1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 86000 MILES. THE TRANSAXLE WAS PERFORATED BY BROKEN PIN. THE 2ND TRANSMISSION AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP COULD NOT BE INSTALLED BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN HOUSING DUE TO SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION #3 THAT WAS INSTALLED LASTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. #4 COULD NOT BE INSTALLED BECAUSE IT ARRIVED WITH A CRACK IN HOUSING DUE TO SAME PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TRANSMISSION #5 INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IS A PIN IN THE TRANSAXLE BECOMING LOOSE AND FLYING OUT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.THE PIN THEN CREATES A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO ESCAPE CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE PIN IS USUALLY STOPPED BY THE TRANSMISSION CASE BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ONE FLIES OUT AND INJURES SOMEBODY. ROLL PIN THAT SECURES GEAR PIN IS BREAKING. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $1950.00. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THEN, DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

STRUT TOWER CORROSION - FAILURE IN NEAR FUTURE 1998 DODGE CARAVAN 86000 MILES QUOTED $ 800 TO REPAIR THIS SHOULD BE A GENERAL RECALL BY MANUFACTURER !!!!!*JB

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH, GOING AROUND A CURB, THE BACK OF THE VAN SKIDDED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE GOING OVER A HILL, AND IMPACTING A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, ONLY PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED I FACIAL INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 04V480000 ON THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING. AFTER HAVING THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY REPLACED, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY SHOULD NOT PUT A FULL TANK OF GAS IN THE CAR AND SHOULD ONLY FILL HALF A TANK. WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL THIS WOULD CAUSE A LEAK/RUST. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

LEFT STRUT TOWER RUSTED ALMOST THROUGH. MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPLACE STRUT. CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR REPAIR ALTERNATIVE.*AK

WHEN CONSUMER PUT KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO CRANK THE VEHICLE IT MADE A SQUEAKING/GRINDING NOISE. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE TURNED OFF AUTOMATICALLY ON ITS OWN AFTER SMOKE STOPPED BILLOWING. VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER.*AK

I OWN A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN 3.3L AND LESS THAN 55,000 MILES, THE TENSIONER PULLEY WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE BOLT HOLDING THE TENSIONER IN PLACE WAS SHEARED IN HALF, THE BELT FELL OFF, AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP IMMEDIATELY. THANK GOD THIS HAPPEN IN THE SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AND NOT ON FREEWAY, THE VAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL! HAVE THE VAN TOWED TO C&M AUTO SERVICE, HAVE THE SERPENTINE BELT, THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER REPLACED AND RE-ALIGN THE TENSIONER. THE BELT/PULLEY DESIGN ON THIS VAN IS FLAWED AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! IN BRAZIL, CHRYSLER DID A RECALL BACK IN 2000 - DUE TO SEVERAL ISSUES RELATED TO BELT/PULLEY SYSTEM ON THE CARAVAN AND GRAND CARAVAN MODELS.*AK

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ARRIVED HE WAS TOLD THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS IN STOCK. *NM