1997 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

TWICE IN THE LAST 6 YEARS THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT IN OUR 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DUE TO FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME, IN 2002, OCCURRED AS THE TRANSMISSION PERMANENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE SECOND TIME, MARCH 2008, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN-SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR - AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR BEFORE DOWN-SHIFTING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE HIGH. THE VAN IS NOT USED FOR ANYTHING BUT PASSENGER TRAVEL NOR IS IT USED FOR TOWING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. SHE MANAGED TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE A CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID HAS DRAINED INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER MONTHS LATER AND THEY STATED THAT HE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V215000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY DISCOVERED FLUID LEAKING INTO THE RESERVOIR OF THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER; HOWEVER, NO FLUID WAS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, THE FLUID BEGAN TO ENTER INTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 12/31/07 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, HE REALIZED HE DIDN'T HAVE NORMAL BRAKING POWER. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED *JB

DIGITAL DAHBOARD DISPLAY GOES BLANK WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER CANNOT READ ANY GAUGES. *TR

THE GAUGE CLUSTER ON OUT 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS FAULTY. WE CANNOT TELL HOW FAST WE ARE GOING, WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN,ETC. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FLAMES TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEFORE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,000.

THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT MY SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF WHILE TURNING A CORNER. I HAVE A 97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT SE (3.3). THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT WAS RAINING AND THE SECOND TWO TIMES WERE IN GOOD WEATHER. EACH TIME IT WAS QUITE A JERK WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE TURN. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE??? OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS QUITE A HASSLE HAVING TO GET THE CAR TOWED EACH TIME AND HAVING THE MECHANIC PUT THE BELT BACK ON AND LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TRUST MY VEHICLE ANYMORE. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE TENSIONER,BELT, AND PULLEYS WITH THE GATES MV CONVERSION KIT. HE WAS AWARE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM. I ALSO READ ONLINE ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HOW THIS SEEMED TO BE THE ONLY FIX THAT WORKED. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP HERE SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM! THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE CHRYSLER WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW AND PROVIDE THIS FIX FOR EVERYONE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT SMELLS SOMETHING BURNING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STOP NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ABS WIRES WERE TOUCHING. PRESENTLY, NO FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

TIRES WORE OUT WITHIN 40,000 MILES AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AN 80,000 MILE TIRE. I KEPT THE TIRES ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES, WAL-MART WOULD NOT HONOR THE 80,000 TREAD WEAROUT WARRANTY. *TR

BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ON THE 1997 GRAND CARAVAN WERE FROSTED FROM THE INSIDE AND THE LIGHTS DID NOT SHOWING UP AS BRIGHT. THEY APPEARED LOW LIT ALL THE TIME AS IF THE LIGHT COULD NOT FILTER THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE FROSTED LOOK ALL THE TIME. THIS WAS A HAZARD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE HEADLIGHT COVERS LOOKED LIKE THEY DID. THIS WAS A REAL PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED HORRIBLE. *AK

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE DULLED TO THE POINT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOTICEABLY DIMMED TO THE POINT THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROADWAY AT NIGHT. *NM

MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE HABIT OF TURNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON BY THEMSELVES ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. WHILE THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED TO WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM, I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT OTHER CARAVAN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH MUCH EXPENSE TAKEN TO FIX AT NO AVAIL. I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT A FAULTY WIPER SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MFG. TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IF THIS IS INDEED AS RAMPANT A COMPLAINT AS IT SEEMS TO BE. *JB

TOOK OFF FROM STOP LIGHT TRANSMISSION FAILED HAD BEEN SLIPPING FOR A WHILE BEFORE. ALSO SHIFTED HARD INTO GEAR. ALREADY HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACE DUE TO OVERHEATING PROBLEMS AT THE COST OF $1,000.00 NO THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL COST ABOUT $2,000.00 TO REPLACE. *NM

