1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

WHEN PARKING ON A STEEP INCLINE TWO WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS. I LOOKED AT THE GAS TANK AND SAW SIGNIFICANT LEAKAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER WHERE I HAVE MY SERVICE DONE. I WAS TOLD BY BOB LELAND THAT THE CAUSE OF THE LEAD WAS THE ROLLOVER VALVE ON TOP OF THE TANK, AND THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WAS A COMPLETE GAS TANK REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $809, PLUS TAX. HE SAID THERE IS ANOTHER ROLLOVER VALVE ON THIS VEHICLE THAT WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL, BUT THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT ROLLOVER VALVE. I CONTACTED TWO PERSONS AT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE (USING THE NUMBER THAT BOB LELAND GAVE ME). BOTH PERSON, RYAN AND JULE AT 800 992 1997 INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL, WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPAIR--OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXPENSE OF REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY BOB LELAND THAT THERE WAS NO GOOD REASON FOR THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO CRACK, I.E. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY TRAUMA TO VEHICLE OR ANY INDICATIONS OF AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY RENTON CHRYSLER BEFORE I PURCHASED IT FROM THE ORIGNAL OWNER, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. I HAVE HAD NO WRECKS SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER IN TOWN (NEW CONCEPTS AUTO AT 509.747.2164). THEY PULLED UP THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, SHOWING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK, ROLLOVER VALVE, AND FUEL LINES. THEY WERE UNSURE WHETHER THE TSB REFERRED SPECIFICALLY TO THE TOP VALVE. BECAUSE THEY HAD A

AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 83 IN YORK PA., MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. IT ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT OFF, I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO DISENGAGE, NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN CANCELLED THE CRUISE AND TURNED IT OFF, IT STILL WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. AT THIS POINT I WAS TRYING TO APPLY PRESSURE TO MY BRAKES BUT WAS STILL UNABLE TO STOP FROM ACCELERATING. I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND SLOWLY PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH TEMPORARILY SLOWED ME DOWN. I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALL THE WAY IN, AND THE CAR STARTED TO GO FORWARD AGAIN. AT THAT POINT MY ONLY OTHER OPTION THAT I COULD THINK OF WAS TO TURN TOWARD THE GRASS EMBANKMENT AND GO ON THE INCLINE AND HIT A SIGN SO THAT IT WOULD STOP MY VAN. IT STILL DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I HURRIED AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. ONCE IT WAS STOPPED MY DAUGHTER AND I GOT OUT OF THE VAN. *AK

THE RIGHT STRUT TOWER TOP RUSTED, THE LEFT SIDE HAS RUSTED AS WELL. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS ON WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON 7/3/2001. IT WENT OFF AFTER 5 MINUTES. THE PATTERN OF THE AIRBAG COMING ON STARTED OCCURRING MORE REGULARLY AND STAYING ON LONGER. WE TOOK THE MINIVAN INTO KOON'S DODGE (FALLS CHURCH, VA) ON SATURDAY, JULY 14, 2001. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK-SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT HAD GONE BAD AND HAD MADE THE AIRBAG GO BAD. THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $800 TO FIX IT. I ASKED THEM WHETHER DODGE WOULD PAY FOR IT SINCE HAVING AN AIRBAG GO BAD SHOULD NOT BE AN ORDINARY "WEAR AND TEAR" ITEM FOR ANY AUTOMOBILE. THE ASSISTANT MANAGER (SCOTT) TOLD ME THAT HIS BOSS (RAY RASADO) WOULD HAVE TO TALK WITH DODGE ON MONDAY, 7/16/2001 TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. I CALLED BACK ON MONDAY AND THEY SAID THAT DODGE REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. DODGE HAD SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD GONE BAD AND MADE THE AIRBAG GO BAD. I THEN CALLED DODGE MYSELF AND TALKED TO THEIR WARRANTY DEPARTMENT (JESSICA). AFTER TALKING WITH HER DODGE MANAGER, SHE SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. SHE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO ENGINEERING PROBLEMS WITH EITHER THE CLOCKSPRING OR THE AIRBAG. SHE GAVE ME A CASE REFERENCE NUMBER OF 8889836. I CALLED KOON'S, THE DODGE DEALERSHIP, BACK AND ASKED WHETHER THEY WERE POSITIVE THAT THE AIRBAG ITSELF WAS BAD IN ADDITION TO THE CLOCKSPRING. THE REASON BEING THAT A REPAIR OF THE CLOCKSPRING

