1997 Dodge Caravan complaints

DASHBOARD INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH (PART NUMBER P04685630 36033E) STARTED BURNING WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THE UNIT STOPPED SMOKING ONLY AFTER SWITCH WAS UNPLUGGED.

DURING HIGWAY DRIVING ME, AND LATER MY FRIENDS INSIDE THE CAR START TO SMELL SOMETING BURNIG. WHEN WE PULL OVER AND STOP THE CAR, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN WE OPENED A HOOD, THERE WAS A FIRE INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HOOD PADDING WAS BURNING WITHOUT APPARENT REASON. FORTUNATELY I ALWAYS HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN MY CAR AND WE EXTIGUISHED THIS FIRE. NOW ALL INTERIOR OF MY CAR HAS TERRIBLE SMELL. MY CONCERN IS: WHY PADDING INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS HIGHLY FLAMABLE? DO CHRYSLER CORPORATION NEED MORE PEOPLES DEAD IN CAR FIRES? WHAT HAPPEN IF SOMEBODY ELSE WILL GET FIRE AND WILL NOT HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HANDY? HOW MANY PEOPLES CARY FIRE EXTINGUISHER, MAYBE THIS SPOUSE TO BE MANDATORY FOR ALL CARS? THANK YOU, ZBIGNIEW LUCKI

VAN CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOUSE. NOT DRIVEN FOR TWO&ONE HALF DAYS. *AK

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STEERING BELT TENSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POWER STEERING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES GRAB AND GO HALF WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WILL COME TO A STOP, BRAKES ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

I FEEL THIS MODEL, CARAVAN SE SPORT, NEEDS ALOT OF UPGRADES. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR FAMILIES. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE IS

NO SUMMARY

DODGE DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEMS. EVEN WHEN THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS.

WENT TO CHANGE THE BRAKES AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A 4- CYLINDER AFTER CERTAIN MILEAGE. ENGINE LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

DOME LIGHTS JUST START FLASHING RAPIDLY WHEN EVER THEY WANT DEALER CAN NOT FIX PROBLEM ,HAS HAPPENED EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES.

HAVING A HARD TIME FOR DEALER TO REPAIR PROBLEM. ALWAYS DELAYING TACTICS, BECAUSE WARRANTY IS ALMOST OVER.

CAMSHAFT BROKE IN HALF AT 59,000 MILES, NECESSITATING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. SERVICE MGR. & TECHNICIAN BOTH INISTSTED THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL IN ANY ENGINE, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE. DODGE REFUSED TO HELP WITH REPAIRS AS CAR WAS "OUT OF WARRANTY". THE WIPERS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES EVERY NOW AND THEN, SOMETIMES WHEN JUST OPENING THE DOORS. THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES AS IT HAD NEVER BEEN PROPERLY LOOKED AT, EVEN THOUGH SERVICE RECORDS SHOWED INSPECTION AT THREE OCCASIONS BEFORE BREAKING DOWN. ORIGINAL DEALER WAS DUTCHESS DODGE, 614 SOUTH ROAD, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601 (914) 462-7700. THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE BRAKES & WIPERS. THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED AT HYDE PARK MOTORS. I'VE CONTACTED DODGE (DAIMLER/CHRYSLER) AND THE DISTRICT MGR. (PHIL FORNABAIO) BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP WITH THE ENGINE AND WOULDN'T EVEN MEET WITH ME.

ENGINE HEADS CRACKED, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE OIL PAN, THE ENGINE SMOKES VEY BAD BECAUSE OF THIS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A SQEUAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK

AT PRESENT WE ARE WITHOUT A CAR FOR 8 DAYS THIS TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP 9 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE IN ARBITRATION THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT CHRYSLER WANTS THEM TO TRY A FEW MORE THINGS. THEY ARE NOT TELLING US WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT SAY THAT THE ARE TRYING WHAT THE TECHNICIANS ARE TELLING THEM TO DO. LAST WEEK WE WERE TOLD THAT A TECHNICIAN WAS GOING TO COME DOWN AND LOOK AT THE VAN. ON FRIDAY WE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS OVER THE PHONE AND THAT WE COULD ABSOLUTELY NOT HAVE THE CAR. THEY HAVE OUR CAR AND WE ARE PAYING $50 A DAY

ON A SLOW TURN, THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT SHEARED, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST ON THE VEHICLE

IN THE REVERSE POSITION IN WHICH THE INDICATOR IS ON "R" BUT ACTUALLY THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN REVERSE, BUT IN DRIVE POSITION. INTERMITTENTLY, THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. ALSO, A NO START CONDITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *YC

TENSION PULLEY BELT THATS CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING AND BATTERY WAS VERY LOW. THE BATTERY/ THERMOSTAT WENT INTO A HOT MODE. ALSO, THAT THERE IS WATER UNDERNEATH THE CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A BOAT. THE WATER UNDERNEATH COMES FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN RIDING THE VEHICLE. *AK

ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS DETERIORATED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK PADS REPLACED. MJS

LEFT FRONT BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR UNEVENLY WORN CAUSING CONSUMER TO HEAR A METAL ON METAL NOISE.

VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR IN WHICH DRIVER'S SEAT RELEASED FROM THE UPRIGHT POSITION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE CLUTCH HAD BURNT OUT IN THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. *AK

LEFT FRONT BRAKE PAD WORE OUT.

NO SUMMARY

CHILD MOVED SHIFT LEVER WITHOUT PRESSING ON BRAKES. HAS HAPPENED TWICE. KEY WAS IN IGNITION & VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT TIME. LEVER SUPPOSE TO BE LOCKED UNTIL BRAKES ARE PRESSED TO RELEASE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD CLUNK INTO GEAR BEFORE TAKING OFF. ALSO, LOST REVERSE GEAR AND LOW GEA., VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED / REPAIRED AT A INDEPENDENT SHOP. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CONDITION IS NORMAL FOR THIS MILEAGE OF 52,000. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY, RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING OF MAKING A LEFT TURN, STEERING WHEEL BECOMES A LITTLE STIFF. AFTER A POPPING NOSIE IS HEARD STEERING BECOMES NORMAL. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHENEVER MAKING LEFT TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD GO OFF, NOW THEY GO OFF AT ANYTIME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 67 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE PULLEY BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

LOSS OF STEERING AFTER HITTING PUDDLE CAUSING BELT TO SLIP.

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH DRIVER WAS TRYING TO SWERVE DUE TO A PIECE OF METAL ON THE ROAD. IN DOING SO, THE METAL WAS RUN OVER WITH THE TIRE AND STRUCK THE FUEL TANK, PUNCTURING A WHOLE AND CAUSING A LEAK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKIG WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER CAN MOVE FOOT OFF PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD MAINTAIN SPEED AS THOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. FOOT NEEDS TO BE PLACD UDER THE PEDAL AND PUSH UPWARD TO UNSTICK PEDAL.... VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO WARRANTY DISPUTE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN TIS MATTER. *AK

THE VAN WAS TAKEN ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS TO BE REPAIRED AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT HELP US GET THE MATTER RESOLVED. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE VAN WAS WRECKED BEFORE OUR PURCHASE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF STALLING. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ENGINE DIES.HAS TO PUT THE VEHCILE IN PARK IN ORDER TO START CAR AGAIN. CUSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER . *AK

FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND DRUMS ARE RUSTED,CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 14,000 MILE OF WEAR. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK *ML

