1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

THIS FUEL RAIL WAS RECALLED ON THE 3.5 ENGINE IN THE DODGE CARAVAN BUT NOT ON THE 3.8 THE FUEL RAIL IS THE EXACT SAME PART AS WAS RECALLED ON THE 3.5 BUT WAS NOT RECALLED ON THE 3.8 I HAD TOP REPALCE THE FUEL RAIL ON MY 3.8 WITH THE SAME PART AS WAS RECALLED ON THE 3.5 ENGINE. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE FUEL RAIL ON THE 3.8 ENGINE JUST AS IT HAD TO ON THE 3.5 WENGINE. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR WHICH WAS JUST UNDER $325. IT IS UNBELEIVABLE THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A BAD PART ON THE 3.8L ENGINE WITH THE EXACT SAME PART AS WAS RECALLED ON THE 3.5L: ENGINE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS. *AK

I WAS ASKED BY OTHER OWNERS TO POST A COMPLAINT HERE IN AN EFFORT TO HELP OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS FAILING. ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION I HAVE THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES PRIOR TO THE DATE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN. I HAVE A WEB SITE AND HAVE HAD AS MANY AS 80 RESPONSES OR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS PER WEEK. IT VARIES, BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR THIS VEHICLE TO GET THAT KIND OF RESPONSE. I THINK CHRYSLER HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THANKS, *AK

TRANSMISSION SWITCH ALSO FAILED THIS YEAR

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH WITHOUT INDICATION VEHICLE STALL. *YC

THIS IS A MORE COMPLETE REPORT ON MY MINIVAN. I PROVIDED VIN NUMBERS, ETC. WITH THIS REPORT. MY TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED SHIFTING INTO THIRD. I WAS COMING HOME FROM TENNESSEE AND WAS GOING SLOW THROUGH CONSTRUCTION ON INTERSTATE 81 AND I STARTED TO ACCELERATE FROM 30 TO 35 MPH WHEN I FELT A "POP" AND THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD. I STOPPED, CALLED AAA AND WAS TOWED TO RADFORD, VA. WITH REPAIRS, CAR RENTAL AND ANOTHER TRIP TO RADFORD, VA. TO PICK UP AUR VAN AFTER REPAIRS. THE REPAIR BILL WAS 2437.59 BY UNIVERSITY AMOCO PLUS 300 DOLLARS FOR THE CAR RENTAL. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE GAS AND HOTEL TO RECOVER THE MINIVAN. NEDDLESS TO SAY I DO NOT THINK THE TRANSFMISSION SHOULD FAIL AT ONLY 62000. THIS IS THE FIRST TRANSFMISSION I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR IN 28 YEARS OF DRIVING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THE'RE AN INCREASE IN TRANSFMISSION FAILURES FOR CHRYSLER MINIVAN'S.

BOLT THAT SECURES THE ROCKER ARM TO THE ENGINE HEAD WERE NOT DRILLED DEEP ENOUGH TO ALLOW EVEN TENSION TO SECURE THE ROCKER ARM SHAFT PROPERLY CAUSING IT TO BREAK AND RESULTING IN VIOLENT VIBRATION. NLM

THE VAN JUST MADE A SMALL POP/SLIP AND NEVER SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR. I STOPPED AND CALLED AAA. I WAS IN RADFORD , VA. ON VACATION AND NOW I HAVE A RENTAL CAR FROM VA. AND I LIVE IN PA. I AM PAYING FOR CAR RENTAL AND NEED TO MAKE A TRIP DOWN TO PICK UP MY CAR. NO DEALER WAS OPEN AND NEITHER COULD I FIND ONE AVAILABLE IN THAT AREA. I OUT OF WARRENTY BUT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THEN 62000 MILES. THAT IS VERY POOR QUAILTY. I AM GOING TO TRY AND GET CHRYSLER TO SUPPORT IT PRODUCT AND GET SOME MONEY PAIDED BACK.

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENOSR LIGHT COMING ON. CONDSUMER BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM CAUSES HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE AS WELL. DEALER NOTIFED, AND REPAIRED / REPLACED AIR BAG MODULE AND CLOCK SPRING. WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THIS CAR HAS GONE TO THE DEALER SO MANY TIMES AND NOT BEEN FIXED. AFTER MY WARRANTEE EXPIRED I TOOK THE VAN TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC AND AT A GREAT COST TO ME IS THE VAN BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER NEVER ONCE ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIXED ANY PROBLEMS THAT THE INDEPENDANT CAR MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO FIND EASILY.

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. MJS

THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES DUE TO THE IDLER PULLEY BREAKING OFF. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED QUICKLY. DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE. NEEDS NEW IDLER PULLEY. *AK

THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED ON 11-27-96, HOWEVER, THE VAN HAD BEEN TOWED INTO DODGE DEALERSHIPS ON TWO PRIOR OCCASSIONS, BEGINNING 11-11-96. INITIALLY NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. THE VAN HAD DIED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VAN DIED AGAIN IN CITY TRAFFIC. SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY THE VAN DIED AGAIN IN CITY TRAFFIC. ULTIMATELY, THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE REPLACED. EACH TIME THE VAN NEEDED TOWING TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. ON 10-14-99, THE VAN MADE A POPPING NOISE WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 40 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD. I STOPPED THE VAN AND DISCOVERED TRANSMISSION FUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE POP AND SUBSEQUENT LEAKAGE. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN THE PROBLEM.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FUEL TANK LEAKS FROM TOP IF FILLED COMPLETELY.

