1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

AIR BAG LIGHTON AND OFF/ HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. *AK AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON ALL TIMES. *YH

I SAW AN ATRICLE IN THE PAPER, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW ALWAYS ON MY STOPPED WORKING 1 1/2 MONTH AGO I HAVEN'T CHECKED MY CRUISE CONTROL BUT I WILL KNOW.*AK

ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING PULLED OVER SAFELY IN HEAVY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. BURNED UP BRAKES/ROTOR. WROTE CHRYSLER.NOTHING. AIRBAG CLOCK RECENTLY FAILED AND SAW ARTICLE IN PAPER ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON, ALONG WITH INOPERATIVE CRUISE CONTROL & HORN. *AK

BUILD IN CHILD SEAT LOCATED IN MIDDLE BENCH. BCKLES LATCH AND SHOULDER STRAPS WILL NOT TIGHTEN AND LOCK. THE DANGER IS NOT IMMEDIATELY APPARENT SINCE THE BUCKLE STILL LATCHES. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON/ HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON, HORN FAILED, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH PROBLEMS CITED IN A ASSOC. PRESS STORY ON MAR 19, 2001.*AK

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL QUIT. MECHANIC SAYS CLOCK SPRING.*AK

MIDDLE 2 SEATS ARE BUILD-IN CCS, AND THE BELT BUCKLE DO NOT LATCH ON EITHER ONE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH WHEN AND METALLIC BANGING NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM ENGINE . CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF ACCELERATION & GEAR SHIFTING. NO ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

CONSUMER SMELLED FUMES IN CAR. THEN, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL00V26800 FOR FUEL PUMP SEAL LEAKAGE. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER, AND IT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. PRESENTLY, CAN SEE GASOLINE LEAKAGE ON PAVEMENT.*AK *SLC

I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TIRE TRACTION FAILURE USING MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH THE PIRELLI TIRES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED 6/27/00 FROM LAWRENCE HILL GETTY IN HUNTINGTON, NY. I HAD ASKED FOR ALL WEATHER TIRES. ON DECEMBER 31, 2000, AND THEN AGAIN ON JAN 1, 2001, I EXPERINCED NO TRACTION ON THE TIRES, AND SLID PURPOSEFULLY ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS INTO SNOWBANKS, THE FIRST TIME TO AVOID HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHILE TRAVELLING WITH MY FAMILY OF FIVE, AND THEN AGAIN TO AVOID SLIDING INTO A BLIND INTERESECTION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A GOODYEAR DEALER ON 1/1/01, AND BOUGHT GOODYEAR AQUATREAD 3'S. THE CAR HANDLES ADMIRABLY WITH THESE TIRES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE PIRELLI MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THESE TIRES ARE RATED SUMMER TIRES. I AM SHOCKED THAT ANY TIRE COMPANY WOULD PUT ANY DRIVER NEEDLESSLY IN DANGER BY PUTTING SUMMER RATED TIRES IN AN ALLWEATHER SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR ALL-WEATHER TIRES. THE COMPANY OFFERED AN UNACCEPTABLE REMEDY. I AM REPORTING THESE INCIDENTS TO YOU TO ATTEMPT TO DETER PIRELLI FROM THIS MISLEADING AND POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT PRACTICE. I WAS TRAVELLING NO MORE THAN 10-15 MILES PER HOUR, ALLOWING PLENTY OF TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP. I ALSO RIDE MOTORCYCLES AND AM VERY AWARE OF ROAD SURFACE, STOPPING DISTANCES, AND ALTERNATIVE AVENUES OF ESCAPE. IT WAS THIS EXPERIENCE THAT KEPT ME FROM CRITICALLY OR OTHERWISE INJURING MY FAMILY OR ANOTHER FAMILY WHILE RELYING TO MY DETRIMENT ON THE REPUTATION OF T

THE STRAPS TO THE SAFETY SEAT DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY TO HOLD THE CHILD SECURELY. THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER PIECE TO KEEP THE CHILD FROM SEPARATING THE STRAPS AND GETTING OUT OF THE SEAT. ALSO THE CHILD IS ABLE TO RELEASE THE SAFETY SEAT EXTENSIONS WHICH WERE INSTALLED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN THE SAFETY SEATS WERE RECALLED.

