1997 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

WHILE TRAVELING STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT ENGINE BELTS HAD BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND HORN/ CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD, AND HORN WILL NOT WORK DUE TO CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH AND SLOWING DOWN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. REAR ANF FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN, CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION. HINGE ON DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE AND INJURY TO TO DRIVER. REAR AND FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK *YD

WHILE BACKING UP THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, THEN AT 40 MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *YD

RECEIVED RECALL 00V268000 NOTICE AND CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT SENDING ANY PARTS, THERRE WAS A LONG WAITING LIST FOR FUEL REPAIR PARTS.*AK *TT

WHEN IT RAINS IT LEAKS INSIDE OF VEHICLE. HAD TO REMOVE CARPET BECAUSE OF ODOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE GEN-3 SEATBELT BUCKLES AND ESTABLISH THE 40MM OR MORE STRINGENT 30MM BALL TEST AS A STANDARD FOR BUCKLE SAFETY. ALSO, I THINK THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL ALL OF THE VEHICLES THAT THEY PUT THESE IN. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MANY HAVE FAILED SINCE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE AFTER A CRASH, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY CAN EASILY BE BUMPED IN A COLLISION AND RELEASE. THE GEN-3 SEATBELT CANNOT PASS THE 30 OR 40MM BALL TEST AND CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT THIS SINCE 1996. THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN A CAR IS THE SEATBELT. IF IT ISN'T THEN WHY ARE THERE SEATBELT LAWS? IF IT RELEASES DURING A COLLISION, THEN I MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE IT ON TO START WITH. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS!!!!*AK

THE GEN3 SEATBELTS THAT ARE IN QUITE A FEW FAMILY VEHICLES ARE KILLING PEOPLE! THEY ARE REELEASE WITH TOO LITTLE PRESURE. HOW ARE THESE BELTS SUPPOSE TO KEEP OUR CHILD SEATS SAFELY SECURE? WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO ALL AND WE NEED TO GET THESE FIXED! I USE THESE BELTS EVERYDAY FOR MY TWO LITTLE GIRLS, WHO ARE MY WORLD! THEIR SAFETY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME, AND I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THE MESSAGE IS OUT TO ALL THAT THESE SEATBELTS ARE DANGEROUS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED IMEDIATELY! PLEASE HELP ME!*AK

UPON SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN THIS OCCURS OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *AK *SLC

VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS CONSISTENTLY AND RAPIDLY CONSUMED BATTERIES, ALL BATTERIES WERE UNABLE TO BE INSTALLED. *JG

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION, CLOCKSPRING, FOR THE AIR BAG FAILED. AIRBAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL INOP.

THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY (WITHOUT PICTURES) TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. I AM FORWARDING A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT I ENLISTED WITH CENTURY/GRACO CHILDRENS PRODUCTS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN IN THAT THERE IS NO WAY POSSIBLE THAT ANY OF THE CAR SEATS IN THIS CATAGORY COULD BE ANY MORE FUNCTIONAL OR LESS DANGEROUS THAN THE ONE I HAVE. THE REASON IS THAT ALL THE CAR SEATS HAVE THE SAME PLASTIC USED FOR THE BASES. HERE IS THE ATTACHED MEMO: I HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN WHICH WAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. THE CAR SEAT BASE IN REFERENCE TO THE CAR SEAT MODEL STATED ABOVE HAS A SERIOUS STRUCTURAL DEFECT. WHEN OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP WAS INSTALLING OUR CAR SEAT IN OUR NEW VEHICLE THE BASE WOULD NOT ANGLE PROPERLY. WHEN THE BASE WAS EXAMINED BY THE INSPECTOR, SHE DISCOVERED THE PLASTIC ON THE BASE WAS SEVERLY BENT IN TWO PLACES COMPRIMISING ITS SAFETY AS WELL AS ITS COMFORT FOR THE CHILD. THE AREA IN QUESTION IS THE PIECE THAT ELEVATES THE FRONT OF THE CAR SEAT (IN THIS CASE THE PIECE IN QUESTION IS DARK BLUE). IN ADDITION TO THIS PIECE, THE WHITE PLASTIC PIECES WHICH STAND OUT FROM THE SIDE IN THE AREA OR CHANNEL IN WHICH THE "BLUE" PIECE SLIDES IN AND OUT OF IS BENT ON EACH SIDE. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN IN THAT THIS CANNOT BE THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE THAT IS THIS WAY. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT WOULD PERIODICALLY LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THERE BASE TO CHECK THIS OUT? THIS IS A MAJOR AND VERY SERIOUS CONCERN. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO REPLACING MY BASE FO