CHILD SEAT REPLACEMENT DOES NOT RECOIL

AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON. CLOCK SPRING IN AIRBAG INTERMITTENTLY OPENS AND CLOSES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. SB #08-031-94A. *AK

THIS COMPONENT FAILURE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE LOSS OF ALL POWER ASSIST EQUIPMENT DUE TO CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER CLASSIFIES IT AS A "WEAR PART". THE SHAFT CONNECTING THE PART TO THE ENGINE SHOWED QUITE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A FRACTURE LINE. THE DEALER SEEMED UNFAZED BY OUR COMPLAINT OF PART DEFECT AND APPEARED TO CONSIDER THIS A COMMON FAILURE. THE COMPONENT FAILURE COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED MY WIFE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF SHE HAD BEEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED IN TRAFFIC.

HAD FILLED VEHICLE WITH FUEL, DROVE HOME & PARKED VEHICLE. HAD NOTICED FUMES COMING FROM INSIDE OF GARAGE. THE FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT OF FUEL TANK. NOTIFIED FIRE DEPARTMENT OF FUMES & LEAKING GAS. WAS INFORMED TO DRY VEHICLE & TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE.

ALL MAJOR REPAIRS DONE ON THIS VAN HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH DODGE DEALERSHIPS. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MORE WORK DONE ON IT IN IT'S FIRST THREE YEARS THAN ANY OTHER CAR I EVER OWNED, EVEN MORE THAN MY VOLVO. THE REPAIRS, WHETHER UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT CAUSES AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE TO THE OWNER. (IE: TAKING OFF WORK, TRANSPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN, DOING WITHOUT A VEHICLE, PAYING FOR UNWARRANTIED REPAIRS. THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT THREATEN THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS, SUCH AS; WINDSHIELD WIPERS INADVERTANTLY TURN ON BY THEMSELVES, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK ON DRIVER SLIDING DOOR OR PASSENGER DOOR. LIGHTS HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF MANUALLY SOMETIMES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN A HIGH MAINTENANCE VEHICLE. IT SURPRISES ME I CANNOT FIND ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE ASKING AROUND TO THOSE I NOTICE HAS ONE, COMPLAIN ABOUT SIMILAR TYPE PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION BEING THE MOST MAJOR COMPLAINT.

I HAVE REPLACED EVERY LOCK (FIVE OF THEM) ON THE CAR 2 - 4 TIMES AND ALL THE DEALER CAN TELL ME IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY FIND WRONG. THE WARRANTY RAN OUT THREE LOCKS AGO AND SO I HAVE TO PAY. I WAS GIVEN ONE LOCK AND LABOUR FREE AS A CURTESY FROM THE COMPANY (NOT THE DEALER) AND THE LAST LOCK I HAD TO PAY THE LABOR WHICH WAS 3 X THE COST OF THE PART.

POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON SLIDING DOORS - TWICE ON RIGHT, ONCE ON LEFT. ACTUATORS FAIL AND DOORS WILL NOT LOCK.

WHEN FILLED FUEL TANK AROUND THE TOP SEAM BEGAN TO LEAK. DEALER CONTACTED AND COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML

VEHICLE HAD DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER HAD TANK REPLACED . *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS/ HESITATES AND JERKES. THIS MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POTENTIALCRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WHEN THE TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED AND SNAPPED OFF OF THE ENGINE AT THE BLOCK MOUNT I WAS PROCEEDING IN A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET. LOSS OF THE PULLEY CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT NEARLY CAUSED A BAD CRASH.

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION; SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR AFTER SHIFTING GEAR INTO DRIVE OR DURING IDLE STOPPING. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON 6 OCCASIONS, AND MANUFACTURER SENT OUT AN INVESTIGATOR , BOTH WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ( CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGE) SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

GROANING/RUBBING SOUND AND FROM REAR WHEN BRAKES APPLIED

I HAVE GONE ROUND & ROUND WITH SOUTH COUNTY DODGE ABOUT MY CARAVAN. THE WIPERS SHOULDN'T BE MALFUNCTIONING LIKE THIS. THEY AGREE TO PAY FOR PART BUT NOT LABOR. THIS IS A DEFECT ON THEIR PART REGARDLESS! I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH DODGE & WILL NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN! A WORK ORDER WAS WRITTEN UP 2 TIMES WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY & WAS NOT FIXED. 04/97 & 05/97

REPLACEMENT OF AC COMPRESSOR & EVAPORATOR COST $1450; ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED FREE EVEN THOUGH WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED(SPENT $870 ON MAINT AND REPAIRS OF WHICH $300 WAS TO REPLACE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND RESISTOR PACK THAT WAS SAID TO CAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HEAD WAS ACTUALLY CASUING PROBLEM); FAN RELAY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; FIRESTONE SAID WATER PUMP FROZED AND CAUSED BELT TO BREAK ($300 REPAIR).