DIFFERENTIAL PIN FLEW OUT AND TORE A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING. *AK

DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND DO NOT STAY OPEN WHEN OPENED. A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK SPRING HAS CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO BE INOPPERABLE, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK (IT DOES RAIN IN PHOENIX SOMETIMES). WE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. THIS IS THE FIRST 6 OF 15 PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHILED WIPER SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. NLM

SECOND VAN OWNED THE OTHER A 1990 PLY. GR VOY SAME MILEAGE @ FAILURE..CHRYSLER REFUSES DO DO ANYTHING ..THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN HAPPEN 2 HIGH SPEEDS IE THE 1990 FAILED ON I 90 DOING 65MPH. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

HAVE HAD LOCK REPLACED (3) TIMES LEFT SIDE, (2) TIMES RIGHT SIDE, CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT FOR (6) TIME, SAID QUOTE(" AT SOME TIME THE CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS FOR THE VEHICLE") WHEN IS THE MANUFACTURE RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY PARTS? 5 TIMES BROKEN IS DEFECTIVE DESIGN

UGES ON DASH WOULD FLOAT UP OR DOWN AND NOT GIVE A TRUE CONSISTENT READING. DEALER FIXED BUT I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RESULT - THIS APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FIRST BL;EW AT 49000 MILES. MY WIFE WAS ONLY DOING 20 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BANG AND STOPPED. WE HAD THE REPAIRS DONE AT THE COST OF $1500, OF WHICH WE HAD TO PAY HALF. I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT 101,000 MILES. SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH THIS TIME. I HAVE NOT APPROACHED THE DEALER YET, BUT I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THIS AGAIN. I WILL BE CONTACTING DODGE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.I AM ALSO REGISTERING A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE.*AK

CLOCK SPRING FATIGUED COMPLETELY DISABLING DRIVERS AIRBAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH TRANSMISSION CRACKED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. IF CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ANY FASTER MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL. *AK

CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL FUMES VERY STRONGLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE FUEL RAIL. ALSO, THERE WAS RECALL 00V268000 WHICH DEALT WITH SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, ENGINE STALLS WHEN BRAKING, SLIDING POWER DOOR LOCKS REPLACED 4X.

SLOW DRIVING 25MPH THRU 1-4" STANDING WATER CAUSES STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE & HARD TO TURN.

WE PURCHASED A USED 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN DECEMBER OF 1997. IT HAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE. DURING COLD WEATHER, OCCASIONALLY THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING. SOMETIMES FAILURES OCCUR EVERY FEW DAYS; SOMETIMES THEY ARE MORE THAN A MONTH A PART. FAILURES OCCUR FOLLOWING A COLD START AS THE ENGINES GETS CLOSE TO OR REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THE FAILURE USUALLY HAPPENS FROM 9 TO 31 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. FAILURES OCCUR WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE IS BELOW ABOUT 400F. FAILURES MOST COMMONLY OCCUR WHEN THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE THAT IS WARMER THAN THE AMBIENT OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE. THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE AT A STOP, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. SOMETIMES IT RECOVERS AND SOMETIMES IT MUST BE MANUALLY RESTARTED. IT APPEARS THAT IF THE THROTTLE IS CLOSED, THE ENGINE MUST BE RESTARTED MANUALLY AND IF THE THROTTLE IS OPEN, THE ENGINE RECOVERS. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPS RAPIDLY TOWARD ZERO. IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. SCHAUMBURG DODGE HAS MADE AT LEAST SEVEN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.

