", THEN BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ON NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS WITHOUT OUR THREE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. VAN WAS INSPECTED IN SEPTEMBER, NO INDICATION PROBLEM EXISTED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL VIBRATE THEN THERE'S A NOISE (PLACE UNKNOWN)AND VEHICLE WILL HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM WILL WORSEN WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE ABS BRAKES ARE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS HIGH BEAM LIGHTS THAT WORK IN VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE CLOCK SPRING WENT OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER HORN NOT TO WORK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S SLIDING DOORS DOESN'T SHUT ALL THE WAY, AND DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S BACK SEAT WILL NOT LOCK EVEN WITH OCCUPANTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE HORN AND THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DO NOT FUNCTION. *******DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS******770791. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN HAS FAILED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. IT WAS REPLACED ONCE IN 1997 AT 7,000 MILES BY CHRYSLER. IT WAS RECONDITIONED IN 2000 AT 56,000 MILES BY CHRYSLER. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE AT 81,000 MILES IN DECEMBER OF 2002. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND REFUSES TO PERFORM ANY "GOOD WILL" REPAIRS.

CLOCKSPRING DEFECTIVE, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE? DT

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS. ALSO AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT IT HESITATED WHEN MOVING INTO THE REVERSE GEAR THEN ABRUPTLY ENGAGED. *PH *NLM

CALLED NHTSA VIA 888 LINE TO CHECK ON A RECALL OF AN AIR BAG SWITCH TRANSFERRED TO "ROWLAND". HE TOOK THE MAKE AND MODEL INFO AND SAID THERE WAS A "RECALL" BUT THAT NHTSA DID NOT HAVE THE VIN #S EFFECTED. HE GAVE ME THE RECALL NUMBER FOR CHRYSLER 800-853-1403. "BEVERLY" ASKED DEMOGRAPHIC INFO AND AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS SHE FINALLY DID GIVE SOME INFO. SHE SAYS THERE IS "NO OFFICIAL" REQUEST BUT THAT CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION (SHE DID NOT GIVE ME ANY EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION). I WAS GIVEN A CASE # 10626557. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH "SOMEONE" WHO COULD ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT A TIMELINE. I WAS ON HOLD FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES AND "SHARON CRENSHAW" (SUPERVISOR) CAME ON THE LINE AND REPEATED THAT NO TIMELINE IS AVAILABLE. I THANKED HER BUT TOLD HER THAT NHTSA TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. SHARON SAID THAT CARS THAT ARE INCLUDED WILL RECEIVE A NOTICE VIA THE MAIL. I COULD CHOOSE TO TAKE MY "CHANCES" AND GO TO A DEALER AND HAVE THEM CHECK THE SWITCH AND REPAIR IF NEEDED. THEN I COULD SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR "POSSIBLE" REIMBURSEMENT. I ASKED IF THE DEALER COULD COMPARE THE PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA DESCRIPTION OF THE SWITCH AND TELL ME IF IT IS THE SAME. SHARON SAID THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION. I TOLD HER THAT WHAT I HAVE IS PUBLIC INFORMATION FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE. SHARON HAD NOTHING FURTHER TO OFFER. DT

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION "BLEW UP". TS

THIS IS A REPORT OF A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE DODGE CARAVAN. AFTER DISCUSSION, CHRYSLER CORP. HAS NOT ADMITTED ANY ISSUE AND THERE IS NO RECALL APPLICABLE. THE PROBLEM IS THE FACT THAT THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT TOWER (SUPPORTS VEHICLE) IS RUSTING THROUGH. THIS IS MORE THAN COSMETIC AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT ANY VEHICLE AGE / MILEAGE. ULTIMATE FAILURE WILL ALLOW THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION TO FAIL WITH POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND LOSS OF LIFE. EVEN THOUGH THIS COMPONENT HAS NOT FAILED COMPLETELY ON MY DODGE CARAVAN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS WERE UNDERSTOOD AND STUDIED. THANK-YOU. DT

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO THE VIN DEALER NOTIFIED.TS

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING. DT

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. VEHICLES' HEAD LIGHT GETS DEBRIS ON THEM WHICH RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NEED TO ADD THIS VEHICLE TO RECALL AND SERVICE BY DEALER NEED TO RECALL EVERY CLOCK SPRING MADE. DT

NO SUMMARY. DT

WIPERS TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY, INAPPROPRIATELY. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CRUISE DOESN'T WORK, HORN DOESN'T WORK. OTHER THAN THAT, THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769501

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT

WHILE DRIVING, THE HORN SYSTEM FAILED. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT HAD COME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING. *MR *SCC *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION POP OUT OF REVERSE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TURNING A CORNER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFOMATION. TS

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE HIT THE DEER AND HER DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE FURTHER INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR CARAVANS, SAFETY IS DEFINITELY COMPROMISED WITHOUT THE HORN OPERATING PROPERLY. DT

FAILURE IN SAFETY COMPONENTS, HORN AND AIRBAG ALSO CRUISE CONTROL. ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHERE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY "ON" HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL COMPONENTS NO LONGER FUNCTION. ITEMS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT SINCE THEY INVOLVE SAFETY FEATURES, A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE STEERING COLUMN/DASH AREA IS REQUESTED. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT STATED IN RECALL # 96 V 006 000, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED BY VIN NUMBER. DUE TO DATE OFF VEHICLE MANUFACUTURED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE CLOCK SPRING WENT OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER HORN NOT TO WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HE STOPPED AT A REST AREA AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FILL TUBE. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLES HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *JG *NLM

WE ALSO HAVE GHOST WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HAVE HAD THE VAN RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE FUEL RAIL NOW WE HAVE TO WORRY THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. THESE CARS SUCK AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE GAINING MORE SPEED, CONSUMER HIT A RETAINING WALL AND CAME TO A STOP. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT HAS PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR

CONSUMER STATES INVOLVED IN A COLLISION TRAVELLING APPROX 35MPH. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S BAG DID NOT. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY LIT AND VEHICLE'S HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DLR WHO ADVISED THAT AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CLOCKSPRING IN GEAR BOX WENT OUT CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ALLUMINATED. HORN GOES OUT\AND CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE HORN WILL OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND NO WARNING THE FUEL TANK HAD CRACK CAUSING FLUID TO LINK OUT AND THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO REFILL MORE THAN OFTEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER STATED THE TENSIONER BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. MR *JB

CLOCK SPRING FAILURE CAUSES THE AIR BAG AND HORN TO NOT WORK. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING AND THEN MY AIR BAG AND HORN WORKS. THESE 2 ITEMS ARE SAFETY FEATURES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768035

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ON THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING, THE RIBBON CABLE BROKE AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS COMING ON AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *NLM *SCC

THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS IN ON (DOES NOT WORK.) MECHANIC TELLS US THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NO AIRBAGS PLUS NO HORN = SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE. UPON RESEARCH, IT LOOKS LIKE MANY OTHER CARAVAN USERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. MR

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, AND HORN DOES NOT WORK. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG IS INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN SHE RECEIVE A RECALL FOR THE FUEL RAIL O RING. RECALL NUMER #895 THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO PARTS "AVAILABLE" SINCE FEBRUARY 2002 THE DEALERSHIP NAME ANDERSON DODGE 5711 EAST STATE STREE ROAD ROCKFORD IL 61107. 815 229 2000. NLM