TRANSMISSION IS FAILING- WONT SHIFT WHEN FIRST PULLING AWAY...OR WHEN TURNING CORNERS...DANGEROUS IN INTERSCETIONS...WHEN GOING 45-55 MPH AND ABOVE- TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY- DEALER WONT HONOR ANY REPAIRS- OFFERED TO PAY HALF FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE>....FINAL COST TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE TOURQUE CONVERTER...1400 TO 2000 DOLLARS.

FUEL TANK CRACKED AT THE SEAM, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE CRACKED, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER NEED TO REPLACED FUEL TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON & NO WARNING. SPEED WOULD NOT BE A FACTOR. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER & NO ERROR WOULD APPEAR ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. SO FAR, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT & ONLY HAPPENED TWICE SINCE. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEN LETTING OF THE ACCELERATOR AND GRADUALLY DECELERAING. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL INSTEAD OF IDLING. *AK

AT 52,00 MILES THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TRANSMISSION TROUBLE THAT. DODGE WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VANS ( ALL VANS ARE 96-97 ) . IF DODGE KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THERE CARS ISN'T IT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE NESSASARY ADJUSTMENTS?

FILLED THE GAS TANK, DROVE HOME AND PARKED VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. SMELLED GAS, PUSHED CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THER EWAS NO EVIDENCE OF GASOLINE LEAKAGE. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NIPPLE TO THE FEEDER LINE HAD DISINTEGRATED.*AK

GOING 60 MPH. VAN JERKS AND SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL OR LOW. NEEDED TO STOP, TURN VAN OFF AND THEN EVERYTHING IS FINE AGAIN. SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT 35000 AND A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. *AK

EA99013, THE VALVE LOCATED ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK LEAKS, WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF THERE IS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. TANK REPLACED BY DEALER, AT HALF COST TO THE OWNER. *ML

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AND THE VAN DOES NOT BACK UP. STARTER, AIR CONDITIONER, AND BRAKE PADS ALL HAD TO BE REPAIRED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN AND SWIPE ACROSS THE WINDOW THREE TO FOUR TIMES AND SHUT BACK OFF WITH OUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. *AK *ML

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM. TO SHUT THEM OFF CONSUMER HAS TO WIGGLE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTED FUMES/ GAS SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE WHEN EXITING AND ENTERING, FURTHER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE INDICATED FUEL LEAKING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM TO BE THE GAS TANK WHICH WAS SPLIT AT THE SEAM, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. *AK *ML

THE BATTERY EXPLODED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSED ACID TO SPRAY ONTO THE ENGINE AND BURNED A HOLE. THIS COULD HAVE A CAUSED A FIRE. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING

BOTH INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS CAUSE CHILDS' LEGS TO FALL ASLEEP. IN ONE CASE, CHILD SUSTAINED NERVE DAMAGE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TWO LETTERS DATED 05/23/98 AND 06/08/98 ADDRESSED TO MR. ROBERT EATON, CEO OF CHRYSLER CORP. WAS SENT WITH A REPAIR HISTORY SCHEDULE CONTAINING 24 ITEMIZED OCCURENCES DEPICTING THE ASSOCIATED REPAIR ORDER NUMBER, NATURE OF REPAIR, MILEAGE, DATE-IN AND DATE-OUT, REMARKS AS TO RESULTS, WARRANTED REPAIR OR NOT, LOCATION OF REPAIR AND COST IF APPLICABLE. ALSO DEPICTED WAS THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE REPEATEDLY RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR BRAKE REPAIR WHICH WAS SIX TIMES WITHIN FIRST SIX MONTHS AND SIX TIMES REGARDING ELECTRICAL WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF POSSESSION WHICH ALL IS EVIDENCED BY THE GIVEN INFORMATION ON THE REPAIR HISTORY SCHEDULE I PROVIDED WITH THE LETTERS. I RECEIVED A RESPONSE BACK FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NO AVAIL. I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO PROVIDE YOU AT YOUR REQUEST A COPY OF BOTH LETTERS WHICH INCLUDES THE REPAIR HISTORY SCHEDULE I ELUDED TO EARLIER.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TURNING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TURNNING THE KEY TO START VEHICLE THE BATTERY EXPLODED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FAN RELAY CONTINUED TO ACTIVATE THE FAN AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF CAUSING THE NEED TO REPLACE 3 BATTERIES STRANDING THE FAMILY EACH TIME. DEALER ASSURRED ME THAT THIS DIAGNOSIS WAS HARD TO PIN DOWN DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THE POWER DRAIN. NUMEROUS OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING WIPER MOTORS AND SWITCHES, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK SOLENIODS AND VENT WINDOW MOTORS.

WINDSHELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON & GO OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY DAY WHEN ITS IN USE. IT IS STEADILY WORSE. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK *YC