1997 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT MOMENTARILY. DEALER SAID "NOTHING WRONG." *K

WIPERS ACTIVATE WHILE SWITCH IS OFF. PROBLEM COMMONLY OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, BUT HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN GOING OVER A CURB OR BUMP.

ENGINE SLIPPAGE JAN. 1999. TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED AND CONCLUDED NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUID. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AUG. 1999. OCT. 1999, CAR OVERHEATED, TOWED. HEADGASKET REPLACEMENT WITH ENGINE REBUILT. TOTAL COST - $4,000.00

EACH TIME THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS APPLIED, IT RELEASES ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKE WAS RARELY USED,AND THEREFORE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSES IT TO LOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MOST OF THE TIME THE ENGINE HAS TO BE RESTARTED BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONS WHERE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES INITIALLY LOST POWER, WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WILL THEN JUST KICK BACK ON HOWEVER, AGAIN CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SINCE WE ARE TRYING TO OVERSTEER IT DUE TO THE ORIGINAL LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE FAILURES OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DODGE DEALERS ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR REPAIR BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE POWER LOSS HAPPEN WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING IT. THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. *AK

WIPERS FREQUENTLY ACTIVATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS USED OR RETURNS AUTOMATICALLY FROM USE. OCCASIONAL ACTIVATION WITHOUT USE OF THE TURN SIGNALS HAS OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM. IT IS QUITE DISTRACTING AND HAZARDOUS.

WARM START, ENGINE MAY STALL OR STUMBLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP. ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT, ACROSS AN INTERSECTION MAY RESULT IN BEING STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY/RANDOMLY WITH HARSH ENGAGEMENT (APPARENTLY RELATED TO ENGINE CONTROL TRYING TO PROCESS ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER OUTPUT). SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC/RANDOM OUTPUT FROM 0 TO 120 MPH AND AS A RESULT ENGAGEMENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL RESULTS IN ENGINE ATTEMPTING TO MATCH RANDOM SPEEDOMETER READING. CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM RESULTS IN RANDOM & UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION.

NO SUMMARY

THIS VAN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WILL JERK SUDDENLY AS IF IT IS LOSING POWER. IT ALSO STALLS OUT AND HAS DONE THIS AT SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 40 MPH DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I ADMIT THAT THIS IS A INTERMMITENT PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN THAT COULD BRING SEVERE INJURY TO MY FAMILY.

UPON TALKING TO THE DEALER SALES MANAGER AND SERVICE MANAGER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF TRANSMISSIONS FAILURES IN THE MINI VAN. HOWEVER, ON THE NET THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT REPEATED TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR THE VANS AND THAT IT HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE THE LATE 1980S AND CHRYSLER DOES NOT CARE. THEY ARE BASICALLY FORCING PEOPLE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPEATEDLY REPAIR THE TRANSMISSIONS INTHE MINIVANS, BECASUE THE OWNERS CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR AFTER HAVING JUST PAID ALMOST $20,000 FOR THE CURRENT VEHICLE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME CONSUMER PROTECTION SOON TO HELP THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM AND FOR THOSE WHO SOON WILL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN CHRYSLER AND ANY FEDERAL AGENCIES WHO MONITOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. THIS TIME I WAS STRANDED AT WORK AND MY KIDS WERE STUCJ AT DAYCARE UNTIL 8:30 PM. WHERE WILL IT HAPPEN NEXT TIME? WILL ONE OF US BE INJURED? SINCE THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT WITH NO WARNING IT IS A VERY SCARY PROPOSITION.

WE RETURNED HOME AT 1:00 PM. WE WERE LEAVING AGAIN AT 1:20 PM. MY WIFE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SMOKING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTED A SMALL FIRE DOWN NEAR THE OIL FILTER. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARRIVED AND STATED THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT AT OR NEAR THE STARTER. DODGE WAS CONTACTED AND BEGAN A FILE (#6224504) ON THE EVENT. THEY SENT A REPRESENTATIVE, MIKE GIGANTE, TO OUR HOME ON 09/16/99 TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HE COULD NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE BUT HE DID STATE THAT THE FIRE OCURRED AT THE STARTER. WE ARE NOT PRIVY TO THE REPORT FILED BY MR. GIGANTE. DODGE CLAIMS THAT A LETTER WAS MAILED TO US ON THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER. TODAY IS THE 27TH OF SEPTEMBER AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT. THE WOMAN AT CUSTOMER SERVICE READ THE LETTER TO ME ON 09/27/99 WHICH STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO US. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE; WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE EVEN IF IT IS REPAIRED UNLESS WE KNOW THE CAUSE ; DODGE'S RESPONSE IS UNACCEPTABLE TO US; THEY HAVE NOT MADE ANY REASONABLE CONCLUSION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. AFTER WE GET THE BURNT STARTER MOTOR REPLACED COULD IT SPONTANEOUSLY SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE A FIRE AGAIN? WE HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN AND FEAR DRIVING THE CAR AFTER IT IS REPAIRED. WE CANNOT PARK THE CAR ANY

THE ENGINE IS REQUIRING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF COLLANT TO KEEP FROM OVER HEATING . DLR CANT FIND PROBLEM.

THE FRONT WIPERS COME ON FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES THEY JUST WIPE ONCE. OTHER TIMES THEY KEEP WIPING UNTIL WE TURN THE SWITCH "ON" AND THEN BACK TO "OFF." IT IS SURPRISING TO BE DRIVING AND HAVE THE WIPERS START WORKING.

ORIGINAL ROTORS FAILED AFTER 17K MI. (VAN STARTED VIBRATING DURING BRAKING ) DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. REPLACEMENTS STARTED TO VIBRATE SEVERELY AFTER 17,000 MILES. DEALER SAID THEY ARE PITTED ON THE INSIDE, MUST BE REPLACED TO STOP THE VIBRATION BUT THEY ARE SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIBRATION MAKES ME QUESTION THEIR SAFETY.

LOCKS ON THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK.THE KEY CONSTANTLY TURNED, AROUND AND THE DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY EITHER. *AK

LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, DUE TO TENSION PULLEY SNAPPING OFF AT ENGINE BLOCK AND CAUSING BRAKE + STEERING ON THE ONE BELT SYSTEM. SERVICEMAN STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM?DOESN'T SOUND SAFE TO ME!

PHANTOM WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNS ITSELF ON, MAKES ONE SWIPE, TURNS OFF. FREQUENCY INCREASING. NOW YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF. HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES

WINDSHIELD SEAL/GROMMET FAILED. MJS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHEILD WIPERS OPERATING WHILE IN AN OFF MODE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE DONE IF VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE NEW TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO FAILURE. *ET

SINCE MAY 1999, THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN SUDDENLY ACTIVATING WHILE NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO ACTIVATE THEM. THIS SHARPLY DIVERTS DRIVER ATTENTION FROM ROAD CONDITIONS TO WIPERS. IT HAPPENS EITHER SINGLY OR IN MULTIPLE SESSIONS DURING A DRIVE.

SINCE AUG 1998, THE WIPERS HAVE SUDDENLY ACTIVATED WHEN NOT TOUCHED. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER AND CONCENTRATION IS BROKEN/DIVERTED FROM DRIVING ACTIVITIES.

BELT TENSIONER SUFFERED CATISTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSING MAIN BELT TO DISENGAGE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WHEN SWITCH IS OFF. RUNS UP AND DOWN 1 TIME, THEN CUTS OFF (NORMALLY). THIS IS HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IF I CUT THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART IT, IT USUALLY DOES IT AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE MAY BE MOVING OR PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT IT NEVER DOES IT TO THEM. IT'S QUITE STARTLING WHEN IT HAPPENS.

HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO HAVE THEM PULLED. NOTICED THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED/RUSTED & PITTED. WAS INFORMED ROTORS NOT USABLE & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

FUEL PUMP BROKE WHILE IN MOTION. HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ALSO, BELT TENSIONER BROKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH/COMPUTER CHIP HAD FAILED & THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP FUNCTIONING AT 65MPH, AND BATTERY WENT DEAD & CAN NOT BE RECHARGED. *AK

WIPERS LIFT OFF WINDSHIELD AT 70 MPH, CHRYSLER SAYS CANT FIX.

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN LOSSING ALL POWER TO BRAKES AND STEERING AS WELL AS ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

ROTORS ARE PITTED AND RUSTED CAUSING POOR CONTACT WITH PADS AND INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. NLM

THE WIPERS ACTIVIATE WITHOUT INPUT FROM DRIVER CAUSING UNANTICIPATED DISTRACTION, DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. NLM

BRAKE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE, PADS REPLACED DURING REPAIR. MJS

THE FAN BELT IS KNOCKED OFF OF IT'S TRACK WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER EVEN SMALL PUDDLES, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS RAINING. AND EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING IS JUST THE THREAT OF RAIN, MAKES THE VEHICLE NOT EVEN WORTH TAKING OUT THAT DAY.

WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL AT AN INTERSECTION, VEHICLE WILL DRIFT INTO THE INTERSECTION AND ENGINE WILL NOT TAKE OFF. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SELF ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH TRANSMISSION OPERATED ERRATICALLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER, AND FORCE CONSUMER TO PULL ON THE SIDE OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD TO RESTART AND TURN OFF SWITCH EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES. *AK

PLEASE MAKE THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER PAY FOR IT. THANKS. NO SAFETY DEFECTS LISTED. *AK

MAINTENANCE AND PERIODIC OIL CHANGES HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

THE HARNESSES ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD RESTRAINT SEATS DO NOT RESTRAIN MY CHILD AT ALL. SHE CAN SIMPLY WIGGLE HER SHOULDERS THROUGH AND CLIMB OUT. SHE HAS WIGGLED HER SHOULDERS AND UPPER BODY THROUGH SEVERAL TIMES AND BEEN STUCK AT THE HIPS. TWICE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AND DISCOVERED THAT SHE HAD COMPLETELY FREED HERSELF FROM THE RESTRAINT AND WAS WALKING AROUND IN THE VAN! THE HARNESS WAS STILL CLIPPED CLOSED, BUT LOOSE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I NEED HELP FAST. MY DAUGHTER IS ONLY 17 MONTHS OLD AND I WILL HAVE ANOTHER BABY IN JUNE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN THE FAN BELT COMES OFF CONTINUALLY, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. MJS

CONSUMER PARKED VAN IN A PARKING LOT AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE VERY LONG AND IN ANY HEADWIND, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH, THEY LIFT OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD. ONLY THE OUTER 2 INCHES STAY ON THE WINDSHIELD, THIS MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE RAIN IS NOT CLEARED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO CHRYSLER 3 TIMES, AND THEY SAY THEY CAND DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE IN THE ST.PAUL PIONEER PRESS PAGE 9A DATED 4/20/99. IT IS ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF DAIMLERCHYSLER GM AND GAS TANKS LEAKING. IN DECEMBER OF 1998 I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SITUATION. AS I WAS DRIVING THE GAS LINE APPARENTLY BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TANK AND ALL THE GAS DRAINED OUT OF MY VAN. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. BY THE TIME I GOT TO MY DESTINATION A FULL TANK OF GAS HAD DRAINED OUT OF MY CAR. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME WE REPORTED FUEL LEAKAGE TO THE DEALER. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE MINIVANS.

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, VIN 1B4-GP54R6VB-209333. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER LOCKS. I HAVE THE REPAIR RECORD FROM ONE REAR DOOR LOCK THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 21586 MILES, NOV 17, 1997. THE DEALER DESCRIBED: "LT SLIDING DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPERATE, 11R/I DOOR PAD, R/R LOCK ACTUATOR" THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DESCRIBED: "4675782MOTOR". I RECALL THE OTHER REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED IN JUNE 1997: SO BOTH WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE RIGHT DOOR HAS FAILED AGAIN, FIRST OBSERVED MARCH 16, 1999, MILEAGE 46402.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH DRIVER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VAN, AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL VAN. VAN BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. WHEN DRIVER CHECKED UNDER THE VAN, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ROD THAT HOLDS THE TENSIONER PULLEY SNAPPED OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER. *AK

WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE BOTH SIDES OF THE SCISSORS JACK BACKLED UNDER THE LOAD AND COLLAPSED, JACK NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VAN.

BATTERY FAILED.

BATTERY FAILED. *YC

VEHICLE TIRES FLATTENED ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR NO APPARENT REASON (MICHELIN 215/65/R16). MJS