RECALL NUMBER 00V268000. VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING RECALL PROBLEM, BUT NOT SELECTED FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FUEL IS LEAKING FROM FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HORN ,CRUISE CONTROL,DOES NOT WORK AND THE GAS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND MAKE A BEEPING SOUND FOR NO REASON. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CLAIM 35-W700-085. *SLC

1) WHEN YOU WOULD START THE VAN IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE FOR @ 5 MIN. THEN WOULD FINALLY GO INTO GEAR. (2) WHEN TRAVELLING @45 TO 50 THE VAN WOULD START TO SHUDDER BAD AND WOULD LOSE ALL OF ITS POWER FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN WOULD BE ALRIGHT. (3) WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT/ STOPSIGN OR YIELD THE VAN WOULD NOT GO. TOLD AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER.*AK

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *AK

BODY CONTROL HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES. WINDSHILD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH IN PASSING LANE CONSUMER DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL TO PASS AND VEHICLE DID NOT GAIN ANY SPEED . VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN NEUTRAL STATUS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE: HORN / CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERATIV, AND AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER / MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION .*AK

SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER SHAFT SHEARED AS A RESULT OF NO LUBRICATION. INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTED IN A VERY CLOSE CALL. I BELIEVE THE NON-LUBRICATED SHAFT PERMITTED CORROSSION AND SUBSEQUENT SEIZURE AND SHEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY SHAFT. IT IS A DESIGN DEFICIENCY, IN MY OPINION OF COURSE.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND HORN HAS FAILED TO FUNCTION. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING LIGHTING ON THE DASH WILL GO OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. DELAER HAS REPLACED CONTROL PANEL MODULE, HOWEVER , PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HORN ASSEMBLIES ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

DURING A VEHICLE REPAIR, NON-DEALER REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR RAIL AND O-RINGS. LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED BUT BOTH STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE REPAIRS AT NO COST. YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V268000 IDENTIFIES A RECALL THAT IS NOT BEING HONORED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. FUEL LEAKAGE IS PRESENT CURRENTLY. DEALER SAYS OWNER MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS AND MAY RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT AT A LATER DATE. COMPLAINT WAS GIVEN TELEPHONICALLY TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER ON JUNE 15, 2000 AND RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S COMPLAINT REFERENCE NUMBER IS 8765666. DEALER SAYS NO RECALL APPEARS FOR THIS VEHICLE WHEN SEARCH IS BY VIN NUMBER. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH HAS COME ON. HORN HAS FAILED TO OPERATE, AND CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

OUR TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT BEGAN WITH THE GEARS SLIPPING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK, SHUTTER AT LOW SPEEDS. THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT NO HELP THERE AS IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SEEING HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR OF CARAVANS, I AM FURIOUS. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSIONS OF THESE VEHICLES. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE?*AK

WIRE HARNESS SHORTING OUT IN STEERING ASSY POSS. SETTING OFF AIRBAGS WHILE DRIVING.*AK

VEHICLE LOSES POWER ASSIST IN RAIN OR WHILE RIDING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE. CONSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A SUBDIVISON AND STEERING GOT HARD. CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A LARGE BRICK PLANTER. HAS CONTACTED CHRYSLER BY WRITING LETTERS AND MAKING PHONE CALLS, BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE TENSIONER AND BELT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS SLIPPING WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *YD

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COULD COME AND STAY ON FOR WHILE. HORN DID NOT WORK, STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. *AK

BODY CONTROL COMPUTER WENT OUT AT 64000 AND THIS CONTROLLED WINDSHIELD WIPERS. AT 69000 MILES IT WENT OUT AGAIN.*AK NOW AT 71000 MILES IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. *SLC

AT ABOUT 60K MILES, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LAMP WOULD OCCASIONALLY LIGHT UP. NOW AT OVER 63K MILES, THE AIR BAG LAMP STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALLS. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. SECOND TIME TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE PUT IN REVERSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING:INOPERATIVE HORN OPERATION. ALSO, AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON ON. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.*JB

FUEL LEAKAGE FROM TOP OF FUEL TANK. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NO RECALL ON THAT PART, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE AND FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY AT FILL UP, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAY BE RELATED TO RECALL WORK PERFORMED SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR, THE DEALER NOTICED LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE TANK BUT STATED THAT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO PRIOR RECALL REPAIR (O-RING REPLACEMENT), FULE FILTER WAS REPLACED, AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. NLM

A $32,000 VEHICLE W 49,000 MILES SHOULD NOT INCURR THIS PROBLEM W A TRANSMISSION SEAL.THIS IS IN ADDITION WITH 10-14 OTHER PROBLEMS AND RECALLS THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE PURCHASING THIS VAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. *AK

I'VE READ ABOUT INVESTIGATION ON THE AIR CLOCK SPRINGS .... THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH. WHEN CHECKED FLUIDS WERE ALL BUBBLING UP, AND TRANSMISSION WAS BURNED UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES TORQUE CONVERTER WAS ALSO REPLACED, ALSO BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

CONSUMER ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. *AK

AFTER MARKET TIRE WINSTON G/T, P215/65R15 SIZE. TREAD ON THREE OF FOUR TIRES HAVE STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM SIDEWALL.*AK CONSUMER STATES NEWLY INSTALLED TIRES WERE CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS, ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. *SLC

DEALER REPLACED AIRBAG AND CLOCKSPRING AFTER I REPORTED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON.

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND DRIVER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT BRAKE PADS HAD COME APART.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. ALSO, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. *AK

WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VAN BUT THE SHIMMY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE FIXED BY ANYTHING. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES REPLACED TWICE. WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. WE HAVE HAD THE HALF SHALFTS LOOKED AT AND THEY SEEM TO BE FINE. I NEED HELP ON DECIDING WHAT TO DO NEXT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TECHNICIAN STATED CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY SRS LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE WHEN DRIVING, AND CRUISE CONTROL BECOMES INOPERABLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE, STILL INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE CORRECTLY, ALSO RADIO DOES NOT SEE CD PLAYER, UNLESS VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND ON SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE. *JB

VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHEN COMING TO STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED INFO ON THIS VEHICLE BY MAIL. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THE UPDATE ON THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON HAND. THE MAN SAID IT WOULD PROBABLY COST OVER $500.00 FOR THE REPAIR, BEFORE I KNEW THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. CONTACT ME AT 201-447-6907 EASTERN TIME M-F 9-3. THNANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TO PUT EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT ENGINE AND FOUND A HOLE, PIN SIZED NEAR CYLINDERS OF THE ENGINE WHICH IS WHERE ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING. MECHANIC STATED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE APPEARED TO BE IN MOLDING OF ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ON; HORN &CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED; CLOCKSPRING REPLACED AT COST OF $250. THIS VEHICLE HAS REPAIRS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS AT COST OF $200-400. IN ADDITION TO REGULAR MAINTAINANCE. WILL NEVER BUY A CHRYLSER PRODUCT AGAIN. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DURING SNOWY CONDITIONS POWER ASSIST STEERING BELT TENSIONER BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER AS TO WHY THIS DEFECT HAPPENED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS AFTER THIS EVENT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AGAIN, THIS TIME RACK AND PINION STEERING CAUSED THIS DEFECT. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO FLUID BURNING, NOTHING MORE SPECIFIC WAS SAID. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

FUEL IS LEAKING BETWEEN INTERFACE SENSOR MODULE SUBJECT TO RECALL 99V21600/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 845. BOTH INDEPENDENT CHRYSLER AND SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES CLAIMED FUEL TANK WAS WARPED IN THE AREA WHICH WAS LEAKING FUEL. SOME RESPONSABILITY SHOULD BE ON CHRYSLER. PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM LIKE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS A GREAT DEAL OF SAFETY CONCERN TO CONSUMER.*AK CONSUMER STATES ROOT IS THE CAUSE OF LEAKING FUEL, DISTORTION OF MOLDED PLASTIC FUEL TANK INDICATES IMPROPER MANUFACTURER DESIGN. *JB