1998 Dodge Caravan complaints

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK

WHILE PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER ON RT 422 WEST OF POTTSTOWN WITHOUT WARNING MY RMP'S SHOT UP AND I LOST POWER. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CARAVAN TO QUIGLEY MOTORS WHICH IS THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS 3RD GEAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THEY FOUND ALOT OF METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE PAN. IT'S GOING TO COST ME $2500. TO FIX IT. THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD RECTIFY THE SITUATION. IT IS MY FIRST CHRYSLER VEHICLE AND IT WILL PROBABLY WILL BE MY LAST. THE SERVICE THAT I RECEIVED AT QUIGLEY MOTORS WAS HORRENDOUS. MY VAN WAS THERE AN ENTIRE WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD GET IT IN TO GIVE ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE. 5 STAR SERVICE??? I DON'T THINK SO!*AK

RECALL 00V268000; VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ENGINE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS WHICH DEGRADED OVER TIME, RESULTING INTO FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL. *AK

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT (68,000 MILES) DRIVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A CLEAR DAY AT SPEED LIMIT OR BELOW (45MPH ZONE) THREW DIFFERENTIAL PIN THROUGH TRANSMISSION HOUSING, DESTROYING TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO DEALER AND ASSESSED. REPAIR COST (NEW TRANSMISSION) STATED TO BE $3,445. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM HERB GORDON DODGE OF SILVER SPRING, MD. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CHRYSLER PRODUCED VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, KEYS HAVE TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE IGNITION BEFORE VEHICLE STARTS. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND PASSING THROUGH WATER VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND WILL NOT RESTART DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF. *AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON 02/21/2002. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE'S SUB FRAME CRACKED WHICH CAUSED BRAKES TO HAVE AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *TT

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. *NLM

THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE ALL THE FAULTY COMPONENTS WERE NOT REPLACED/REPAIRED AT THE SAME TIME. *AK *NLM

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER IS CRACKED ON TOP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WASN'T AN UNUSUAL FAILURE AND WITHOUT REPAIR, THE PROBLEM WILL GET WORSE UNTIL THE SUSPENSION BREAKS. *SCC

THE CLOCK SPRING WAS BROKEN CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT WHICH CAUSED THE HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL TO BE INOPERABLE. DEALER SAID VIN NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.

THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHT COVERS HAD A THICK FILM OVER THEM WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. *NLM

1998 CARAVAN 3.3L ENGINE BELT TENSIONER COMPLETELY BROKE OFF OF ENGINE MOUNT CAUSING LOSS OF USE OF ALL ACCESSORIES DRIVEN BY SERPENTINE BELT. NO PREVIOUS BELT PROBLEMS AS NOTED BY OTHER OWNERS. DEFECTIVE BELT TENSIONER WAS FOUND LAYING LOOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM

CONSUMER PAID FOR A REPAIR ON THE SEAT BELT AND LATER FOUND THAT THERE IS A REPAIR AND REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR SEAT BELT REPAIR. DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT LOCKED. MR *TS

BOUGHT USED 1998 DODGE CARAVAN IN JUNE 2002 WITH 42K MILES. HEARD NOISE IN ENGINE IN OCTOBER 2002 AND TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. SAID TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK IN APRIL 2003. ONLY HAS 59,500 MILES ON IT. *NLM

THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TS *JB

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WHICH WAS BROKE AND RUBBED AGAINST THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, ALSO THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *TS *JB

THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DISCONNECTED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. *JB

REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKED, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO USE 3 QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. MR...*AK

WE BOUGHT THE DODGE CARAVAN SE IN 1998. LAST YEAR, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AROUND 30,000 MILES, THE CAR WAS STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEM ON SHIFTING. IT SOMETIMES LOCKED ON THE 2ND GEAR AND WOULDN''T GO FASTER. AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED, IT WAS ALL OK AGAIN. ON FEB 21ST, 2003 WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE UP AND BROKE. THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS STRANDED, AS THE VEHICLE WOULDN''T MOVE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT AND ONLY 6000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I THEREFORE CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER SUPPORT. THEY REPLIED PLAINLY THAT IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT HAS PASSED THE WARRANTY. I THEN PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION FROM PHOENIX REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IN ARIZONA AND HAD KUAN''S AUTO REPAIR, AN ASE CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP IN ST. PAUL, FIX IT. I WENT ON AND CONDUCT AN EXTENDED RESEARCH ON CHRYSLER''S TRANSMISSION. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG IF A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BROKE IN 42000 MILES. THE RESULT OF THE RESEARCH IS ASTOUNDING: CHRYSLER HAD THIS TYPE OF THE TRANSMISSION SINCE 1988 AND IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE WORST PART IS, CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT IT SINCE BEGINNING AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION (A604 41TE) ON DODGE, PLYMOUTH, CHRYSLER BRANDS OF MINI VANS. CHRYSLER''S IGNORANCE TO THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WITH THIS DEFECTED TRANSMISSION ON THEIR MINI VANS. A M

A HUMMING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO STARTED TO SLIP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD WHEN THE GEARS WERE CHANGED. *NLM

1998 DODGE CARAVAN: (1.)TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS "FLEX PLATE" BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED BREAKING IN THE CENTER IMITATING THE SOUND OF A FAILING MAIN BEARING. UNDER 100,000 MILES. (2.) TRANSMISSION FAILED 100,000 MI., (3.)WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE ENGINE RUNNING - DESTROYED HARNESS. (SPARKS SHOOTING OUT FROM BENEATH VEHICLE - FIRE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE MAJOR DAMAGE @ 110,000 MILES. ,000 MI. ( 4.) HEADLIGHT LENS PLASTIC TURNED MILKY AND INHIBITS PROPER LIGHT PROJECTION - DIFFICULT TO SEE WELL AT NIGHT EVEN WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON BRIGHT. *NLM

I HAVE TO CHANGE MY FRONT BRAKE PADS ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH DUE TO THE BRAKES GET TO HOT AND USUALLY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE PAD JUST FALLS OFF WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN THIS PROBLEM IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT IT WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER HAD MY VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. WHEN I GOT MY VAN BACK IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS, AND THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS COSTING A FORTUNE TO KEEP UP THE BRAKE PAD MAINTENANCE. I CONSIDER THE BRAKES ON A VEHICLE A LIFELINE AND AM SURPRISED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. EVERY PERSON I KNOW THAT OWNS A DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE SAME COMPLAINT. I BOUGHT MY VAN 01/01/00. *NLM

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 2000. TWO MONTHS LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT. 16 MONTHS AFTER THAT MY MOTOR WENT. I HAD TO LET MY VEHICLE SIT FOR NINE MONTHS NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND YET STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO REPLACE TO THE MOTOR. SO 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AGAIN. SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS REPLACED WITH A FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THIS SERIOUSLY UPSETS ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AGAIN. I STILL OWE 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I AM BACK TO I CANNOT DRIVE IT AGAIN BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD OF SOME FACTORY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND I WONDERED IF THIS COULD BE THE REASON THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF COMMISSION AGAIN. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THIS USED VEHICLE IS COSTING ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF TO BUY A NEW ONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. *NLM

THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF.*JB *TS

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR SHOOK. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED FOR A FLAT. THERE WASN'T ONE. MY POWER TRAIN DIFFERENTIAL PIN WENT THROUGH THE CASING RENDERING MY TRANSMISSION USELESS, IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE REPAIR BILL IS $2500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THESE VANS. A SEARCH ON THE WEB REVEALED THEY USUALLY BLOW OUT BETWEEN 60,000-70,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION. A PHONE CALL TO CHRYSLER WAS USELESS.8JB

THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *DT *JB

THE FRONT DOORS WERE TOO HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED FOURTH GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. *JB

THE AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE LIGHT TO STAY ON . DEALER SAID VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL.

FAILED HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON ENGINE

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY. VEHICLE DOESNOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL.

RADIATOR FAILED MIXING COOLANT AND TRASMISSION FLUID LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE

SERPEINTINE BELT LAST 6-9K MILE. A DEALER HAS REPLACED TENSIONER BELTSA CONTINUES PREMATURE FAILURES

CHRYSLER NOT HONORING CLOCKSPRING WARRENTY FOR M 1998 DODGE CHRYSLER MINIVAN

PRIOR TO RECALL THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER DEALER REFUSED TO REFUND CONSUMER, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.*JB

PER CONSUMER THE DEALERSHIP BROWN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP;DEVINE TX;830-665-6401;HAS NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING 02 V 293 000 FOR OVER A MONTH. TS

CLOCKSPRING FAILED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL/HORN, AND AIR BAG TO MALFUNCTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB....*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. EXTENT OF REBUILD/REPAIRS BEING ASSESSED BY BENCHMARK TRANSMISSION, WILMINGTON DE. PROBABLE FAILURE OF SHIFT GOVERNOR DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE OF PART/PARTS WAS PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS OF BRANDYWINE CHRYSLER, WILMINGTON DE AND BENCHMARK TRANSMISSION, WILMINGTON DE. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF REBUILD IS $1400, BUT DEPENDENT ON EXTENT OF INTERNAL DAMAGE. BENCHMARK REPORTED NO ELECTRONIC FAILURE OR CAUSE. MILEAGE IS 56,111. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 1998 AND STILL OWNED BY ORIGINAL OWNER.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT AND CONSUMER WILL BE FORCED TO SLIDE OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *TT

FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM DRIVER'S SEAT TO PASSENGER'S SEAT. BOTH HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THEM RELEASED, WHEN EXITING VEHICLE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO SLIDE OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM VENT TUBE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SEAT BELTS BECAME UNBUCKLED WITHOUT NOTICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE APPLYING THE GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND WILL NOT MOVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH WATER. LOSING THE BELT CAUSES DANGEROUS STEERING CHANGES AND STOPS THE WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HAD A NEAR MISS HEAD ON CRASH PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON MY CAR AND TWO FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME MODEL CARAVAN HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS---------770765. *AK *NLM

THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON BRAKE. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, INDICATOR NOT REALLY LOCKED IN DRIVE POSITION EVEN IF SHOWN IN DRIVE. THE MECHANIC HAS TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION (TWICE) BECAUSE OF DAMAGE DONE WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT PROPERLY. TS

BROUGHT VEHICLE NEW IN AUG 98 AND THE HEATER CORE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY TO BLOW OUT. WOULD BE REPLACED HEATER CORE PART EVERY YEAR. MECHANIC CAN NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE HEATER CORE PROBLEM. TS