1996 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

HAD A RADIATOR FAN RELAY RECALL ON 1996 DODGE CARAVAN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND RADIATOR FAN STILL CONTINUES TO COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN CAR IS NOT RUNNING, RUNNING BATTERY DEAD, FRONT W/S WIPER BLADES COMES ON BY ITSELF, LOST FM STEREO FREQUENCY ALL TOGETHER. CANNOT DEPEND ON THIS WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN. *JB

THE SEAT BELT OF THE INTEGRATED CAR SEAT MECHANISM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH TWO PASSENGERS, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENT NEAR THE REAR SLIDING DOOR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE CURB AND WAITED 2 MINUTES, THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE SMOKE. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND, BUT WHILE GETTING BACK INTO VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE SPEWING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEELS. CONSUMER BARELY REMOVED PASSENGERS FROM VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED. *AK FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *PH

DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK MECHANIC FOUND THAT STRUTS WERE POPPING THROUGH THE STRUT TOWER. STRUT TOWER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECAL 00V268000 REGARDING FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED IN JUNE ,AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS RECENTLY CONTACTED, AND THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH THE CONSUMER SAID WAS RELATED TO THIS RECALL.*AK

PEDESTAL CONNECTED TO ROCKER ARM WHICH IS CONNECTED TO CYLINDER HEAD BROKE FOR NO REASON. SINCE IT IS ALL ONE PIECE, IT ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A GREAT COST. WARRANTY GOLD EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT AS THEY SAID IT WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. DODGE DENIES THERE HAVE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS.

CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS. *AK COMPLETE WIPER FAILURE OCCURRED AND DEALER STATED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH *JB

IN DECEMBER 2002 CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FILLER VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 1/30/2003 WHO REPLACED THE FILLER VALVE AND THE GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER FELLS THEY SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE EXPENSES. *AK *CB

LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DURING LOW SPEED (2 MPH) DRIVING, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF, ALSO DESTROYING PART OF THE SWAY BAR AND THE LEFT DRIVE SHAFT. AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SUCH A FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP THE PRIOR DAY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE DEALERSHIP ALSO PERFORMED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION FOUR MONTHS PRIOR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF BALL JOINT WEAR OR DAMAGE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER CAN STRONGLY SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK