1998 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

IGNITION FROZE UP. THE KEY WILL ONLY TURN HALF THE WAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THE IGNITION HOUSING WAS REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. AN ARTICLE APPEARED IN A CONSUMER MAGAZINE THAT DOCUMENTED A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. *AK *NM

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED/CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING, AND HORN WON'T BLOW.*AK

THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE OPAQUE (GREY) WHICH AFFECTED THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONTO THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED DURING OTHER TRIPS TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. THE DRIVER PRESSED DOWN ON THE HORN AND THERE WAS NOT A SOUND. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK RECALL#1500521 *SC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER PRESSED THE HORN AND THERE WAS NO SOUND COMING FROM THE HORN. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT HORN CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED IN JUNE 2003, ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE BELT AND TENSIONER. THE TENDENCY FOR THE BELT TO SLIP OFF AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH COULD EASILY LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR BY A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER.*AK

WE BOUGHT OUR 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE (3.3 LITER) USED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER IN 2000. AT THAT POINT, THE TENSIONER HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT LEAST. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE AND DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE OF BEING STRANDED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH OUR 3 CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE TENSIONER BELT FALLING OFF, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. IT COINCIDED WITH RAINY WEATHER BOTH TIMES. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET WITH OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE GRAND CARAVANS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS COULD LEAD TO DEATHS VERY EASILY. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, WITH NO STEERING OR POWER, AND PARK IN THE BREAK DOWN LANE WHILE TRAFFIC PASSED BY US AT 75 MILES AN HOUR. WE WERE NEARLY REARENDED A COUPLE TIMES, WHICH WOULD HAVE MEANT OUR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT FIRST, AND I DOUBT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SURVIVED THAT KIND OF IMPACT. IN THE MEANTIME, MY HUSBAND LITERALLY STOOD IN BACK OF OUR VAN WAVING OUR DETACHED SERPENTINE BELT IN THE AIR DESPERATE FOR SOMEONE TO HELP GET US OFF OF THE BUSY AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY HIGHWAY. THE NEXT 30 MINUTES WERE SCARY, I CRIED THE ENTIRE TIME SCARED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN (A NEWBORN, A 2 YEAR OLD AND A 3 YEAR OLD). THE NEXT TIME THE BELT FELL OFF, LUCKILY I WAS NEARER TO OUR HOME ON A QUIET STREET. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I LOST THE BELT WHILE ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD IN MAINE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER, WITH MY 3 CHILDREN BY MYSEL

MY 1998 GRAND CARAVAN SUDDENLY STARTED BURNING OIL. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS DUE TO LEAKING VALVES THAT ARE COMMON IN THE 3.0L ENGINE. THE DISTURBING PART IS THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON DESPITE A VERY LOW LEVEL OF ENGINE OIL. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING BOTH PROBLEMS AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE WITH EITHER PROBLEM. THE ENGINE AND WARNING LIGHT MALFUCNTIONS RESULTED IN LIFTER DAMAGE THAT WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $500.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS REMAIN LIGHTED. CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN NON-FUNCTIONING. *AK

FEBRUARY, 2004 - 1998 GRAND CARAVAN WITH 75100 MILES STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF PROBLEM. TOTAL REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION COSTING $1500.00. VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. DRIVEN BY "SOCCER" MOM. OBVIOUS THROUGH RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JB

NOVEMBER, 2003 - 1998 GRAND CARAVAN WITH 73500 MILES. HEAD GASKET FAILURE. LEAKING COOLANT TO THE OUTSIDE OF ENGINE FROM REAR HEAD. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD GASKET AND OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. DRIVEN BY "SOCCER" MOM. ALSO, COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE-SEE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SECTION. *JB