MAKE : DODGE MODEL : CARAVAN YEAR : 1998 MANUFACTURER : DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION SERVICE BULLETIN NUM : 2304402 DATE OF BULLETIN: OCT 14, 2002 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10000317 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY SUMMARY: COSMETIC CORROSION OR PERFORATION AT UPPER STRUT TOWER/S USUALLY BETWEEN THE STRUT AND UPPER LOAD PATH BEAM INNER PANEL (INNER FENDER). *TT *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE INJECTION RAIL AND THE O RINGS. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 98V184000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RPMS DROPPED TO ZERO, THE VEHICLE JERKED, AND THE ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 10 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. UPDATED 08/15/06. *JB

THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 1997 GRAND CARAVAN AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CUT THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT DID START BUT THE CUT OFF. THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. NO DASH LIGHTS ANYTHING. I WAITED ABOUT 3 HOURS AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND THE DRIVER GOT IN AND TRIED TO START IT, AGAIN IT WAS TOTALLY DEAD. HE LEFT THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION WHILE WE TALKED AND THEN ABOUT A MINUTE LATER THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND HE STARTED IT. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ON THE WAY TO WORK ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASH AND I PULLED OVER AND CUT THE CAR OFF. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE? *NM

1. WIPERS TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY - USUALLY WHEN A TURN SIGNAL IS ON. 2. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON FREQUENTLY WITH P1698 CODE AND NO OTHER PENDING CODE. PRESENT INTERVAL AT AN AVERAGE OF A WEEK. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THIS INCIDENT IS VERY COMMON AS DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL CHATROOMS. INCIDENT USUALLY STARTS WITH ABS LIGHT ON THEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIES, FOLLOWED BY AIRBAG LIGHT THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. AT INCIDENT, POWER DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK. AT INCIDENT, SOMETIMES ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AFTER S SHORT DRIVE THEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL WORK. 3.REAR INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN LIT EVEN WHEN DASH SWITCH IS OFF AND NO DOOR AJAR. SOMETIMES A SINGLE INTERIOR LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN STARTING ENGINE AND REMAIN LIT. *JB

I PURCHASED THE 1997 GRAND CARAVAN IN JANUARY 1998 AT THE MARLOW HEIGHTS DEALERSHIP IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MARYLAND. THE FIRST TIME I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS 5/1999 AT 24,006 MILES VEHICLE HAD LITTLE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING, TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE RECONDITIONED. IN 12/1999, THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUSING A VERY STRONG NASTY ODOR. CARPET HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION TO MY FAMILY ESPECIALLY MY KIDS HAVING TO BREATH IN THIS FLUID. 3 /2000 SAME FLUID LEAKED AGAIN IN AUTO BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE HEATING COIL. THEN AGAIN IN 8/2001 THE LEAK HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER IN NORTH CAROLINA AND COMPLAINED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WHAT THEY CALLED ONE CONSUMER REPAIR PER CUSTOMER PER VEHICLE. IN 11/2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DUE FOR EMISSIONS TESTING AND DID NOT PASS THE TEST BECAUSE OF A CYLINDER MISFIRE CODE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THE FUNDS FOR REPAIR, IN 5/2004 @ 118,668 MILES, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AND THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. SO I PAID $114.24 TO REPLACE THE 6 .SPARK PLUGS, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED I ENDED UP PAYING $3,758.82 IN 7/2005 TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEADS, TIMING BELT, AND WATER PUMP . THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED.

IN DRIVING MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL EPISODES WHERE IT STALLS WITH NO WARNING. THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED WAS AFTER STOPPING AT A TOLL BOOTH AND IN PULLING OUT FROM THE BOOTH IT JUST DIED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AS MY HUSBAND AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN WITH ME AT THE TIME. HAD IT BEEN DURING RUSH HOUR OR THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS JUST IN A HURRY, THIS INCIDENT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE QUITE TRAGIC. MY VAN HAS ALSO STALLED SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SEVERAL TIMES DRIVING DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREETS. WE CAN NOT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS O.K. AFTER SEEING A NEWSCAST TONIGHT THAT SPOKE OF THE SAME STALLING WITHOUT WARNING ISSUES IN OTHER VANS I AM HAVING MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THIS NEWSCAST SAID THE ISSUE WAS WITH ONLY 1991 - 1995 CHRYSLER/DODGE MODEL VANS. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT IT COULD BE RELATED TO NEWER MODELS AS WELL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTO SHOP FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC ALERTED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT A POSSIBILITY OF A LEFT SPRING SUPPORT MAY BECOME FRACTURED DUE TO HEAVY CORROSION. THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE OWNER THAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE HYDRAULIC LIFT SNAPPED. THE REAR HATCH DOOR CAME DOWN AND HIT THE CONTACT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. IN FEBRUARY 2005 WE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED, AND ALL PARTS RELATED TO IT ADJUSTED AND CLEANED. THIS WAS DONE DUE TO A HORRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND. IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF DURING A PERIOD OF COLD & RAINY WEATHER, AND LEFT ME WITHOUT STEERING OR COOLING FANS. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER. THE BELT WAS REPLACED. SIX WEEKS LATER, AGAIN-IN COLD AND RAINY WEATHER. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND TODAY, 3 WEEKS LATER, YES, COLD AND RAINY WEATHER IT HAS HAPPENED FOR A THIRD TIME. MY GARAGE IS SET TO REPLACE THE STEERING FLUID PUMP, THINKING IT MIGHT BE LEAKING ON IT, THE BELT, TENSIONER AND A PULLEY. HOPING IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, THIS WILL BE A $500 BILL AT LEAST. HOWEVER, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL, CROSSING SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. I CONTACTED DODGE, WHO TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT WITHOUT A RECALL, BUT AGREED THERE HAVE BEEN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) REGARDING THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM I DID RESEARCH ON THESE TSBS, AS WELL AS VARIOUS WEBSITES WHERE AUTO MECHANICS POST, AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SINGLE REPAIR THAT WORKS IN EACH VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. THIS BELT CONTROLS THE STEERING, THE ALTERNATOR AND THE FANS. THIS IS A MINI-VAN, MADE FOR FAMILIES. I AM FEARFUL OF ALLOWING MY THREE CHILDREN TO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE NOW, KNOWING THAT EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS COMING UP THIS WEEK, THE PROBLEM MAY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. BOTH FRONT STRUT TOWERS WERE RUSTED AND WORN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK INTO IT AND REPLACED A RELAY OR SWITCH THAT BELONGED TO THE BLOWER MOTORS (FANS BY RADIATOR). THE LIGHTS SEEMED TO GO AWAY UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE ABS LIGHT RETURNED AND THE BRAKES ACT AS THOUGH THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE OUT AT ANY TIME. THEY HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED FOR QUITE A LENGTH OF TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE IS ALSO A WEIRD SOUND OF AIR OR AS IF AIR WHERE COMING OUT WHEN THE BRAKES GET DEPRESSED. I HAVE HAD TO ADD FLUID ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC BUDDY THAT THERE IS VERY GOOD CHANCE ITS THE BRAKE BOOSTER DUE TO THE SOUND OF AIR. I WENT ONLINE AND NOTICED THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS IN A COUPLE OF GRAND CARAVANS BUT MY VIN # DOESN'T FALL INTO THE SUGGESTED VIN RANGE. *NM

SERPENTINE BELT REPEATEDLY COMES OFF ITS PULLEYS, NECESSITATING A TOW, ON-THE-SPOT REPAIR JOB, OR DRIVING UNDER UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR A SHORT DISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR. *JB

NO AIRBAG, NO HORN. *NM

DT: 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1996. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO FIXED THE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE THE LIGHT TO AIRBAGS STAYED ON. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON OCCASIONALLY. WHEN SEEING THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THE CONSUMER COULD LOOK AT THIS AS A WARNING, BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS GOING OR HOW MUCH GAS THERE WAS IN THE GAS TANK. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IN 2003, AND THEY CHANGED THE CLOCK SPRING. ALSO, THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. FIRST, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF, NOW ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT NOTHING WAS WORKING ON DASHBOARD. *AK

