1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 30,000 MILES AND 60,000 MILES. FAILURE AT 78,000. DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST OR SECOND GEAR FROM HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

DEFECTIVE ROLL OVER VALVE CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO LEAK GASOLINE.

WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE CONSUMER CAN SMELL VAPORS. ALSO TRANSMISSION LEAKS. IN ADDITION, WHEN PUTTING GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT 15 TO 16 GALLONS INTO THE TANK, BUT CAN ONLY PUT 12 TO 13 GALLONS INTO THE TANK. *AK

I PURCHASED A '96 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN 2/97 WITH APPROX 15,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS BREAKING APART. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT AND SAID ALL LOOKS GOOD. A FEW WEEKS AFTER IT, HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER CHECKED AND SAID THERE WAS A DEFECT AND THE UPGRADE WAS ORDERED (THE BELT WAS REPLACED AGAIN). WHEN THE UPGRADE PARTS ARRIVED AND WERE INSTALLED, THE BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. SOMETIME AFTER THAT THE BELT WENT AGAIN. BECAUSE I WAS BEYOND THE 30,000 MILE POINT I WENT TO MY USUAL MACHANIC. HE REPLACED THE BELT. A SHORT TIME AFTER THAT THE BELT FELL APART AGAIN. THIS TIME THE MECHANIC GOT INTOUCH WITH CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD ABOUT THE UPGRADE WHICH ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE. HE WAS TOLD TO USE ONLY ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN REPLACING THE BELT. WHICH HE DID. ALTHOUGH THIS ONE LASTED THE LONGEST, LAST WEEK IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THEN LAST NIGHT THE BELT FLEW APART AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WRAPPED AROUND ONE OF THE LOWER PULLYS AS IT BROKE APART, AND SOUNDED LIKE I WAS DRAGGING A GARBAGE CAN UNDER THE VAN. THAT 7 BELTS IN 2 YEARS. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE WRONG. *AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY.

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH REAR SLIDING DOORS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS. WHEN THE LOCKS MALFUNCTION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE MUST BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. ON EACH OCCASSION WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND IT WILL FAIL AGAIN WITH MONTHS. WE RECENTLY TALKED TO FRIENDS WHO ALSO HAD A SIMILAR VEHICLE AND WERE HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE SAFETY TO ANY PERSON OR CHILD WHO CANNOT ESCAPE FROM THIS VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY LIKE A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK

WHEN IT'S WET OUTSIDE THE STEERING LOCKS UP. DEALER SAYS POWER STEERING IS CORRODED. *AK

1ST VISIT -JULY 1998 - REPAIRED TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAK - UNDER WARRANTY. 2 VISIT 12/30/98 - TRANSMISSION LEAK AND WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE WOULD NOT MOVE, THEN BUCKED INTO GEAR - REPAIRED BY DEALER AT OUR EXPENSE - WARRANTY EXPIRED - PERFORMED TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND REPLACED SELINOD GASKETS. 3RD VISIT 1/11/99 - PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AGAIN - CHRYSLER PICKED UP TAB FOR PARTS AND LABOR - REPLACED SELONOID VALVE ASSEMBLY. 4TH VISIT 1/17/99 - TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 2ND GEAR (LIMP MODE) - RETURNED TO DEALER - NEED NEW TRANSMISSION AT 44,000 MILES!!! CHRYSLER WILL PICK UP TAB FOR PARTS BUT NOT LABOR. DEALERSHIP HAS NO BACKBONE TO FIGHT FOR CUSTOMER. CHARGING US MAJOR $$ FOR LABOR.

VAN LEAKS FROM GAS TANK. DODGE DEALER SAID ROLLOVER VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE HAS BEEN REPLACING THE VALVES CONSTANTLY FOR WEEKS. THIS WAS A NEWLY DESIGNED VALVE THAT BECAME DEFECTIVE. DEALERSHIP RONALD OLSEN DODGE---402-397-8400. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FROM THE VENTS IN THE TANK, RESULTING IN STRONG GAS FUMES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED THE GAS TANK. *AK

VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE THREW ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING UP TO THE SPEED OF 50MPH, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV WHEN APPLYING THE GAS. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT RETURN TO DRIVE GEAR UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK LEAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACED TANK AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED IN WHICH THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE FLOORBOARD, RESULTING IN THE SEAT FLYING INTO THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK.ET.

AIR CONDITIONING-DEALER REPLACED COMPRESSER,CONDENSOR AND EVAPORATOR, WE PURCHASED VAN IN MARCH AND A/C NEVER WORKED WHEN THE WEATHER WARMED UP. FUEL PUMP FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $450. TIRES WENT NEXT AT A COST OF $350 FOR TWO FRONT TIRES. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WON'T SHIFT CONSISTANTLY. WILL COST $1500-$1800 TO REPLACE ON A TWO YEAR OLD VAN WITH 45000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: M30D TIRE SIZE: 21565R16 )

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF, WHILE THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF MODE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK

AFTER FILLING VEHICLE WITH GAS IT LEAKS FUEL DUE TO A BAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER HAS SUBSEQUENTLY REDESIGNED THE GAS TANK TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHIMMIES UNCONTROLABLY. DEALER CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE SHAFT FAILED, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT ABOVE THIRD GEAR.

PIN THAT SECURES THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE LOCATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH IS TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT, RESULTING IN THE COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONING, ETC.*AK.ET.

WHILE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAN MOVE OUT OF PARK POSITION, WHICH MAY CAUSE A ROLL AWAY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 8MPH ON A SMOOTH DIRT ROAD BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEN CONTACTED. *AK

BRAKES FAILED CAUSING LOUD GRINDING.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THE RPM'S STAY THE SAME. I TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPM'S INCREASED. I PLACE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STEERED TO THE SHOULDER. THE RPM'S CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO ALMOST FULL THROTTLE. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CORIGLIANO DODGE SERVICE WHERE A REPRESENTATIVE (JOE MCDONALD)MADE AN IMMEDIATE ASSESSMENT THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE CABLE WAS BINDING AND DEFECTIVE. MR. MCDONALD HAS INDICATED NO TROUBLES OF THIS KIND HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE PAST, AND NO ASSOCIATED TSB'S HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR MECHANICS TO BE AWARE OF. MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE VAN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE'RE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE VAN IS CURRENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY. I WANT THIS REPORTED TO CHRYSLER. I WANT AN OFFICIAL TSB ESTABLISHED FOR MECHANICS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. I WANT OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION FROM CHRYSLER THAT THEY WILL ONE, PAY FOR THE REPAIR ($60.16), TWO, LAUNCH A FULL INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY THIS PART FAILED, AND THREE, OFFER ME AND MY FAMILY SOME KIND OF CONCILIATORY ASSURANCE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU, DAN INZALACO

THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 7OMPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND RELEASED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACK UP TO 70MPH. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO GET CRUISE CONTROL OFF. *AK

THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I DECIDED TO REPORT IT AFTER READING ABOUT OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS ON THIS WEB SITE. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS TODAY, WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT ON A CLEAR, SUNNY AFTERNOON. THE WIPER SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, AS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. IN FACT, THE WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER, 1996, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.

WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CHILD OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER COULD'NT GET THE CHILD OUT DUE TO THE HARNESS STRAP BUCKLE WOULD'NT COME OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE CHILD TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD GET THE CHILD OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK

AFTER 2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY WOODBRIDGE DODGE UNDER THE WARRANTY. AFTER 34 MONTHS I AM NOW REPLACEING IT FOR THE SECOND TIME WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS IN THE 4 SPEED OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THAT WOULD COVER THE EXPENCE FOR THIS SECOND TRANSMISSION WITHIN THREE YEARS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE GATHERED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND TURNING RIGHT ON EXIT, LOUD NOISE OCCURRED. POWER STEERING WAS LOOSE, NO STEERING CONTROL WITH THE VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE POWER STEERING BELT TENSIONER HAD SEIZED., REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY, NO GAURANTEE THAT IT WOULD'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE CRUISING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65 MPH. THERE WERE NO SYMPTONS OR EARLY WARNING SIGNS. NO NOISES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OTHER THAN THE ENGINE REVVING UP AS IF THE GEAR SHIFT WERE IN NEUTRAL. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, I RE-STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE ONLY GEAR AVAILABLE WAS LOW. I BELIEVE THIS WAS THE

1. THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WITH WIPERS. 1.THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON BY THEMSELVES. IT OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT SPEEDS, EVEN WHEN IN PARK. TO TURN THEM OFF I MUST TURN IT ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN. 2.WHEN FRONT WIPERS ARE PLACED IN THE HIGH POSITION THEY WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES LEAVING ME UNABLE TO SEE. TO MAKE THEM GO BACK ON I MUST TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THEY CHANGE A PART BUT DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. 2. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE BELT WILL FRAY AND JUST FALL APART LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO ACCELERATOR OR GENERATOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I TRAVEL WITH MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN ON RURAL HIGHWAYS AND DRIVING ON ONLY WHATEVER POWER IS IN THE BATTERY AND WITHOUT THE POWERSTEERING THE VAN BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. MY DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT IS THE TENSION PULLEY AND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WHEN ASKED IF IT WAS A RECALLED PART HE INFORMED US IT WAS NOT BUT SHOULD BE. IT IS A PART THAT CAN NOT BE CHANGED BY US(THERE ARE NO INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MECHANICS MANUAL WE WERE GIVEN). WE CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT WE HAD TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THIS PART AT A COST OF $90 FOR THE TENSION PULLEY PLUS LABOR. THIS HOWEVER WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS STILL A DEFECT.

VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED INTO CEMENT POLE.

BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER AND ROTORS WARPED.

TENSION PULLEY/ POWER STEERING BELT FAILED.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP TO NEUTRAL POSITION WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

RADIATOR FAN RELAY FAILED.

TRANSMISSION/STEERING COLUMN/HORN/STRUTS/BRAKES/SWAY BARS/BATTERY/WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH AND A/C CONDENSOR FAILED.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ACTIVATION.

ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY.

VEHICLE EQUIPED WITH CHILD INTEGRATED SAFETY SEATS, HOWEVER STRAP RESTRAINTS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING THEM TO GET JAMMED WHILE THE SPRING MECHANISM THAT TIGHTENS THE SHOULDER STRAPS KEPT GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER.

POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE.

FRONT END STILL NOISY AFTER REPLACING LEFT FRONT STRUT, SWAYBAR BUSHING, TIE ROD ENDS, SWAYBAR CUSIONS, AND EVAPERATOR.

WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLS OUT WITH NO INDICATION , RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DELAER HAS REPLACED THE IDLE SPEED MOTOR. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. **AK

TRANSMISSION DRIPPING AND LEAKING, THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK IN THE BELL HOUSING. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. *AK

BRAKE SHOES AND DRUM REPLACED BECAUSE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED LARGER THAN SPECIFIED SIZE BRAKE CYLINDER.

BRAKE DRUMS AND SHOES HAD TO BE REPLACE. MANUFACTURER EQUIPPED VEHICLE WITH OVERSIZED BRAKE CYLINGER WHICH PRESSED SHOES AGAINST DRUM, CAUSING DRUM TO BE SCORED BEYOND REPAIR.

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED CAUSING INFANT SEAT TO FALL TO FLOOR WITH CHILD.

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION.

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK. *AK