1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH AND HEARD SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA. ALSO, SMOKE AND FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE HOOD AREA. SERPENTINE BELT CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. NO STEERING, VEHICLE WON'T START AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN CLOCK SPRING. ALSO, AIR BAG/ HORN AND CRIUSE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALER /MANUFACTURE. NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

WIRING SYSTEM IS SUSPECT, AIRBAG LIGHT SEEMS TO BE SYMPTOM BUT NOT SURE IS CAR IS SAFE.

NHTSA RECALL 99V216000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 845. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

COOLANT GAUGE, TACH,AND SPEEDOMETER ALL FLATLINE AT SAME TIME AND RETURN INTERMITTENTLY, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AT SAME TIME. DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR LOCK WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. NO FUEL LEAKS UNTIL RECALL REPAIR MADE THEN LEAK DEVELOPED WHEN TANK FILLED ( DEALER FIXED). RADIO DOES NOT SWITCH FROM AM TO FM UNLESS BUTTON PUSHED 3 OR 4 TIMES. JUST ONE BIG ELECTRICAL LEMON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS LEAVING HOME AND HEARD A POFF, CONSUMER LIFTED THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, MAIN WIRING HARNESS IS MELTED, NO SIGN OF FIRE, CLAIM 25-5394-275. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOE VEHICLE. *AK

ROCKER ARM WITHIN THE ENGINE BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH DUE TO A STUD PULLING LOOSE FROM THE ROCKER ARM SHAFT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. ENGINE ROCKER ARM BROKE OFF, AND DEALER HAD IT REPAIRED. *AK

PEDESTAL HOLDING THE ROCKER ARM BROKE CAUSING ROCKER ARM SHAFT TO BREAK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKEN THIS IS STILL A NEW VEHICLE AND THESE TWO ITEMS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE ROCKER ARM AND PEDESTAL SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN I FILL THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT BROKE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS PROBLEMS ARE DAMAGES. I ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THAT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW RATE OF SPEED AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP, ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN, CAUSING POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. *AK *ML

FIRST INCIDENT OF REAR SHOCKS GOING BAD WAS ONLY AT 1000 MILES, LESS THAN ONE MONTH FROM DELIVERY OF VAN TO US. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE HAD FIVE FAILURES OF THE REAR (MOSTLY RIGHT) SHOCKS. CURRENTLY WE ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE A SIXTH REPLACEMENT OF REAR RIGHT SHOCK ON 06/22/00. NOT ONLY DOES THIS RIGHT SHOCK PROBLEM SEEM HABITUAL, THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS NOT A "LEMOM" PROBLEM AND NOT A HABITUAL ONE. SIX TIMES TO HAVE A SHOCK REPLACEMENT WITH ONLY 43,700 MILES ON A CAR? WE FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO TO GET THE HELP WE NEED TO EITHER GET THE SHOCKS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL OR FOR A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION INTO OUR CAR TO SEE IF THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS BUILT CROOKED. THAT IS OUR GUT FEEL AS WE HAVE HAD CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VAN. NOT ONLY THE RIGHT SHOCKS BUT ALSO THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER DOOR HAS NEEDED ALIGNMENT FOUR TIMES AND WE HAVE HAD TWO LEAKS ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT ROOF. HELP US AS WE ARE FEELING VERY STUCK IN WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THIS VEHICLE FIXED PROPERLY OR TAKE STEPS TO GET DODGE TO STAND UP TO THIER "FIVE STAR" PERFORMANCE AND HELP US GET THIS VAN FIXED! WE HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT DODGE BECAUSE OF THIS HABITUAL PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VAN ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO, WE EXPECTED QUALITY AND NOT TO HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP EVERY SIX MONTHS FOR SHOCK REPAIRS, ETC. OUR INVESTMENT IN THIS CAR WAS TO BE A CAR THAT WOULD PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO OUR FAMILY

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES INTEMITTENTLY WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE SWITCH TWICE BUT WIPERS STILL COME ON. NLM

DRIVERS AIR BAG, HORN AND SPEED CONTROL SHORTED OUT AND INOPERABLE

CHILD TRAPPED IN SEAT UNABLE TO RELEASE CHILD RESTRAINT. *AK

THE EVAPORATOR COIL IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. I WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT OWNS 25 TO 30 DODGE CARAVANS AF VARIOUS YEARS AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MODELS BUILT BETWEEN 1993 AND 1999. ALSO THE DEALERSHIP HAS ADMITTED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED 100'S OF VEHICLES (CHRYSLER/DODGE/PLYMOUTH) WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. DAIMLER CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE HOT LINE OFFERED NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. WHEN THE REFRIGERANT (R134A) LEAKS, IT ENTERS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAN BE TOXIC IF COMBUSTED, NOT TO MENTION NOT A GOOD THING TO BREATH NON-COMBUSTED. *AK

BRAKE CHATTER/VIBRATION PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED PROBLEM RECURRING

AUTOMATIC LOCK MOTOR DOESN'T SHUT OFF RIGHT AWAY WHEN OPENED FROM KEYLESS REMOTE OR DURING AUTOLOCK WHEN DRIVING, STRUTS ARE LEAKING OIL AT LESS THAN 50000 MILES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS LOCK UP DURING COLD WEATHER, TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR DURING COLD WEATHER, FRONT BRAKES VIBRATE AND CHATTER: PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, GRINDING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN, WHINNING NOISE DURING ACCELLERATION. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS REGARDING THESE ISSUES. THE CAR IS FALLING APART AFTER 4 YEARS. *AK

OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AFTER AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED ON AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. SAID THAT ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. OWNER CONTACTED CHRYSLER BUT THEY PROVIDED NO HELP IN PAYING FOR REPAIRS. *ML

RIGHT LEFT INNER/OUTER CV JOINT FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT END TO SWERVE. YH

DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS VAN ONLY 7 MONTHS!!! WE HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE THAT HAS 97,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE TOOK A TRIP IN THE LAST WEEK TO CALIFORNIA TO SEE OUR DAUGHTER WHEN THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY PROBLEMS, WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN RENO, NEVADA - (3223 MILL ST, RENO, NV 89502 -- #(775)-323-3106). THEY SAID THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED REPLACING. AT A COST OF 300 DOLLARS, WE AGREED IN HOPES THAT THE LIGHT PROBLEM WOULD BE CURED EVEN THOUGH NOTHING SEEMED WRONG. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING, WE NOTICED THAT THE VAN WAS RUNNING TERRIBLY AND WOULD DIE WHEN STOPPED. FRUSTRATED THAT "NO" PROBLEM WITH OUR VAN PROGRESSED TO WORSE WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT AGAIN. AFTER TESTING IT AGAIN, THEY SAID THE CAMSHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE WE HAD TO RETURN HOME FOR WORK, WE COULD NOT WAIT TO GET IT FIX. ON RETURNING HOME WE TOOK IT INTO OUR TRUSTED MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY. HE CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT WE WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. OUR COMPLAINT IS THAT OUR ENGINE SHOULD NOT OF FAILED ONLY AFTER ONLY 97,000 MILES - IT IS LUDICROUS.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS START RANDOMLY AND CONTINUE FOR ABOUT 3 PASSES. FREQUENCY OF ABOUT ONCE EVERY THREE DAYS.*AK

PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR RADIATOR FAN RELAY FAILURE. IF SUCH WAS A SAFETY DEFECT, WOULD NOT FAILED WATER PUMP PRESENT SAME SAFETY RISK? *AK

MADE A THE PURCHASE IN NOV. WITH 37373 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 46500 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NO LONGER SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. NEITHER CHRYSLER OR THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WILL STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT. THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND CHRYSLER CLAIMS THEY HAVE FIXED THE ISSUES SO WHY IS IT THAT THESE VEHICLES CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. A MAJOR RECALL FOR ALL THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE MADE AS THE CONSUMERS ARE CONTINUALLY BEING LIED TO AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. *AK

