1997 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS PICKING UP MY KIDS FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELRATE AFTER STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A DODGE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. I HAD THE RECOMMENDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE ABOUT 45K-55K MILEAGE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. ALSO, HORN DID NOT NOT WORK. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AS WELL, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THE AIR BAG PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE RELOADED AND THE ESTIMATED COST WOULD BE $400-$500. *JB

BEGINNING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD BE INTERMITTANTLY ILLUMINATED. WHEN IT WAS ON, THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN IT WAS OFF, THE SYSTEMS SEEMED TO WORK FINE. NOW, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS OFF ALL OF THE TIME AND ALL OF THE SYSTEMS ARE FAILING TO WORK. ADDITIONALLY, ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE FIRST IN SEPTEMBER 2000 AND MOST RECENTLY APRIL 2001, WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL ON THE DASH OPERATES. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND START AGAIN, THEN IT WORKS. WINDOWS, AIRCONDITIONING, RADIO, HEAT, ETC.*AK

REPAIRED BY DEALER "CLOCK SPRING" $217.80 NOT COVERED BY WARR. COMMON PROBLEM PER DEALER. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING WHEN MAKING A TURN OR WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP.*AK

BELT TENSIONER HAD TO BE REPLACED 18 MONTHS AGO BY DEALERSHIP. THEN, THREE MONTHS AGO, BELT TENSIONER CAME OFF AGAIN, THIS DEFECT WAS REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP AGAIN. *AK *YH

HEARD A NOISE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH. THEN, POWER STEERING WENT OUT. PULLED OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SERPENTINE BELT HAD TOO MUCH TENSION AND BROKE. *AK

PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S DOOR WELDS THAT HOLD THE HINGES ARE BREAKING. REPLACED THEM ONCE, CURRENTLY BROKEN AGAIN. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 42K + MILES. CHRYSLER HAS A WELL-DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES. ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THAT CERTAINLY WAS A POSSIBILITY. IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DURING ACCELERATION (HIGH LOAD) ONTO A HIGHWAY OR PULLING OUT OF AN INTERSECTION, THE RESULTS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. SINCE INCIDENT, SRS LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING, AND HORN ASSEMBLY/ CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE.*AK *SLC

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. WOULD GO OFF AND ON BY ITSELF. PROBLEM WAS CONSISTENT. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP, INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF LIGHT WAS ON. RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND NOTHING WAS FOUND.*AK THE CONSUMER WANTS AN OFF SWITCH FOR THE AIR BAG OR HAVE IT REMOVED BECAUSE IT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *YH

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALSO, HORN ASSEMBLY AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERABLE.*AK THE CONSUMER HAD TRADED THE VEHICLE. *YH

STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK WHEN MOTOR IS SHUT OFF AND IN PARK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE, I TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO DO NOT WORK. EVENTUALLY, IT WILL START AND THE CLOCK HAS RESET TO 12:00 AND RADIO POWER IS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 10 OCCASIONS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MORE DETAILS. THANK YOU! *AK

I FOUND OUT OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FROM MSNBC'S ARTICLE. I BROUGHT IN MY VAN AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BAD AND IT WOULD COST ROUGHLY $250 TO GET IT FIXED. HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS A LARGE SCALE PROBLEM RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE PARTS. THANK YOU.*AK

CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSED LOSS OF AIR BAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROLL. CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHERE THE MANUFACTURE PLACED A PLASTIC STRIP ON THE SPRING CABLE THAT PUT A SEVERE BEND IN CABLE CAUSING IT TO BREAK THE CIRCUIT AND LOOSE THE VITAL SAFETY FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON IN APPROXIMATELY MARCH 2000. TWO DEALERS SAID THAT THERE WAS NO REAL PROBLEM AND TO IGNORE IT. THE THIRD DEALER CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A MALFUNTIONING CLOCKSPRING MECHANISM AND FINALLY REPLACED IT 3/22/01. THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE COST WAS TO THE CONSUMER. WE ARE REPORTING THIS AS THE NOTICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WAS JUST IN THE PAPER THIS MONTH. THANK YOU.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON,.TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO STATED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, I HAVE NO HORN, AND I HAVE NO CRUISE CONTROL... WHEN I CONTACTED DODGE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WOULD COST APPROX. $100.00 TO PUT ON ANALYSIS, AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS... THEN I READ THIS ARTICLE LAST NIGHT, STATING 164 PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM... WHAT DO I NEED TO DO.. WILL THE DEALER, FIX THIS AT NO CHARGE?*AK

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF, AND SOMETIMES HORN WOULD NOT WORK, AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING. SO THEY REPLACED IT. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, DEALER FOUND CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *YH

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MANUFACTURER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*742726

LOWER STRUT MOUNTING BOLT SNAPPED CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVABLE. *SLC

AIRBAGS SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

THERE ARE APPARENTLY NO SAFETY INTERLOCKS TO PREVENT VAN FROM BEING PLACED IN GEAR. THIS ALLOWED MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO PLACE THE CAR IN GEAR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE VAN ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, PINNING MY 9 YEAR OLD SON BENEATH THE REAR AXLE. FORTUNETLY, HE WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, THOUGH,EMERGENCY MEDICAL BILLS TOTALED $11,000. I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS NOW AFTER HEARING OF A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA, IN WHICH A WOMEN WAS KILLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, VAN STARTED SHAKING, TURNED OUT TO BE THE DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (NOT THE CAP). *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED REPLACED, NO GEER SHIFT LOCK RESULTING IN TODDLER BEING ABLE TO CHANGE GEERS RESULTING IN CRASH. *AK

I HAVE BEEN TOLD OF MANY OTHER CARAVAN TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE FAILING WITHIN 70000 TO 80000 FILE RANGE. MY EXTENDED WARRANY EXPIRED AT 75000 AND CHRYSLER IS NOT ASSISTING IN PAYMENT OF REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THIS REQUIRES FULL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION THOUGH I HAVE DONE ALL WARRANTY WORK AT 7500 MILE INTERVALS *AK

RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS OF INTEGRAL CHILD SEAT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. BROUGHT IMMEDIATELY TO DODGE DEALER, WHO TOOK OFF THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A TWISTED SEAT BELT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY WHICH HAPPENS WITH SEAT BELTS. THE REPAIR WOULD INVOLVE THE PURCHASE OF A $710 CHILD SEAT MODULE FROM DODGE PLUS AT LEAST AN HOUR OF LABOR. MY VAN HAD 500,500 MILES, 500 OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND WAS PURCHASED AS A DEMO. DODGE TOLD THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE $710 AFTER I COMPLAINED I COULD PURCHASE A CHILD SEAT FOR MUCH LESS. I HAVE MOVED MY 18-MONTH-OLD TO THE OTHER SIDE, BUT I WONDER IS IT SAFE? WILL IT RESTRAIN PROPERLY DURING AN ACCIDENT? WHAT IF THE OTHER SIDE ALSO SPONTANEOUSLY STOPS WORKING WHEN WE ARE OUT, I HAVE NO OTHER IN THE VAN. I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THESE SEATS UP UNTIL NOW, BUT I NEVER REALIZED HOW QUICKLY THEY COULD FAIL AND HOW COST PROHIBITIVE REPAIR WOULD BE. ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING;.VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKING COMING FROM ENGINE, VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE CONSUMER PUT FIRE OUT WITH WATER HOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THIS WAS 2ND TIME VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED DUE TO A LOOSE BOLT IN TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE, DEALER FOUND THE RIGHT BACK REAR ROCKER ARM SUPPORT BROKEN. *SLC

INTEGRATED CAR SEAT CHEST HARNESS DOESN'T RESTRAIN, TIGHT UP AGAINST CHEST. WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER AFTER 36,000. CONSUMER HAS TO COVER COST.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH ,HEARD A MUFFLED EXPLOSION WHICH WAS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION THAT HAD LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING ON RAILROAD TRACK. THERE WAS NO INDICTATION OR PRIOR WARNING OF FAILURE. *AK

TODAY I HAD A FLAT TIRE, WHICH IS REALLY NOT A BIG DEAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TIRE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I THEY SHOWED ME THAT 3 OUT OF 4 OF MY TIRES (WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES ON THEM) WERE SEPARATED NEAR THE INSIDE RIM OF THE WHEEL! IF IT WASN'T FOR THE NAIL THAT PUNCTURED MY TIRE AND FLATTENED IT, MY FAMILY AND I WOULD BE DRIVING ON FREEWAYS WHILE THE TIRES WERE JUST WAITING TO EXPLODE! *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/65 15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/65 15 )

FRONT GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS, FIRST INCIDENT WAS A SIDEWALL FAILURE, SECOND WAS TREAD SEPARATION, TIRE SIZE P215/65R16. *SLC

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE PITTED AND CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON BRAKE PADS. *SLC

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UPON BEING STARTED WAS AT IDLE FOR ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED AND IT WOULDN'T START. DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT CAMSHAFT BROKE IN HALF (NOT WORN DOWN) BENDING THREE VALVES IN THE PROCESS. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOBILE AT THE TIME OF THIS ENGINE FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING, THEY JUST DEPLOYED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WORE OUT,PITTED BEYOND REPAIR. *AK

PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER PULLED INTO A SCHOOL DRIVEWAY TO LET OUT HIS CHILD, FUEL TANK COMPLETLY DROPPED OFF UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS BEING MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH. ALSO, THE HORN IS INOPERABLE AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN A CLOCK SPRING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD A BLOW OUT WITH THE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA P215/65 R15 95T. I CALLED A LOCAL BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE DEALER AND ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT IT WASN'T ON THE LIST. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID VIN 2B3HD46T8VH508561 AND IT HAD THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLOW. IT DID $1940. WORTH OF DAMAGE. ALL I'M ASKING IS SINCE IT ISN'T ON THE "LIST" MAYBE IT SHOULD BE. THE TOP OF THE TIRE SEPERATED COMPLETELY AND DAMAGED THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL ALONG WITH THE BUMPER, ETC. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES. I HAVE SINCE GONE WITH A DIFFERENT TIRE AND NOT BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE. (DOT NUMBER: DNC508 ? TIRESIZE: P215/65 R1)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AT 60 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, WE NOTICE BURNING SMELL FROM OUTSIDE, AND NEARBY DRIVERS WAVE AND YELL THAT REAR END IS ON FIRE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AN I PROCEDDED THROUGH A RED LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION-MILES FROM HOME. RIGHT REAR BRAKE WAS NOT ON FIRE BUT SMOKING SEVERLY, AFTER 15 MINUTES ON THE SID OF THE ROAD BRAKE PEDAL RETURNED, DEALERSHIP REPORTS THAT REAR BRAKE SHOES ARE BURNED AND CRACKED BUT FIND NO OTHER PROBLEM, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THIRD SET OF REAR BRAKES.*AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF DRIVEBELT TENSIONER CAUSED INSTANT LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE BY FAILURE TO DRIVE EITHER POWER STEERING OR THE ALTERNATOR. THIS CAUSED INSTANT AND TOTAL LOSS OF HYDRAULIC POWER TO THE STEERING AND LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE LIGHTS. THE ELECTRICAL POWER DID COME BACK UP BUT ONLY SUFFICIENT TO GIVE LESS THAN HALF THE NORMAL ILLUMINATION TO THE HEADLIGHTS AS BOTH AIRCONDITIONERS WERE OPERATIING AS WERE THE LIGHTS AND WIPERS. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A TWISTING WET ROAD IN THE EVERGLADES WITH A CANAL ON THE OUTSIDE OF AN APPROACHING BEND IN THE ROAD. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING REQUIRED A SUPERHUMAN EFFORT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND PREVENT WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC FINALE HAD THE MINIVAN GONE INTO THE CANAL WITH ITS 3 ADULTS & 4 CHILDREN. DISCUSSION WITH TWO CHRYSLER DEALERS AS WELL AS SEVERAL TOW TRUCK DRIVERS INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS. ONE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE ONE OF THESE TENSIONERS EVERY DAY BUT IT SEEMS TO TAKE 36 OR MORE MONTHS FOR THE DEFECT TO SHOW UP HENCE IT DOES NOT APPEAR ON CHRYSLERS' WARRANTY LIST OF FREQUENT FAILURES ALTHOUGH CHRYSLER MUST BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE INORDINATE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT TENSIONERS THEY HAVE TO SHIP TO THEIR DEALERS. MECHANICAL INSPECTION OF THE PART SHOWS NOT ONLY POOR DESIGN BUT ALSO, IN MY CASE, DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING OF THE HIGH TENSILE BOLT USED TO ATTACHE THE TENSIONER TO THE ENGINE. WHEN THE TENSIONER BREAKS OF OFF IT ALLOWS THE DRIVE