1997 Dodge Caravan complaints

VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY FROM A FRONTAL IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE EXAMINED, AND STATED CLOCK SPRING WASN'T FUNCTIONING. CONSUMER WILL ADD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. *AK

MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF GASOLINE SMELLS INSIDE OUR VAN OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF CHRYSLER/DODGE DEALERS TWO OR THREE TIMES. THEY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AS IT WASN'T HAPPENING WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE IN THE DECEMBER 16, 2001 ISSUE OF THE DETROIT NEWS AND FREE PRESS WHICH INDICATES A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WE WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT OUR ENGINE SIZE AND VEHICLE YEAR WERE NOT INDICATED IN THIS ARTICLE. AFTER READING THIS ARTICLE WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. WE CANNOT BELIEVE DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS BEEN SO SLOW IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH HAS WENT BACK AT LEAST TWO YEARS FOR US. THANK YOU!*AK

BRAKES: PROPORTIONAL VALVE HAD FAILED. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BRAKE PEDAL WAS GETTING SPONGY. THEN, HAD CHECK ON BRAKE FLUID, WHERE BRAKE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND HAD LOST BRAKE POWER. MECHANIC SAID THAT BRAKE FLUID HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, AND HORN STOPPED WORKING. DEALER DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER PAID $2,500 TO REPLACE SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION, MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH LOST STEERING. DEALER REPLACED TENSIONER BELT THAT HAD FALLEN OFF. THIS HAD HAPPENED IN DECEMBER 2000, AT 30000 MILES. DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION ON 15 NOVEMBER, 2001 DEALER NOTICED TENSIONER BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. *AK

EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. VILLAGE DODGE DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO INVESTIGATION. *AK

ENGINE CONNECTING ROD BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

AT 35 MPH, THE PLANETARY GEARS AND TRANSMISSION EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACED DEALER. *AK *SLC

MY FAMILY OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN THAT IS FOUR YEARS OLD, AND HAS 48000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND STAYED ON DURING DRIVING 10/7. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLAIMS THAT THE SYSTEM IS MAINTENANCE-FREE, AND IF THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. *AK

DURING THE TIME OF THE JUNE '01 FAILURE I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. MY FAMILY AND I HAD JUST ENTERED A LOCAL ROADWAY WHEN A DEER CROSSED IN FRONT OF US. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT WAS LIKE STEPPING ON A ROCK. I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE. THE BRAKES HAD JUST WORKED FINE AS WE ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND THEY WORK FINE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. I HAD NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN PREVIOUSLY. NOR DID I REALIZE AT THE TIME THIS WAS GOING TO BE A REOCCURING PROBLEM. ON OCTOBER 6, '01 I WAS TRAVELING ALONG A RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME I WAS TRAVELING AT A SAFE DISTANCE AND GOING APPROX 45MPH. I SHOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP. HOWEVER, I ONCE AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY VAN NO MATTER HOW HARD I STOOD ON THE PEDAL! I BARELY MISSED OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, CROSSED OVER A SIDEWALK AND HIT A HOUSE THAT LINED THE ROAD. I ENDED UP IN AN EMPTY LOT BESIDE THE HOUSE I HAD HIT. MY SON SUFFERED BRUISING ON HIS UPPER LEGS FROM BEING BOUNCED AROUND AND I SUFFERED A CUT HAND AND CONTINUE TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY BACK. I AM SO ANGRY THAT MY CHILDREN 8 AND 1, AS WELL AS MYSELF WERE PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF AN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER NOT TAKING THE RESPONSIBLE POSITION IN NOTIFYING THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR PRODUCT OF A POTENTIAL BRAKING PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE A FAMILY ISN'T KILLED BEFORE CHRYSLER/DODGE WAKES UP TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MANUFACTURING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT THAT COULD KILL FAMILIES. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF

AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING/ HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN NEEDED, AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO OPERATE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY IN STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED, AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

INFORMED THAT CLOCK WORK MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE UNDER STEERING WHEEL COVER, THIS CONTROLS THE AIRBAG,CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

MY TRANMISSION HAS GONE 4 TIMES THE FIRST TIME WAS 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE AND PROBLEMS CONTINUE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A OFF RAMP, HE STOPPED AT T STOP SIGN AND MADE RIGHT TURN INTO TRAFFIC. ROARED AND SURGED INTO TRAFFIC. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO. HAD TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IN FIRST INCIDENT VEHICLE RAN INTO A TREE. THERE WERE INJURIES. *AK

COOLANT IS LEAKING BETWEEN THE CYLINDER AND THE ENGINE BLOCK. COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM OPERATING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. VEHICLE SLOWLY LOST POWER, AND NEALRY SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME, THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CEASED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE WIPERS COME ON AT RANDOM, BUT ESPECIALLY UPON USING TURN SIGNALS (WIPER CONTROLS ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER).*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HORN STOPPED WORKING. DEALER WAS REPLACING CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY.*AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OTHER MODELS ON RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT RECALLED. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 TO 10 MPH CONSUMER RAN OVER A ROCK IN ROAD AND DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FEELS THESE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHIEL DRIVING, AND CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CLOCK SPRING CONNECTOR FAILED. *SLC

BELT RETRACTOR FOR THE INTEGRAL CHILD SAFETY SEAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED. BELT IS EXTENDED FULLY AND CANNOT BE USED PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THIS WAS A FUEL LEAK ON THE TOP OF FUEL TANK AT ONE OF THE OPENINGS FOR THE THREE ITEMS THAT CONNECT TO THE TANK. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED IN MARCH, 1999. HOWEVER, WE HAD NOTICED A GAS SMELL PRIOR TO THIS (1998-1999 MOST LIKELY) AND REPORTED IT, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. WE LIVE ON A STEEP HILL AND FROM AUG, 1997-DEC, 2000, WE PRIMARILY PARKED THE VAN IN THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS LEVEL. IN DEC, 2000, WE STARTED PARKING IT ON THE HILL AND STARTED NOTICING A GAS SMELL AND A GAS DRIP FROM THE TANK WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED UP HILL. MOST LIKELY THE LEAK HAS BEEN FROM DAY ONE AND WHEN WE HAD A FULL TANK AND DROVE UP THE HILL, SOME OF IT WOULD LEAK OUT. THE SERVICING DEALER (HAYES CHRYSLER, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA) IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN MARCH, 2001 AND ESTIMATED A ~$700 REPAIR TO REPLACE THE TANK, AS THE GASKETS WERE MOST LIKELY THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS MORE RELIABLE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TANK. I BELIEVE, THIS WAS AN IMPROPER AND HIGH QUOTE AND STATED SUCH AND THEN I REQUESTED A REPAIR UNDER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AND ASKED THEM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER'S REP. THEY DID AND CHRYSLER PROVIDED THE TANK AND I PAID THE LABOR ($198) -- I PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE PAID THE LABOR. I KNOW THEY HAVE HAD SOME RECALLS RELATED TO SIMLAR ISSUES AND ROLLOVERS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT -- I ASSUME YOU RELAY THE VEHICLE INFORMATION, BUT NOT MY PERSONAL INFORMATION, CORRECT? *AK

IDLER/TENSION PULLEY FAILED CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SKIP AND CAUSING VALVES TO BE STRUCT BY THE PISTONS. TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO COMPRESSION AT ONLY 26,160. VEHICLE WAS MAINTAIN VERY WELL. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FULL PRICE BUT AGREED TO A 50/50 SPLIT OF COST. THEY ARE DRIVING UP THE COST OF REPAIRS BY FINDING OTHER PROBLEMS. CAN YOU HELP?

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY STALL OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART VEHICLE ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT, IT WILL RESTART. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *SLC

TIRE BLEW-WE SPUN OUT, HIT A SEMI, TOTALED VAN..INSURANCE CO INSPECTOR SAID TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE-TREAD TOTALLY CAME OFF-JUST HAD TIRES SERVICED IN JULY 2001. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND WE HIT SEMI IN FRONT-CUT ENGINE IN HALF . WHEN BOUGHT CAR, DEALER SAID IT HAD BEEN IN NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS, BUT WE'RE LATER TOLD WHEN WE FOUND GLASS IN THE BACK, THAT THE REAR BUMPER/PANEL HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. WONDERING NOW IF AIRBAGS WERE NOT RECHARGED FROM A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. ACCIDENT OCCURED 6 HRS OUTSIDE SAN ANTONIO (VAN HORN, TX) AND VAN IS NOW IN EL PASO, TX.*AK

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 23-1389-946. *SLC

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING.*AK *JB

EA-01-007; AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING OFF AND ON ON DASHBOARD, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING WHICH PREVENTED AIR BAG LIGHT FROM FLASHING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME BY THERE SELF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR MAKING A TURN. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN DISTRIBUTOR BEARINGS SEIZED UP AND CAUSED TRANSAXLE TO LOOSEN UP. TRANSMISSION THEN FAILED. VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED PLUG ON TRANSMISSION CANISTER CAP HAD MELTED. THIS HAPPENED AT 78,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM REAPPEARED IN NEW TRANSMISSION. HAD PREVIOUSLY SMELLED SULFUR LIKE FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE GAVE BIG JERK , AND MADE A LOUD NOISE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, NOTICED GRAYISH SMOKE IN REAR. AT DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC NOTICED PLUG, MADE OF PLASTIC, HAD MELTED LIKE THE FIRST ONE.*AK *SLC

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE TRAVELING. ALSO, HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK

ON JULY 19TH WE LOST ALL BRAKES ON OUR 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE NEXT DAY FULL USE OF THE BRAKES RETURNED. ON JULY 21ST WE ONCE AGAIN HAD COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. WE ARE ONLY OWNERS OF THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VAN TO TIRES PLUS TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED. THE ONLY THING FOUND WAS SLIGHT WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES. WE HAD THEM REPLACE THE PADS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS. NEXT THE BLED THE LINES AGAIN AND WE HAD BRAKES AGAIN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND DROVE IT FOR SEVEN DAYS BUT LOST BRAKES AGAIN ON THE 29TH OF JULY. THIS TIME THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BUT STILL BRAKES WERE INTERMITTANT. RIGHT NOW THE VAN IS AT JIM'S DODGE COUNTRY BEING WORKED ON. THIS TIME THE CLAIM IS THAT THE RIDE HIGH PROPORTIONING VALVE IS DEFECTIVE. WE USE THE VAN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ALL THE TIMES WE HAVE LOST OUR BRAKES CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS BUT WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY. OUR VEHICLE IS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR SO I THINK MECHANICALLY THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

