1999 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

UPON TAKING OUR 1999 DODGE CARAVAN IN FOR REPAIRS WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR LIVES WOULD BE AT RISK IF WE CONTINUED ON DRIVING OUR VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE UPPER STRUT MOUNTING HOUSE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF OUR VEHICLE IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND READY TO CRACK, THE SAME HOLDS TRUE ABOUT THE RIGHT SIDE BUT AT THIS TIME NOT AS SEVERE. WHEN ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH THEY HAVE WITNESSED BEFORE IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES. HOW HORRIBLE TO KNOW I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE WITH NOT ONLY MY CHILDREN BUT OTHERS IN IT. I WAS PUTTING ALL OUR LIVES AT RISK AND DID NOT EVEN KNOW IT. I CAN NOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU OF THE GREAT ANXIETY I HAVE SUFFERED OVER THIS SITUATION. WE WERE TOLD FOR OUR OWN SAFETY TO GET RID OF THE VAN, EASY FOR PEOPLE TO SAY WITH ONLY 2 PAYMENTS LEFT I MUST TAKE A GREAT LOSS OR FEAR FOR OUR LIVES. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT IS A DEFECT OF THEIRS, I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND NO RECALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM ME WHAT TO DO I NEED YOUR HELP. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO START THE 1999 DODGE CARAVAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME DRIVER SEAT RECLINER BOLT PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 2/27/2007 - *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND AT ANY SPEED THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND IT ACCELERATED A FEW TIMES BEFORE SHE COULD DRIVE FORWARD. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FAILURES ON THE RUBBER TRANSMISSION LINES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE DRIVER TO HER CALL THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THE NHTSA HOTLINE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND THE LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,500. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1999 DODGE CARAVAN WAS RECALLED UNDER CAMPAIGN 04V480000 FOR A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAGS. THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED 01/31/07. WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OUT LAST YEAR THE HORN DIDN'T FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT THE HORN ASSEMBLY WASN'T WORKING. HE WAS SURE THAT THE RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG AFFECTED THE HORN. *AK

DURING A RAIN THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND DODGE HAS A TSB OUT. BUT THEY ARE MAKING NO EFFORT TO CORRECT THIS FLAW. IT SEEMS THAT ANYTIME WATER GETS ON THIS BELT IT WILL COME OFF. HOW MANY CRASHES IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION? *JB

1) PULLEY / TENSIONER / SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE IN A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN REPLACED 3 TIMES. 2) DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, DROVE THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE IN THE ROAD AND THE BELT CAME OFF THE CAR LEAVING ME STRANDED. NO POWER STEERING, NO OIL PUMPING THROUGH THE CAR, ETC... 3) DODGE CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM - WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING ON NEW BELTS AND REPLACING TENSIONERS. 4) HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/DODGE-GRAND-CARAVAN/TTREJJ5UAG0SP62TJ - SEE THIS LINK FOR COMPLAINTS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY ON THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB

USED STANDARD CAR JACK TO CHANGE TIRE. AFTER REMOVING TIRE, JACK FAILED AND VEHICLE DROPPED TO GROUND. MAIN SCREW THAT RAISES AND LOWERS JACK HAD SNAPPED IN TWO. *JB

AFTER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR SEAT OF OUR MINIVAN, BEING THAT THEY DON'T' UNLATCH AT CERTAIN TIMES AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT AT TIMES WHEN TRYING TO LATCH THEM, THEY WON'T LATCH UNTIL MUCH DIFFICULTY, I DID A SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ON THEM, AND FIND THAT THESE SEAT BELTS ARE DANGEROUS (GEN 3) I CALLED THE DEALER TO ASK ABOUT HAVING THEM REPLACED AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO AS THEY WOULD JUST BE THE SAME (VERSION) PUT BACK IN. I WANT THE SEAT BELT REPLACED AS I HAVE 5 CHILDREN AND OFTEN HAVE THEM IN THIS VEHICLE, IT IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT LIKELY THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR REPLACED AT THIS TIME, OR WE CERTAINLY WOULD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS COASTED TO A STOP, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE ALL THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE BRAKE LINES LEAKING BECAUSE OF EXTREME RUST. UPDATED 12/12/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WHICH CREATED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE BRAKE LINES WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME WHERE THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE ROAD SALTS OR HARSH WINTER WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/30/2006 -REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO STAINLESS STEEL BRAID/STEEL LINE CORROSION. *NM