DT: THE CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 25 MPH AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER CHILD. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WILL NOT CATCH. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO IT. THE DAUGHTER CHIPPED A TOOTH AND WHERE IT HIT HER HEAD, THERE WAS A BRUISE. *AK

DT: THE OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE NO LONGER TRANSPARENT, BUT WERE TURNING OPAQUE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC COMPONENT. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE REPLACED BUT AT T CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

1) DRIVING NORMALLY THROUGH WATER SEVERAL INCHES DEEP - CERTAINLY NOT AN UNUSUAL SITUATION CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF AFTERNOON STORMS WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS SUMMER IN MIDDLE GEORGIA. 2) SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS FROM PULLEYS CAUSING LOSE OF POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP, AIR CONDITIONING, ALTERNATOR. ON FIRST OCCASION AND WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AVOID A COLLISION. 3) BELT APPEARED UNDAMAGED BUT I REPLACED BELT WITH NEW APPROVED BELT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON AUGUST 22, 2005 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON GEORGIA 87 (RURAL HIGHWAY) IN A SEVERE DOWNPOUR/THUNDERSTORM. THE RAIN AND STORM CONDITIONS WERE SO LOUD I DID NOT NOTICE THE TEMPERATURE GAGE, INDICATOR LIGHTS AND WARNING-BUZZER WARNING ME OF SOME ENGINE FAILURE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO AN INTERSECTION AND PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC, AGAIN WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE. ULTIMATELY, PEOPLE WILL LOSE LIVES OVER THIS ISSUE IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE ISSUES POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE PURSUE THIS ISSUE SO SOMEONE'S LIFE CAN BE SAVED. *JB

DT: DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DEEMED TOTALED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF TWO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ONE FOR THE FUEL RAIL AND ONE FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS CONFLICTING INFORMATION ON THE LETTER SENT TO CONSUMER. THIS HAPPENED ON JANUARY 17, 2005 . *AK *NM

THIS IS ON A '97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.8 LITER. 1) ORIGINALLY THE BRAKES WERE TERRIBLE, (HARD FOOT PRESSURE WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.). AFTER 30KMILES, I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC. IN HIS EXPERIENCE, THE DEALER EQUIPPED FRONT DISC "PISTONS MADE OF PHEOLIC MATERIAL" WOULD OFTEN 'STICK'.. AFTER REPLACING W/ "STEEL" PISTONS THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. 2) THE PROBLEMATIC 'CLOCK-SPRING' FAILED RIGHT BEFORE I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE! BUT, AFTER 30K MORE MILES, IT FAILED AGAIN... THIS TIME THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FREE. OF COURSE THE "LEGALLY REQUIRED HORN" IS ALSO NO-FUNCTIONING. 3) THE POWER LOCKS FIGHT ME WHEN OPENING WITH A KEY. ON REMOVING SAID KEY, THEY THEN 'RELOCK' BEFORE I CAN OPEN THE DOOR. I MUST OPEN THE DOOR WITH KEY TURNED IN THE LOOK. (SAFETY, NO, INCONVENIENT YES.) HOWEVER, NOW THE POWER LOCKS "SOMETIMES UNLOCK THEMSELVES" WHEN LEFT IN A LOCKED POSITION, OR WHEN DRIVING. 4) THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN, THOUGH IT COMES ON WHEN THE NEEDED, "SHUTS OFF" WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. SHOULDN'T' IT "STAY ON" TILL THE RADIATOR COOLS A BIT?? 5) THE "ENGINE STALLED" AND HESITATED/MISFIRED?. NUMEROUS TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.. FINALLY AN INDEPENDENT "REPLACED CAM SENSOR". THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR "IMPORTANT SERVICES". SINCERELY, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT NEARLY EVERY MONTH. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SWAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON FREEWAY OR WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKES. THE EGR VALVE KEEPS GOING OUT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