I WAS PARKED AT BURGER KING, TURNED THE IGNITION AND PUT MY CARAVAN IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE. TO MY SURPRISE, THE CAR GAVE A SEVER JOLT, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE....I TRIED AGAIN AND THE SAME JOLT OCCURRED, THIS TIME SOUNDING LIKE STUFF INSIDE WAS BEING SMASHED UP (LIKE A TRASH COMPACTOR SOUNDS). I TRIED TO GET IT INTO DRIVE (EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALMOST AS FAR UP AS I COULD GO) AND IT WOULDN'T BUDGE EITHER...THE SOUNDS GETTING WORSE. AFRAID I WAS CRUSHING THINGS INSIDE, I TURNED THE CAR OFF. MY TWO CHILDREN AND I WALKED THE MILE OR SO HOME AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE MECHANIC SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ONCE HE LOOKED IT OVER AND TOOK THE TRANSMISSION OUT, IT WAS A SEVERE PROBLEM, "BIZZARRE" IS THE EXACT WORD OF THE MECHANC WHO ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY WARNING SIGNS. I HAD NONE. HE SAID HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THE EXTENT OF STUFF BROKEN APART INSIDE THE TRANSMISION LIKE BROKEN GLASS...AND SAID HE COULD NOT EVEN COME UP WITH AN EXPLANATION OF HOW IT MIGHT HAVE OCCURED SINCE IT WAS SO UNLIKELY FOR A CAR THIS NEW (97) WITH ONLY 43000 MILES AND THEN FOR THE "REAR PLANETARY (SP) GEAR CARRIER TO HAVE BEEN MUTILATED LIKE IT WAS WITHOUT THE FRONT HAPPENING. I HAVE PHOTOS TO SHOW THE HORRIFIC DAMAGE. AND I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE, GOD FORBID, I HAD NOT BEEN PARKED BUT STOPPED FOR A LIGHT OR SOMETHING OR ON A DARK ROAD OR WHEREVER, I CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT OF THE ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS HAPPENING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AND I FEE

POSSIBLE FLAW IN THE CASTING OF THE ROTORS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE BRAKE ROTORS TO RUST/PITT.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES HESITATION, BUCKING AND MISFIRES CONTINUALLY, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO SEVERAL COMPONENTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SYMPTONS. MJS

AS SOON AS VEHICLE IS STARTED UP AND STARTS TO MOVE CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES START TO COME THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM, CHOKING THE CONSUMER. DEALER HAS TRIED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, BUT CAN'T FIND THE SOURCE. *AK

HAD LOST TIMING BELT FROM TRANSMISSION DUE TO LEAKAGE. TRANSMISSION WOULD SHUTTER & CLUNK WHEN IN LOW SPEED & JERK. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD SQUEAL/SQUEAK & GRIND LOUDLY WHEN APPLIED. HAD THEM REPLACED. *AK

THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE WAS IN ROUTE ON A 12 HOUR ROAD TRIP. ABOUT 2 HOURS BEFORE OUR DESTINATION, THE VAN STARTED MAKING NOISES (WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES THEY MADE A GRINDING NOISE). WE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION, AND THE NEXT DAY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO "LOCK UP". I CALLED A DODGE DEALER, BUT I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT THAT FAR, SO I DROVE TO THE CLOSEST FULL SERVICE GARAGE. THE MECHANIC GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL, AND BEFORE HE GOT IT OUT OF THE LOT, HE PULLED BACK IN AND SAID HE THOUGHT HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG. HE RAISED THE VAN UP, AND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE ENGINE FALLING OUT. HE SAID TO STAY OUT OF THE VAN THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I IMMEDIATELY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALER. THEY VERIFIED THE ENGINE WAS FALLING OUT AND KEPT THE VAN A FEW DAYS TO INSTALL TWO BOLTS THAT THEY SAID WERE MISSING. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS A FACTORY ERROR AND HE SAID NO - THE BOLTS WERE IN AT ONE TIME AND SOMEHOW FELL OUT. P.S. WE HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 6 DAYS WHILE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER SAID HE NEVER SAW THIS HAPPEN BEFORE - TRUE OR NOT?

LIFTER NOISE DEVELOPED WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. MANY COMPONENTS REPLACED AND CLEANED BUT NOISE STILL EXIST. NLM

THE CONSUMER WAS A PASSENGER IN VEHICLE, AND REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO APPLY THE BRAKES, WHICH DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE HIT A CURB, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

A/C NOT WORKING, SALESMAN SAID IT NEEDED FREON SO CONSUMER HAD IT PUT IN BUT THE AIR CONDITIONER STILL IS'NT WORKING.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE WINDOW ON THE SLIDING DOOR SHATTERED, EXPLODED MOSTLY IN THE INWARD POSITION WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK