1998 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

THE FEMALE END OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY CRUMBLED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. WE ARE WORRIED THAT THE OTHER SEAT MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY SINE THE PROBLEM INVOLVES A CHILD SEAT. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***770772

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. TS SCC

WARPING OCCURS ON DISKS CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. DT

I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING OIL LEAKAGE FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. DT

NHTSA ID # 02V293000 MY VAN MISSED THE RECALL BY 100 MILES AND 4 MONTHS. DT

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES PURCHASED NEW AND METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT AIR BAG LIGHT FAILURES ON 10/13/02. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS AT DIFFERING TIMES WHILE STARTING, DRIVING, ETC. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. CONCERNED THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AND INJURY FAMILY OR CAUSE ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE. DT

CLOCK SPRING DEFECTIVE. DEALER IS AWARE BUT NOT CONCERNED. DT

WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR! CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER GM PRODUCT INSTEAD. THIS IS THE 3RD AND FINAL CHRYSLER PURCHASE. LOVE THE VEHICLE, BUT TOO MANY DEFECTS FOR THE PRICE PAID. DT

NO SUMMARY. DT

THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FOR THE BUILT IN CAR SEAT HAD BROKEN. IT WAS INSPECTED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER REFUSED TO FIX IT AT THEIR COST. *JG

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY . DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF FOR PERIODS OF TIME. THE FREQUENCY WAS INCREASING. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES WAS HIT HEAD-ON WHILE TRAVELLING 30 MPH. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG CAUSED EXTENSIVE INJURIES TO CONSUMER'S EYE SOCKET, CHEST PALET AND TEETH. CONSUMER ALSO ADVISED LOST VISION IN ONE EYE DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. MR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK. THE FIRST TIME AT AROUND 40,000 MILES AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE LOCK AT ALL. THIS TIME THE KEY WOULD TURN, BUT IT WAS VERY STIFF. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A TSB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WILL HELP DEFER THE COST OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768019

TWO ORIGINAL GOODYEAR TIRES SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HARNESS STRAPS RECEPTACLE IS INOPERATIVE, UNABLE TO FASTEN BUCKLE. NLM

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SAFETY CHILD PROOF DOORS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AND GET OUT OF VEHICLE WITH SYSTEM ACTIVATED. *NLM *SCC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNING OUR VAN, THE BELT CAME OFF THE PULLEY SYSTEM RENDERING THE VAN DEAD. WHEN IT CAME OFF IT WAS CUT IN TWO AND WRAPPED AROUND THE CRANK PULLEY. WE REPLACED THE BELT 8 TIMES SINCE THAT OCCURRENCE. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE CRANK PULLEY AND TENSION PULLEY. AFTER BECOMING TOTALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS PROBLEM, WE CONTACTED THE CORPORATION, WHICH WAS OF NO USE. A FAIRBANKS DODGE SERVICE CONSULTANT SHARED WITH US THE FACT THAT THEY OFTEN RECEIVE SEVERAL TOWED IN CARAVANS ON RAINY DAYS DUE TO THE BELT SLIPPING OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THIS BELT COMES OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING, NOR ALTERNATOR, NOR A/C. IF THIS OCCURS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE USE OF POWER STEERING WILL BE LOST, MEANING QUICK REACTION IF NEEDED WOULD BE HINDERED. OUR MECHANIC CALLED CHRYSLER TO VERIFY IF IT WAS PURELY THE USE OF A WRONG BELT TYPE, ONLY TO BE TOLD NO. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY TOLD HIM NOT TO USE A CHRYSLER BELT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT THE BELT SYSTEM IS BEING REDESIGNED FOR 2003 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! I HAVE A WIFE AND TWO KIDS THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT WORK.*AK

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY INDICATION OF AIR BAG PROBLEM.WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT CLOCKSPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT.WAS TOLD THIS CLOCKSPRING IS IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTS TO AIRBAG.WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND THAT ABOUT 10 A WEEK ARE REPLACED.I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG HAD NEVER BEEN ACTIVATED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER.WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF AIRBAG LIGHT DID NOT COME ON ,THEN IT COULD BE A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEM.I DID NOT HAVE THE PART REPLACED SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON.ON THE WAY HOME,THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.I CALLED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT BACK AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN.SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A FEW MILES WITH AN INTERMITTANT AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATION.THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY.*AK

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, COULD RESULT IN NONE DEPLOYEMENT OF AIR BAG OR PERMATURE DEPLOYEMENT OF AIR BAG. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE CLOCK SPRINGS BEING DEFECTIVE.*AK

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

I WAS DRIVING MY APPROXIMATELY 10MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. WE NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALER, LANCASTER DODGE. THEY IMMEDIATELY IMPLIED THAT THE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF AND THAT IT WASN'T A CHRYSLER AIRBAG. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND REPEATEDLY STATED "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL HERE?". MY WIFE AND I WERE SHOCKED AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE IMPLYING. I TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER DODGE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG DID IN FACT GO OFF (NO SURPRISE TO US). I CALLED TO DISCUSS WITH CHRYSLER AND DESCRIBE THE SITUATION. THE CLIENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WASN'T INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THE SECOND CHRYSLER DEALER'S FINDING EVEN WHEN I REPEATEDLY EXPLAINED HOW THE FIRST DEALER'S REPORT HAD TO BE INNACCURATE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. I SINCE INVESTIGATED REPORTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CLOCK SPRING ON MY VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FIRST CHRYSLER DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ARE FRAUDULENTLY COVERING-UP THIS ISSUE BY PREPARING INACCURATE REPORTS OF THE FAILURE.*AK

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN OUR GARAGE ONE MORNING LED US TO FIND THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING.*AK

MY CLOCKSPRING BROKE,IT MAKES THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON AND DISABLES THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND AIRBAGS. DEALER WANTS ABOUT $200 TO REPAIR, I BOUGHT THE PART FROM THE DEALER FOR $73.15 AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. I HAVE FRIEND WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN HER 97 CARAVAN.S

EA 01 007/AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING: AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS IS A FOLLOWUP LETTER TO NHTSA FROM ME REGARDING FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IN MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. PRODUCTION PROBLEMS FOR THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY WERE FROM 1996 AND 2000. NOW COMES THE PART I DO NOT UNDERSTAND....MY VEHICLE FALLS BETWEEN 1996 AND 2000 AND....MY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED...DAIMLER CHRYSLER TELLS ME I DO NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT ON THEIR LIST OF RECALLS. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON? THIS IS VERY PUZZELING. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME ON THIS. I HOPE YOU CAN. I'M 70 YEARS OLD AND ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR JOB, BY MY STANDARDS.*AK

STARTING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES, THIS CAR PRODUCED CLICKING NOISE FROM THE HEAD/VALVE TRAIN. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, A DEALER (NOT THE ONE WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT) TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AT 35K, DURING A HIGHWAY TRIP, THE NOISE BECAME PRONOUNCED. SOON THEREAFTER, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND EXPLAINED THE NOISE AND THAT I NOTICED THE HEAD WAS RUNNING DRY WITHOUT THE TYPE OF OIL SPLASH I HAVE SEEN IN ALL OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMS THAT CHYSLER MINI-VANS HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VALVES AND THAT IT WAS, IN HIS OPINION, AN OIL DELIVERY PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE HAD 2 IN DURING THE PRIOR FEW WEEKS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, ONE THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST IN A CAR WITH 35K MILES. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, TO MY SHOCK, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO MAJOR REPAIRS DUE TO "CAMSHAFT FAILURE". ALTHOUGH I ASKED FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MANY TIMES, BOTH IN WRITING AND ON THE PHONE, "CAMSHAFT FAILURE" IS ALL THEY WOULD SAY ABOUT THE PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, THEY AGREED TO PROVIDE A FULL "LONG BLOCK" ENGINE REPLACEMENT (UNDER "COURTESY" WARRANTY WITH $300 "DEDUCTIBLE.") BECAUSE OF WHAT MY NON-DEALER MECHANIC SAID (THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CHRYSLER MINI-VANS OF MY CAR'S VINTAGE AND BECAUSE HE OPINED THAT THERE MAY BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH OIL DELIVERY, PLUS THE FACT THAT WHEN I CHECKED THIS SITE, I FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD

FAILURE OF CLOCKSPRING AFFECTS HORN & SPEED CONTROL ALSO.*JB

AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON AND OFF. CURRENTLY, AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT A PERSON CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY WITH A KEY, THE DOORS CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE BY PULLING UP ON THE LOCKS OR BY TRYING TO PULL OPEN THE DOOR HANDLES, THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT IS BY USING THE REMOTE CONTROL AND BY USING THE LOCK BUTTON, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER, THE POWER LOCKS WOULD BE INOPERABLE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCK MECHANISMS NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. AFTER CONTACTING DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT AIR BAG MIGHT NOT WORK. ALSO, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, KEY NOT IN IGNITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED ON ITS OWN. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY / CONTINUALLY BEEP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

OUR CLOCKSPRING BROKE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT CONTROLS THE HORN, AIRBAG AND UNFORTUNATELY THE CRUISE CONTROL. WE WERE ON A TRIP AND APPROACHING A TOWN. I TAPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AND IT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. IN FACT, I COULDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 OR 65 WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND EVENTUALLY I WAS AT THE SPEED OF 90. THE VAN WAS ACCELLING WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP IT. WE FINALLY GOT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN EITHER NEUTRAL OR PARK JUST SO WE COULD GET IT TO STOP. OUR HORN DOESN'T WORK NOW AND OUR AIRBAG PROBABLY WON'T DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THIS COULD CAUSE ALOT OF ACCIDENTS AND MAY HURT PEOPLE IF SOMETHING DOESN'T GET DONE ABOUT IT.*AK

BELTS HAVE BEEN BRAKING AFTER ~ 18000-20000 MILES. DODGE DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE.*JB

WHEN BRAKING IN A SUDDEN STOP IT CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE, PRIOR TO THE SIDE CALIPER FAILURE AT 34743, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, BUT WOULD GLIDE TO S STOP, STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED, STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE, A SPRING WAS CHANGED BUT THE COLUMN IS LLOSE AGAIN, THE BRAKES OCCASIONALLY DEPRESS ON IT'S OWN, THE CONSUMER NOTICES THIS MORE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING A A LIGHT.*AK *MJ

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON & GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY,HORN DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK.*AK

REAR SEAT BELTS ARE RELEASING INVOLUNTARILY. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND KNEW NOTHING OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL REPLACE SEAT BELT WITH SAME EXACT STYLE INSTEAD OF USING ANOTHER KIND THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OWNERS EXPENSE.*AK *TT

MIRRORS NO LONGER STAY IN PLACE; PASSENGER SIDE FLOPS AROUND, DRIVER SIDE PULLS OUT AWAY FROM DRIVER. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $500. *AK

WHILE WAITING ON A TRAFFIC LIGH VEHICLE REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. HORN AND SPEED CONTROL IS INOPERABLE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER HAS NOTICE BOLT ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. NLM

I WAS SITTING NEXT TO MY CHILD IN HIS CAR SEAT AND WAS PUTTING ON MY SEATBELT WHEN I BUMPED THE RELEASE LEVER TO HIS SEATBELT AND IT POPPED OPEN. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OTHER DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLE OWNERS HAD BEEN HAVING WITH THEIR GEN-3 SEATBELTS. I THOUGHT THAT IF IT WAS THIS EASY TO RELEASE THE BELT, THEN THERE HAD TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. NLM

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAME TO STOP SIGN AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE METAL FILINGS FOUND IN TRANSMISSION PAN. THIS VAN HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT 15000, 30000, AND AGAIN AT 45000 WHICH IS WHY I BROUGHT IT IN THERE. NOBODY TOUCHED THE ENGINE BUT THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER. WHEN THE DEALER GOT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, FOUND THAT THE CLUTCHES WERE GRINDING THEMSELVES UP. $2050.00 TOTAL IN REPAIRS. NOTHING FROM DODGE EXCEPT I'M SORRY.*AK

WHEN TRYING TO INSERT KEY INTO IGNITION, THE TUMBLERS ON VEHICLE BROKE OFF, CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO BE PUT KEY ALL THE WAY IN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS GOING TO REPLACE IGNITION.*AK *YD

CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT A MONTH BEFORE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATED RECALL LETTER 00V268000 WAS NEVER SENT, AND WATING LIST IS VERY LONG. *AK