TERRIBLE SQUEALING NOISE IN BELT AREA. DEALER CHARGED ~$250 FOR BELT AND TENSIONER REPLACEMENT AND NOISE WAS GREATLY REDUCED. SEVERAL YEARS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED AND GREW EVEN WORSE. REPLACED THE WORN BELT AND NOISE WAS GREATLY REDUCED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. AFTER THE NOISE RETURNED, REMOVED THE BELT AND CHECKED ALL PULLEYS - FOUND NO PROBLEMS. REPLACED TENSIONER AND IDLER PULLEYS ANYWAY (~$20 EACH FROM DEALER) AND REINSTALLED BELT. NOISE WAS REDUCED FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS. TOOK VAN TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT WAS THE TENSIONER AND WERE SURPISED THAT IT HAD LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP AND TENSIONER. THE NOISE WAS GREATLY REDUCED, BUT RETURNED FULL FORCE WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. IN DESPERATION I TURNED TO BELT DRESSING AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION SINCE I HAD CLEANED ALL OF THE PULLEYS PRIOR TO BELT REINSTALLATION. WHEN THE BELT DRESSING WAS SPRAYED ON THE TENSIONER PULLEY THE SOUND DISAPPEARED FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN RETURNED. BELT DRESSING HAD SMALL OR NO EFFECT WHEN SPRAYED AT OTHER LOCATIONS ALONG THE SERPENTINE BELT.

ON MARCH 3RD, OF 2005, WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM AN OUTING WITH MY FOUR CHILDREN, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN OUR 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WITHIN MOMENTS AFTER GETTING THE KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT OF OUR MINIVAN WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BEFORE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD WAS DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW A COMPLETE LOSS. SINCE WE DID NOT CARRY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO ITS AGE, I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES, WHICH CAME TO JUST AROUND $5,300. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SENT AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR TO OUR RESIDENCE TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT. THE RESULTS WERE TURNED OVER TO THEIR CLAIM BOARD AND WE WERE ADVISED ON 3-18-05 THAT THEIR COMPANY REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE THAT NOT ONLY DESTROYED OUR VEHICLE BUT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR OUR FOUR CHILDREN. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS FIRE-RELATED RECALLS ON THE 1997 DODGE MINIVANS. SPECIFICALLY, AN ARTICLE SHOWED THAT A RECALL EXISTED ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL DEATHS WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF FUEL RAIL AND O-RING DEFECTS (DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALL #895). AT NO TIME SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, WAS THERE ANY NOTIFICATION CONCERNING SAFETY RECALLS AND AFTER SPECIFICALLY ASKING A DOD

OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS MULTIPLE TIMES. WE HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE STRUT MOUNT HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE STRUT MOUNT PLATE HAS BECOME OVAL AND NOT ROUND AND THEREFORE IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER GOING OVER LARGER BUMPS....WHAT DO WE DO NOW? I AM A MECHANIC AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO BY ANOTHER AUTO REPAIR. WE ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING SINCE BASICALLY WHEN WE BOUGHT IT ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO AND WOULD LIIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OTHER 97 GRAND CARAVANS. PLEASE HELP. WE HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND CAN NOT BE WITHOUT A VAN. THANKS.

1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 3.0 6 CYL BELT CAME OFF IN RAIN STORM LEFT ME STRANDED AND MISSED WORK THE BELT WAS IN ONE PIECE AND GOT IT HOME AND HAD A NEW BELT INSTALLED AND PULLEY UPPER FRONT NON GROOVED. AGAIN BELT CAME OFF BRAN NEW BELT NEW BELT PUT ON AGAIN BELT NOW SQUEALING IN THE BACK BELT TENSION ARM NOR SQUEALING BELT RIDES THE PULLEY L/R ABOUT 1/4 INCH THAN BACK. IT SEEMS TO ME. *NM

SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF IDLER PULLY WHEN DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.*AK

VAN WAS SLIPPING NOT GOING INTO GEAR WHEN IT WAS COLD AND NOW JUST WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT HAS TO BE REBUILT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $2300 TO $2800 TO FIX. *JB