RADIATOR LEAK CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO ENTER TRANSMISSION AND CAUSE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. $2100 REPAIR AFTER OWNING VEHICLE 1 YEAR, TOTAL MILAGE 58620. SEEMS TO BE A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE

I AM WORRIED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT - THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER MINI-VANS. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL? *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. EVERYTHING FAILED LIGHTS/POWER STEERING. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, PUMPED BRAKES TO STOP WITH NO AVAIL.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AND HORN IS INOPERATIVE. AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING TO RESTORE DRIVER AIRBAG AND HORN OPERATION AT $212.95 COST TO CONSUMER.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AND HORN IS INOPERATIVE. AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING TO RESTORE DRIVER AIRBAG AND HORN OPERATION AT $212.95 COST TO CONSUMER. *AK

TIE ROD END BECAME DISASSEMBLED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL. THE KNUCKLE CAME OUT OF THE CUP RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, LUCKY WE WERE NOT ON FREEWAY. *AK

RADIATOR WAS LEAKING, FLUSHING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, BUT TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN DASH NEVER SHOWED A HIGH READING. ALSO-SHOOK AUTO WAS WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN, BUT I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. NED ADAMS CHRYSLER-JEEP, 544 E LIBERTY ST,

EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE TRAVELING. ALSO, HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THATTHEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: VEHICLE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

VAN IN REVERSE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, WE HEARD A LARGE KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VAN ROCKED. AT THIS POINT THE VAN LOCKED UP, COULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED UP TO THE POINT THAT IT COULD NOT BE PUSHED IN NUETRAL, THE TIRES EVEN SKID ON THE DRIVEWAY WHEN BEING PULLED ONTO THE BACK TO THE TOW TRUCK. TRANSMISSION REPAIR ($1800) REQUIRED. WAS TOLD THAT "PLANETARY" EXPLODED AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION, A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER 3 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS. CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT DENIED ANY HELP DUE TO OVER WARRANTY AND DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (THEY JUST WANT MONEY). IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT I HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICE IN JAN. 01 AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. THIS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, I HAD MY WIFE AND 2 AND 4 YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN THE VAN. WHAT HAPPENS IF VEHICLE LOCKS UP ON THE HIGHWAY?? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.*AK

BRAKES WOULD SHUTTER WHEN DEPRESSED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS CONSUMER INSISTED THAT PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE TURNED INSTEAD OF REPLACED. ALSO, PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT SALE THESE PARTS. CONSUMER FEARED FOR SAFETY OF CHILD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. THEN, WHITE SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER STOPPED CAR AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. CONSUMER EXITED THE CAR, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS MAY RELATED TO RECALL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON FEBRUARY 16TH, 2001. *SLC

CONSUMER STATED WHILE MERGING ON INTERSTATE AND STARTS TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE ,VEHICLE STALLS AT 50MPH. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER. CONSUMER ALSO STATED VEHICLE STARTS BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

EAO1-007; WHILE TRAVELING AIR BAG INDICATOR/ ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. WHEN MAKING TURNS AND GOING UP HILL ,VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAITON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. AFTER DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT GEAR HAD BROKEN, AFFECTING TRANSMISSION.*AK

THE FRONT, DRIVER SIDE CALIPERS DO NOT RELEASE WHICH OVERHEAT THE WHEEL. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PADS HAVE SHEARED OFF, AND WHEN THE TIRES ARE REMOVED TO INSPECT, STUDS EASILY BRAKE OFF. SEARS AUTO CENTER BROKE OFF TWO STUDS AFTER THE 1ST INCIDENT, AND I BROKE OFF ONE STUD AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT ON JUNE 15, 2001. THE NEGHERBON SERVICE DEPT HAD REPLACED THE CALIPER KIT (SPRINGS AND TRACKS) ON 3/13/01. THE WHEEL GETS SO HOT THAT YOU BURN YOUR FINGER IF YOU TOUCH IT. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. THE OVERHEATING HAPPENS DURING TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE USED OFTEN (BENICIA IS VERY HILLY), AND DOES NOT HAPPEN DURING HIGHWAY RIDES, WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THE BRAKES STARTS TO HEAT UP DO TO USE, THE CALIPER DOES NOT RELEASE AS FREELY, AND EVENTUALLY LOCKS UP AND DOES NOT RELEASE AT ALL (AFTER THE 1ST INCIDENT I HAD TO HAMMER OFF THE OLD BRAKE PADS/CALIPER ASSEMBLY FROM THE ROTOR). HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP IDENTIFY THE ROOT PROBLEM BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS OVERHEATING WILL CAUSE A BLOWOUT OR A WHEEL TO COME OFF IF THE STUDS FAIL WHILE THE VAN IS BEING DRIVEN.*AK