1998 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

THIS WAS SENT TO DODGE'S WEBSITE EMAIL CONTACT. I AM SENDING IT TO YOU FWIIW JUST IN CASE ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS. I REALLY DON'T EXPECT A REPLY. I JUST WANT TO DOCUMENT MY PROBLEMS WHICH ARE: 1. AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR GOING OUT AT 58298 MILES 2. MOTOR PUTTING A CONNECTING ROD (WE THINK) THROUGH THE CRANKCASE AT 62,500 MILES. THE MECHANICS I KNOW SAY THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN DOWN, RATHER STRANGE THEY SAY. I WANT TO SEND YOU MY GRIPE SO THAT IT IS DOCUMENTED. AFTER BEING TOWED 130 MILES HOME AND TALKING TO 2 TOW TRUCK OPERATORS, A JUNK YARD MECHANIC(EX-DODGE WRENCH), AND A PATRON AT MY WIFE'S RESTAURANT, I LEARNED THAT NO ONE WAS SURPRISED THAT THIS MOTOR DIED WITH THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. THEY HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN TO OTHERS OR HAD IT HAPPEN TO THEM AT NEARLY THE EXACT MILEAGE. THIS MAY BE, AND PROBABLY WILL BE, THE LAST CHRYSLER I EVER BY. HONDA AND TOYOTA ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW. SOOOO, IF YOU HEAR ENOUGH GRIPES, MAYBE YOU WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTY, YES I WAS OFFERED IT, BUT REFUSED BECAUSE IT IS EXPENSIVE AND IT SHOULDN'T BE NEEDED. SEE HONDA/TOYOTA QUOTE. THE HEAD MECHANIC AT MY SHOP, WITH A FLEET OF DOZENS OF VEHICLES OPINED THE SAME REGARDING EXTENDED WARRANTIES, THEY ARE AN UNNECESSARY EXPENSE. EVERYONE KNOWS EXTENDED WARRANTIES ARE A MONEY MAKER FOR THE SELLER, OR ELSE IT WOULDN'T BE SOLD, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INSURANCE. MY 2CENTS.*AK

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2001. AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT, WHICH BROKE AS SOON AS I TURNED A CORNER,(WE WERE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP, MAROONE TOYOTA IN WESTON, FL SOULD SEE NOTHING WRONG) WE THEN HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AS OUR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE) WITHIN THE NEXT 2 YEARS OF HAVING THIS CAR, WE HAVE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT 4 ADDIOTNAL TIMES, WE HAVE HAD THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVER DOOR BREAK AND WE CANNOT GET THAT WINDOW DOWN, WE HAVE THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM (WHICH I JUST NOTED IS A RECALL ISSUE THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE), WE HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED THE A/C BREAKING DOWN, WICH LOOKS IN TURN THAT THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PULLEY OR SYSTEM IT IS ATTCHED TO ( A COIL PROBLEM). WE HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND I MUST ADMIT THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED WITH A USED VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT COMPLICATIONS WITH THIS VEHICLE - I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED THEVEHICLE AND COUNT MY BLESSINGS, I'M AFRAID THE NEXT TIME SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE - IT MAY COST US OURLIVES. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CONTACT ME AND TELL ME MY OPTIONS.*AK

PASSENGER SEATBACKS ON MIDDLE ROW CAPITAINS SEATS ARE CONSTANTLY COMMING LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS ON SIDE NEAR FOLDING HINGES COMING LOOSE! VERY UNSAFE AS BACKS OF SEATS CAN FALL OFF OR RECLINE FULLY BACK RENDERING SEATBELTS WORTHLESS!*AK

AIR CONDITIONER A/C FAILED DUE TO PROBLEMS AT REAR A/C SYSTEM. DEFROSTING/FOGGING PROBLEMS WERE A CONSEQUENCE AND CREATED A VISABILITY PROBLEM!*AK

THE RADIATOR RELAY SWITCH ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN KEEPS GOING OUT, CAUSING RADIATOR FANS TO NOT RUN AND VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THIS IS THIRD TIME. ONCE IN APRIL, JULY AND NOW AUGUST. DEALER REPALCES RELAY EACH TIME AND MOVES IT ON SECOND TIME WITH NEW GROUND. FAILED A THIRD TIME.*AK

THE REAR LIFT GATE LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE WHILE BEING USED. *PH

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE 1998 GRAND CARAVAN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALL IDLER PULLEYS, TENSIONERS ETC MULTIPLE TIMES TRYING TO GET RID OF THE SQUAKING NOISE AND THE BELT FALLING OFF WHEN YOU GET IT WET.*AK

TRANSMISSION IN 1998 GRAND CARAVAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE A BROKEN DIFFERENTIAL PIN. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR COMPRESSOR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER ALSO, HORN IS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR AIR BAGS IS ON AT ALL TIMES.*AK

WHEN IT RAINS HARD THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND OVERHEATING.*AK

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN: MASSIVE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE SHAFT OF A PIN EXTENDING INTO THE CORE (SORRY IF I HAVE THE TECHNICAL DETAILS WRONG) SHEERED OF COMPLETELY AND DESTROYED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER THE FAILURE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST BEING LOOKED AT BY MY MECHANIC, THE TRANSMISSION "LOCKED UP", MEANING THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED OR MOVED. THE REASON I AM REPORTING THIS IS BECAUSE MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HAD THIS "LOCK UP OCCURRED" AT THE WRONG TIME AND PLACE THAT THERE IS GOOD CHANCE MY WIFE (WHO DRIVES THIS VEHICLE DAILY) AND MY CHILDREN (WHO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE DAILY) WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES SHOWING THE FAILURE AND DAMAGE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND MY MECHANIC IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS OR INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF AND SHREDDED INTO PIECES WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *NLM. *AK *CB *NLM

THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. SOON AFTER, THE STEERING BECAME HARD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING ON TO THE GROUND. THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. *JB. IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD EXITED THE CASE PH *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER STATED THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED. RELATED RECALL 02V293000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB *TS *JB

THE DRIVER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A GATE AND SOME TRASH CANS. WHEN RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS STILL IN PARK. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 6/25/2003. *AK

BOLT HOLDING HATCH STRUT TO SIDE OF VEHICLE SHEARED IN HALF CAUSING THE HATCH TO FALL ON TOP OF THE PERSON ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR HATCH DOOR. PERSON CLOSING DOOR WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. STRUT ARM SCRATCHED REAR BUMPER WHEN HATCH FELL. DEFECTIVE PART WAS SAVED. *JB

THE WIRES TO THE HORN HAD BURNED.PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALL 02V293000 FOR AIR BAG REPAIR OF THE CLOCK SPRING. HAD PART OF RECALL DONE ON AIR BAG. MECHANIC CHARGED CONSUMER TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC DONE ON HORN. ESSINGTON FAMILY DODGE IN PHILA. PA (215 492 8600). REFERENCE NUMBER 11278103. *AK

SERPETINE BELT HAS SHREDDED TWO TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. A SMALL SECTION OF THE BELT ON THE INNER SIDE NEXT TO THE ENGINE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN CUT, BOTH TIMES THIS OCCURRED THE DAMAGE WAS THE SAME. VEHICLE HAD 99,000 MILES AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. THIS EVENT NEVER OCCURRED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 95,000 MILES. *TT

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH THE CONSUMER HEAR A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONSUMER PULLED AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

THE DRIVE BELT CAME PARTIALLY OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE BELT SHREDDED AND THEN CAME OFF COMPLETELY. THE BELT WAS REPLACED 6000 MILES AGO. IT WAS A WET DAY OUTSIDE (LIGHT RAIN). *NLM

PASSENGER SEAT BACK BROKE FOR NO REASON. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A "POP" THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION PIN CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE CASING WHICH CAUSED THE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *JB

SEAT BELT COMPLAINT. *NLM

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 65,000 MILES. VAN NEEDS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $2,400. PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ONE MONTH EARLIER WITH TRANSMISSION VALVE PROBLEM AT SAME DEALER. OPENING CASES WITH CFAS AND ZONE REP ALSO. PLEASE ADVISE. *JB

THE CONSUMER NOTICED RUST AROUND THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED. *NLM THE CONSUMER NOTICED RUST AROUND THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED. THE STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. THESE SUPPORT THE MACPHERSON STRUTS/SUSPENSION/AXLES AND STEERING. THE DODGE DEALER I WENT TO SEE SAID HE IS SEEING THIS SHOW ON VANS. THE LOSS OF THE STRUT SUPPORT. *MR

ON JANUARY 24, 2003 AT ABOUT 10 P.M. MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN JUST STOPPED DEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 7 IN RIDGEFIELD CT. THE ENGINE WITH 67,000 MILES JUST SEIZED UP. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE CARS MOMENTUM TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *NLM

THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED TREAD SEPARATION ON 3 OF THE TIRES, WHICH WERE ONLY 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS OLD. *TS *JB

MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE AIRBAG LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. IT BUSTED UP MY STEERING WHEEL AND DASH BOARD. I LET MY INSURANCE CO. LOOK AT IT AND AN INVESTIGATOR FROM DAIMLER-CHRYSLER CAME OUT AND TOOK PICTURES OF IT. THERE WAS AND IS NO DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE COPIES OF EVERYTHING, BUT INSTEAD WAS SENT A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER DENYING RESPONSIBILITY. THE LETTER STATED THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I HAD JUST HAD MY VEHICLE STATE INSPECTED AND ALL OF THOSE THING ARE CHECKED. MY CAR PASSED INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WON'T RETURN MY PHONE CALLS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY PROOF TO THEIR CLAIM. ALL THAT I WANT AND WANTED IS MY AIRBAG FIXED. I NEVER CLAIMED THAT I WAS HURT OR ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WERE IN THE VAN AT THE TIME. PLEASE HELP. *NLM

THE VEHICLES AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE REAR. *NLM *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND AND A ROD WAS STICKING THROUGH THE CASTING. *NLM

MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT LATE ONE EVENING. IT WOULD NO LONGER RESPOND TO ANY GEAR CHANGE AND IN FACT, IT SOUNDED AND SMELLED TERRIBLE! I WAS COMPLETELY STRANDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON A DARK WINDY ROAD UNTIL I COULD OBTAIN HELP. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I SAW THAT THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY A COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEM FOR DODGE OWNERS. I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH MY CAR AND HAD ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. DANGEROUS!! *JB

THE VEHICLES BRAKES WORE EVERY 3000 MILES. *NLM

AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY AND LATER STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CLOCK SPRING SAME AS OTHER DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALLED MINIVANS. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL & YEAR WAS NOT RECALLED, BUT SHOULD BE AS IDENTICAL PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED. THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. DEALER STATED THAT MANY SIMILAR CARS (NOT RECALLED AND RECALLED) HAVE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $198 AT DEALER. *JB

NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION. CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *CB

TENSION, IDLER PULLEY. SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. WET PAVEMENT CAUSES BELT TO SLIP AND LOSS OF POWER RESULTING TO VEHICLE DURING OPERATIONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED DURING REGULAR DRIVING, AS WELL AS HIGHWAY DRIVING UNDER WHAT SHOULD BE NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.*JB

THE ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEYS. *AK *JB

RECALL# 02-V-293-000:THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*JB

VEHICLE EXPRIENCED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IN OUR RESEARCH, WE HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE WITH DODGE GRAND CARAVANS.

LEAKING HEAD GASKETS AT 61,000 MILES CAUSING OIL AND WATER LOSS.

SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE. THIS DISABLED ALL OF THE ACCESSORIES AND MADE THE VAN UNDRIVABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. VEHICLE WAS DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET

ALL OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JG PH

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

CONSUMER SAW A NEWS PROGRAM STATING THAT 1993-2002 GRAND CARAVANS HAVE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED FOR HER FAMILY'S SAFETY AND FEELS A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *JG

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF OFTEN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND OTHER FUNCTIONS.THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR.THERE MUST BE SOME WAY THIS CAN BE PREVENTED OR CORRECTED!!

I HAVE A 1998 GRAND CARAVAN 3.3 LTR WITH ONLY 57,XXX MILES. I JUST TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT AN ANTIFREEZE SMELL, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING, AND TO TALK TO CHRYSLER ASAP. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS BEEN SEEING THIS PROBLEM QUITE FREQUENTLY.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO ROLL DOWN THE POWER WINDOW IT WILL MAKE A TERRIBLY LOUD NOISE CAUSING IT TO BE A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER WHEN DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER TOOK 15 MINUTES TO REPLACE CLOCK SPRING PER RECALL REMEDY 02V293000. CONSUMER ADVISED THAT HORN WAS STILL INOPERATIVE AND DEALER ADVISED HORN IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL REMEDY. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT DEALER HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER HORN PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED IN WRITING ON SERVICE RECORD THAT CONSUMER ONLY HAD A 3 MONTH/4000 MILE WARRANTY ON CLOCK SPRING REPAIR, WHEN RECALL LETTER STATED AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WAS TO BE INSTITUTED ON COMPONENT. TS

CONSUMER STATES WINDOW COMES OFF TRACK THE VEHICLE WONT PASS INSPECTION. TS

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ENGINE WAS OFF. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. TS