THE STRUT TOWER THAT HOLDS THE UPPER PART OF BOTH FRONT STRUTS WAS RUST OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, THE FRONT STRUT COULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THE STRUT TOWER. CHANCES ARE THIS WOULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (BECAUSE THE FORCES ON THE STRUT TOWERS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST THEN). THIS COULD VERY PROBABLY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT. I FEAR THAT MOST CARAVAN OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE IN NOVEMBER 2004.*AK

HEAVY FUEL VAPORS IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, AND UNDER HOOD. OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST BUT THEN WENT AWAY THE NEXT DAY. ALL OCCURRENCES WERE DURING COLD WEATHER (20-30F). DRIVER AND PASSENGERS EXPERIENCED NAUSEA. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE IS MALFUNCTIONING ALLOWING FUEL INTO THE VAPOR CANISTER. THIS SOUNDS ALOT LIKE THE RECALL FOR 1996 MODELS OF THIS VAN. *NM

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS TO FUNCTION WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZINGG; DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPT; BRAKE FREEZES IN LOCKED AND UNLOCK POSITION CAUSEING DAMAGE TO BRAKE DRUMS (LOCKED) AND LOSS EMERGENCY BRAKE (OPEN). *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH ,AND WHILE CROSSING THE RAILROAD TRACKS, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IT CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK

THE CLEAR PLASTIC LENSES THAT COVER THE HEAD LAMP BULBS HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY CLOUDED AND GREATLY DIMINISH THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT ITS NORMAL. I HAVE NOTICED THIS CONDITION ON MANY OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE CONDITION . THIS CONDITION CREATES AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING BY REDUCING VISIBILITY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE IS NO MENTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE LISTED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF ANY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE.*AK

I OWN 8 MX4 MICHELIN TIRES I ROTATE AND USE 4 IN THE WINTER AND FOUR IN THE SUMMER. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC BLOW-OUT ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE IM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AND HAVE LOGGED OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES IN COMMERCIAL AND PERSONAL VEHICLES AND I UTILIZE THE SMITH SYSTEM .THE ROAD WAS CLEAR WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC AND NO ROAD HAZARDS PRESENT. TWO WEEKS LATER ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. ANOTHER MASSIVE BLOW-OUT LEFT REAR BOTH TIMES LARGE HOLES IN THE SIDEWALLS ONE TIER MANUFACTURED IN 2000 THE OTHER IN 1999 MILES ON BOTH TIRES 17K TIERS INSPECTED AND CONFIRMED BLOWOUT ORIGINATED FROM THE INSIDE .SIMILAR OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. MY REMAINING SIX TIRES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED FOR SIDE WALL DAMAGE OR UNUSUAL WEAR AND NONE FOUND VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AND NO DEFECTS FOUND.*AK

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK

AS I AM DRIVING MY VAN WILL SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE VAN SUDDENLY DIES. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER MANY,MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN FEB,2004 AND THEY HAVE DROVE IT AND PUT IT ON MACHINES AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT AND WHY IT'S DOING THIS. I JUST FOUND OUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND ORIGINAL ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SO HE GOT RID OF IT.WHEN IT SUDDENLY DIES I HAVE NO STEERING, BRAKES ETC. AND THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVY 4 LANE TRAFFIC AND NO WHERE TO GO. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED AND CORRECTED, I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY AND HOW THIS CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE I OR SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR INJURED. I HAVE CHILDREN IN MY VAN ALOT AND I WONDER IF THAT MATTERS TO YOU IF THEY GET INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE YOU CAN'T OR WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!! I HAVE HAD DODGE VANS BEFORE AND LIKED THEM, BUT I CAN ASURE YOU THAT, IS CHANGING RAPIDLY. I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT'S ON THIS SITE ON THE 97 DODGE CARAVAN'S. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? *AK

I HAVE A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, AND WHILE I AM DRIVING, THE ENGINE JUST STOPS WORKING AND MY STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO MANUVER. I TOOK IT THE THE CAR DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK