1996 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

FRONT STABLIZER BAR BROKE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, AND MECHANIC FOUND STABLIZER BAR BROKEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR STABLIZER BAR TO BREAK. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY.*AK *SLC

THE TORQUES CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION TO PERFORM POORLY. NLM

WE HAD AN INTERNET ARTICLE FROM MARCH ON THIS ISSUE. A RECALL WAS BEING CONSIDERED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE HORN AND CRUISE DON'T WORK, IDENTICAL TO THE DESCRIPTION IN THE ARTICLE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

GASOLINE LEAKAGE FROM FUEL TANK. WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL, PARKED ON AN INCLINE, OR UPON BRAKING A STEADY STREAM OF GASOLINE WOULD RUN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER, AND DESPITE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH THE VANS, I WAS TOLD MY PROBLEM WAS THE BLEEDER VALUE, WHICH WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM. THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR $930. NATURALLY, I HAD TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. HAS THIS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM? COULD THIS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ONE OF THE RECALL PROBLEMS? DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? THANK YOU.

ONE YEAR AFTER THE VAN WAS PURCHASED IT STARTED TO STALL. THE STALL OCCURRED AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON IN HOT WEATHER. THE VAN WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TWO DEALERSHIPS WITH NOT SUCCESS. SERRAMONTE DODGE HAD ME PUT A CO-PILOT ON MY CAR WHICH WAS TO RECORD THE INCIDENT. WHEN I RETURNED THE CO-PILOT WITH THEY SAID THEY LOST THE DATA WHEN THEY TRIED TO DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION. THEY WOULDN'T PUT THE CO-PILOT BACK ON. THEY WILL NOT CHECK THE PCM COMPUTER TO SEE IF IT IS FAILING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE PCM SHOULD RECORD AN ERROR MESSAGE WHEN THE VAN FAILS, BUT THE PCM MODULE NEVER RECORDS ANYTHING. THIS IS WHY WE ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE PCM MODULE. IF IT WAS WORKING RIGHT IT WOULD RECORD THE FAILURE. 5 YEARS LATER I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WILL STALL ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THERE IS BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. CHRYSLER DOSEN'T SEEM TO THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I THINK IT IS. WHAT IF IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BCM MODULE. THEY WOULD REPLACE IT WITH A REBUILT MODULE BECAUSE DODGE DID NOT MAKE THE PART ANYMORE. THE PART HAS FAILED AGAIN, NOW THE WIPERS DON'T STOP COMING ON ON THEIR OWN. THE DEALER SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER KEPT THE VAN FOR 3 WEEKS TO FIX IT. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE A COPY OF THE WORK ORDER. I WANTED TO KNOW WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION.*AK

FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING GASOLINE INTO ENGINE. CONSUMER FELT THAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL #00V268000 FOR FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *TT

THIS MINI VAN IS MY 5TH SUCH VEHICLE. EACH ONE EXCEPT FOR MY 2000 (WHICH ONLY HAS 25000 MILES) HAS EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION TROUBLES EARLIER THAN I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE. MY 1996 GRAND CARAVAN HAS JUST BEEN PUT IN THE SHOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DIFFERENTIAL GEAR HAD A TOOTH BREAK OFF CAUSING LOUD CLUNK ON ACCELERATION. CHRYSLER CORP HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT THEIR MIMIVAN TRANSMISSIONS ARE TROUBLE SOME HOWEVER HAVE NOT SEEMED TO WANT TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILTY OF THEM. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR CONSUMERS TO GET SOME COMPENSATION FROM CHRYSLER FOR THESE LEMON TRANSMISSIONS. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFO THAT COULD HELP ME SEEK RENUMERATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM O-RINGS AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 00V268000. MANUFACTURER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

IN OCTOBER OF 1999, OUR VAN WAS OVERHEATING AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND WERE REIMBURSED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER. IN FEBRUARY 2001 OUR AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. WE REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING. IN JUNE 2001 WE HAD TO REPLACE OUR FUEL TANK BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED. WE CONTINUED TO SMELL GAS AND HAD TO HAVE OUR FUEL RAIL REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. WE WERE TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

THE ENGINE IS RIUNED DUE TO A 'DOMINO' EFFECT OF DAMAGES BEGINNING WITH THE A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKING UP.*AK

BELT TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS COMPONENT HAS FAILED. THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS TIME THE PROBLEM IS THE CLOCK SPRING, ALSO CAUSING THE HORN AND AIR BAG SYSTEM TO BE INOPERABLE.

