1999 Dodge Caravan complaints

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND VEHICLE MADE A CHIMING NOISE WHEN STARTING. THE LIGHTS AND THE CHIMING CONTINUED FOR 5 TO 15 MINUTES. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

REQUESTED INFORMATION ON ANY RECALL ON 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. *PH *MR *NM

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND MY HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING. I AM AWARE OF A INVESTIGATION OF DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS IN 1996-2000 MODEL YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS NOT A RECALL FOR MY MODEL YEAR. A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY HAS A 1997 MODEL, AND IT IS A RECALL FOR THEIR VEHICLE. *CB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FELL OFF THE CAR. THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FELL APART. THE STEERING BELT FELL OFF. THE SPEED SENSOR WENT. THE STEERING BELT AND ALTERNATER BELT AND PULLEY SYSTEM FELL OFF DOING 70MPH. THE BACK BREAKS HAD RUST BUILD UP. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS I'VE OWNED THE CAR.

THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY THAT IS HOUSED IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED DUE TO A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. THE ASSEMBLY CONTROLS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HORN. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, I HAVE AN AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT THAT STAYS ON AND BOTH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DO NOT FUNCTION. THIS SPECIFIC ITEM IS THE SUBJECT OF A RECENT RECALL, HOWEVER, MY VIN# DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF VEHICLES THE MANUFACTURER HAS DETERMINED PRONE TO FAILURE. AS A RESULT, I AM LIABLE FOR IDENTICAL REPAIRS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF REDRESS.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND WITHIN SECONDS, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE. RECALL 02V293000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO JIFFY LUBE TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT STRUT TOWERS WERE RUSTED. *AK DODGE INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN CANADA AND THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH IT. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE NOW HOLDS A TITLE IN THE US. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A LIGHT RAIN/SLUSH MIXTURE THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING, ETC. CONSUMER IDENTFIED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD CAME OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LATE 90'S DODGE CARAVAN'S. I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM 2 WEEKS EARLIER. DODGE DOES HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN RELATED TO THIS, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE SOME TYPE OF DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SINCE IT RELATES TO THE POWER STEERING, AND NEARLY EVERY OTHER VITAL SYSTEM.*AK

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE OF AN ANTI-FREEZE LEAK. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND SUGGESTED THAT THE TIMING BELT BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME, SINCE IT WAS DUE TO BE REPLACED. I AGREED TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT DONE. IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TIMING BELT THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BELT TENSIONER WAS FAULTY. HE TRIED ORDERING A REPLACEMENT PART AND DISCOVERED THAT THE EXISTING BELT TENSIONER WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND THAT IT WAS REPLACED BY AN UPGRADED BELT TENSIONER KIT. MY COMPLAINT IS IF DODGE FOUND THE NEED TO CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THIS PART WHY WAS IT NOT MADE A RECALL? THIS PROBLEM ENDED UP COSTING ME AN ADDITIONAL $245.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO HAVE THIS NEW BELT TENSIONER KIT INSTALL, NOT TO MENTION A WEEK WITHOUT THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE PART AVAILABILITY. *AK

AT ALL TIMES THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT A NEW CLOCK SPRING WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING, 1999 DODGE CARAVAN, THE HORN AND AIRBAGS DON'T WORK. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS TIME THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE FREE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANYMORE THAN REPLACE A SWITCH. AFTER 4 FAILURES, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. *PH DODGE APPROVED A NEW SWITCH AT NO COST AND HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO BUT A LOCAL DEALER INSTALLED AN OLD SWITCH IN 2000, 2001, AND 2002. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER WAS UPSET BECAUSE ALL FOUR BACK SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK. THERE WERE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEATS WHO COULD NOT BUCKLE IN SAFELY. *AK CONSUMER WANTED TO WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT. CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE AS TO HOW THE SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSE TO WORK IN THE CARAVAN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK WHEN PULED MANUALLY. *PH *NLM

THE KEY STICKS IN THE IGNITION AND FAILS TO TURN. THE CONSUMER HAS TO POUND AND PLAY WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO RELEASE IT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IS DUE TO A BAD IGNITION CYLINDER AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS PART. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *PH

