Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES SEAT BELT LATCHES ARE UNSAFE AND IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE SEATBELT UNLATCHES TO EASILY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THRU MY NEIGHBORHOOD I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID A CAR BACKING OUT OF ITS DRIVEWAY WITHOUT THEM LOOKING. MY 2 YEAR OLD ALONG WITH HER CAR SEAT CAME FORWARD AND SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I HAD JUST CHECKED THAT HER CAR SEAT WAS TIGHT EARLIER. I BELIEVE THIS WAS A DEFECT FROM THE GEN 3 SEAT BELT. I FEEL EITHER HER OWN CAR SEAT OR THAT OF HER BROTHER NEXT TO HER RUBBED ON THE RELEASE BUTTON. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG I MAY HAVE DRIVEN WITHOUT HER CARSEAT BEING BELTED IN IF THIS INCIDENT HADN'T HAPPENED. SOMETHING MUCH WORSE COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. DT
TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. OR TRANSMISSION ENGAGES IN REVERSE LONG ENOUGH TO BACK OUT INTO TRAFFIC BUT THEN FAILS TO ENGAGE IN ANY FORWARD GEAR OR REVERSE. DT
AIR BAG LIGHT ON ELECTRICAL FAILURE INTERMITTENT MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO DISCUSS RECALL. DT
CONSUMER NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE REPLACED TRANSMISSION IN SEPTEMBER, 2002. TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 19,000 MILES. *AK
THE VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN 2-3 HOURS PRIOR AND PARKED. AT 3:00 AM WHILE PARKED, THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE IN THE FRONT MORE SO TO THE LEFT SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE FRONT TIRES, DASHBOARD, ETC. DIAMLER CHRYSLER IS SENDING A REPRESENTATIVE OUT TO DIAGNOSE THE VAN. THIS VAN HAS A 3.3 LITRE ENGINE AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL RAIL CROSS OVER TUBE -O- RING; NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V293000, WHICH THE OWNER HAS YET TO FIND OUT IF ACTUAL RECALL AFFECTS HER VAN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS
LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER RUSTING THROUGH WITH DANGER OF COLLAPSE AND VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DT
THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED LIT, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, AND THE SPEED CONTROL DID NOT OPERATE. KEYSTONE DODGE CHARGED ME $267.31 TO REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON CHRYSLER MINI VANS. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY PERSONAL EXPENSE TO REPAIR THIS ESSENTIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DT
I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 85000 MILES BACK IN 1999. RECENTLY MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE HORN STOPPED WORKING (BUT WOULD SOMETIMES SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS), THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THIS WAS OVER A FEW 2-3 MONTH PERIOD THIS PAST SUMMER. I ASKED A MECHANIC ABOUT IT, HE SAID IT WAS A RECALL ITEM FROM DODGE. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN, AND THEY SAID "THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SPRING" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY CHARGED ME ABOUT 200.00 TO REPLACE THE PART. YESTERDAY I HEARD ON THE RADIO IT IS A RECALL, SO I WANT TO HEAR IT FROM YOU. IS IT A RECALL? IF IT IS, SHOULD THE DEALERSHIP REFUND MY MONEY THAT WAS SPENT REPLACING THE PART. I THINK THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM/DEFECT ALL ALONG! THANKS, LOUIS.--- DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----769734. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
FUEL TANK LEAKED PROFUSELY WHEN FULL. TANK HAD A LEAKY VENT ON TOP REPAIRED COST $300. I NOTICED SEVERAL OF THESE TANKS SETTING AROUND THE DEALERS REPAIR AREA THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. DT
SINCE THE FIRST WEEK THAT I OWNED THIS CAR. WHENEVER I RUN THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE CAR WILL STALL OUT. AT FIRST, I COULD RESTART THE CAR READILY. LATER, IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO RESTART IT. NOW I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES IN ORDER TO RESTART IT. I MUST LEAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF, IF I WANT THE CAR TO CONTINUE RUNNING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT, AND THEY DID SOME ENGINE ADJUSTMENTS WHICH NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER I'M DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR WHETHER I'M AT SPEED. IT WILL HAPPEN. SO, THE WAY TO AVOID THE PROBLEM IS NOT TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER. BUT I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH AIR CONDITIONING, AND I'M ENTITLED TO HAVE WHAT I PAID FOR. MY CONSCIENCE TELLS ME THAT I HAVE TO PROTECT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, SO I DON'T RUN IT . CHRYSLER HAS A REGISTERED COMPLAINT FROM ME AND OTHER PEOPLE, AS WELL, ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. I HAVE ANOTHER CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE: I'D LIKE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR AND THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM, BUT WHO WILL BUY THIS CAR? I CAN'T SELL IT WITHOUT FULL DISCLOSURE OF THE PROBLEM. AND IF I TRADE IT IN TO CHRYSLER, I'M SURE THEY WON'T DISCLOSE THE PROBLEM TO SOME UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER. DT
REPORTED AND INQUIRED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND AWAITING RESPONSE. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE. THIS FIRST BEGAN ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO AND WAS MENTIONED DURING REGULAR SERVICES BUT NOTHING WAS DETERMINED. PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE REGULAR. ALSO EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENT WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY TRANMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I INCREASED SPEED TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND TRANMISSION STILL WOULD NOT SHIFT AND RPM WAS BEGINNING RED LINE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND STOPPING AND TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTING DID VEHICLE OPERATE NORMALLY. DT
INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO THE VIN DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES AND AND STAYS ON AND THE HORN IS INOPERTIVE. DEALER CONTACTED HAD THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. TS
THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL. TS *TT *JB
WHO CAN TELL ME IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING? IS THERE A HIDDEN WARRANTY? DT
THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DT
THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. NLM
CONSUMER STATES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER. PLEASE ADD MORE DETAILS. MR
MR
THE FUEL TANK PIPE FILLER NECK HAS BROKEN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *MR ONE OR MORE OF THE PLASTIC HOSES EXITING THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK WERE LEAKING. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER REPLACED WITH STEEL TANK AND FUEL LINES. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE AT A PRICE OF $740.78. DAIMLER CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE LEAKING FUEL IN THE GARAGE WAS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. *SCC
CONSUMER STATES HAD A TRANSMISSION DEFECT. CONSUMER ADVISED THAT THE "HOLLOW ROPE" THEAT HOLDS THE "PIN" IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSING THE PIN TO BECOME DISLODGED AND BLEW HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING. CONSUMER STATES ISSUE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN HOLES BEING BLOWN INTO THE FLOORBOARD. NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CLOCK SPRING IS DEFECTIVE AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND ALSO THE HORN STOPPED WORKING AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. *MR
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HIT A BUMP IN ROAD AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATES AS A RESULT VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND HORN IS NO LONGER INOPERATIVE. MR
LEFT REAR TIRE HAD MAJOR TREAD SEPARATION AT 70-75 MPH. TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. TREAD DEPTH IS 5/32. NLM
EXPERIENCED INCIDENT WHERE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR. ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM N TO D FAILED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER BRINGING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, PLACING IN P AND RESTARTING ENGINE. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMERIOUS INCIDENTS DURING PAST 6 YEARS WHERE TRANSMISSON FAILS TO SHIFT FROM P TO R AND R TO D AND REQUIRES TO BE RESHIFTED TO P AND THEN TO DESIRED SELECTION. RESEARCH INTO PROBLEM BY QUESTIONING VARIOUS PRIVATE TRANMISSION SPECIALISTS THAT AN UNDETERMINED DESIGN FLAW IN DIFFERENTIAL, IN 1995 AND LATER MODELS, CAUSES BOTH PROBLEMS AND HAS EVEN RESULTED IN DIFFERENTIAL COMPLETELY FAILING AND EXPLODING.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN WERE NOT FUCTIONING CORRECTLY.DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
THE CLEAR LENSES HAVE BECOME CLOUDY WITH AGE AND GREATLY REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT REACHES OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DIFFICULT.*AK
WHILE FILLING GAS TANK FUEL BEGAN LEAKING OUT OF TOP OF TANK. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO DETERMINED LEAK WAS FROM A "VENT LINE"*AK
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE GARAGE POSSIBLY CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL TANK. *YH
AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING LOCATED IN STEERING COLUM HAS GONE BAD CAUSING HORN AND CRUSE CONTROL AS WELL AS AIR BAG NOT TO WORK. NLM
THE DRIVE BELT TENSIONER ASSM. BRAKES AT THE STUD THAT CONNECT TO THE BACKET,CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TENSION ASSM. TO BRAKE THEN DAMAGE HOOD AND SOME OTHER PARTS OF ENGINE .I HAVE TALKED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM .TWO PEOPLE SAID IT CAUSED ACC. THE DRIVE BELT TENSIONER ASSMEBELY IS OF POOR DESIGN AND FAILES AND THE REPAIRES ARE VERY COSTLY. 1200.00 TO 2500.00 TO REPAIR DEFEAT.PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT II WILL GIVE YOU A EX. DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 55 TO 70 MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN BANG THEN A HOLE IN THE HOOD AND SMOKE COMMING FOR UNDER THE HOOD. THINK THERE SOULD BE A NATIONAIL RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED.L. *AK
THE STRUT TOWER DID NOT FAIL AT THIS TIME AND NO PERSON WAS KILLED OR INJURED, ALSO NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURED. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE STRUT TOWER IS RUSTING THRU ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE MINI VAN. IF THIS SHOULD RUST COMPLETLY THROUGH WHILE THE MINI VAN IS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND THAT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE INCLUDING DEATH OF UP TO SEVEN OCCUPANTS OF THE MINIVAN. WHAT IS CHYSLER GOING TO DO TO REPAIR MY MINIVAN BEFORE A ACIDENT HAPPENS?*AK
THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED ON THE DATE INDICATED. THE AIR-BAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL DURING THE FAILURE. I REPLACED THE UNIT WITH A NEW ONE. I INVESTIGATED WHY THE UNIT FAILED BY DISASSEMBLING IT. THE FLAT RIBBON CABLE IN THE UNIT FAILED FROM INADEQUATE STRAIN RELIEF AT THE POINT OF CONNECTION. ALL 5 CONDUCTORS WERE BROKEN DUE TO REPEATED HARD BENDING WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPPORT AT THE CONNECTION POINT.*AK
THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THIS CAUSES THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND AIRBAG SYSTEM TO FAIL. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE HORN IS OUT. ONLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON. YOU DON'T KNOW THE HORN IS OUT UNTIL YOU NEED IT! I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY PERSONAL VAN AND ON MY COMPANY VAN. THEY WERE BOUGHT FROM DIFFERENT DEALERS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. IT IS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A SINGLE DRIVER CAN HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON TWO DIFFERENT CARS WITHOUT THERE BEING AN INHERENT DESIGN DEFECT IN THIS PART. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST THROUGH THE LOSS OF THE HORN OR AIRBAGS THAT DON'T WORK WHEN NEEDED. THE CONDUCTORS THAT FEED THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGE TO THE AIRBAG ARE OPEN DURING THIS CONTINUOUS FAULT AND THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
RIGHT FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER IS RUSTING. IF TOWER LETS GO, SOMEONE CAN BE KILLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND NOTED HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERABLE. RESEARCH INDICATES AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE LOCATED IN STEERING WHEEL. INTEND TO REPORT TO DEALER.*AK
FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGES. DEALER NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING SAME TIME AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *AK
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT.*AK
FUEL LEAKING, DEALER SAYS AT DRAIN TUBE/TANK INTERFACE - NEW TANK ASSEMBLY REQUIRED WITH TUBES, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY/RECALLS. COST TO FIX $815.00. *AK
I REPORED THIS CLOCK SPRING ISSUE A LONG TIME AGO, NEVER HEARD BACK, I SEE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE REPORTED THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND WONDER WHERE IT STANDS.*AK
AIR CONDITIONERCONDENSER/DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR/TIE ROD, TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE, AND O2 SENSOR WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND FROM THE EXHAUST AREA. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. IN ADDITION, SERPENTINE BELT AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. *JB. *AK
THE AIRBAG-INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED LIGHTING UP INTERMITTENTLY, AT FIRST, BUT NOW STAYS LIT ALL THE TIME. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE HORN, ANOTHER SAFETY FEATURE, IS ALSO DISABLED/NONFUNCTIONAL, AS IS THE CRUISE CONTROL. THESE THREE FEATURES, TWO OF THEM BEING IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES (AIRBAG AND HORN) , ARE ALL APPARENTLY WIRED TOGETHER INTO ONE CIRCUIT. I TOOK MY VAN TO A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED FUSES= OK; PROBLEM IS "AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING." HE CONTACTED 3 OTHER MECHANICS AND A DODGE DEALER, AND ALL SAID THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH DODGE CARAVAN, AND THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDS TO BE RESET, BUT HE AND OTHER MECHANICS WON'T ATTEMPT TO FIX, AS THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT DEPLOYING AIRBAG. THE 2 DEALERS SAID THE AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY ON ITS OWN, OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL -- AND THAT REPAIR INVOLVES REPLACING THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING. I'M UPSET AND WANT CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR -- THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM/ISSUE -- THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE -- WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING FAILURE (CLOCKSPRING), THE HORN ALSO IS DISABLED. YOU CANNOT PASS INSPECTION W/OUT THE HORN WORKING. I'M AFRAID AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY ACCIDENTALLY WHILE I'M DRIVING. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR -- EST. $95/CLOCKSPRING + $200/LABOR = $300 OR MORE! THE MECHANIC KNEW OF AT LEAST 1 OTHER PERSON WHO HAD EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH CARAVAN; ALSO, THE TWO DODGE DEALERS IN MY AREA ALSO STATED THEY VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM OCCURING IN THE DODGE
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE HORN WILL NO LONGER WORK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG CARAVAN OWNERS.*AK
HORN WILL NOT WORK, AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE STEERING COLUMN FUNCTION. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE CLOCK.*AK
FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING THAT CONTROLS THREE SAFETY DEVICES, THE AIR BAG.THE HORN AND THE SPEED CONTROL.*AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan → · Every Grand Caravan year → · How the figures are calculated →