DAIMLERCHRYSLER REFERENCE # 08756857 - BATTERY HAS FAILED 4 TIMES CHRYSLER HAS REIMB. TWICE AND STILL REFUSED TO SEND ME KNOWN SERVICE BULLETINS #082995 &08195 RELATING TO PROBLEMS WITH DEAD BATTERIES. ALSO REQUESTED INFO ON FLUID BUBBLING OVER ONTO ENGINE FROM JUNE 97 AND SEPT. 99. I HAVE WRITTEN TO CHRYSLER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT "THE INFORMATION YOU ARE SEEKING IS EITHER UNAVAILABLE FROM DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION OR CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY" AND WAS SIGNED BY GLENN S. CAMERON, SENIOR STAFF.*AK

LOCAL CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED TO INVESTIGATE REASON AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT CONSTATLY, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, AND HORN DOES NOT WORK. COST WAS $80 TO TROUBLE SHOOT, AND ADDITIONAL $250 ESTIMATED TO REPAIR - I REFUSED REPAIR

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE. BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. NO INJURY.*AK

O-RING CONNECTION BETWEEN FUEL RAIL LEAKS GASOLINE ONTO VALVE COVER AND THEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD. LEAKS MOST BEFORE ENGINE WARMS UP. STRONG GAS SMELL OUTSIDE CAR WARNED OF PROBLEM.*AK

FUEL RAIL IS LEAKING GASOLINE ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SMOKE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT ISSUE A RECALL UNTIL THE PARTS ARE MADE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THROTTLE WAS STUCK WHILE TRAVELING AT HWY SPEED OF 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 80 MPH BEFORE DRIVER COULD GAIN CONTROL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER REPLACED SPEED CONTROL , MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*JB

CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY FAILURE/ AIRBAG, HORN FAILED TO WORK. DEALER ADVISED RECALL ON SAME ASSEMBLY FOR TRUCKS, NOT EFFECTING MINI-VANS.

EA O1 007/AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINING ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, INOPERATIVE HORN. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NOTICED BULGE IN PARKING LOT -- TIRE WAS SEPARATING. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)

CLOCKSPRING FAILED - AIRBAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT OPERATE. VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. PART SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

BATTERY CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID INTO WIRING COVER AND AIR CLEANER HOUSING CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND BEGAN TO LEAK AGAIN APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY HAD TO BE BOOSTED TO START VEHICLE, AGAIN DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BATTERY WAS REPLACED A FOURTH TIME ALONG WITH A FAULTY STARTER. *SLC

ON APPROACH TO A STOP SIGN, A LOUD CLUNK WAS HEARD. FROM STOPPED POSITION VEHICLE NO LONGER MOVED ALTHOUGH ENGINE WAS RUNNING. MECHANIC STATED FRONT AXLE BROKE MID SHAFT. MECHANIC ALSO NOTED NO DAMAGE OR NOTICEABLE STRESS FRACTURES AND STATED IT WAS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT THE RESULT MAY HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 75MPH!

BRAKES DON'T RESPOND AND BRAKE WELL ENOUGH. ALSO, FRONT END PADS/ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEED REPLACING. DEALER STATED THEY PASSED INSPECTION WITH NO PROBLEM, AND IT WAS JUST WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS OUT HOT AIR. CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN MARCH AND THERE WAS NO REASON TO TURN IT ON. ON INSPECTION LIST AIR CONDITIONER WAS CHECKED AS WORKING. CONSUMER LIVES IN A HOT CLIMATE, AND AIR CONDITIONER IS VERY MUCH NEEDED. DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 15-20MPH AND LOST POWER AFTER EXITING FROM ONE HIGHWAY AND ENTERING ANOTHER HIGHWAY ON THE ON RAMP. VEHICLE COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. CAUSE OF TRANSMISSIONS FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED.*AK

CONSUMR WAS BACKING OUT AND NOTICED AN OIL SPOT ON THE GROUND. OIL WAS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FOR 1/2 .CONSUMER FOR FINANCIAL REASONS WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE. DEALER STATED THAT NO DAMAGE WOULD BE DONE TO VEHICLE IF CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT WHILE THE PROBLEM EXISTED. CONSUMER RETURNED TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT LOWER HALF OF ENGINE CYLINDER AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE SMOKING, VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE FLAMES COME OUT, CONSUMER HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE IDLING FAST AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE, CLAIM 52-2509-400. *SLC

THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED . THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. I READ A REPORT IN THE NEWSPAPER ON MARCH 20, 2001 STATING THE NHTSA WAS LOOKING AT THIS PROBLEM IN 96-2000 CHYR. VANS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED (DIAGNOSED BY DEALER). THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON FAILURE. REQUEST THAT THIS MATTER BE LOOKED INTO AS THE COST OF REPAIR IS SOMEWHAT HIGH AT $88.06 FOR THE PART AND 136.80 FOR LABOR. I THINK THAT THIS ITEM IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. * SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****750168

WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND REMAINS. WOULD HAVE TO JIGGLE KEY IN IGNITION AND AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OUT. CURRENTLY, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES AND WIGGLING KEY, DOES NOT TURN IT OFF. HORN & CRUISE CONTROL WORK FINE.*AK *JB

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES IT WAS DUE TO A FAILED CLOCK SPRING.*JB

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN AIR BAG WOULD FLASH ON/OFF BEFORE BECOMING SOLID. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT CLOCKSPRING WAS BROKEN.*AK

SLIDER DOOR LOCKS FAILURE-LEFT DOES NOT LOCK EVEN MANUALLY; RIGHT WILL NOT UNLOCK EXCEPT MANUALLY. A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED - ALWAYS SMELLED ANTIFREEZE UNTIL FAILURE. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP DEFRAY MAJOR COST. WIPERS COME ON/OFF WHENEVER THEY WANT ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. CAN PUT INTO DRIVE/REVERSE W/O BRAKING. NUMEROUS OTHER MISC PROBLEMS-BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, FRONT END.*AK

CLOCKSPRING FAILED CAUSING AIRBAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL TO BE INOPERABLE. *AK

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WAS CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY, AND NOT HORN. HOWEVER HORN TOUCH PAD HAD A SHORT CAUSING THE HORN NOT TO FUNCTION. DEALER WAS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM.*AK DEALER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE HORN TO MAKE IT INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE COST WAS 649 DOLLARS, CONSUMER FEELS THIS FAILURE IS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY THAT SHORTED. *SLC

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY.*AK *JB

ENGINE COOLANT BEGAN TO LEAK AT FWD CYLINDER HEAD TO BLOCK AFTER CLIMING A STEEP HILL AND PARKING AT SHOPPING MALL. JUST LOOKED UNDER VAN SEEN COOLANT, WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND VAN IS AT SHOP FOR HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT.*AK

CAN THIS CAUSE A FIRE ? IT MELTED THE RELAY . THEY HAD A TSB ON THIS LOTS OF PROBLEMS. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES WHICH IS EFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN. NEITHER ITEM WORKS BECAUSE OF AIR BAG LIGHT. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTETNLY WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

I HAVE HAD MY SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AT 32000 (UNDER WARRANTY) AND ONCE AT 73000 MILES. THE DEALER CHARGED ME THE FULL $200 FOR THE REPAIR IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT I'D HAD IT REPLACED AT 32000M AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A SERVICE BULLITIN. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO CEASE OPPERATING. I ALSO HAD A BROKEN GEAR TOOTH IN MY TRANSMISSION AT 73,000M. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME $2100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT I DECIDED TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE AND HAVE YET TO HAVE IT FIXED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

FAILING CLOCKSPRINGS ALLOW FOR A DANGEROUS CRUISE CONTROL MODE AS WELL AS AIR BAG FAILURES.*AK

DEALER SAID THEY JUST WEAR OUT AND CHARGED $325.00 TO REPLACE IT. I SAW ON THE LOCAL NEWS LAST NIGHT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET MINE ON THE RECORD. *AK

I AM AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF DODGE MINIVAN OWNERS WHOSE CLOCK SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK