1997 Dodge Caravan complaints

RECURRING WATER LEAK , DEALER TRIED TO CORRECT BY ADJUSTING HATCH AND REPLACING SEAL. NO LONGER SHUTS PROPERLY. OFTENTIMES HAVE TO GET OUT OF CAR AND RESHUT. DEALER WILL ADJUST BUT WILL NOT BE RESPONSILBE SHOULD IT START LEAKING AGAIN. SUGGESTS I KEEP A DOOR OR WINDOW OPEN IN ORDER TO SHUT THE HATCH. WATER CAM EIN THRU SEATBELTS.

CONSUMER WAS SITTING WITH VEHICLE RUNNING, LETTING IT WARM UP. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO PLACE INTO GEAR, VEHICLE LAUNGED FORWARD WITH A SUDDEN BURST OF ACCELERATION. TO STOP VEHICLE, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF WHILE IT WAS MOVING.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO HELP EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAD SUCH LOW MILES. *AK

POOR FRONT DISC DESIGN. PADS WORN OUT 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 40K MILES. $235 PER REPAIR. *AK

THE SERPENTINE BELT PULLY HAS BROKEN TWICE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING TOWED TWICE, THERE IS A CONSTANT THUD FROM THE GAS TANK WHEN ACCELERATING, STOPPED DRAINS FROM THE "AC" ARE A CONTINOUS PROBLEM, CAR STUTTERS AT TURNPIKE SPEEDS AS WELL AS NORMAL CITY DRIVING, CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 22 TIMES IN 27 MONTHS, TRIED TO GET INFORMATION CONCERNING "LEMON LAW" BUT WAS ASKED TO "GIVE US THE CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT" .HAVE HAD A NIAGRA FALLS FROM UNDER THE DASH TWICE SINCE THEY "FIXED THE PROBLEM" CAR VIBRATES AT TURNPIKE SPEEDS. DOOR LOCKS BREAK/FOUL SMELL WHEN THE "AC" COMES ON, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON, THE VAN WAS LEASED, AND TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE WOULD INVOLVE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I WOULD TAKE MY 7 YEAR OLD BONNEVILLE ON TRIP BEFORE I WOULD TAKE MY 2 YEAR OLD VAN. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING GEARS TO SLIP. *YC

THE PULLEY THAT KEEPS THE TENSION ON THE FAN BELT SNAPPED OFF. A SINGLE BOLT THAT HOLDS THIS SNAPPED IN HALF. WE LOST THE STEERING AND OTHER COMPONENTS ALL AT ONCE. HOW CAN SOMETHING THAT TAKES THE ABUSE OF A FAN/SURPENTINE BELT ONLY REQUIRE ONE BOLT. I FOUND OTHERS IN YOUR LISTING THAT HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEMS. MY PARENTS ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE TOWN AND COUNTRY MINI VAN. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS AND LOST ALL CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, BUT CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STARTED AT AROUND 36000 MI.LES. *AK

AT LOW SPEEDS USUALLY IN TRAFFIC JAM OR TOLL AREA, VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO REASON. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON A SEPARATE INCIDENT AT 50 MPH I HEARD THE EGINE REV UP AND SLOWLY LOSING SPEED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, BUT CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED STALLING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, IT WILL SUDDENLY STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

ENGINE WILL STALL DURING DECELERATION, USUALLY IN THE 20-40 MPH RANGE. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER 20 TIME DURING THE LAST 6-9 MONTHS. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE STALL NEARLY CAUSED A REAR END MVA WHILE MY THREE CHILDREN WERE PASSENGERS. LOCAL DEALER UNABLE TO INDENTIFY OR DUPLICATE PROBLEM. I AM AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND FEEL THIS JEOPARDIZES MY FAMILY SAFETY. THANK YOU.

IN A HIGH SPEED REAR END COLLISION WITH A SEMI TRUCK, DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO FLY BACK. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

BATTERY FAILED.

HIGH BEAM LIGHTS FAILED.

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED. MJS

FRONT WINDOW SEAL FAILED. NLM

REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED. NLM

REAR TIRE WAS DAMAGED AND LOSING AIR. YH

"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LOGHT CAME ON/FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED (MASTER CLUTCH/FRONT PUMP). YH

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMES ON FOR NO REASON. *YC

THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT RELIABLE, BROKE WITHIN 2YRS. OWNER HAD NOTICED A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. WITH DEALER SERVICE MANAGER DURING FIRST YEAR, BUT HE SAID THAT WAS NORMAL! *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THERE IS AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR ANOHTER PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE OIL IS IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE CONSUMER'S HOUSE. *AK

CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUMES GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP FOR SERVICE, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DURING NIGHT DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FULLY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO SEE POTENTIAL HAZARDS.

STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO LOCK UP WHEN VAN TURNS CORNERS AND THE VAN BECOMES HARD TO HANDLE

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT HARNESS FAILED TO RETRACT WHICH RESULTED IN CHOKING THE CHILD WHILE IN THE SEAT, HARNESS HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO FREE THE CHILD. DEALER NOTIFIED/ WAS THE ONE WHO CUT THE HARNESS . *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR. AT TIMES WHE APPLY THE ACCELERATOR, IT GETS STUCK. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT BREAKS AWAY FROM SERPENTINE BELT EVERY 10,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVES THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM, I REPORTED A WHINING NOISE TO THE DEALER AND ON THE FIRST INSPECTION THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ON THE SECOND VISIT I INSISTED THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR RIDE WITH ME AT WHICH TIME HE DID INFACT HEAR THE NOISE,THEY INSPECTED THE VAN AND SAID THAT IT WAS LEAKING FREON.THE NOISE STILL PREVAILED AND WHEN I TOOK THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER THEY REINSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR,A MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION BY THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER REQUIRED ME TO WAIT OVER A MONTH, AND CAUSED MY VAN TO GO OUT OF WARRANTY, WHICH THE DEALER TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY THAT THEY WOULD HANDLE ANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITH NO CHARGE. I RETURNED THE VAN TO THE DEALER ON WEDNESDAY NOV. 18,1998 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AGAIN, AND INFORMED THEM THAT IT STILL MAKES NOISE AND IN FACT IT MAKES OTHER NOISES, POSSIBLY THE FAN BELT WAS LOOSE ETC. THEY REPLACED THE FAN BELT AND CHARGES ME $71.00 TO DO SO AS IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY.I HAVE PURCHASED A MAX WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER FOR $1200.00, IN OCTOBER BEFORE IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY. THE SECOND PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING IS THAT THE VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL, AND I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCATIONS TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT. THEY DID A MILAGE CHECK TO SEE THE CONSUMPTION OVER A GIVEN TIME PERIOD.IT WAS FIRST DONE OVER A 3000 MILE PERIOD AT WHICH TIME IT BURNED A

VAN OVERTURNED WHILE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO EITHER SIDE CAUSE UINKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE OF 1997. I HAVE HAD MY VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP (ROBERTS DODGE) IN MERIDEN APPROX. 6 TIMES FOR A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SO FAR THEY HAVE ADDED EXTRA PADDING TO QUIET THE NOISE, REPLACED THE GAS TANK, AND REPLACED THE REAR SHOCKS. TO ME THIS SOUNDS LIKE THEY ADMIT TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT A PROBLEM. I BROUGHT A MECHANIC FOR A RIDE ON 11/12/98 TO SHOW HIM THE NOISE IS STILL THERE, HE ADMITTED TO HEREING THE NOISE AND THEY CONTACTED CHRYSLER. THE SERVICE MAN (BOB) CALLED ME BACK AFTER HE HEARD FROM CHRYSLER AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN DO FOR ME BUT I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND THIS BULLETIN: SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 14-09-96 BULLETIN SEQUENCE NUMBER: 158 DATE OF BULLETIN: 9609 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB049112 MAKE: DODGE TRUCK MODEL: CARAVAN YEAR: 1997 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:FRAME:MEMBERS AND BODY SUMMARY: 'THUD/THUMP' SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP &/OR WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY.

WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY THE FLYWHEEL: PULLEY BELT POPPED OUT, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL (#97V200000). HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. INFORMED TIRES NOT AVAILABLE, AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE. WILL TRY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH MALFUCNTIONED, CAUSING WINDSHIELD WIPERD NOT TO OPERATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.

SERPENTINE TENSIONER FELL OFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING.

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. SUDDEN DEVELOPMENT OF MODERATE TO SEVERE BRAKE SHIMMY. ALSO,FOUND WARPED BRAKE ROTORS.

CONSUMER'S SON SUFFERED INJURIES IN A COLLISION WHEN DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL. SON'S SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED FROM FLOOR ANCHOR WHILE HE WAS BELTED IN IT. SON BROKE BACK. *AK

HEADLIGHTS TOO DIM. QCAW

BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE, BRAKES GO TO FLOOR WHEN APPLIED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. WHEN PEDAL IS PUSHED VERY HARD, THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. INVESTIGATOR LOOKED AT THE CAR AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD ONCE OR MAYBE TWICE, THEN STOP. CONSUMER WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS FAILED.

WINDSHIELD WIPERSONLY WORK ON INTERMITTENT SLOW SPEED.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT MANFACTURER'S WARRANTY OF 12000 MILES ON THE ROTORS ARE NOT CONDSIDERED TO BE NORMAL FOR CONSUMER TO REPLACE THEM. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE UNLESS COST GOES WAS COVERED BY THE CONSUMER. *AK CONSUMER STATES TAHT THE ROTORS RUSTED, CAUSING VIOLENT SHAKING ON THE FRONT WHEELS AND SHAKING OF THE DASH AND STEERING WHEEL, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS OCCURRED DUE TO A DESIGN PROBLEM. *SLC

RECALL WORK NOT COMPLETED, ALL TIRES INCLUDING SPARE TIRE WERE TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE SPARE TIRE.

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT APPLICATION. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY DEALER. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIIVE. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT STOP. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, IT RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER STATES THAT IF RED INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON THEN THERE IS NO PROBLEM, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON WITHOUT APPLYING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK