1998 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

ENGINE FAILURE PREMATURE WEAR OF HEAD GASKET WHICH STARTED LEAKING. *AK

WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN WERE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH, HEARD CLUNK, COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WHERE TRANSMISSION GEARS AND PARTIAL SHAFTS FELL INTO ROAD FROM APPROX. 4" HOLE IN TRANSMISSION CASE.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER SAID IT HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 2 YEARS. NLM

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. *AK *SLC

NOVEMBER 1999 TRANSMISSION LEAKED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, AND LEAK STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. ON DECEMBER 4 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HEARD LOUD NOISE, PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID POURING OUT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE AT DEALER NOW. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER PAID ONLY HALF OF THE COST OF THE PARTS. *YH

CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. A VALVE HAD TO BE CHANGED AT 24,000 MILES LATER WHILE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE EMITTS BLACK SMOKE. THERE HAS BEEN NO REMEDY THUS FAR FOR PROBLEMS. SLIDING DOOR RATTLES, DEALER MADE AN ADJUSTMENT, FRONT PASSENGER DOOR RATTLES WHEN CLOSING. ENGINE HESITATES, MISSES, AND SQUEALS, DEALER REPLACED BELTS FOR THE SQUEALING. WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, DEALER PERFORMED TSB 19-05-98. SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO BEING WORN. GEAR LEVEL WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK. THE LEFT VISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP, DELAER FOUND A BROKEN CLIP. *SLC

TIRE SEPARATION. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH

INSTRUMENT PANEL EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4542-179. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, SMOKE CAME FROM BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, WHEN GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

RECENTLY A PLASTIC BAG GOT CAUGHT UNDER MY VAN WHEN I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, CLAIM 43-R510-326. *SLC

THE BELT TENSIONER FROZE ON MY GRAND CARAVAN. AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING THIS PART NEEDS TO BE GIVEN MORE CONSIDERATION. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET WWW.ALLPAR.COM . THE DAMAGE THAT CAN BE DONE TO DRIVE PULLEY'S POWER STEERING UNITS CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT INCLUDE THIS PART IN THEIR WARRANTY'S. ONLY AFTER TELLING THEM I WOULD REPORT THIS TO THE NHTSA DID THEY OFFER TO PAY 1/2 THE REPAIR. IT STILL DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LOOKED AT PROPERLY THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY CARAVANS ON THE ROAD TO HAVE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING.

SERPINTINE BELT TENSIONER FAILS WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS

BELT KEEPS COMING LOOSE FROM THE SYSTEM, IS EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ALL THE TIME. I AM SURE THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND IS THE MANUFACTURER GOING TO FIX IT? OR DO I GET STUCK FOR THE REPAIRS AGAIN? *AK

SUDDEN STOPS RESULT IN GRINDING NOISES FROM THE ABS SYSTEM. NOTICED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS.

EXITING HIGHWAY AT 43 MPH DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL 2 TIMES WITH NO BRAKING ACTION OBSERVED. SLOWED TO 35 MPH AND TRIED PEDAL 1 MORE TIME WITH NO STOPPING ACTION. USED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMPRESSION TO SLOW VEHICLE. COASTED TO A STOP AND NOTICED SMOKE EMINATING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WITH THE "SMELL" OF BRAKES PREVALENT. NO INTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT ANY TIME. FIX: REPLACED REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND SHOES (EXCESSIVE WEAR NOTED), AND DRUMS TURNED. PROBABLE CAUSE UNIDENTIFIED (EXCESSIVE WEAR UNUSUAL FOR HIGHWAY MILES DRIVEN - FRONT BRAKES ALL NORMAL) FELT TO ME LIKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE WITH RESULTING ZERO PRESSURE IN SYSTEM AND NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HIT A COYOTE THAT HAD RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE . ONLY DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS LICENSE PLATE HOLDER, BUT MOST DAMAGE CAME FROM DUAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CONSUMER FELT THAT AIRBAGS WERE TOO SENSITIVE , AND SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. ALSO, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

TRANSMISSION: DOWN SHIFTS TO SECOND GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT OUT. OCCURRED WHILE ENTERING FREEWAY ON AN ON RAMP. SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING IN SMALL PUDDLES OF WATER ON HIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH RESULTED IN DANGEROUS HANDLING OF VEHICLE ON WET ROADS. *AK

AT 45,000 MILES BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RIVETS DIGGING INTO ROTORS. BRAKES WEAR OUT QUICKLY, BUT DEALER SAYS THAT THEY ARE NORMAL. *AK *ML

SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT SLIPPED COMPLETELY OFF THE PULLEY WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING CAPABILITY FOR MY WIFE

BKS FAILED IN NOV1999(19KMILES)RPLCD DVR ROTORS, PADS, CALIPER STICKING, DEALER GREASED WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, BACK BKS W/N ENGAGE,ADJTD. FEB2000(25.5K ML) FRT PADS WORN, CALIPER POPS WHEN PEDAL RELEASED. DEALER GREASED. MAY2000 BKS FAILED TO WORK, CUASED ACIDENT, DLR CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG. JUN2000 FAILED SAFTY TEST DUE TO REAR BRAKES NOT ENGAGING. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A PIN SHEARING OFF FROM WITHIN, CAUSING A HOLE, AND ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REQUESTING THEM TO STATE IN WRITING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THEY WILL NOT TELL ME THE CAUSE; HOWEVER, THEY ARE REAL QUICK TO STATE THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS A NEWER VEHICLE WITH ALL ORIGINAL COMPONENTS INSTALLED DIRECTLY FROM THEIR ASSEMBLY PLANT. ALL I KNOW IS THAT WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE A FIRE STATED IN THE ENGINE AND I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. I AM GETTING NOTHING BUT THE RUN AROUND FROM THIS COMPANY. THEY ARE TRYING TO AVOID MY REQUESTS. I HAVE CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE THREE TIMES ONCE VIA PHONE AND ONCE VIA INTERNET AND HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING. IT HAS NOW BEEN 30 DAYS SINCE YOUR AGENCY WAS ORIGINALLY CONTACTED. KINDLY HELP IN A TIMELY FASHION. *AK

CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE UNABLE TO TELL ME WHAT STARTED THE ENGINE FIRE ONLY THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF FIRE BEFORE. THEY ARE QUICKLY TO STATE THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY ERROR. HOW CAN THAT STATEMENT BE MADE WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO STATE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE? THEY WILL NOT COMMENT ON A DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE ALL DEFECTIVE (BURNT) PARTS IN MY POSSESSION. HOW DO I KNOW THAT MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THEY CAN'T TELL ME IF THEY FIXED THE PART THAT STARTED THE FIRE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW. IN A LETTER DATED 5/2/200 FROM THIER COMPANY THEY APPOLOGIZED OVER THE FIRE BUT HAVE WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THE INCIDENT WITHOUT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS TO HOW THIS HAPPENED. *AK

TIRES WOULD WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE & STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE & PULLED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE, BUT USE OF CONSTANT PRESSURE WAS NEEDED TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC BALANCED WHEELS. TOOK IT BACK DUE TO TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURER & DEALERSHIP NOT CLAIMING FAULT. MICHLEIN 215/65416 MX4 ALL SEASONS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH A PARKING LOT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 22-V298-813. *SLC

WHEN VAN WAS REAR ENDED BY A 95 AUDI, TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACK BROKE AND RECLINED ALL THE WAY BACK. SEATS ARE BEING REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH UNOCCUPIED STORE, INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED AND THEY CUT OFF. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED THEY COME ON AUTOMATICALLY, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

AT A DEAD STOP PULLED UP INTO A PARKING LOT, PUT TRANSMISSION GEAR INTO DRIVE AND VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *AK *ML

WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT BUT AFER TAKING IT IN TO BE REPAIRED WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AND IT WOULD COST 350.00 TO REPAIR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE THE VAN WAS RUNNING TWO YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION, CAUSING THE VAN TO CRASH THROUGH THE GARAGE . MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A STANDARD THAT WOULD KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED PLAY WITHIN THE STEERING. ALSO, VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER UNSURE IF THE PROBLEM IS LINKED TO MICHELIN TIRES 215/65R16 WHICH ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED BOTH MANUFACTURERS, DODGE AND MICHELIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISON, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, BRAKES DID NOT WORK, CAUSING HER TO HAVE HEAD-ON COLLISION. *AK *ML

FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPED AT 4700 MILES AND 27700 MILES AGAIN, AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS. BRAKES ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT, BUT DEALER NEVER COULD FIX THEM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE THE BRAKE PULLING TO THE LEFT FADED AWAY. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS PUNCTURED FROM INSIDE AND LEAKS FLUID. YH

DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THE AREA TAKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. PULLED UP INTO THE DRIVEWAY, PARKED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RADIATOR FAN STAYED ON WHICH WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY. DIDN'T DRIVE A LONG DISTANCE FOR THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

EMERGENCY PARK BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY; DRIVEN APPROX 1 MI UNTIL REAR RIGHT WHEEL LOCK-UP; SUBSEQUENT BOTH REAR DRUMS WARPED, SHOES RUINED- BOTH REAR DRUMS AND SHOES REPLACED AT COST OF $330.00. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE OPERATING. ENGINE SURGED SEVERAL TIMES, LOST ACCELERATION, THEN STALLED. VEHICLE OPERATED WITH ONLY PASSENGER WEIGHT. DEALER NO EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. SUGGEST COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. *AK

A 200 LB 80 YEAR OLD MAN WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF HIS VAN. WHEN HE AND HIS WIFE WAS REAR-ENDED IN A 25-30 MPH IMPACT BY A 85 NISSAN PICKUP. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE PASSENGER SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS AND THE MAN BROKE HIS NECK, HE PASSED AWAY A FEW DAYS LATER. SEEING HOW THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE, IT DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT THAT THE SEAT BROKE UNDER SUCH A RELATIVELY MINOR IMPACT. WHO WOULD I NEED TO CONTACT TO INITIATE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT CLAIM TO HELP COVER THE MOUNTAIN OF MEDICAL BILLS RESULTING FROM THIS A INCIDENT?

REAR CYLINDER HEAD FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ENGINE OIL. NLM

NO SUMMARY

RIGHT REAR HYDRAULIC WHEEL CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. THIS CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT DISC PADS WHICH RESULTED IN OVERHEATING AND WARPAGE OF FRONT ROTORS. REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED AS WERE FRONT DISC PADS AND ROTORS TURNED. DEALER STATED WEAR ON BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 12000 MILES.

WHILE DRIVING THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WE COULD INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THSI HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE 10/28, BUT WE WERE ALWAYS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED LATER. THIS TIME WE COULD NOT. I CONTACTED DEALER IN COLORADO, WHERE WE NOW LIVE, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE BRING IN THE CAR. THEY LOOKED IT OVER ON 11/1/99 AND SAID THAT THE IGNITION, CYLINDER LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. I ASKED WHY THIS FAILED AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ANY REASON OTHER THAN IT WAS NO GOOD. I DO NOT FEEL THAT AT ONLY 39000 MILES THIS MAJOR PIECE SHOULD HAVE FAILED, THEY AGREED BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. DEALER WAS: CHEERY CREEK DODGE, 2727 S. HAVANA ST. DENVER, CO 80014, 303-751-1104. WHAT WAS STRANGE WAS THE BATTERY DIED AT SAME TIME, COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED, DO NOT KNOW. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $322.

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHEN CONSUMER RIDES THROUGH PUDDLE CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

NOT ONLY DID THE FRONT BRAKES FAIL AT 27,000 AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO WARRANTY THEM, THE DRIVER SIDE ROTORS ALSO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. NO BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

THE SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVERS HAS SEATBELT RECEIVERS THAT ARE FLUSH WITH THE SEAT. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF YOU PLACE A CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT ON THAT BENCH AND HOOK IT IN BECAUSE ANY CHILD THAT ENTERS THE CAR AND TRIES TO HOOK THEIR SEATBELT IN, COULD UNHOOK THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THEY CAN UNHOOK IT SIMPLY BY PUTTING A TOY DOWN NEXT TO THEM OR EVEN IF THE CHILD IN THE SAFETY SEAT SHOULD DROP A TOY IT COULD UNHOOK THE LATCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. ONE TIME AS I WAS TURNING THE CORNER MY SONS SEAT FLIPPED COMPLETELY OVER AND LANDED NEXT TO THE BENCH (BETWEEN THE BENCH AND THE DOOR). YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW ANGRY I WAS. I HAVE TRIED TO GO TO DODGE AND I HAVE CALLED THE NTSB AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL CARSEAT SAFETY BUREAU, BUT I HAVE NO ANSWERS YET. I HAVE WRITTEN TO DODGE, BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM. TO KEEP MY SON SAFE AND ALIVE I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE MIDDLE BENCH AND MOVE THE REAR SEAT FORWARD, AS IT HAS BELT LATCHES THAT ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO UNHOOK( THEY ARE LONGER) AND HAVE REMAINED LATCHED. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME IN GETTING IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP? OR TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE IN SAFEETY AND DESIGN AT DODGE WILL KNOW HOW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS THOSE HOOKS ARE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR ME AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS. SINCERELY, LISA RAMBO