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON WITHOUT MY INTERVENTION. SOMETIMES THIS SCARES ME SO BAD, MY HEART JUST STARTS TO RACE. I FEAR THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES IT MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WISH DODGE WOULD PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM SINCE I SAW IT MENTIONED FREQUENTLY ON YOUR WEBSITE BY OTHER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OWNERS. *AK

CLOCK SPRING ASSY. FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT CAUSES AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON DISABLING AIR BAG, CRUISE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CLOCK SPRING BECAME INOPERABLE, FORCING AIR BAG TO DISENGAGE, AND HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN USED AT HIGH SPEED COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON WHEN NOT SELECTED, AND IS VERY DISTRACTING, AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHICH ALSO OWN CARAVAN/VOYAGER HAVE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO REDISGN THE SWITCH, AND RECALL ALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES AND HAVE IT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. ALSO AS FAR AS THE FRONT BRAKES, I HAVE HAD THE FRONT BRAKE SHOES REPLACED AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I HAVEN'T REPLACED THAT MANY BRAKES TOGETHER ON ALL THE OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED. I THINK THE FRONT DISC BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED AND CANNOT MEET THE WEIGHT OF THE VAN. DODGE ALSO NEEDS TO REDISN THE FRONT BRAKE SYS AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE HORN FAILS TO FUNCTION, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WHEN ARRIVING HOME THERE WAS A FIRE DETECTED, CLAIM 42-1396-385. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING FAILED, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE, CLAIM 25-5411-610. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN, THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC

WIRING HARNESS FIRE AT BATTERY AND UNDER HOOD FUSE BLOCK, CLAIM 20-5416-549. *SLC

THERE WAS A WIRE THAT SHORTED AND CAUSED A FIRE, CLAIM 15-3062-363. *SLC

CONSUMER WENT INTO THE STORE AND WHEN COMING OUT, SHE SAW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTTING OUT A FIRE FROM HER VEHICLE, THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 55-S384-563. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD LOUD NOISES, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT SO THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF, HOWEVER IT KEPT RUNNING, FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE AND PULLED THE BATTERY CABLES, CLAIM 05-4650-711. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND IT IGNITED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONLY, CLAIM 15-3030-879. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER COULD SMELL SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, FIRE ORIGINATED FROM A LEAKY POWER STEERING LINE AT THE REAR OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, CLAIM 05-4462-943. *SLC

CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRES, THE BATTERY WAS SITTING ON TWO WIRES OF WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSED WIRES TO SHORT OUT, CLAIM 13-7061-575. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 2 FIRES, THE FIRST FIRE HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND WAS COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY, CLAIM 16-N100-392. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, VEHICLE "BOTTOMED-OUT" WHILE TRAVELING UP A DRIVEWAY. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS IN VEHICLE DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS, AND AIR BAG SENSORS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

HAVE DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. RESULTS IN LOSS OF HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING LIT AT ALL TIMES.*AK

THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 00-V-268-00. BUT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. VEHICLE LEAKED OUT ALMOST INSTANTLY 28 GALLONS OF FUEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE TIGHTENING A CAR SEAT IN REAR OF A BENT SEAT DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT BELT SLIPPED DOWN BETWEEN SEAT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE AT CONSUMERS COST, HOWEVER WIPERS CONTINUE TO COME ON WHILE MAKING TURNS, IN COLD WEATHER, AND OCCASIONALLY IN THE SUMMER FOR NO REASON, POSSIBLE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. *SLC

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HORN AND SPEED CONTROL ARE ALSO INOPERABLE WHICH OCCURRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE OCCASIONALLY EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ALSO MOVE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE ACTIVATED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIR BAG, HORN AND SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IS THE POSSIBLE CULPRIT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TO SUPER MARKET THERE WAS SOME NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. THEN, AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AND GETTING BACK IN, AND TRYING TO PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. *AK

THE LIFT GATE BOLT BROKE OFF ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. THE GATE CRASHED DOWN ON THE BACK OF MY NECK AND BACK. THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED MY FIVE YEAR OLD IF HE WERE THERE. IT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER. TWO OTHER PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO PLEASE REPORT IT. I THINK THE 91-93 MODELS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE NOT AS SERIOUS AS THIS. I HOPE NO ONE HAS TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THE GATE IS SO HEAVY. I CAN NOT LIFT IT TO USE IT. THE BOLT IS STILL BROKE OFF INSIDE THE PANEL. THE DEALER SAID THE LABOR WOULD BE AROUND $175.00, AS THE PANEL MUST BE REMOVED. THE PART IS A REMAN PART. COST $21.00 #G0004532.I AM VERY UPSET THAT A FAMILY VEHICLE IS THIS UNSAFE, AND THE COMPANY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DON'T CARE IF THERE WERE ONLY THREE REPORTED CASES. THAT'S THREE TOO MANY.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED/ ENGINE OFF/ EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT APPLIED, AND 2 YEAR OLD MOVED GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO THIRD GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL AND HIT A TREE. NO INJURIES.*AK

CLOCK SPRING FAILED, DISABLING HORN, AIRBAG, AND CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $250 FOR THE REPAIR. SINCE THEN, TWO OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THEIR CLOCK SPRING FAIL, AND THEY HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (08-010-01) FOR THE REPAIR, BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR AT NO, OR A REDUCED, COST. AS THE HORN AND AIRBAG WERE DISABLED, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED AS A SAFETY ISSUE RECALL.*AK

INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL, PREVENTING CONSUMER FROM READING SPEED/FUEL LEVELS AND WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT "BODY CONTROL MODULE" COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THIS PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CIRCUIT BOARD.*JB

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A WEEK; HAS STAYED ON PERMANENTLY EVER SINCE OCT 8, 2001. CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS. HORN IS STILL WORKING AS OF 10/21/01.

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED AIR BAG INDIACTOR LIGHT WAS ON INTERMITTENTLY SOON AFTER, RADIO CAME ON AND BEEN REPLACED. ALSO, SPEEDODOMETER GAVE WRONG READING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND REPLACED BATTERY. HAS BEEN REPLACE 6 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH TRANSMISSION LOST POWER AND CONSUMER MANAGED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. THEN, TOWED VEHICLE TO A SHOP, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFOMATION.*AK

WIRING HARNESS AT BATTERY AND UNDER HOOD FUSE BLOCK CAUSED FIRE, CLAIM 20-5416-549. *SLC

AIRBAG, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN WERE INOPERABLE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

ENGINE STARTED TO HAVE A LOUD SQUEEKING SOUND ON START-UP & SQUEEK CONTINUED AFTER BUT NOT AS LOUD. BRAKES NOTED TO HAVE A LONGER BRAKING TIME WHEN TRAVELLING AT 50 MPH. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INVOLUNTARILY WHEN VHEICLE MAKES TURNS OR HITS BUMPS. DEFECTIVE WINDSHSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACE IN 2000. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE DISTRACTING WHEN THEY ARE NOT NEEDED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK