1997 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN, AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TENSIONER ASSEMBLY FAILED, HORN WAS INOPERABLE, AND THE WATER PUMP LEAKED. AS CORRECTIONS, ALL DEFECTIVE COMPONETS WERE REPLACED. *PH *JB

MY 97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT CAUSING THE GEAR SELECTOR, ABS, AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

SINCE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT, THE SERPENTINE BELT REGULARLY SLIPS OFF WHEN SPLASHED WITH WATER. - CAME OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. - DEALER TRIED REPLACING TENSIONER (WHICH I HAD REPLACED 6 MONTHS EARLIER) - NO LUCK - WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO SOLVE WITH DEALER. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT STAY ENGAGED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WATER THE VEHICLE WILL LOST STEERING ABILITY. *NLM

THE FUEL GAUGE WAVERS AFTER FILLING UP. WHEN THERE IS LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS IN CAR, THE GAUGE READS CORRECTLY. BUT WHEN FULL, THE GAUGE GOES FROM EMPTY TO FULL CONSTANTLY AND THE BELL "DINGS" WHEN THE NEEDLE GETS TO EMPTY. *JB

ON 04-26-2003 MY FAMILY AND I WERE LEAVING THE DETROIT METRO AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE. WE HAD JUST LEFT OUR PARKING SPOT WHEN WE PASSED OVER WHAT I ASSUMED WAS A SPEED BUMP GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH HEADING TOWARD THE TICKET BOOTH WHICH WAS JUST AHEAD. AS WE PASSED THIS SPEED BUMP OUR AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE AIR BAGS GOING OFF AS THEY DID. WE HAVE INFORMED OUR DEALERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM, AS WE FEEL THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FAULTY, AND THEY ALSO AGREED AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX] AT THE M-59 DODGE DEALER WHO SAID THAT WE WOULD BE CONTACTED AND THE MATTER INVESTIGATED. I SPOKE TO A [XXX]. , WITH THE CHRYSLER INVESTIGATIONS DEPT WHO STATED TO ME THAT THEY DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM IMPACT WITH A SPEED BUMP AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. WE FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND AT THE LEAST HAVE THE CAR FIXED, AS OUR DASH BOARD IS ALL TORE APART AT THIS TIME, MAKING THE CAR VIRTUALLY UNDRIVABLE. WE HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AS THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN A WORSE SITUATION IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PASSED A BUMP OR HIT A POT HOLE AND THESE BAGS HAD DEPLOYED,CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT/FATALITY. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, VIN # [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO T

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 48 HOURS WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE ENGINE AREA WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES, IT HAD NOT BEEN STARTED OR USED AT ALL SINCE IT WAS PARKED. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. OUR COUNTY ARSON TASK FORCE INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED IT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. *NLM

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL IN REFERENCE TO THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. THE AIR BAG WAS IN FACT FAULTY AND THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. MR SCC

CHILD WAS ABLE TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE. *JB

WINSHIELD WIPERS AND HORN FAILED. *NLM

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. *JB

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS ON HEADLIGHTS STEADILY ERODE BY DUST OR OTHER CONTAMINATIONS IN THE FLOW OF AIR. *AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE SHOES, NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHICH CAUSED HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE.*AK *JB

THE DASH LIGHTS FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *AK *NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *TS

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED ON THEIR OWN, WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS USE.*JB *TS

MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.3L V6, HAD THE BELT TENSIONER SHEAR OFF/COME APART AT 35,000 MILES. THEN AT 68,000 (33,000 LATER) IT WENT BAD, IT FROZE UP. THIS CAUSED THE BELT TO CRACK ALSO. SO THE TENSIONER AND BELT WERE REPLACED AT THAT TIME. HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM HAVE THESE TENSIONERS BEEN? SHOULD I EXPECT THEM TO LAST ONLY 30,000 TO 36,000 MILES?

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF DURING WET WEATHER, MAKING MINIVAN VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER.

I HAVE HAD THE BELT TENSIONER REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE I OWEND THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF WARPPING.THE THIRD TIME I WROTE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE THAY TOLD US THAT THE PART HAS MEET DODGES WARRENTY REQUIREMENTS.THAY WAS SORRY BUT NOTHING THAY COULD DO.I THANK THE IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING.WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT. PLUS THE WIPPERS COME ON BY THEM SELF OR WHEN YOU PUT ON THE TURNLIGHT ON.THIS HAS BE GOING ON SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NEW.

WHILE DRIVING, WIPERS COME ON AND OFF ON THERE OWN. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WON'T GO OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

CONSUMER STATED THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT RESTART. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER STATEEDS PROBLEM IS REALLY NOTICABLE WHEN TURNING CORNERS. *JB MUTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED. *TT

CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK PRNDL. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHT LENS IS DISCOLORING CAUSING LOW VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 10MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CAR HAD SERIOUS DAMAGE WHOSES SOURCE CANNOT BE DETERMINED BY DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WILL NOT INVESTIGATE.

INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL NOT CYCLE CONSISTANTLY. THEY MIGHT SWEEP 3 TIMES QUICKLY AND THEN WILL CYCLE NORMALLY, THEN MAY STOP CYCLING FOR 4-6 CYCLES. WIPERS WILL SOMETIMES ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN. INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL SOMETIMES BEGIN TO CYCLE AND CONTINUE CYCLING EVEN AFTER THE SWITCH HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION IN DESPERATION. WE LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NW AND HAVE TO DRIVE IN RAIN CONSTANTLY. NOT HAVING RELIABLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR TO A DEALER TWICE AND HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. PER THE DEALER, THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE BOTH TIMES. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE SWITCH REPLACED THE SECOND TIME, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN BUT BY THE TIME WE TURNED AROUND AND GOT BACK TO THE DEALER, IT WAS WORKING FINE SO THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.

WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON A FUEL RAIL PROBLEM. ON 10/08/02 MY WIFE TOOK OUR VAN IN FOR THE APPOINTMENT AT SAVANNAH DODGE FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN SHE PICKED IT UP THEY TOLD HER THEY NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY HAD DIAGNOSED IT AS A CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. THEY TOLD HER IT WOULD BE $181 TO REPAIR IT. WE TOLD THEM WE WOULDN'T DO IT THEN. ON NOVEMBER 5 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A LEFT FRONTAL COLLISION AND ONLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN OUR CAR. THAT IS NOT THE POINT OF MY COMPLAINT. TODAY WE RECEIVED A HAND WRITTEN POSTCARD FROM THE DEALER SAYING OUR CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FACTORY RECALL CLOCKSPRING B24. I THOUGHT THIS WAS QUITE UNUSUAL THAT THE NOTICE CAME FROM THE DEALER AND NOT CHRYSLER. I JUST DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IN AUGUST 2001 TSB 08-010-01 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND THERE'S QUITE A CONSUMER CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM OR NOT AND WHETHER IT WARRANTS A SAFETY RECALL. SO WHAT'S SUDDENLY CHANGED? IS IT REALLY A RECALL OR IS THE DEALER JUST TRYING TO DRUM UP BUSINESS? THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICE. I HAVE SAVED THE POSTCARD IN CASE YOU'D LIKE IT. DT

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON THIS MINIVAN APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. YES, I GOT A WARRANTY BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR AND BRAKES SHOULD BE LASTING 40,000 MILES OR MORE. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT BRAKES, OR WHEEL BEARINGS. (WHICH I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE) DT

HORN DOESN'T WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. DT

PLASTIC COVER OVER HEADLIGHTS ARE CRUSTING. DT *TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCK SPRINGS WHICH IT AFFECTS HER CRUISE CONTROL THE AIR BAG AND HORN CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE KNOWS THAT A RECALL MAY COME OUT SOON AND JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE HER VEHICLE IS INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A OFICCIAL RECALL YET. TS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON HORN WOULDN'T WORK CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK DEALER KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. DT

CLOCKSPRING FAILURE $250 REPAIR POSSIBLE RECALL. DT

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE EXPOSURE OF THE SUN HAD CAUSED THE LENSES TO BECOME CLOUDED, WHICH REDUCED THE LIGHTING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. MR *JB

THE SEAT BELT ON BOTH INTEGATED CHILD SEATS FAILED WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. ONE FAILED WHILE VAN WAS IN MOTION WITH CHILD IN SEAT. THE LATCH SYSTEM THAT LOCKS THE SHOULDER BELTS BROKE. THIS FAILURE PREVENTS THE SHOULDER BELTS FROM SAFELY RESTRAINING A CHILD IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE SOMETHING IN THE CABLE ASSEMBLY THAT LOCKS SHOULDER BELTS AFTER BUCKLE IS LATCHED. I WAS TOLD REPAIR WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND COMPLETE SEAT REPLACEMENT WAS MY ONLY OPTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS FAILURE COULD PUT A CHILD IN SEVERE RISK IF IT HAPPEN DURING AN ACCIDENT. DT

CONSUMER STATES HEAD LAMP BECOME POOR VISIBILITY, FOGGED AND HARD TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON ALL BY THEMSELF. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG IS FUNCTIONAL OR NOT. DT

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. MR

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE HOOD BECAME ATTACH FROM THE PANEL. AND FLEW IN THE WINDOW THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

MR

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING. HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY COME ON WITH OUT TURNING ON THE SWITCH. *MR

FUEL GAUGE READING EMPTY WHEN VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY FULL OF FUEL. *MR