1998 Dodge Caravan complaints

ON OCTOBER 6, 2000 I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL WHEN I LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO THE PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY WERE NOT COOPERATIVE OR FRIENDLY AND WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE MY VEHICLE WITHIN THE 3 DAY TIME FRAME THEY HAD PROMISED. SO ON 10-09-2000 WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE TO BE DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WE HAD TO HAVE THEM FIX IT B/C OUR DEALER WAS GOING TO BE 3-5 WEEKS TO FIX IT, AND WE HAD A RENTAL CAR DURING THIS TIME. THE COST WAS $1455.00, THAT WE PAID OUT OF OUR POCKET. DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION OF OUR PROBLEMS THEY ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK. MY HUSBAND IS VERY GOOD WITH CARS AND HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, TO NO AVAIL. ON 3-9-2001 I HAD THE CAR OIL LEAK DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600.00 AND DOWN TIME OF THE VEHICLE BEING 2-3 DAYS. AS THIS IS OUR MAIN VEHICLE THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY PEOPLE AND GARAGES THAT THESE 4 CYLINDER ENGINES ARE WIDELY KNOWN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. ONE GARAGE WENT SO FAR AS TO TELL US THAT CHRYSLER KNEW THEY HAD THESE PROBLEMS BUT JUST WOULD NOT PUT OUT A RECALL. WE HAVE HAD THE VAN FOR 23 MONTHS. NOTHING WENT WRONG DURING THE VALID WARRANTY TIME. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY OVER WAR

HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 58,498 MILES BECAUSE OF "LOTS OF METAL" FOUND IN PAN DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. "FOUND PLANETARY & SUN GEAR AND CARRIER ALL BAD FROM MSUN GEAR BEARING GOING BAD. CLUTCHES WERE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SLIPPING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THEIR BAD TRANSMISSIONS. THERE IS A VERY LONG HISTORY OF IT AND THE CONSUMER IS THE ONE GETTING SCREWED.

STEERING GEAR IN THE RACK AND PINION HAS BROKEN TWICE. IT WAS REPLACED AT 9 MONTHS OF OWNER SHIP AND HAS BROKEN AGAIN IN ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE LAST REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AT SLOW PARKING LOT SPEEDS AND CAUSES THE VAN TO WANDER ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BUT REFUSE TO FIX PROBLEM.

EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS DEVELOPED A HOLE IN IT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS CAUSES EXHAUST GAS TO BE PORTED OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK

HAVE FLEET OF 85 VEHICLES ALL BREAKING AT SIMILAR LOCATION. NEED INVESTIGATION. *AK

CONTACTED CHRYLSER THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY 50% OF DAMAGE BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN OR IF IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I WAS PASSING A CAR ON THE TURNER TURNPIKE WHEN I HEARD A POP AND MY TIRES VIBRATED I THOUGHT I HAD HAD A FLAT. SO I PULLED OVER AND LEFT A TRAIL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BEHIND ME. THE PIN IN THE SPIDERGEAR SNAPPED AND FLEW THREW THE TRANSMISSION. FOUND THE PIECE ON TOP OF MY TRANSMISSION. I HAUL KIDS AND GOT ON TRIPS I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. HOW CAN I SEE IF IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.*AK

WAS TOLD I NEEDED HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO OIL DRIPPING. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE CHECK UP AND OIL CHANGES I HAVE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS AS A RESULT. I DID FIND ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF SIMILAR SITUATION ON ALLPAR.COM . THIS SEEMS TOO EARLY FOR SUCH A LARGE REPAIR. *AK

WHILE ON INTERSTATE HEARD A CRACK. CONSUMER LOOKED OUT REAR VIEW AND SAW SMOKE. PULLED OVER, AND LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW TRANSMISSION FLUID POURING OUT. *AK

CONSUMER HAD SEEN OIL ON GROUND COMING FROM VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS, AND TECHNICIAN SAID THAT OIL WAS COMING AROUND ENGINE. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL START SHAKING WITHOUT A NOTICE OF BRAKES WORKING. *AK IN LOW IDLE WITH BRAKES ON, VEHICLE START SHAKING AS IF IT WOULD DIE (ENGINE SHUT OFF). *YH

WE BOUGHT THIS VAN IN JANUARARY 1, 2000 WE HAVE HAD THIS VAN FOR A YEAR NOW AND HAVE HAD THE BRAKES DONE ON IT 8 TIMES. THE BRAKES GET SO HOT THAT IT MELTS THE VALVE STEMS. ALSO WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS VAN THE YELLOW LIGHTS ON THE FRONT DASH FOR THE REAR WINDOW WIPER AND THE OTHER LIGHTS SURROUNDING THAT LIGHT KEEP BLINKING AND WONT STOP BLINKING UNTIL DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE LIGHTS STOP BLINKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT AND IDLER ARM BROKE WHICH CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED ENGINE LEAK. *AK

CONSUMER HAD NOTICED THAT TIRES STARTED SEPARATING, AND WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THEM. THESE TIRES WERE NOT UNDER RECALL, BUT CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. MICHELIN, TOURING, 215/65R16. *AK

MANY PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, INCLUDING THE EMPLOYEES AT KENNEDY TRANSMISSION, HAVE SAID THESE TRANSMISSION HAVE A REPUTATION OF GOING OUT AROUND 60-70,000 MILES. OUR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THIS REPAIR, I WAS TOLD, IS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON OCCURANCE. SHOULDN'T THE CONSUMER BE FORWARNED ABOUT HAVE A $2800 REPAIR AFTER 60,000 MILES? OTHERWISE, SHOULDN'T THEY PUT IN A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION IN THESE MINI-VANS?*AK

TRANSMISSION PREMATURLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE WORKS BUT CONSTANTLY SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. *YH

REAR DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WAS STAYING ON DURING TRAVELING, CAUSING OVERHEAD LIGHT TO STAY ON . *AK THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO POSSILY WITH THE LATCH. JUST HAVE TO KEEP RESLAMMING THE DOOR DOWN TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. *YH

VEHICLE LOST POWER AND MADE A FUNNY NOISE, THEN STALLED COMPLETELY, CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 08-5050-945. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING SERPENTINE BELT WOULD KEEP COMING OFF. THIS HAPPENED WHETHER IT WAS WET OR DRY. WENT TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES & WAS INFORMED A FLAW IN DESIGN OF BELT. HAD BELT REPLACED 5 TIMES & HAD BEEN SHREDDED 5 TIMES. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NOTED FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER PERFORMED COOLING SYTEM PRESSURE TEST. DIAGNOSED REAR HEAD GASKET AS FAULTY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER CHECKED IT OUT. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. *YH

UNCONTROL RANDOM RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE STOPPING. WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE IF TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WITH IGNITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS CHECKING GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, P215/65R15, AND NOTICED TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE, GOODYEAR REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES, HOWEVER BOTH REAR TIRES CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR EVEN THOUGH THEY TOO SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

SOME PART OF THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. EVIDENTLY, A BROKEN PIECE MOVED INTO SUCH A POSITION AS TO JAM THE STEERING SHAFT. THIS OCCURRED DURING A LEFT TURN AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION FROM A STOP. THE STEERING JAMMED IN A LEFT TURN POSITION GIVING THE FEELING TO THE DRIVER (MY WIFE) THAT STEERING CONTROL HAD BEEN LOST. GIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER EFFORT BROKE FREE THE JAM CONDITION ALLOWING US TO PROCEED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE WRITER'S COMMENT WAS TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL. MY ATTITUDE IS THAT IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE IF THE DRIVER PANICS, OR THE JAM CAN'T BE BROKEN, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF A REPAIR CAMPAIGN ON THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. OTHER THAN THAT INSTANCE, THIS VAN IS FINE IN EVERY RESPECT. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH VEHCILE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING, EVEN WITH FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, VEHCILE KEPT ACCELERATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT OPEN PORTION ON ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS EXPOSED. ONE OF THEM WERE IN A BIND WHICH CAUSED IT TO WEAR, AND WORN ACCELERATOR WON'T GO BACK DOWN, ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO UNHOOK EVERYTHING. THEN THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION.*AK THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHEICLE WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LAY DOWN WHILE STILL TRAVELING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BELTS IN THE TIRE SLIPPED RESULTING IN TIRE FAILURE (DOT NUMBER: M6VFHKOR12 TIRESIZE: 215/65R15)

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25-30 MPH, VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE DRIVING ROUGH. PULLED VEHICLE OVER, AND NOTICED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION ON A 1998 DODGE, CARAVAN, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, P215/65R15, GOODYEAR CONQUEST WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK DOT#4BVFHKDR317. *SLC

SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING DURING A RAIN STORM, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING/BRAKES AND LIGHTS. APPARENTLY, MANUFACTURER SENT OUT TSB WHICH STATED SERPENTINE BELT WILL SLIP OFF WHEN IT GETS WET.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTEHR INFORMATION.*AK

MICHELIN MX4 ALL SEASON TIRES (P215 65 R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE. *SLC

DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS WERESEVERLY CORRODED CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT N A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE ORIGINAL MICHELIN MX4 ALL SEASON 215/65/R16 TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. *MJS

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED FOR THE 4TH TIME WHILE DRIVING. HAD HEARD A FUNNY NOISE PRIOR TO NO STEERING. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FIRST 2 TIMES WAS AT 35MPH. 2ND 2 TIMES WAS WHILE STARTING VEHICLE. BEEN TO DEALER EACH TIME TO HAVE BELT REPLACED.*AK POWER STEERING, WATER PUM, ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE, PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND IT WILL NOT MOVE. ONLY AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE AND THEN PUTTING IT INTO 2ND GEAR COULD WE MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET. *AK

LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN CAUSED VEHICLE TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND INFOMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO STEERING BELT TENSIONER NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE PIN WENT TROUGH THE CASE AND CAUSED THE FRONT END TO LOCK UP AND THE VAN WENT SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD I HAD NO STEERING THE GEARS WERE ON THE ROAD SURFACE. THIS HAPPEND A SECOND TIME WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS PUT IN AT 61000. MILES. I AM CURRENTLY ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION AND FEARFUL THAT AT A HIGHWAY SPEED THIS CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN WOULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STARTS TO SHIMMEY. IF DRIVER TAKES HAND OFF THE STEERING WHEEL IT WILL SHAKE BACK AND FORTH.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES AND FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER ON 03 JUL 2000. MASTER CYCINDER FAILED AGAIN,AND CONSUMER HAD KNOW BRAKES. THEN, AGAIN ON OCT 7TH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, CONSUMER FELT THIS VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE THERE WERE KIDS IN VEHICLE. *AK

THE PLASTIC CAP THAT SEALS THE GASKET SEALING THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK POPPED OFF AND GASOLINE WAS PUMPED OUT ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND POURED OUT ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO EMPTYING OF THE GAS TANK AND MAJOR RISK ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO HOLES IN THE GAS TANK AND THE PLASTIC CAP WAS NOT BROKEN, IT HAD SIMPLY POPPED OFF LEADING TO THIS POTENTIALLY DISASTEROUS PROBLEM. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED, GASOLINE ALL OVER THEPLACE, AND MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.

WHEN PUT IN PARK VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION . DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE RECIRCULATING LIGHT AND THE A/C LIGHT ARE CONSTANTLY FLASHING.

SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF 3 TIMES DUE TO SNOW AND RAIN SPLASHING UPON THE ENGINE RESULTING IN POWER STEERING TO FAIL AND ENGINE OVER HEATED. *YH

AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO NOT COOL THE AIR. TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR (GEMINI) DEALER IN WADSWORTH, OH WHO CHARGED THE UNIT AND ADDED DYE TO PINPOINT THE COOLANT LOSS POINT. ON RETURN THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE EVAPORATOR WHICH BY INFERENCE FROM THEIR COMMENTS IS QUITE COMMON. COST WAS $742.00 PLUS THE PREVIOUS CHARGE OF $75.00. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOMETHING THIS COMMON IS A FAULT THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE MFG. NOTED A 94 COMPLAINT ON NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME THING WITH COSTS ALMOST IDENTICAL.

I'VE HAD A HALF DOZEN CUSTOMERS' CARAVANS WITH GOODYEAR CONQUEST TIRES THAT I'VE CAUGHT IN TIME TO AVOID ANY BLOWOUTS. THESE TIRES ARE SLIPPING BELTS, AND THE TREADS ARE SEPARATING. THE WORST CASE WAS ONE 1998 CARAVAN WITH 35K MILES, AND 3 OF 4 TIRES WERE ABOUT TO LET GO.(STEEL BELTS BREAKING THROUGH TREAD AROUND 1/2 CIRCUMFERENCE OF TIRE) I DON'T BELIEVE AIR PRESSURE TO BE AN ISSUE HERE!!*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/70/15? )

SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF DURING A 25 MPH TURN. BELT THEN WRAPPED ITSELF UP IN A/C PULLEY. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR ENSUED. I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW 3 TIMES FOR ALTERNATOR OR BELT PROBLEMS - THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF TSB AFFECTING THE SERPENTINE BELT. *AK

FUEL WAS POURING OUT FROM VEHICLE WHEN TANK WAS FIRST BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE. DEALER HAS REPLACED O-RING 2 TIMES/ A FILLER TUBE AND GAS TANK ONCE WITHIN 2 YEARS. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP ALSO REPLACED O-RING ONCE, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING.*AK

TRANSMISSION LEAKS