1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

RECALL 99V216000/ FUEL PUMP. FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK AT THE INTERFACE OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHMENTS. REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (99V-216). YH

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HIT A POTHOLE DOOR CAME UNLATCHED AND POPPED OPEN. WHEN HITTING THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK, IT DID NOT LOCK THE SLIDING DOOR. ALSO, DID NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WAS BY REACHING OVER AND MANUALLY UNLOCKING THE DOOR. *AK

RECALL # 99V216000//FUEL PUMP; AFTER HAVING RECALL CAMPAIGN, FUEL STARTED LEAKING. DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILAR WITH A NEW TOOL TO CORRECT CAMPAIGN, WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. FINALLY, DEALER HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

THE BUILT-IN CSS HARNESS LATCH PLATE IS BROKEN. IT FAILS TO STAY LOCKED IN THE BUCKLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED NO WARRANTY ON BUILT-IN CSS. WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT IN VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO PIN ON THE DIFFERENTIAL CRACKED THE REAR-END TRANSMISSION COVER ON THE VEHICLE, FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. *MJS

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. YH

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 99V216/FUEL PUMP FAILURE. CONTACTED DEALER. WAS NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK *ML

AIR BAG LIGHT NOW STAYS ON. CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS AS DOES HORN. WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

ANTI LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM RELEASES THE BRAKES ON SLOW APPROACH TO A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. THEY DO NOT RELEASE WHEN BRAKING HARD, ONLY AFTER INITIAL BRAKING AND SLOWING FOR A STOP. THEY RELEASE AS IF SENSING A SLIPPAGE AT ONE TO THE WHEELS. THERE IS NO SNOW OR WATER ON THE HIGHWAY, CONDITIONS ARE DRY AND EXCELLENT, HOWEVER THEY STILL RELEASE FOR 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE HOLDINGS (GRABBING) AGAIN. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A BIG BANGING NOISE. VAN DID NOT MOVE ANY MORE. SHE HAD THE VAN TOWED, AND WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. *AK

AIR BAG MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED GAS, HAD RECEIVED RECALL REGARDING FUEL PUMP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SMELLING THE GAS, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE, CLAIM 20-5211-880. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER MOTORIST WARNED CONSUMER THAT VAN WAS ON FIRE, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER FOUND THE BELTS RED AND BURNING, THE FAN BELT CAUSED THE ENGINE FIRE, CLAIM 17-9113-989. *SLC

WHY IS THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD PERMANENTLY ON WHEN THE ORIGINAL BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN USED SINCE THE VAN HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT? AND WHY OTHER SYSTEMS LIKE THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL ARE ALSO INOPERABLE OR DEFFECTIVE. WHY WOULD CHRYSLER ENGINEER THESE THREE SYSTEMS RELATED TO SAFETY FEATURES BE ELECTRONICALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER SINCE THEY ALL SEEM TO HAVE FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. IS THIS A PLOY TO GET MONEY OUT OF CUSTOMERS???*AK

WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT IN THE MORNING, I PUT THE SHIFT LEVER IN REVERSE AND NOTICED A HESITATION BEFORE IT ENGAGED. AFTER BACKING OUT I DROPPED ITHE LEVER IN DRIVE AND STARTED TO PULL FORWARD-AGAIN HESITATION,THEN A CLUNK, WHEN IT SHIFTED TO SECOND. I THEN DROVE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID DODGE CARAVAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WERE NOT UNCOMMON. THEY PUT THE VAN ON THEIR TEST EQUIPMENT AND NOTHING SHOWED. THE SHOP OWNER SUGGESTED THAT SINCE THE VAN HAD SO FEW MILES ON IT, A FILTER AND FLUID CHANGE MAY TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN HE DROPPED THE PAN HE FOUND ALOT OF METAL IN THE BASE OF THE PAN. I AM PLANNING TO CONTACT DODGE MONDAY MORNING TO DISCUSS THEIR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *AK

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. THEN,CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON FUEL PUMP. *AK *ML

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER FOUND FAULTY CLOCKSPRING, WHICH RENDERED AIR BAG SYSTEM INOPERABLE.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 99V216000 CONCERNING THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. CONTACTED DEALR, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE RECALL PROB PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ABS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, RENDERING ABS SYSTEM INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON, CAUSING HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL TO BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER SUGGESTED A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. COST FOR REPAIRED AROUND $200, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE HORN AND PASSIVE RESTRAINT AIRBAG. THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD BE IN WORKING ORDER AT ALL THE TIME. SINCE IT'S DEFECTIVE PARTS THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF GOODWILL TOWARD THE REPAIRS OF THESE ITEMS. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING GONE WRONG WHEN THE WARRENTY RAN OUT. SHOULD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OUT FOR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS? I'VE HAD NOTICED THERE ARE 3 COMPLAINTS OID # ALREADY OUT FOR THIS VAN. ANY SUPPORT WILL BE GRATEFUL!!*AK

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HORN AND SPEED CONTROL. VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER . *AK

HAVE HAD TO ADD 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES SINCE 1996; DEALER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL 8/99; THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL OIL USAGE; HAVE USED MOBIL 1 5W30 OIL SINCE NEW PER OWNER'S MANUAL AND HAD OIL CHANGED AT MT. EPHRAIM DODGE REGULARLY SINCE NEW; THEY MONITORED OIL USAGE AND I BROUGHT IN CAR TO GET OIL ADDED AND RECORDED FROM 8/99 TO PRESENT; I THINK THE ENGINE PISTON RINGS ARE DEFECTIVE.

DURING IMPACT WITH EMBANKMENT THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SEAT TILTED FORWARD DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM WHICH HOLDS THE SEAT DOWN. *MJS

WHILE TRYING TO OPEN SLIDING DOOR FOR CHILDREN DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

THE FRONT AND REAR WIPERS COME ON AT ANY TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT A VERY RELIABLE AND HAS HAD MANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. *AK

FRONT END VIRBRATION AT 35 MPH COMES UP THRU THE STEERING ALSO. REPORTED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND THAT IT IS DANGEROUS ONE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

LEFT SIDE INTERGRATED CSS BELTS NO LONGER STAY TIGHT WHEN BUCKLED. ONCE BUCKLED AND PULL ON BELTS, THEY WILL RELEASE. CHILD IS NO LONGER SECURE. DEALER SAYS TO FIX, PART ALONE (WHOLE NEW ICSS MODULE) WILL BE $409. VERY UNREALISTIC PRICE WHEN FOR $100 CAN EASLIY BUY A CAR SEAT . HAVE TWO CHILDREN STILL USING BOTH ICSS. DO NOT FEEL ICSS SHOULD HAVE FAILED AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF USE AND THEN BE SO UNREASONABLE TO FIX. *AK

SINCE 1996, THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER DEVICE HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES. TWO OF THE THREE TIMES THE BOLT HOLDING THE DEVICE SHEARED OFF AS WELL AS THE DEVICE BREAKING. BOTH THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HAVE PERFORMED THE REPAIRS STATED THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THE CARAVANS. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS THIS ITEM IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF REPAIRS. THIS COMPONENT FAILURE CAUSES GREAT RISK TO THE DRIVER AS IT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING, RADIATOR FAN, WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR. IT HAS BROKEN SO MANY TIMES WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING, THAT I'M GETTING TO BE AN EXPERT AT NAVIGATING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT KILLING SOMEONE. THE THREE REPAIRS HAVE OCCURED ON 7/11/1997, 5/22/1998 AND 9/3/1999. I CAN PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION IF REQUESTED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS APPARENT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *AK

THE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED BECAUSE OF ROCKER ARM SHAFT FAILURE. YH

DUE TO THE LOCATION AND THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL LINE VENT TUBE/CLIP AND O RING THE O RING HAS CORRODED, CREATING A FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

A HOLE DEVELOPED ON TOP OF FUEL TANK. EXACT THING HAPPENED TO FRIEND W/ SAME VEHICLE, SAME YEAR, AND ABOUT THE SAME MILAGE. WOULD LEAK GAS AND CREATE STRONG FUMES WHEN TANK WAS FAIRLY FULL. *AK

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH IN THE 3 YEAR TIME FRAMED I PAID FOR THE NEW ONES, THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND THAT THE MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG ALTHOUGH HE COULD HEAR THE SOUND, AND NOW THE CAR WON'T START AND AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF TRYING THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I OBVIOUSLY WANT THE CAR FIXED, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS. *AK

THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE ON IMPACT DURING ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER. YH

DEALER STATES THERE IS NO "GOODWILL" WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

FRONT ROTORS WARPED OR FLAWED. HEAVY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END VIBRATION DURING DOWNGRADE SLOW BRAKING. FUEL TANK IS COLLAPSED WHICH WILL HOLD ONLY ABOUT 13 GALLONS. WIPERS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND GETS WORSE WHEN CLIMATE GETS HOT. BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHICH CAN HIT AND BREAK THE MAIN CRANKSHAFT PULLEY.

THE FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL FROM THE SEAM AND IS A SERIOUS DEFECT,BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE. YH

BELT TENSIONER FAILED AND HIT THE MAIN PULLEY WHICH WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED. BRAKES PULSATED AT AROUND 30K MILES. THEY WERE MAINTAINED BY TURNING THE ROTORS, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AFTER A MONTH. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE PAID OUT OF MY POCKET AFTER I WAS TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

NO SUMMARY

PRIMARY FUEL LINE IS LEAKING. YH

I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE IT HIT 24,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY A CHRYSLER SHOP THAT THERE WAS A ROCK IN THE ROTOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY REPLACED THE ROTOR AND PAD ON THE LEFT FRONT THE FIRST TIME. THEN 11,000 MILES LATER I HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ROTORS TURNED . I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE WARPED. AGAIN I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS. AT 49,000 MILES I HAD NO FRONT BRAKES AT ALL, THEY WERE METAL TO METAL. I BROUGHT THE VAN TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HE INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS AND THE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THAT THERE WAS NO FRONT BRAKES AT ALL. HE DID THE WORK AND REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. MY MECHANIC KNOWS OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE AND SAYS THAT IT IS CRAZY FOR ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE THESE BRAKES AS MANY TIMES AS I HAVE. HE FEELS THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE IN THE ABS AND THAT IT IS MALFUNCTING. I RECENTLY HAD MY SNOW TIRES PUT ON MY VEHICLE AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK MY BRAKES FOR ME. I WAS TOLD THAT MY LEFT FRONT HAS HALF OF THE PADS GONE AND THAT THERE IS SOME WEAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED IN JUNE 1999, EVERY 3,000 MILES WHEN I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED I HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED. I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING THESE PADS AGAIN, THEY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON THEM AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MY FAMILY AND FRIEND

THE BUILT-IN CHILD SEAT GETS STUCK WITH THE CHILD IN THE SEAT AND WHEN THE SEATS ARE CLOSE AND THEN A CHILD CANT GET IN THEM. CHRYSLER DID A RECALL AND INSTALLED A SAFTY CLIP TO ADDRESS GETTING THE CHILD OUT. BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES THAT YOU CANT USE THE SEAT WHEN THE GET STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION SO YOU CANT PUT A CHILD IN THE SEAT. ALSO NOTE CHRYSLER HAS CHANGE THE MECHINISM ON NEWER VANS. THEY GAVE A AN ESCAPE ROUTE NOT A FIX TO THE PROBLEM OF THE BELTS GETTING STUCK DUE TO FOOD FALLING IN THE LOCK AREA. REMEBER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD SEAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REPORT I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO UNLOCK THE SEAT BELTS WHEN THE GET STUCK PERMINANTLY CLOSED. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO CALL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH I CALL OVER 25 TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND FROM MY HOME AND WORK ONLY TO RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL EVERY TIME. I ASK THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL SINCE THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER AND THEY DECLINED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS CHILD SEAT SYSTEM. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS ONGOING PROBLEMS ,THE BIGGEST OF WHICH WAS THE ENGINE HEAD FAILURE WHICH COST ME ABOUT A $1,000.00 THATS WITH DODGE PAYING AN ADDITONAL $800.00 FOR THE PARTS. NOW A YEAR LATER, MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. PLEASE HELP I PROMISE NOT TO BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN, I SWEAR. ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NAGGING, BUT TOLERABLE. BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH. *AK

WENT TO START VEHICLE & THE STARTER FAILED TO CONNECT. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO SHOP. INFORMED BY MECHANIC STARTED BURNED OUT. ALSO, SHOCKS/STRUTS WERE LEAKING FLUID & NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. IN ADDITION, WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE ABS SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE--NOT THE AIRBAGS!!! WHEN I ATTEMPT TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION OR STOP SIGN THE BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP ON ME WHILE JERKING TO A STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUOSLY COMES ON WHEN YOU USE THE BRAKES. I HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $600. REPLACING PARTS, CHANGING TIRES, ETC. I HAVE BEEN TO 5 MECHANICS INCLUDING THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE ANYTHING OUT. I MUST HAVE AN ANSWER TO WHAT THIS IS BEFORE MY CHILDREN OR MYSELF ARE KILLED BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAIL. I AM SO FRUSTRATED AND AM CURRENTLY NOT EVEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXCEPT TO THE NEXT MECHANIC. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO KNOCK. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

I NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER VAN HAD BEEN PARKED ON GARAGE OVER NIGHT. THE TANK WAS ABOUT 3/4 FULL. THE REPAIRING DEALER SAID THE TANK WAS LEAKING AT A VENT TUBE ACCESS PANEL AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.

STRONG GAS SMELL IN GARAGE. TANK 3/4 FULL. DEALER SAID TANK LEAKING FROM VENT TUBE ACCESS COVER AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE TO TANK; LEA CAUSED BY NATURAL FLEXING. MECHANIC SAID HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL TANKS AND NEW TANKS RE-DESIGNED TO SOLVE PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS PROBLEM - FIRE HAZARD. RE-DESIGN INDICATES CHRYSLER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT INITIATED RECALL ACTION.

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT ABOUT 75 MPH, CRUISE CONTROL CABLE GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCLERATE. OCCUPANT HAD TO RIDE THE BRAKES FOR ABOUT 4 MILES, AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH. DRIVER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK POSITION IN ORDER TO STOP. THIS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK