1999 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN WET CONDITIONS, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS, WHO DETERMINED THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF AND THE BELT WAS REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO INSPECTIONS INTO WHAT CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SLIP OFF.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 06E022000, PERTAINING TO THE HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

THE FRONT SEAT RECLINING LEVER HAS BROKEN OFF ON BOTH FRONT SEATS. THIS MAKES IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SEATS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS TO EXPENSIVE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE HATCHBACK LIFTGATE SUPPORT DEVICE FAILED AND CAME CRASHING DOWN SECONDS AFTER THE CONTACT'S PET WAS LET OUT OF THE PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. THE ALLEGED FAILURE WAS MECHANICAL. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND DID THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING NORMAL MAINTENANCE, THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE EXTREMELY WORN AND NEEDED REPLACED.

I AM A LICENSED DAY CARE PROVIDER WHO TRANSPORTS SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN DAILY. MY VEHICLE IS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. ON TUESDAY, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH FIVE CHILDREN INSIDE. I WAS HORRIFIED. MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WILL COST UPWARDS OF AROUND $2000. I DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE DISCOVERED SOME DISTURBING FACTS. CHRYSLER VANS FROM 1998-2002 HAVE A REPUTATION OF HAVING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAPPEN. THE CAUSE IS A DIFFERENTIAL PIN THAT SHOOTS THROUGH THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NOTHING THE CONSUMER CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS. NEWER MODELS OF THE CARAVAN 2003 AND LATER HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSIONS BUT THEY NOW HAVE METAL PLATES INSTALLED WHICH KEEP THE PINS FROM BREAKING THROUGH THE CASING. I TRIED TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM CHRSYLER DIRECTLY, BUT ACCORDING TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I ASKED THEM WHY THEN WERE THERE SEVERAL STORIES ON THE INTERNET OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I JUST EXPERIENCED. THEY REPLIED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. MY TRANSMISSION DID NOT WEAR OUT, IT FAILED. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINS SHOT OUT AND BROKE THE TRANSMISSION CASING. IF YOU CALL LOCALLY OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TRY TO LOCATE A USED TRANSMISSION FOR 1998-2002 CHRYSLER VANS YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT THE MAJORITY HAVE THE BROKEN CASES CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL PINS. THUS, THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT HAS THE CORRECTED PLATES INSIDE. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT AT LITHIA DODGE, THEY HAVE ON AN AVERAGE 2 OR MORE OF THESE VANS COMING IN WITH THE SAME DEFECT. THEY CHARGE THE CUSTOMER TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THAT THEY KNOW HAS A DEFECT, YET THEY DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHRYSLER'S ON THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT CAN FAIL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THE CHECK BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR TEN MINUTES, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED; IT STAYED CHARGED FOR TWO DAYS THEN FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THE ALTERNATOR CAUSED THE BATTERIES TO FAIL.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER SUPPORT WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

LTR RE 1999 DODGE CARAVAN , PLYMOUTH VOYAGER, AND CHRYSLER MIN-VANS DEFECTIVE METAL BRAKE LINES, REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION, S10/CMBK-051208-005. *TS ALL OF THE CORROSION OCCURRED NEXT TO THE WELDED STAINLESS STEEL FLEX SEGMENT. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE REAR END PIN CAME LOOSE IN THE TRANSAXLE AND CRACKED THE HOUSING. LOST ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE HAD 49,992 MILES AND DODGE WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THEY DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ALMOST $3000. I HAD IT REBUILT WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR $1600. *JB