WE HAVE HAD THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ON THE REAR SLIDING DOORS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES. THE LOCKS JUST BUZZ AND GO OUT AND WE ARE UNABLE TO LOCK THAT PARTICULAR DOOR. WE HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL TRIPS WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THEREFORE WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED. WE HAVE HAD THE FRONT END LINED UP AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE TIRES WERE WORN UNEVEN WHEN WE PURCHASED IT, WE ROTATED TIRES AND HAD TO ROTATE THEM BACK. WE RECENTLY IN FEBRUARY PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND THEN HAD TO HAVE IT REALIGNED. IT STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND WANDERS. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR REALIGNMENT AGAIN TWICE SINCE. STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

BELTS BECAME BADLY FRAYED AND TATTERED PREMATURELY; 3 DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE BELTS, THE ENGINE DIED ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WE NEEDED TO BE TOWED FROM THE FREEWAY TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINING ON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A CLOCK SPRING WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, HORN FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AIR BAG MOVING ON TO RELAY SWITCH. DEALER INFORMED THAT REPAIRS WOULD COST CONSUMER $950.00. *AK *ML

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

SERPENTINE BELT SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING AFTER BELT ASSEMBLY NUT SPLIT AND BROKE, DISLODGING THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK *ML

POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. PASSENGER WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT OR ENTER. ONLY WAY OUT OF VEHICLE WAS THROUGH THE WINDOW. DEALER SAID IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT ONLY TEMPORATILY. NO REMEDY WAS FOUND. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION BROKE. TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD SEPARATED & CAUSED A HOLE IN THE HOUSING. THE PIN THEN FLEW OUT & CRACKED THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT TRANSMISSION & ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ANYTIME IT RAINS OR WATER PUDDLES ON THE STREET , IF I DRIVE OVER IT THE STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY STIFF AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T STEER AT ALL. I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER SPLASHES UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (THE SERPENTINE BELTS' LOCATION) THE BELT IMMEDIATELY SQUEALS AND IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF THE COMPRESSOR IS ON EITHER THE AIR CONDITIONING OR THE DEFROSTER, AND WATER IS SPLASHED ON THE BELT THE VEHICLE HA LITTLE OR NO STEERING. DURING A RIGHT TURN AT A GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHT WATER SPLASHED THE BEFORE MENTIONED AREA AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE OTHER LANE THAT WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN! IS THERE ANY RECALL OR SOME KIND OF PANEL THAT CAN PROTECT THE WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY FROM WATER CONTACTING THE BELT AND THUS LEADING TO LITTLE OR NO STEERING CAPABILITIES? *AK

ALL OF THESE BREAK DOWNS HAVE COME WITH IN THE 9 MONTH PERIOD THERE ARE OTHER BREAK DOWNS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SAID LIKE THE MAIN COMP (EMC COMP),3 SENSORS AND ABOUT 5 RECALLS IN THIS TIME PERIOD WE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS VAN AND TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO AND NOTHING WAS DONE.WE FEEL THIS VAN WAS A LEMON AND WILL CONT TO HAVE PROBLEMS WE ASK THAT DODGE STAND BY THERE NAME AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 04-1215-889. *SLC

THIS DEFECT IN MY OPINION REPRESENTS A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING A FIRE. GASOLINE IS LEAKING ON TO THE ROAD SURFACE BELOW THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TANK IS OVER HALF FULL. CHRYSLER YESTERDAY DECLINED TO REPLACE THE GASOLINE TANK DUE THEY SAID TO THE VEHICLE'S HIGH MILEAGE. A FIRE COULD EASILY START BY A SPARK OR A THROWN CIGARETTE. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THE THE COST TO REPLACE WOULD BE AROUND $450.00. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY FOR THIS AS I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE IT. THE FAILED PART IS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK SUCH THAT IT IS PROTECTED FROM ROAD ROCKS, DEBRIS, OR JUST ABOUT ANY CONCEIVABLE HAZARD THAT WOULD BE ENCOUNTERED IN NORMAL OR EVEN HARSH DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS CAR IS NEVER TAKEN OFF THE HARD ROAD. THANK YOU. *AK

AT 50,00 MILES TRANSMISSION SEAL BUSTED, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION LEAK. TRANSMISSION WAS DROPPED TO RESEAL THE SEALS. ALSO FUEL HOSE LINE BUSTED AT 69.734 MILES. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK.ET.

THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING IT TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND THE SES LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

FUEL LEAKED AT THE INTERFACE OF THE FUEL PUMP PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-216. NLM

RECALL 99V216/FUEL PUMP. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK

SECOND COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRASMISSION ASSEMBLY; 1ST @ 29K, 2ND @ 50K. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTIONING, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED HOWEVER DID NOT RECTIFY PROBLEMS.*MJS

I'VE MOVED TO SWITZERLAND WITH THIS CAR IN 1997. MY CURRENT CONTACT ADDRESS IS ON HTTP://LCVMWWW.EPFL.CH/~PFURRER. NO SAFETY DEFECT PRESENTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

I QUESTION THE NEED FOR A NEW FUEL TANK I PAID FOR - 594.31 PARTS AND LABOR. THE TANK ONLY LEAKED WHEN IT WAS FULL, AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE REP, HE REPLIED THAT THE "TANK IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND CAN CRACK JUST FROM THE SLOSHING OF FUEL." NOT A GOOD REASON. AND NOW I HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I DESCRIBED TO THE SERVICE REP. I THOUGHT THE "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS FIXED WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED A WINDSHIELD THAT HAD BEEN SCRATCHED BY "IMPULSIVE WIPERS." NOT SO. THEY STILL MISBEHAVE AND I'M TOLD IT WILL BE $280 TO REPAIR, OUT OF WARRANTY. THREE RACK AND PINIONS RIGHT OFF THE BAT. I AM TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE QUALIFIES AS A LEMON - BUT I LIKE IT AND JUST WANT TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AS TO NEED FOR REPAIRS AND THEIR COST.

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROLEM AND CLUNK IN FRONT END HAVE NOT YET BEEN LOCATED BY DEALER. THESE PROBLENS HAVE EXISTED FOR 4 AND 8 MONTHS RESPECTIVELY. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

STEERING TENDS TO HANG,RATTLE & GRINDING NOISE,HARD TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT.DEALER CHECKED ALL SUSPENSION,SAID STEERING BOX WAS BAD.I KNOW THE VECHILE HAS A LOT OF MILAGE BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A GEAR BOX GO BAD UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.THE STEERING HAS TRIED TO LOCK UP SEVERAL TIMES(FELT A CATCH IN THE WHEEL) BUT RELEASED PRESSURE THEN WAS OK.HAD DEALER CHECK FOR PROBLEM. COULD NOT DUPLICATE.WOULD COST $500.00 TO REPLACE STEERING BOX. *AK

AT THE START UP OF THE VAN, THE COMPRESSOR PULLEY WAS LOCKED UP TO THE POINT THAT IT WOULD NOT TURN AND THE BELT WAS RUBBING ON THE PULLEY CAUSING LARGE AMOUNT OR SMOKE. COST TO REPAIR WAS MORE THAN $3,000.00.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS, BUT FUEL STILL LEAKED OUT. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED "O" RINGS WERE NOT PART OF RECALL REPAIR KIT SENT OUT, THE REPAIR REMEDY FOR FUEL PUMP FAILED. VEHICLE SENT BACK TO DEALER 2 MORE TIMES, PROBLEM STILL UNCORRECTED. *AK