1997 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *TC

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

SERPENTINE BELT KEEPS COMING OFF EACH TIME THE VEHICLE GOES OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED EACH TIME WHEN THIS OCCURS. *AK

AUGUST 12, 2004 RE: DANGEROUS RUNAWAY-VEHICLE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VIN [XXX] THIS IS TO DOCUMENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT OCCURRED ON JULY 22, 2004 WITH THE ABOVE VEHICLE. THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT HAD ABOUT 124,800 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE, [XXX], WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION ON I-40 FROM WILMINGTON TO CHAPEL HILL . SHE WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IS NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE SITUATION WAS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT ALTHOUGH IT IS LIKELY THAT SHE HAD ACCELERATED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE CAR WAS GOING OVER 90 MPH AND WOULDNT STOP ALTHOUGH SHE USED THE BRAKES WITH ALL HER FORCE. SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND BRAKED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER, WITH THE BRAKES SMOKING AND IN FLAME. IN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE ENGINE SPEED TOOK OFF AND SHE SHUT IT DOWN AND CALLED AAA FOR A TOW. THE AAA SERVICE STATION MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM THE THROTTLE. THE CABLE WAS STUCK FAST AND HAD KEPT THE THROTTLE OPEN. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY WIFE HAD BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VAN WITHOUT COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR RUNNING OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BRINGING IT TO A HALT. THE CABLE APPEARED TO HAVE A BROKEN STRAND THAT STUCK INTO THE OUTER SHEATH. IT IS ONLY ABOUT 20 INCHES LONG AND MAKES A 180 DEGREE U-TURN BETWEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM SERVO AND THE THROTTLE. THAT DESIGN PLACES MORE STRESS ON THE CABLE THAN IF IT WERE A STRAIGHT RUN. THE DEFECTIVE CABLE IS AVAILABLE FOR

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING IN WET WEATHER OR ON WET ROAD CONDITION. IT APPEARED THAT WATER WAS GETTING UNDER THE ENGINE, AND CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SLIP OFF THE PULLEY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 00V268000 CONCERNING FUEL LEAKAGE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK UP, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE PROPERLY. ON MA 3, 2004 WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONSUMER THEN TURNED ON THE VEHICLE BACK ON AGAIN RETURN BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANICS IDENTIFIED THAT THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE ORIGINAL FUEL RAIL. THE GAS LEAK WAS STILL PRESENT AND COMING FROM THE BUSHINGS. *SC THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. *JB

MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS BEEN A HEADACHE SINCE I GOT IT. RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET MY DASHBOARD FIXED BECAUSE ALL MY GAUGES QUIT COMPLETELY. NOW MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THEY ARE OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES OR UNLOCK THE DOORS OR OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE IT PUT ON A TESTER AND THEY CANT FIND WHY ITS ON. THE REAR END RATTLES PRETTY BAD ALSO AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO PICK UP AND GO.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES . AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR A CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. HOWEVER, PARTS ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. *AK THE CRUISE WAS INOPERATIVE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. RECALL#02V293000 AND RECALL#96V215000. *SC *JB

RECALL PROBLEMS WITH EXHAUST AND AIR BAGS. *MR THERE WAS NO BACK UP LIGHTS, HORN, OR CLOCKSPRING. *SC

WHILE DRIVING FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY COMES ON WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS ON. THE WIPERS CAME ON WHILE I WAS TURNING - CHANGING LANES AND PARTIALLY BLINDING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. I ALMOST CRASHED WHILE MAKING THE TURN AND IN THE SAME TIME TRYING TO TURN OFF THE WIPER. SINCE THE WIPERS WENT ON WHEN THE WINDSHIELD IS DRY, IT CAUSES THE WIPERS TO STREAK LOUDLY AND SCRATCH THE GLASS. ALSO, THE WIPERS CROSSED EACH OTHER AND CAUSE IT TO SUDDENLY BACK AGAINST THE GLASS. LUCKILY, THE WIPERS DIDN'T SMASH THE WINDSHIELD. HAVING THE WIPERS TURN ON A DRY WINDSHIELD GLASS WHILE TURNING IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE WERE LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN AND I WEREN'T HURT BY THIS INCIDENT. *JB

REPORTED PROBLEM TO DODGE CORP. SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT WIPERS COMING ON BY THEMSELVES. WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE NO RECALL, NO REMEDY. ON THIS ISSUE, MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS AND THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE HANDLED BY A RECALL. SECONDLY, AND MOST RECENTLY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS FAILED. DODGE REPRESENTS THAT TIME/MILEAGE PRECLUDES REPAIR AT THEIR COST. REAR WING VENT WINDOW QUIT WORKING APPROX. A WEEK AGO (MAR. 2004). VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART ELECTRONICALLY. MILEAGE/WARRANTY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. DEFECTS ARE DEFECTS. RECALL REQUESTED. *JB *NM

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER. THE PULLEY BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO FALL ONTO THE STREET. *AK THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A TURN AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER WITNESSED ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. (THE CONSUMER'S ALTERNATE ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 585 ZIP 03825) *SC *JB

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

POWER STEERING RACK OPERATES POORLY. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS NO POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THE STERING FLUID LEAKS OUT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING RACK, BUT THE FAILURE RECCURED WITHIN 38,000 MILES. *AK

DRIVER SEATBACK FAILURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER CLIMBED INTO THE DRIVER SEAT, AND THE SEAT BACK SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ONTO THE CHILD PASSENGER SEATED BEHIND THE DRIVER, CAUSING SLIGHT SUPERFICIAL INJURY. EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE SEAT BACK SUFFERED METAL SHEER AND SPOT WELD FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE SEAT BACK FAILURE, AND HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENT, NOR HAD THE SEAT EVER BEEN REPLACED. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S SEAT.*AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN OUR '97 DODGE CARAVAN HAS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. INDICATIONS ARE THAT IT IS DUE TO AN INTERMITTENT CLOCKSPRING WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, MEANING THAT THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. IT APPEARS THIS CLOCKSPRING FAILURE MODE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER TO FIX IT (AROUND $200). *JB

WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN 1997 DODGE CARAVAN AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, FRONT SEAT RECLINER ASSEMBLY WENT BACK, THROWING DRIVER TO BACK, CAUSING HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING REAR RIGHT AUDIO SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A LARGE BURLAP BAG. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, BUT DISCOVERED THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, IT TOOK THE VEHICLE OVER 100 YARDS TO STOP. *AK THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

WE HAVE REPLACED SIX SERPENTINE BELTS IN THE TWO YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. WE REPLACED THE TENSIONER, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. WE ARE NOW FACING NUMBER SEVEN AND ARE AT THE POINT OF TOTAL FRUSTRATION. WE NEED TO SEE THIS CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. *AK

THE BELT THAT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND RADIATOR FAN CAME OFF TWICE TODAY AND SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. IT'S ALL WE CAN DO TO GET IT STOPPED AND PULLED OVER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IT HAPPENS IN ANY TYPE OF RAIN.*AK

HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A CLOCK SPRING PROBLEM. *AK

FAN BELT KEPT SLIDING OFF GOT BROKEN. *PH THIS PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR WHEN IT WOULD RAIN OR SNOW. THE PART WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. *SC

I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT MY CHILDREN ARE NOT SAFE RIDING IN OUR MINI VAN. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THE GEN3 BELTS ARE IN MY VAN. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL VEHICLES WITH THESE SPECIFIC BELTS BE RECALLED AND SAFE VERSIONS INSTALLED. *CB

AT 91,000 MILES THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORS & FRIENDS ALSO EXPERIENCE GRAND CARAVAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN 97 & 98 MODELS, THERE OBVIOUSLY IS A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM. I HAD OWNED A 1989 GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK A CHANCE GOING BACK TO CHRYSLER AND LOST THE BET. WHILE CHRYSLER "CUSTOMER NO SERVICE" HAS TOLD ME "SIR, WHEN YOU SIGNED THE DOTTED LINE, YOU KNEW THE WARRANTY WAS 36,000 MILES", CLEARLY THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS THAT TRANSMISSIONS IN $30,000 AUTOMOBILES SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 90,000 MILES. WHILE CHRYSLER CAN HIDE BEHIND THE WARRANTY ALL THEY WANT, THEY CLEARLY ARE BREAKING WITH THE PUBLIC''S TRUST. THE FACT THAT CHRYSLER HAS HAD 100,000 MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTIES ON OTHER YEARS OF GRAND CARAVANS BESPEAKS TO THE LEVELS THAT THEY: 1. HAD TO GO TO GAIN PUBLIC TRUST 2. THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY MAY HAVE DESIGN PROBLEMS. LASTLY, AS I HAVE LEARNED, THEIR "CUSTOMER NO SERVICE" DEPARTMENT IS A VERY SHORT ONE WAY STREET. WHEN I CALLED, I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROCESS TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN IN VERY SHORT ORDER THAT THE FIRST PERSON I TALKED TO WAS ALSO THE LAST PERSON THAT I WOULD TO TALK. HE QUICKLY MADE THE DECISION THE CHRYSLER WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HELPING IN ANY WAY AND THAT HIS DECISION WAS FINAL. THERE WAS NEVER ANY "I AM SORRY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NOT M

THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THE AIR CONDITIONER TURNED ALL THE WAY UP WILL BLOW OUT AIR AS IF IT WAS ON MID WAY. THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED, WHICH CAUSES ME TO BUY BLADES MORE OFTEN. THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP WHEN THE GROUND IS WET. YOU CAN HEAR METAL HITTING TOGETHER, AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO ROLL. MY SISTER-IN-LAW, AND ONE OF MY DAYCARE MOMS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT AS LUCKY AS I WAS IT CAUSED THEM TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE.

CONSUMER HAS NO DEFECT/ REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO MAILING LIST FOR GRACO A8462HAV CARSEAT. *MR *SC

1997 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF FIVE TIMES IN ONE YEAR, THE LATEST ON 12/30/03 WHEN DRIVING ON A RAINY DAY. EVERY TIME THE BELT GETS WET, IT FALLS OFF! *LA

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CROSSED OVER THE MEDIAN. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER'S ANKLE WAS SHATTERED AND RECEIVED CONTUSIONS TO THE CHEST.*AK

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHEN VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH WATER, SNOW OR SLUSH CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, ELECTRICAL POWER, ENGINE COOLING; ALL OF WHICH MAY BE CAUSE OF OTHER PROBLEMS IF VEHICLE IS NOT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND TAKEN SOMEWHERE FOR THE BELT TO BE RE-INSTALLED. MANUFACTURER HAS IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AND A SOLUTION (TSB#070299, NHTSA#606159), WHICH IS ENGINEERING RELATED, YET DOES NOT RELEASE THIS AS A RECALL. IT WAS SERVICED 8/12/03 (BLOUIN) TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL BELT, HAS HAD PROBLEM SINCE THAT REPLACEMENT YET MANUFACTURER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THEIR ENGINERRING ERROR AT THEIR COST (LEE). REPAIR SHOULD BE A RECALL CONDITION TO REPAIR A SITUATION THAT CAN CAUSE FATALITIES IF IT OCCURRED UNDER HIGHWAY CONDITIONS.*AK

PARKING BRAKE REPEATEDLY FAILS TO HOLD, DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR, SOMETIMES FAILS IN ON POSITION CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO PARKING AND MAIN REAR BRAKE. CHYRSLER UNWILLING TO ADDRESS PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED THREE YEARS AGO: WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES FOR NO REASON, CD PLAYER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES HAYWIRE AND WE LOSE THE GAUGES AND MILEAGE, POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, KEYLESS ENTRY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AIR CONDITIONER ODOR AND FAN PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES COOL AIR SOMETIMES NOT AND THE LIST GOES ON. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VAN LUNGED FORWARD. THE ACTUAL CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE'S FRONT CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK THIS CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED A DEFECT PER MECHANIC(S). THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN THIS MAKE/MODEL FOR SOME TIME AND HAD MANY COMPLAINTS AND REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO HELP GIVEN BY THE DEALER. *SCC *JB

VEHICLE HIT A DEER WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH. UPON IMPACT WITH THE DEER, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE CORRECT VIN NUMBER UPON RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT. *PH

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSFER CASE. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED A FLAT TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER STARTED TO DRIVE FOR 10 MILES WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSFER CASE HAD BURNED OUT DUE TO THE SPARE TIRE NOT BEING THE SAME SIZE AS THE REGULAR TIRE. THE TRANSFER CASE BURNED OUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS ON ALL WHEEL DRIVE. (AS STATED IN THE TSB 21 05 00, BUT CONSUMER'S WARRANTY EXPIRED) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIR(S). *AK *SCC *JB

1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CAR SERPENTINE BELT WAS MAKING NOISE. WAS TOLD IT WAS WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT. DROVE CAR IN HEAVY RAIN, SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. TOWED CAR TO DEALER REPLACED BELT AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. SAME DAY DROVE CAR IN HEAVY RAIN, SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. DEALER CHECKED WITH CHRYSLER ON FIXES. INSTALLED A CLIP. THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO SOLVE MY PROBLEMS. NO HEAVY RAIN FOR A WHILE. THEN, DROVE MY CAR IN HEAVY RAIN, SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF AGAIN. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH ALL THEY COULD DO. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR INTO PUDDLES. WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. STATED TO THE DEALER, THAT I DROVE THROUGH PUDDLES WITH NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. THEY DID NOT HAVE A ANSWER FOR ME, AGAIN THEY SAID "YOU SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING IN PUDDLES". I ASKED IF I CANNOT DRIVE IN PUDDLES WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO. THEY SAID TURN AROUND AND FIND A DIFFERENT ROUTE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE. WHAT IF I'M ON A HIGHWAY? SHOULD I TURN AROUND? I'VE DONE SOME SEARCHING ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO OWNS A CARAVAN THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *LA

SERPENTINE BELT FALLS OFF WHEN WATER GETS ON IT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND CONTROL. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND AM CONCERNED THAT MY FAMILYS' SAFETY WILL BE IN JEPARDY EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES TO US AND I FEEL THIS WARRANTS A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WE HAD PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR BAG LIGHT. WE FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM, AND IT WAS CORRECTED BY THE DEALER. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD AFTER THIS RECALL, OUR HORN WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED BY THE SAME DEALER,(COST ALMOST $200.00). THREE MONTHS AFTER THE HORN REPLACEMENT, IT WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO CHARGE. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT IT SOUNDS TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT WE HAD HORN PROBLEMS AFTER THE RECALL WORK. OUR VAN HAS 61,412 MILES ON IT. *LA

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS CONSUMER CHANGED FOUR TIMES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM CANADA. *AK

WHEN EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF STREET WATER, I.E. WATER-FILLED POTHOLE, CURB WATER DRAINAGE, ETC GETS SPLASHED UP ONTO THE VEHICLE UNDERSIDE THE POWER STERRING ASSIST DISAPPEARS FOR A SHORT INTERVAL, 10 TO 20 SECONDS. DURING THAT PERIOD I, A 200 LB MAN WITH REASONABLE BODY STRENGTH, CAN BARELY CONTINUE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS. I HAVE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE CURB THREE TIMES ALREADY. I AM ARETIRED MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH EXTENSIVE "DO IT YOURSELF" EXPERIENCE AND I PERCEIVE THAT WATER IS SPLASHING UP ON THE SERPANTINE BELT AND THE BELT FRICTION IS CHANGED ENORMOUSLY WHEN WATER GETS SPLASHED ON THAT BELT. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE IS NO SPLASH GUARD OR DEFLECTOR TO PROTECT THE BELT FROM WATER BEING SPLASHED UP BY THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. MY ENGINE IS THE LARGEST DISPLACEMENT V6. I HAVE HAD MY BELT TENSIONER CHECKED AND IT IS PERFORMING PROPERLY.*AK

1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. STARTED VEHICLE AND LET IDLE WHILE IN PARKING LOT. ENGINE APPEARED TO FORM VAPOR LOCK AND STALLED. TRIED RESTARTING. NO EFFECT. SMELLED FUEL. LOOKED OUTSIDE AND FOUND VERY LARGE FUEL SPILL ON SIDE OF VEHICLE. EVACUATED VEHICLE AND CALLED 911 IN CASE OF FIRE. FD REPORTED SEPARATION OF FUEL LINE FROM FUEL TANK. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. AWAITING PARTS AND REPAIR INFO. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LINE, LOCATED NEAR THE GAS TANK, HAD CORRODED RESULTING IN THE BRAKE FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIPPING. SOMETIMES TAKES A FEW MOMENTS FOR IT TO 'CATCH' FIRST GEAR TO GO FROM A LIGHT OR SHIFTS 'HARD' WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO, DOWN SHIFTS 'HARD' WHEN DECELERATING.*AK

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR 1997 DODGE CARAVAN WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE OVER TIME. THE LOCAL DEALER BELIEVES THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $200. THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND AN ANNOYANCE AND I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD COVER THE COST TO REPAIR IT.*AK