1998 Dodge Caravan complaints

AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, HORN HAS FAILED TO OPERATE DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

SERPINTINE FAN BELT JUMPS OFF PULLEYS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH 3-4 INCHES OF WATER REPLACED BELT DEALER STATED BELT TENSTIONER WAS FAULTY IN 2000 I REPLACED TENSTIONER NOV 2000 IN JUNE 2001 AND NOV2001 BELT JUMPED THE PULLEYS AGAIN EVEN WITH A NEW BELT AND TENSTIONER INSTALLED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED, INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ENGAGED IT WOULD BACK ITSELF OFF OR DISENGAGE COMPLETELY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY BROKE AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

TIRE BLEW OUT AT FREEWAY SPEED, TREAD WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, CAUSE UNCLEAR (POSSIBLY PUNCTURE). *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMELLED SMOKE. THEN, DASHBOARD WENT BLANK. CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM EDGE OF HOOD, HE PULLED OVER AND SAW FLAMES FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. DEALER DETERMINED ABS SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. DAMAGE UNKNOWN. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING CAMSHAFT BEARING BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

VAN WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN FIRST STARTED, NEEDS TO WARM UP FOR AT LEAST 5-10 MINUTES. WAS EVALUATED BY INDEPENDENT GARAGE, NEEDS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. WHY DID CHRYSLER'S "GOODWILL" WARRANTY END ON 1997 MODELS? OBVIOUSLY, THEY DID NOT FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. A 3.5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 51,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT NEED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL! THIS IS QUITE COSTLY, THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A "GOODWILL" WARRANTY TELLS ME CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. WHY ARE THEY CHOOSING TO ABANDON THEIR NEW CUSTOMERS (AFTER 1997?) ARE THEY TRYING TO LOOSE OUR BUSINESS? IF THIS IS HOW CHRSYLER TREATS IT'S CUSTOMERS, IT CERTAINLY MAKES ME WANT TO LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR A VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN. THANK YOU.*AK

THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPLACED. THEN THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

DURING JANUARY 2001 THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN MID TRAFFIC OR AT A TURN THEN EITHER STALL OR TURN BACK ON BY ITSELF. WE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY COULD TELL US WHAT THEY SAY THE PROBLEM WAS : THE EGR VALVE AND SOME KIND OF TRANSMISSION LEAK. THEY COMPLETED THE WORK FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NOW IN OCTOBER 2001 THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING STARTED MAKING REVVING (ACCELERATING) NOISES THEN STALLED WITH NO WARNING, NOW IT WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR WITHOUT STALLING AND ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SAYS WE NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION FOR OVER TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS.*AK

THE EVAPORATOR COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE A/C.*JB

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

MY ACCELERATOR STUCK IN MY 98 DODGE CARAVAN. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FRAYED BADLY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER MENTIONED HE TOWED ABOUT 50 DODGE CARAVANS IN THE LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER WHERE WE GOT THE PART HAD "HEARD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR." SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS THE BEST SELLING MINI VAN AND MOMS, DADS AND USUALLY A LOAD OF KIDS ARE IN THE BACK, THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINE WHETHER A RECALL IS WARRENTED.

AKIF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS WHERE YOU NEED TO EXIT THE MINIVAN FOR SAFETY REASONS (IE FIRE OR WATER) YOU WOULD BE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VAN. *AK

COMPUTER SCAN DONE TO REVIEAL PROBLEM AT RUSS DARROW CONSIDER IT A SAFETY HAZARD. POSSIBLE EARLY DEPLOYMENT OF FAILURE OF AIR BAGS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR A BOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND UNEXPECTEDLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR. INSPECTOR INDICATED POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS ACCIDENT FROM LAST YEAR,AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND WILL REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 60-65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS TRANSMISSION STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CAMSHAFT BEARING BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING . VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT AIR CONDITIONING EVAPARTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THIS WAS SECOND REPAIR ON AIR CONDITIONER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, MY DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME A DEAL ON THE REPAIRS THROUGH CHRYSTLER CORP. SOUNDS LIKE CHRYSTLER KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT UPFRONT ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK THREE TIRES ALL TOGETHER EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, P215/65R15, BRIDGESTONE BT70S. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS NEVER HIT ANYTHING.*YD

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. VEHICLE WELL MAINTAINED, RECORDS AVAILABLE. UNACCEPTABLE FOR MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE (HEAD GASKET) AT RELATIVELY LOW MILAGE. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL AS MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPORTED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE MANY TIMES ALTHOUGH CHRYLSER MAINTAINS THAT THIS IS "NOT A COMMON PROBLEM". *AK

CONSUMER WAS GOING TO WORK WHEN VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 22-V563-088. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS NO ADJUSTABLE RESTRAINTS. THERE ARE HOLES PLANTED INSIDE OF VEHICLE FOR A HEADREST. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE MIDDLE AND REAR SEATS HAVE NO HEAD RESTRAINTS. *SLC

HORN WOULD NOT BLOW, AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70-72MPH. CONSUMER MADE REST STOP/ GOT BACK ON ROAD RESUMING CRUISE CONTROL,AND IT QUIT WORKING. HORN WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. A DAY IN A HALF BEFORE, AIRBAG LIGHT JUST STAYED ON. CONSUMER HASN'T CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON AND OFF. ALTHOUGH PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, THEY DON'T WORK WHEN NEEDED. IF SWITCH IS LEFT ON AND FORGOT THEY START WORKING WITHOUT BEING AWARE THAT THEY WERE LEFT ON. *AK

MY CARAVAN HAS BENCH SEATS THAT DO NOT HAVE HEADRESTS, BUT DO HAVE ATTACHMENT POINTS FOR THE HEADRESTS. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED (2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO) THAT MY DAUGHTER'S HEAD EXTENDS ABOVE THE TOP OF THE SEAT. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, HER HEAD WOULD SNAP BACK OVER THE TOP OF THE SEAT. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT, WHEN I BOUGHT MY VAN, HEADRESTS WERE CONSIDERED ACCESSORIES, BUT ARE NOW STANDARD EQUIPMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOW STANDARD EQUIPMENT BECAUSE CHRYSLER REALIZED ITS POTENTIAL LIABILITY. THE APPROXIMATE COST OF 4 HEADRESTS IS $800. I E-MAILED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND RECEIVED NEITHER SYMPATHY NOR SATISFACTION. IN MY LAST E-MAIL, I MENTIONED THE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY ARE NO LONGER ANSWERING MY E-MAILS. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THEY MAY BE RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. PLEASE HELP.

THE SAFETY SEATS IN MY VAN HAVE DEFECTIVE LATCH PLATES! THE LATCH PLATES THAT I'M REFERRING TOO IS THE PLATE THAT IS RIGHT AT THE CHILD'S ARMPIT LEVEL. THIS LATCH PLATE WHEN PULLED ON WILL PULL COMPLETELY APART. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS UNSAFE FOR MY SON TO RIDE IN. I HAVE READ A LOT ON CHILD SEAT SAFETY AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I VELIEVE THAT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE IN THIS AREA THAT IN A CAR WREAK THIS LATCH PLATE WOULD PULL APART AND MY SON COULD BE VERY SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. HE WOULD PROBABLY BE THROWN BETWEEN THE TWO SHOULDER BELTS INSTEAD OF BEING HELD BETWEEN THEM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO CHRYSLER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED MY BUCKLES 5 TIME. THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DEFECT YET I DO! I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE MY SON A CENTURY CAR SEAT. ALL 5 OF THE BUCKLES THAT I WAS GIVEN ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY THINK A CHILD WOULD BE SAFE! I FEAR THAT THERE ARE OTHER CHILDREN RIDING IN THESE INTEGRATED CAR SEATS AND THERE PARENTS ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE LATCH PLATES AND THAT THERE CHILDREN ARE UNSAFE. I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANY CHILD HURT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF THE BUCKLES IF Y OU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'LL BE GLAD TO GET THEM TO YOU!!! THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN! I APPRECIATE WHAT YOUDO TRYING TO KEEP THE ROADS AND OUR FAMILIES SAFE! *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. PARTS WERE SO BADLY DAMAGED THAT NOTHING WAS SALVAGABLE AND A NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. WE HAVE KEPT THE PARTS IF THEY ARE NEEDED FOR AN INVESTIGATION. WE NOTIFIED DODGE WHO SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS, AND THAT WE HAVE NO APPEAL TO THIS DECISION (AMEY, FILE NO. 8723066). WE HAD A MECHANIC FIX IT. THE CHARGE WAS $2,417. IS THERE ANY COURSE OF ACTION WE CAN TAKE AGAINST DODGE? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT A TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL IN THIS WAY WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR.

THE GUIDES THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS RUN THROUGH ARE "MELTING" SO THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT GO THROUGH THE GUIDES AS THEY SHOULD. WE HAVE STOPPED USING THEM BECAUSE THEY WOULD FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT RETRACT SECURELY ON A PASSENGER.*AK

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, AND CONSUMER SAW SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDER THE CAR, IT WAS SERPENTINE BELT. THEN, THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKING.*AK

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL DUE TO LACK OF RESTRAINT SUPPORT FROM SEAT BELT SYSTEM THAT WAS USED.*AK *SLC

FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING WHERE FUEL PUMP WAS ATTACHED TO TANK. DEALER STATED TANK WAS WARPED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH AND WITHOUT A COLLISION DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE LOWER THAN THE RIGHT AND THE BRAKES WEAR DOWN ONLY ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE, VEHICLE SKIDDED WHEN BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER WAS ADVISED FRONT CALIPER, ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY VEHICLE WAS SKIDDING, CONSUMER IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE ROTOR, CALIPER AND BRAKE ONLY ON FRONT SIDE EVERY 8000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DELEARSHIP THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY SIX MONTHS. *JB KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION, DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE CYLINDER AND IT BROKE, DEALER REPLACED. TAPE DRAGGED IN THE TAPE PLAYER, DEALER REPLACED. AT TIMES WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS NO RADIO, LIGHTS, OR HORN, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. SLIGHT FLUID LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE,CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION JERKED. ARM REST FASTNER BACKED OFF. LEFT FRONT BRAKES CONTINUE TO WEAR AND PULL VEHICLE, BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING TURNED ON HEATER, BUT THERE WAS NO HEAT. THEN, OPENED FRONT HOOD, AND COOLANT WAS ALL OVER ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN OUT.*AK

ABS PROBLEMS. BRAKES GO OUT EVERY SIX MONTHS ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE. ROTORS, AND CALIPERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VAN SKIDS. THIS CONDITION CAUSED A CRASH IN 2/99 AND 2/00. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

AIR BAG LIGHT ON / HORN DOESN'T WORK / CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO GAS CAP FAILURE. *AK

WHEN PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK I HEARD A HORRIBLE LOUD GRINDING/GROANING NOISE. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT MY CAR BACK IN GEER I HEARD THE SAME NOISE AND MY VEHICLES WHEELS LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD.I HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST INSPECTED IT AND SHOWED ME THAT THE PLANITARY EXPLODED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION HE SAID THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. HE GAVE ME THE PARTS THAT WERE SHATTERED AND CRACKED MANY IN SUCH LITTLE PIECES YOU CANT FIND THAT GOT MIXED IN WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. HE ALSO TOLD ME I'M LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VAN. I IMAGINE WE WOULDN'T BE HERE NOW. THIS REPAIR COST ME $1600.00 DOLLARS I CALLED CRYSLER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE AND COULDN'T HELP WITH THIS. IF IT'S A DEFECTIVE PART THAN AREN'T THEY RESPONSIBLE? PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU ,JULIE ANN HIT. *AK

WITH THE MINIVAN IN REVERSE GEAR BACKING UP,AT 5MPH FROM A DISTANT OF 100FT AND THEN APPLY BRAKE PEDAL, FAIL TO STOP THE MINIVAN.THE ENGINE PICK UP SPEED,WHILE FOOT IS STILL ON BRAKE AND MINIVAN IS TURN TO LEFT MOVING IN A CIRCLE IN A PARKING AREA CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY MINIVAN AND ANOTHER CAR PARK IN AREA.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH AND REARENDED A VEHICLE THAT CAME TO SUDDEN STOP. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES IN BOTH CASES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AFTER 12/14/00. *AK

I AM HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY VAN OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE PUT OVER 1500 WORTH OF WORK INTO THIS VAN THEY MADE THE ENGINE TOO SMALL FOR THIS SIZE OF A VAN. I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED HEAD GASKET ALL THE MOTOR MOUNTS TIMING BELT IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER AND NOW MY ENGINE IS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND EVERYTIME I PUSH THE GAS PETAL I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO COMPLAIN.

CONSUMER HEARD A GROWLING NOISE WHEN TAKING FOOT OF GAS PEDAL. TRANSMISSION BLEW A QUARTER SIZE HOLE IN IT. ALSO, LOSING OIL*AK

WE HAD TO REPLACE SWAY BAR AND LINK-BARS AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS SEEMED ABNORMAL FOR SUCH A YOUNG CAR AND THAT IT COULD BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, HOWEVER DODGE WILL NOT CLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY. TOTAL COST TO US WAS $494.30. *AK