HYDRAULIC PROPORTIONING VALVE LEAKING, RESULTING IN LITTLE TO NO BRAKING CAPACITY. DODGE DEALER IN HOUGHTON, MI SAID HE HAS RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE 4 OR 5 PROPORTIONING VALVE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THE PIN FELL OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AND POKED HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION, RUINING IT. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE REFERRED TO IS THE COST OF A NEW TRANSIMISSION. IT IS LIKELY THIS ONE CANNOT EVEN BE REBUILT, WHICH MEANS IT WILL COST ANOTHER $500 TO FIX IT. SINCE THIS HAPPENED I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE THAT CHRYSLER HAS LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS AND I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL STORIES OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM, INCLUDING A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT TO NHTSA.*AK

THE AIRBAG, HORN, & CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. TOOK TO DEALER - TOLD CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED. WILL COST ABOUT $400 TO FIX. WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT. WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE FROM CHRYSLER. THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR FOR A FAMILY OF SIX. UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION.

AS EXPLAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT TRANSMISSION BEARINGS WEAR UNTIL DIFFERENTIAL PIN IS EJECTED AND DAMAGES HOUSING. BEGAN WITH CLICKING NOISE (PIN), THEN ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT. PROBLEM FULLY ANTICIPATED AT TIME OF PURCHASE DUE TO COMMON KNOWLEDGE PROVIDED BY OTHER CARAVAN OWNER'S THAT WE KNOW. REASON WHY WE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR APPROXIMATELY $1000. STUCK WITH DODGE AS THEY WERE ONLY ONES ON MARKET WITH DOUBLE SLIDING DOORS AT THE TIME. WE NEEDED THIS FEATURE DUE TO BACK INJURY PREVENTION ISSUES. TRANNIE REPLACEMENT TOOK OVER A WEEK AND COST $2208 (WE PAID THE $50 DEDUCTABLE ON OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY). DEALER REPS EXPLAINED THAT DUE TO POOR TRANNIE DESIGN, THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF REPLACEMENT TRANNY ORDERS NATIONWIDE. WHEN ASKED IF CHRYSLER HAD ENGINEERED THE PROBLEM OUT OF THEIR TRANNIES. THE ANSWER WAS NO. WHY SHOULD THEY, THEY MAKE LOTS OF MONEY ON THIS PROBLEM AS IT ALMOST ALWAYS OCCURS AFTER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES AND OWNERS ARE FORCED TO PAY. I NOTICED THAT OTHER COMPLAINANTS LIST UNEXPLAINED CRACKED TRANNIES. MORE THAN LIKELY THIS DAMAGE IS SAME ENGINEERING DEFECT AND EJECTION OF THE PIN. *AK

TWO ISSUES TO DISCUSS. FIRST WINDSHIELD WIPERS APPEAR TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY ON INSTRUCTIONS WHEN ON INTERMITTMENT SETTING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR WHERE THEY WILL STOP. SECOND ISSUE IS THE TENSIONER AND WATER PUMP WITHIN THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM EACH TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. MECHANIC FOUND ENGINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE. *AK *JB

350 MILES AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM TILLERY CHEVROLET THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO OUT. TILLERY CHEVROLET HAS OFFERED TO COVER 50% LIKE THE CONTRACT COVERS BUT I BELIEVE THAT DODGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% BECAUSE OF THE MANY 4 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS THAT FAIL AT ABOUT 50K MILES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE CHRYSLER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE ($1200) REPAIR.*AK

CHILD SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACK WHILE CHILD WAS LOCKED IN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INOFRMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION ONLY GOES INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS WHICH PREVENT VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING OVER 40 MPH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

PE00-032, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED. *AK

DIFFERENTIAL PIN BROKE OFF AND SHATTERED THE TRANSMISSION CASING.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN AUGUST OF 1998. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO "MACK DODGE" ON 8/31/98 , DEALER REPLACED MALFUNCTIONING "MULTI SWITCH" PART NUMBER CMC 05012382AA. I NOTICED WIPERS PERFORMING INCORRECTLY IN NOVEMBER, 2000. I SPOKE TO A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MACK DODGE AND WAS TOLD THE PRIOR REPAIR WAS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. ON JANUARY 21, 2001 I WAS DRIVING THE VAN WITH MY FAMILY IN THE RAIN AND THE WIPERS STOPPED. I HAD TO PLAY WITH THE SWITCH TO GET THEM TO RESUME WORKING. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION , WHICH WAS NEVER CORRECTED PROPERLY WHILE THE VAN WAS COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR/ 36,000 MI. WARRANTY. MACK DODGE IS LOCATED ON ROUTE 37 EAST, TOMS RIVER, N.J. PHONE: 732-349-7474 . THANK YOU FOR RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISING ME OF MY OPTIONS IN HAVING THIS RESOLVED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 18 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING, JUST QUIT WORKING. WHEN LIFTED UP BY TOW TRUCK COULD SEE PART OF TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS AND THEN THE VEHICLE DIES. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE FIRST GEAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF FIRST GEAR IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING. HOWEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO DOWN SHIFT WHEN IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO FIRST GEAR IT BEGINS TO JERK, HESITATE AND THEN THE ENGINE DIES. THIS PROBLEM ALSO EXISTS IN REVERSE, OVERDRIVE, THIRD GEAR & LOW GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 26000 MILES. I SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION EVERY 25000 MILES THEREAFTER. WITH ONLY 58000 ON THE "NEW" TRANSMISSION THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND FRONT PUMP HAVE FALLEN APART. IS THERE ANYTHING ON THIS VEHICLE THAT IS NOT A PIECE OF JUNK? OTHER PARTS REPLACED ARE AS FOLLOWS: WATER PUMP, BOTH FRONT DOOR SEALS, TURN SIGNAL ARM, DRIVERS SIDE VISOR, BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BOTH REAR SHOCKS, FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REBUILT, A COMPLETE REAR BRAKE JOB (DRUMS,WHEEL CYLINDERS,SPRING KIT & SHOES),FAN SWITCH RESISTER IS GOING BAD, ANTIFREEZE LINES GOING TO REAR HEATER CORE, BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS, BOTH SIDE DOOR POWER LOCK MECHANISMS,SPARK PLUGS ONCE BY THE DEALER AND MOST RECENTLY ME, A COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM POWER FLUSH BY THE DEALER,BATTERY,FAN RELAY SWITCH(RECALL), AND THE VAN IS CURRENTLY ON ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION, BELT TENSIONER,PASSENGER SUN VISOR, SERPENTINE BELT, (,PCV & AIR) FILTERS ARE REPLACED EVERY YEAR & THE FUEL FILTER EVERY TWO YEARS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER TWO

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V268 AND WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS COMPLETED, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL COULD BE COMPLETED DUE TO THE FUEL TANK BEING WARPED, CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULTY FUEL TANK. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN O-RING FUEL LEAKAGE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

VENT TUBE HAD A FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED PREVENTING DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS, HORN OPERATION, AND CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE!!

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION ELECTRICALLY SHORTED OUT. TRANSMSSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ON FREEWAY, HEARD CLUNK, WAM...POWER STEERING DIED, ABOUT LOST CONTROL AS STEERING WENT MANUAL. TOW GUY SAID THESE FAIL ALOT. WHEN WILL NHTSA RECALL THESE THINGS...? WHEN SOME ONE DIES...?*AK

TRANSMISSION CANNOT HOLD OR WILL DISENGAGE WHEN THE CAR IS ON A HILL GRADE WHEN SET IN PARK. *AK

TRANSMISSION CANNOT HOLD THE CAR IN PARK AND GEARS WILL SLIP EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT COLUMN IS STILL IN PARK WHICH VERY DANGEROUS AT THAT TIME IT MAY HOLD THE VEHICLE AND THEN SLIP AND START ROLLING. *AK

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IN FIRST 5 MINUTES VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. SOON AFTERWARD VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL NORMAL. *AK THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 20,233 MILES AND THE SECOND ONE FAILED AT 53,167 MILES. THE TRANSMISSIONS NEEDED COMPLETE TEARDOWN, RESEAL AND A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER. *YH

REPLACED COMPLETE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM, FRONT AND REAR, TRANSMISSION, FUEL INJECTION, CV JOINTS, FUEL TANK LEAKS, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. *AK