1997 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON/OFF UNTIL IT REMAINED CONTINOUSLY ON. PROBLEM EFFECTED HORN USAGE AND CRUISE CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BEING BROKEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COULD SMELL SMOKE, WHEN ARRIVING HOME, A FIRE WAS DETECTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 42-1396-385. *SLC

AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON AND OFF. CRUISE CONTROL OFF SWITCH DOESN'T DISENGAGE VEHICLE, ONLY IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF. STEERING WHEEL MAKES A SQUEAKY NOISE, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT CONSUMER'S STEERING ABILITY. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER TO BRING VEHICLE IN TO BE INSPECTED.*AK

TRANSMISSION SHELLED OUT. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN WITH NORMAL USE AND CARE.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHTON. CLOCKSPRING WAS BAD.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL IN-OP. CLOCKSPRING WAS BAD. *AK

HORN DOESN'T WORK. CLOCKSPRING WAS BAD.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 55-S384-563. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON/OFF WHILE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC

WITH THE CAR PARKED AND ENGINE TURNED OFF, I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE MY CHILD FROM THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT OF MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE STRAPS ARE SUPPOSED TO PULL FORWARD FREELY, WHICH THEN LOOSENS THEM ENABLING THE STRAPS TO SLIP OVER THE CHILDS HEAD. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, I WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE STRAPS FORWARD AT ALL. I THEN MANAGED TO UNCLIP THE CLIPS WHICH ARE LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM SIDES OF THE SEAT AND THEN JUST BARELY SLIP THE STRAP AND YOKE OVER HER HEAD TO FREE HER FROM THE SEAT. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION ABOUT THIS MATTER. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH PARTIES THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS OVER THE 3 YR./36,000 MILE WARRANTY THAT NEITHER WOULD HELP TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST SOMEWHERE AROUND $700.00 MAKING IT A VERY COSTLY REPAIR!!! I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF I WERE REALLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HAD TO GET MY CHILD OUT OF THE SEAT QUICKLY, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BELT SEIZED OR FROZE UP LIKE IT DID UNABLING ME TO GET MY CHILD OUT OF THE VEHICLE!!*AK

WHILE IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED TO 30-40 MPH IN A SHORT DISTANCE WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. PRIOR TO INCIDENT CONSUMER SMELLED WIRES BURNING. *AK

SERVICE DETERMINED THAT CLOCKSPRING NEEDED REPLACEMENT CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. I SAW SHOW ON FOX 5 THAT SAID THIS MAY BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SUBJECT TO RECALL. *AK

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTANTLY DURING TURNS AND BRAKING. TOOK TO A DODGE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND AN OPEN CLOCKSPRING CIRCUIT. THEY REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING. I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSIGHT AND FOUND AN ODI ACTION FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM ON AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A RECENT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS SUMMARY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE.*AK

OUR HORN DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE AND AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TURNING ON WHEN LEFT SIGNAL SWITCHED ON; NOW COME ON OFTEN FOR NO REASON, AND NEED TO BE MANUALLY SHUT OFF; AND WHERE EVER THE BLADES ARE WHEN SWITCHED OFF IS WHERE THEY STAY. VERY DISTRACTING AND HUGE ANNOYANCE. INTERMEDIATE FEATURE NO LONGER WORKS. *AK

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT, CONSUMER TURNED OFF ENGINE, BUT IT KEPT ON RUNNING, CONSUMER CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4650-711. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT ON, NO HORN, HAUNTED WIPERS WORK WITHOUT ACTIVATION

THESE TIRES WERE REPLACED AS PART OF A RECALL IN APPROXIMATELY 1998. THE THREAD ON THIS TIRE HAS VIRTUALLY NO WEAR. THERE IS PROBABLY ABOUT 12-15,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES. MY SON AND I WERE DRIVNG DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD A CAR BEEN CLOSER TO US THAN THEY WERE, AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY AND QUICKLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE, I SAW THAT THE THREAD HAD COMPLETELY COME OFF THE SIDES OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS IN THREE DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT PARTS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO CAME TO CHANGE THE TIRE WAS FLABERGASTED AT THE CONDITION OF THE TIRE. HE SAID THAT THE ONLY OTHER TIRES HE HAS SEEN THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS WERE THE FIRESTORE TIRES ON THE SUVS. WHEN I WENT TO THE TIRE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TIRE, HE HAD THE SAME TYPE OF COMMENTS. IT WAS OBVIOUS TO THE TWO REPAIR MEN THAT THESE TIRES WERE DEFECTVIE. BOTH SAID WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE GIVEN THE CONDITION OF THE TIRE. MY QUESTION IS NOW, WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE OTHER ONE THAT IS ON THERE, AND CAN I GET RETRIBUTION FOR THE COST OF THESE TIRES. ALSO, HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS IN THE PAST? SHOULD I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER. IF YOU COULD SUPPLY ME WITH THIS INFORMATION, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)

WHEN USING THIS BOOSTER SEAT IN MY VAN, WHEN MY CHILD LEANS FORWARD, THE SEATBELT, WHEN PUT THROUGHT THE SEAT BELT GUIDES ON THE BOOSTER SEAT, BECOMES LOOSE AND SLACK. WHEN MY CHILD SITS BACK THE SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT UP ON THE SEAT BELT GUIDE, AND THE SEAT BELT JUST HANGS LOOSE- THIS WOULD DEFINATELY BE A PROBLEM IN A CRASH. I'M SURE THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE JUST DID AN ARTICLE ABOUT CAR SEATS, AND THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP. I AM GOING TO BE CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER MYSELF- BUT YOUR HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON HOT DAY NOTICED BURNING RUBBER SMELL. STARTED DOWN A HILL AND NOTICED BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. TRIED PARKING BRAKE. CAR WAS STEERED INTO ABANDON GAS STATION TO AVOID COLLISION. HAD TO PUT INTO PARK TO STOP VEHICLE. GOODYEAR EMPLOYEE TRIED BRAKES:WENT TO FLOOR. TECHNICIAN VIEWED (IN HOUR)HAD BRAKES:BLEED LINES. TOLD AIR IN LINES. SAME AS ODI-ID 887484.TOOK TO DEALER:COULD NOT EXPLAIN. REAR BRAKES THIN. MENTION OF POSSIBLE MASTER CYLINDER DEFECT.NHTSA TOLD ME OF 1996 RECALL. CALLED CHRYSLER-VIN NOT INVOLVED.VERY CONCERNED OVER FUTURE BRAKE PERFORMANCE.*AK

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE WE'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SPONTANEOUSLY ACTIVATE, MAKE TWO OR THREE PASSES ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, THEN RETURN TO THE STOWED POSITION AND STOP. SOMETIMES THE ACTIVATION IS NOTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE, ACTIVATING THE TURN SIGNALS, OR DURING THE PROCESS OF STEERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH A TURN. SOMETIMES IT OCCURS WHILE JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD...I SUPPOSE THIS QUIRK IS DUE TO RUBBING WIRING, ETC. IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND MY WIFE AND I ARE ACCUSTOMED TO IT BY NOW. IT OCCURS TO ME THOUGH THAT THIS WIPER ACTIVATION COULD EASILY DISTRACT A DRIVER AT A CRITICAL MOMENT AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MISHAP. EMAIL IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT US OR TRY THE HOME PHONE NUMBER AFTER THAT...WE CHECK THE ANSWERING MACHINE FREQUENTLY. THANKS, CLAY RIALES. *AK

WE NOTICED SOME WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING DURING THE WEEK, BUT ATTRIBUTED THAT TO A PREVIOUSLY REPLACED REAR BUMPER AND NEED FOR REALLIGNMENT DUE TO THAT ACCIDENT. WHEN WE STOPPED FOR GAS ON 6/30/01 WE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WAS VERY LOW. WE FILLED IT WITH AIR AND DROVE LESS THAN A MILE. AT THAT POINT, THE TIRE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY FLAT AND WE CALLED AAA FOR SERVICE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER REMOVED THE FRONT TIRE AND DISCOVERED ONE 6" TEAR AND ONE 2-3" TEAR . THE TEARS WERE DEEP ENOUGH TO REVEAL THE STEEL BELTS. HE SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO BE DEFFECTIVE, AND THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AS THE RESULT OF DRIVING OVER SOMETHING.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)

BOLTS WHICH HOLD PULLEY TENSIONER HAVE BROKEN TWICE WITHIN TWO YEARS. FIRST BOLT WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THE SECOND BOLT WAS REPLACED BY A DEALER. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY/ LATE, TSB 21-07-98 WAS ISSUED BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MILEAGE WAS BEYOND WARRANTY, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT SINCE THE SHIFTING PROBLEM OCCURED PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION THAT REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER TSB. NLM

I RECEIVED THE FAILED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY AND CAN PROVIDE IT TO NTSA. I UNDERSTAND THIS ITEM IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT WANTED TO FURTHER VALIDATE THIS PROBLEM WITH A COMPLAINT. *AK

WHILE PUMPING FUEL INTO VEHICLE SLIDING DOOR HAS CAME BACK AND BROKE FUEL COVER DOOR,KNOCKING HANDLE OUT OF TANK, AND OUT OF CONSUMER'S HAND. SOME OF THE FUEL SPILLED ONTO CONSUMER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD AND HORN IS INOPERABLE. CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *SLC

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND WITHOUT MANUALLY TURNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK *SLC

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO BOB DANCE DODGE. SERVICE EMPLOYEE STATED THAT IT WAS ABOUT THE RIGHT MILEAGE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO OCCUR. I ASKED SERVICE DEPT MANAGER TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THIS SINCE IT THIS PART FAILURE WAS WELL KNOW TO OCCUR. HE REFUSED. I ASKED FOR THE REPAIR TO BE PRO-RATED AND HE ALSO REFUSED. I PAID $219.89 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN ONCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED. HORN ALSO FAILED TO WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE DRIPPING FUEL LANDS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OF THE ENGINE. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT HAS BEEN DESTROYED 3 TIMES AND COME COMPLETELY OFF TWICE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY. THE RESULT HAS BEEN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT ACTIVATED, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE FAILURE OF THE MANUFACTURE TO INCLUDE CERTAIN PARTS.*AK

CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY FAILURE (AIRBAG LIGHT; NO HORN; NO CRUISE CONTROL). *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A WHIRING NOISE. THEN, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, CONSUMER COULD NOT TURN WHEEL WITH OUT EXCESSIVE FORCE. *AK CONSUMER STATES NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, NO LEAKS OF FLUID, WHICH IS CHECKED EVERY 3000 MILES, MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT CABLES OR LINES WERE RUSTED AND ONE WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. *JB

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON - CRUISE CONTROL, HORN INOP, CLOCKSPRING IS BROKEN, COMMON PROBLEMS. *AK

A WIRE SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 15-3062-363. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. IT GOT WORISE WHEN BACKING OUT . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TWICE DURING OUR OWNERSHIP THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE CRUMBLED AND COMPLETELY FAILED EARLY IN THEIR USEFUL LIVES CAUSING THE ROTORS TO BE BADLY ROUTED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE DEALER HID THE FACT THAT THE PADS FAILED COMPLETELY AND STUCK US FOR THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB, THE SECOND TIME I WALKED IN UNANNOUNCED TO THE REPAIR AREA AND SAW THE EVIDENCE FIRST HAND. BOTTOM LINE, IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING AT SPEED EITHER TIME LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS CRUMBLED/FAILED CAUSED ROTORS TO BE ROUTED/RUINED AT 46K MILES AND AT 63K MILES, SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOTS OF PAD LEFT, FAILURE LEAD TO EXPENSIVE REPAIRS INCL ROTOR REPLACEMENT,, COULD HAVE LEAD TO DEATH/DISABILITIES, DEALER HIDING PART FAILURE THROUGH NON-DISCLOSURE, ALSO CLOCK SPRING FAILURE IN STEERING RING LEAD TO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT PROBLEM, DEALER CHARGED OWNER FULL PRICE ROTOR REPLACEMENT FIRST AND SECOND TIME, PART DEFECTS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON RANDOMLY. ALWAYS STARTLES THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. ATTENTION IS DISTRACTED FOR A FEW SECONDS EVERY OCCURRENCE.*AK

CLOCK SPRING FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO REMAIN LIT AND THE HORN WILL NOT WORK WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT AND REPAIRS EXCEEDED $200. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED CONSTANTLY. PRIOR TO FAILURE CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER AT ONLY 70,000 THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT.*AK

CONSUMER STATES ROCKER ARM SUPPORT BROKE. *JB

WHILE STOPPING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER FROM BEHIND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. THEN, CONSUMER RAN INTO A FENCE. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE AND HUNG DRIVER BY LEFT ARM. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, FELL BACK, AND HIT CHILD IN CAR SEAT IN THE HEAD, THE MIDDLE SEAT WHERE TWO TODDLERS WERE, ALSO BROKE AND FLIPPED BACKWARD, CONSUMER WAS INJURED, ALSO STATED HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. ALSO, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS, AND HAD NOT ASSISTED CONSUMER. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER REARENDED VEHICLE, $ 3500 DAMAGE. CONSUMER NOTICED A BURNING SMELL RIGHT BEFORE ACCIDENT.*AK *SLC

LIFTGATE BOLT BROKE OFF RIGHT HAND SIDE WHILE BEING CLOSED. TOOK TODEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NO RECALLS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRABLE.*AK