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THAT CLOCK SPRING FAILED, AND AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. A RECALL 02V293000 WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS AN ARTICLE IN A CONSUMER MAGAZINE THAT DOCUMENTS THE PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER IS HAVING. THE PROBLEM MENTIONED IS A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE THAT HADE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VAN HAS BEEN RUNNING GOOD AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. MY VAN AT THAT TIME HADE 126,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT IS PASS WARRANTY PERIOD. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS ENGINE SHOULDN,T HAVE FAILED AT 126,000 MILES. THIS IS MY SECOND MINI-VAN, AND UP UNTIL THIS POINT HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THEM. I THINK CHYSLER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. MY VOYAGER HAS 208,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE AND STILL RUNNING. SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THIS 3.3 L V6 ENGINE. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE FAILURE OR WITH ME HAVING TO SPEND $2,500.00 TO REPAIR IT. THIS SHOULDN,T HAVE HAPPEN.*AK

MANUFACTURER FAILED TO SEND MANDATORY RECALL NOTICES TO REGISTERED ORIGINAL PURCHASER AT ADDRESS ON FILE. *LA

1998 CHRYSLER GRAND CARAVAN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*MR 1998 DODGE CARAVAN SUFFERED FROM AVEHICLE FIRE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER IS SEEKING A FAIR SETTLEMENT FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE.*MR

PREMATURE, SUDDEN FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO RAPID LOSS OF COOLANT, OBSCURED VISION, LOSS OF CONTROL, ETC.

INTERMITTENTLY, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DID NOT RESPOND WHEN USING THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *SC

THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER, UNDER THE HOOD, IS RUSTING. I HAVEN'T APPROACHED CHRYSLER, BUT WILL TRY. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON TWO MINIVANS AND AM WONDERING IF CHRYSLER IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT ITL.

THE VAN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS LAST WEEK.IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER REVERSE OR AFTER STOPPING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN IS BROKEN AND WILL TAKE ANYWHERE FROM $1700 TO $2300 TO REPAIR. I AM TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO COVER THE COST OF THIS AS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN.

THE CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD TRANSMISSION. WE LIKE THE CARAVAN AS A PACKAGE, BUT QUALITY IS LACKING AND PROBLEMATIC. THE MOST CRITICAL PROBLEM IS BODY RUST THROUGH. THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOCK MOUNT TOWER IS RUSTED THROUGH AND CHRYSLER OWNER RELATIONS REFUSING TO FIX IT. NEVER MIND THAT THE DEALERS SAY THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT AND CHRYSLER USED TO FIX IT BUT RECENTLY STOPPED PAYING FOR (PERHAPS DUE TO FINANCIAL AND MARKET CONDITIONS).

ALMOST ALL OF THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THAT LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER, JULY 2003, THE EVAPORATER IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750.00.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF. SOMETIMES THE INTERMITTENT FUNCTION DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION AND ALSO A BIG HAZARD IN THE RAIN. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING OUR CARAVAN AND HAD TO USE THE HORN. ONCE I PRESSED THE PAD FOR THE HORN, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE HORN DID NOT BLOW AND THEN I DETERMINED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. BEFORE DOING ANY RESEARCH I HAD THE REPAIRS COMPLETED AT THE DEALER. IT WAS A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING AND THE COST TO REPLACE IT CAME TO $269.01. I THEN CAME TO THIS SITE AND FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE. I WOULD LIST EVERYONE I FOUND BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP FASTER THAN I COULD TYPE THE ID NUMBERS. I ALSO FOUND A RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V293000 ON YOUR SITE. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY CLAIM OUR CARAVAN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELEAVE SINCE THEY ADMIT THEY ARE DEFECTIVE IN THE RECALL SO WHY ISN'T OURS COVERED UNDER IT?*AK

MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WHICH I PURCHASED NEW) HAD "THROWN" ITS' SERPENTINE-BELT 4 TIMES (APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES- IT NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER). THE DANGER/HAZARD IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE IS THAT POWER-STEERING, WATER-PUMP, ALTERNATOR, & POSSIBLY OIL-PUMP ARE DRIVEN BY THIS BELT! DODGE HAS REPLACED THE BELT, TENSIONER, TENSIONER-MOUNT BRACKET SUCCESSIVELY: I.E.- BELT AT 1ST INCIDENT, TENSIONER AT 2ND, BRACKET AT 3RD. NOW IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN & THEY WISH TO CHARGE FOR ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED. THE VEHICLE HAD CAMSHAFT FAILURE AT 41,000 MILES & NOW HAS A REBUILT ENGINE- THE BELT/ TENSIONER/ BRACKET ARE SAID BY DODGE NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY THE REPLACED ENGINE. SO, DOES THIS MEAN THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TENSIONER/ BELT/ BRACKET EVERY 10,000 MILES? *LA

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 40 MPH. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC.*AK *MR

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THIS VEHICLE, THE FRONT SUSPENSION TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS SEVERELY RUSTED AROUND THE STRUT MOUNT. THE RUST IS COMING THROUGH FROM UNDERNEATH. IF IT RUSTS THROUGH COMPLETELY THE STRUT WILL COME UP THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE WILL PROBABLY GET HURT. IN MY INVESTIGATION OF THIS DEFECT, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS INCIDENCES OF THE SAME RUST FAILURE IN THE SAME LOCATION ON CHRYSLER MINIVANS BUILT FROM 1996 TO 1999. THIS INCLUDES THE CARAVAN, VOYAGER, AND TOWN & COUNTRY MODELS, AS WELL AS THE GRAND VERSION OF EACH. THESE SIX MODELS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER WHEN INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. THEY EACH EXHIBIT THE SAME DEFECT IN THE SAME LOCATION. I REFER TO IT AS A DEFECT BECAUSE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEIR MECHANICS REFER TO IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. THEY HAVE A WARRANTY PART#05086513AA FOR REPAIRING THIS DEFECT; YET THEY OFFER NO COMPENSATION TO OWNERS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT YOU WILL SEE IT CLEARLY WARRANTS RECALL STATUS.

CLOCK SPRING FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FAILED A STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO SAFETY RISKS CAUSED BY SIGNIFICANT RUSTING OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT SUPPORT TOWER. TOP OF STRUT SUPPORT TOWER WAS APPROXIMATELY 75% RUSTED THROUGH. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN OBSERVED IN OTHER SIMILARLY AGED DODGE VANS. MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE LEVEL OF RUSTING WAS HIGHLY EXCESSIVE AND NOT NORMAL SINCE STRUT TOWER LOCATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IS NORMALLY PROTECTED FROM ELEMENTS. POSSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE RUSTING DUE TO DESIGN OR STRUCTURAL DEFECT. *AK

THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER INDICATED THE NEED TO INSTALL BRACKET TO RETAIN THE SERPENTINE BELT.*AK

IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WARMED UP BEFORE BEING DRIVEN, IT WOULD HESITATE. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF THE TENSION PULLEY, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TSB 6088784 WAS ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM, WHICH INDICATED THAT CAUSE WAS RAIN/STAGNANT WATER, AND SNOW.*AK 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WHERE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF THE TENSION PULLEY CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES AND ENGINE FAILURE. CHRYSLER CORPORATION SENT A MEMO TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS ADDRESSING HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MEMO ALSO STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.*MR

SERPENTINE BELT OF MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I LOST ABS, POWER STEERING, RADIO, AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. MY DAUGHTERS WERE IN THE CAR AND I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I COULD BARELY STEER THE VAN. I WAS ALARMED TO FIND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING, I'M NOT SURE IF SHE COULD HAVE STEERED THE VAN. I COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT/INJURY/DEATH TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. THE BELT WAS NOT FRAYED, THE TENSIONER IS FINE. THE THING JUST SLIPPED OFF. IT WAS RAINING AT THE TIME AS WELL, MAKING A DANGEROUS PROBLEM ALMOST CATASTROPHIC.*JB

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL, FUEL LEAKS PROFUSELY FROM THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE, POOLING ON THE GROUND UNDER THE CAR. THIS SAME PROBLEM RESULTED IN A RECALL OF 96 MODEL YEAR CARAVANS AFTER ONLY SIX SMALL FIRES. *NLM

WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE INTSURMENTS WILL HAVE A LOSS OF POWER. NO GAUGES, ODOMETER SPEEDOMETER. WHEN IT COMES BACK THE DOORS RELOCK.*AK

OUR 1998 DODGE CARAVAN AND MANY OTHERS HAVE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHTS (HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY). THE PLASTIC DETERIORATES IN THE SUN AND SALT AIR WHICH CAUSES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT GIVEN OFF DRIVING AT NIGHT TO BE MUCH REDUCED. DODGE DEALER SAID BUY NEW ONES AT ALMOST $300 APIECE. I SAY IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM - CARS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 5 YEARS AND THE PRODUCT IS POOR QUALITY. *LA

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NO HORN AND NO CRUISE CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCKSPRING MALFUNCTIONED. CLOCKSPRING ON SOME OF THE 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS ON RECALL BUT NOT ON HER'S. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 1998.

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OPERATE SPORADICALLY. *AK

DURING THE COURSE OF A SHORT TRIP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED COMPLETELY. THE FLUID DRAINED FROM THE SYSTEM THROUGH A HOLE CAUSED BY A RUST-THROUGH OF THE STEEL POWER STEERING LINES WHICH ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES, MADE OF STEEL WERE EXTENSIVELY RUSTED.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FRONT END VIBRATED STRONGLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND CALIPERS. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS, BOTH DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM, THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. THIS CAUSED A LOST OF POWER STEERING, OVERHEATING AND THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE SERVICE COULD NOT FIND A REASON AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON ON THE EAST COST DUE TO THE RAIN AND SNOW. (MODEL/SPORT) *PH *SCC *JB

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE SPORADICALLY ON THEIR OWN; IN ADDTION, THE GAS GAUGE GOES FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK AGAIN SPORADICALLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH POINTS TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS AS THE PROBLEM. *LA

RECALL 02V293000 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT REQUIRED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WITH OVER 70,000 MILES.*AK. THE CONSUMER STATED IF IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS DODGE HAD STATED THEN IT SHOULD NOT MATTER HOW MANY MILES A VEHICLE HAS. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BEGAN TO SLIP AND STAY IN SECOND GEAR AROUND 50K MILES. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE COST OF REPAIR IS MORE THAN I COULD EVER AFFORD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS AND THERE IS NOT MUCH VARIATION IN PRICE. GENERALLY THE COST IS GOING TO BE FROM $16,000 TO $2,400. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR EITHER. I AM READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? THE DEALER SHOULD GLADLY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS SINCE THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO ABSORB THE COST THEMSELVES. THEY WILL RECALL SOMETHING SMALL LIKE BRAKES OR FAN BELT. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIP OFF TWICE WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. BOTH TIMES MY ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, BOTH FATALLY SERIOUS PROBEMS. WHAT IS THE DEAL? I DEMAND RELIEF! NO ONE IS GOING TO TRADE THIS PIECE OF JUNK WITH ME. WHAT IS THE DEALER WILLING TO DO?

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ODOR AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH UNEVEN SHIFTING FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS GRAND CARAVAN. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP TO A HIGHER RPM THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO HIGHER GEAR. INITIALLY WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD ADJUST TO THE DRIVER AND THUS ACCEPTED THE EXPLANATION. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT RECENT OCCURRENCES, WHEN IN GEAR, THE CAR DID NOT ENGAGE AND SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE THIRD TIME, WHILE MOVING AND MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN, THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND PUT ME IN THE PATH OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THUS NEEDED TO TAKE TRANSMISSION APART. UPON DISASSEMBLY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GEARS HAD BEEN GROUND OFF AND NOT REPAIRABLE AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NO FAULT OF ANYTHING I DID. THE REMEDY WAS A $3000 COST TO PUT IN A FACTORY-REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT EXCEPT THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LATE AT NIGHT ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN TRAFFIC WAS LOW. THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNIQUE TO THIS VEHICLE AS OTHER COMPLAINTS AGAINST IT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA. THIS GRAND CARAVAN TRANSMISSION DESIGN FLAW NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. THE CAR OWNERS LIVES SHOULD NOT BE PUT AT RISK, NOR SHOULD THEY HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FIXING A PROBLEM WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLAW.

ON 07/05/03, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BROKEN CAMSHAFT AND REPAIRED IT. ON 08/19/03, ENGINE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED FAILURE DUE TO CAMSHAFT BROKEN AGAIN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED A DEFECT EXISTED BEHIND THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT FAILURE.*AK *PH *JB