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT AND LEAKING OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER REDESIGNED AN UPGRADED THE HEAD GASKET. THE VAN HAD 4 CYLINDERS, AND 2.4 LITER ENGINE. *AK THE FUMES AND SMOKE MADE THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE SICK. (SINUS AND COUGHING WHICH EXISTED TWO WEEKS AFTER) *SCC *JB

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED THE VAN WOULD START BUCKING OR JUMPING. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT A SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

ONE PARTICULAR EVENING MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON IN MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. AFTER COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT I WAS TOLD THE COST OF REPAIRING THE PROBLEM WOULD BE 280.00 DOLLARS. THIS ALSO LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT'S HAPPENING IN DODGE CARAVANS. *LA

NHTSA# 02V293000: ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER STATED SORRY THIS RECALL IS ONLY FOR 96 TO 98. *NLM

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. HOWEVER, SPEED CONTROL/HORN ASSEMBLY, AND HEAT SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. *AK

IDLE PULLEY AND BELT CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OVERHEATING. PREVIOUS REPAIR FOR SAME CONDITION ONE WEEK PRIOR. WHILE WAITING, ANOTHER VEHICLE OF SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR WAS TOWED IN FOR SAME RECURRING PROBLEM. *LA

AIR BAG/CLOCK SPRING EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 02V293000, ERRATIC OPERATION OF AIR BAGS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER HAD ALREADY HAD THE REPAIRS DONE, WHEN HE LEARNED OF THE RECALL. *JB *NM

MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN (2.4 ENGINE) IS EXPERIENCING OIL LOSS. I JUST HAD IT TUNED UP ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO AND IT IS STILL LOSING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL(1 QT/500 MILES; NORMAL-ACCORDING TO SEVERAL DEALERS).MECHANIC FOUND PROBLEMS WITH PCV SYSTEM AND REPLACED YELLOW RESTRICTOR. CHARGED $98. RECENTLY HAD OIL CHANGE. TEN DAYS LATER, OIL IS BLACK AND BROKEN DOWN. OIL LEVEL ON DIPSTICK IS DOWN TO HALF. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 44,000 MILES. *LA

WHILE DRIVING A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER FOUND THAT TIMING BELT BROKE. *AK THE IDLER PULLEY MADE NOISES AND THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE UPDATE PARTS WERE THE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, IDLER PULLEY, TIMING COVERS, WATER PUMP, TWO DRIVE BELTS, THERMOSTAT AND THE OIL PAN GASKET LEAKED. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER PICKED UP CHILD SEAT BY THE HANDLE AND THE HANDLE SNAPPED OFF, CAUSING THE BABY TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR SEAT. *AK CONSUMER WENT TO LOCK THE SEAT BELT AND A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE BROKE. THIS WAS THE THIRD SEAT TO BREAK IN THE SAME PLACE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE COMPANY, THE FIRST TWO TIMES THEY WANTED TO REPLACED THE BROKEN PART. AFTER HAVING THREE OF THE SAME PARTS BREAK, THE CONSUMER WONDERS HOW EFFECTIVE THE SEAT WOULD BE IN A ACCIDENT. (EVENFLO HORIZON) *PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET BROKE AND THE ADJUSTMENT BOLT, BROKE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME, WAS REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER, WHILE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET BROKE ALONG WITH THE ADJUSTMENT BOLT, CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT HE TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT THE BRACKET WAS MADE OF WAS A WEAK MATERIAL, VERY BRITTLE. *LA

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. WHILE RAINING INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE TRAVELING 30-35 MPH BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. INSURANCE CO. HAD VEHICLE TOWED SO THAT THEY COULD INSPECT THE DEFECT.*AK

WHILE PULLING VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTING INTO PARK THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING IN HER RIGHT EAR AND MINOR INJURIES AND BRUISES TO CHEST/HEAD AND RIGHT SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *ML *NLM

AT 72,000 MILES MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO A PINION IN THE PINION SHAFT COMING LOOSE AND TEARING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASING. OVER $2400 WORTH OF WORK WAS REQUIRED. NO INJURIES, BUT I LOST CONTROL WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE GRASSY EDGE OF A RURAL ROAD. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER SAID VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 02V293000 CONCERNING CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE DEALER REPLACED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE YEARS AGO. *AK THE PARKING BRAKE DIDN'T ALWAYS HOLD, ESPECIALLY ON A UPGRADE. THEN IT MAY OR MAY NOT RELEASE ON ITS OWN. *PH *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. *AK *TS THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS NOT COMPLETELY IN DRIVE. *JB

VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON AND THE HORN IS INOPERATIVE. *MR THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE AIRBAG ON THE 98' MINIVANS WERE THE SAME AS THIS VEHICLE AND THE PREVIOUS YEARS WERE RECALLED. *SCC *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, HITTING A NEARBY TREE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. *AK

TRANSMISSION INPUT AND OUTPUT SENSORS FAILED RESULTING IN VERY HIGH ENGINE RPM AND VEHICLE (FORWARD) OPERATION IN LOW GEAR ONLY.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, DUE TO A FAILED CLOCK SPRING. *AK *JB

I HAD THE VAN IN FOR A STATE INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE TENSIONER ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT HE COULD TELL JUST BY THE SOUNDS THAT THE VAN WAS MAKING. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THE SAME SOUNDS FROM SEVERAL VANS THAT I COME ACCROSS. IF THIS IS SUCH A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TENSIONER ARM FREEZING UP AND DESTROYING THE SERPENTINE BELT, SHOULDN'T DODGE REDESIGN THE TENSIONER ARM AND EFFECT A RECALL TO REPLACE IT.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELTS HAD SNAPPED AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKES IN A SUDDEN STOP, CAUSING CHILD TO FALL OUT OF SEAT. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION HITTING A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCKSPRING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40/50 MPH A PIN FROM THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLEW OFF AND BLEW THE TRANSMISSION. ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS.*AK

THE FRONT BENCH SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED 3 TIMES, WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CONSUMER'S CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT, WHICH CAUSED THE CHILD TO FALL OUT AND HIT THE FLOOR. *AK *CB *JB

NEEDED TO REPLACE INPUT/OUTPUT TRANSMISSION SENSORS. NOT ONLY HAVE WE HAD THIS DONE BUT A NUMBER OF 1999 CARAVAN USERS WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM.*AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE CLOCK SPRING AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 02V 293 000 BUT THE MODEL YEAR AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WERE NOT INCLUDED. *NLM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT STARTED AND WAS REPLACED PER MECHANIC. THE HORN STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SAME PART MALFUNCTIONED IN THE 1996, 97, AND 98 DODGE CARAVAN'S. *SCC

ILLUMINATION OF AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT (AT FIRST, INTERMITTENTLY, THEN CONTINUOUS) FOLLOWED BY LOSE OF CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN FUNCTIONS.VEHICLE TYPE: 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE. APPROX. MILEAGE: 91400. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT CLOCKSPRING PROBLEMS. STATED THAT HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VIN: [XXX] THIS VAN IS A LEMON FROM DAY 1. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, OWNER OF LANDMARK DODGE IN GA, MEDIATION, ARBITRATION, CONSUMER ACTION LINE, AND ANY OTHER PERSON THAT WOULD LISTEN. THIS VAN HAS QUIT ON ME AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES. SOMETIMES ON RURAL ROADS. SEVERAL TIMES ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE LAST MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURRED ON FATHER'S DAY WITH SIX FAMILY MEMBERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE IT QUIT. IT WOULD NOT STARTAFTERWARDS. WE WERE ON A BUSY HWY 19/41 IN JONESBORO. SEVERAL OTHER TIMES, I LOST MY SPEEDOMETER, AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, LEAKY DOORS, INOPERABLE WINDOW MOTORS, HALTED INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS, SLUGGISH LOCKS, ETC. I WANTED TO KEEP MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY UNSAFE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO TRADE IT IN. THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION WHEN I PURCHASED IT.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAVE A 99 DODGE CARAVAN SE AND, BECAUSE OF A CRACKED WINDSHIELD, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT HAS A LOT OF RUST ON THE PINCH PLATE (AREA THAT WINDSHIELD IS BONDED TO). I CAN NOT PUT A NEW WINDSHIELD IN UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. CHRYSLER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE WHO SEES THIS PROBLEM INFORMS ME THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ON A VEHICLE THIS NEW AND THAT IT IS/WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. *NLM