1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE TENSION PULLEY SHEARED IT'S BOLT AND CAUSED THE PULLEY TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT AND NEARLY LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE BOLT SIZE WAS SUPRISINGLY SMALL FOR A PART THAT HANDLES THAT MUCH TENSION. MY FEAR IS THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE MY KIDS ARE IN IT AND AT A HIGHER SPEED. *LA

THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL 02V293000 FOR THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING, INDICATING THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE RECALL LETTER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE THIRD ROW SEAT SEPARATED FROM THE TRACK AN SLID FORWARD. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK *NLM

HEADLIGHT LENS DISCOLORED- CAR HAD TO HAVE REPLACEMENT TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. COST: $322 FOR ONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SHUT OFF, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED OR THETURN SIGNAL TURNS OFF.*TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS LIFETIME INJURIES FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. AIR BAG LIGHT HAD BEEN ON SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DEALER WHICH ASKED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALER IT WAS TOO LATE. ON THE WAY BACK HOME SHE SMELLED SMOKE BUT KEPT DRIVING UNTIL SHE REACHED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SHE GOT THE HOSE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN, CALLED THE MECHANIC/DEALER. THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. *AK

TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A TRANSMISSION TO BE SERVICED, PICKED MY CAR UP A HOUR LATER.HE TRANSMISSION LOCKED ON ME. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER SHOP. THE TOTAL OST OF REPAIRS WAS $1400.00.*AK

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 BATTERIES IN 6 YEARS. THESE INCLUDE BATTERIES BY THREE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS. INITIALLY, THE BATTERIES WERE COVERED BY THE 3YR/36K MILE WARRANTY, AND WE WERE TOLD THE BATTERIES WERE DEFECTIVE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VAN. IN EACH CASE, THE BATTERIES WENT SUDDENLY DEAD (WOULD NOT HOLD ANY CHARGE AT ALL) LONG BEFORE THEY SHOULD HAVE.*AK

THERE HAS BEEN 5 REPLACEMENT TORQUE CONVERTERS SINCE PURCHASE. VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN DUE TO THE DEFECT IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *MR THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, EVERY YEAR THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, ALSO THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED TWICE, THERE WAS AN OIL PAN LEAK, THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND THE AC NEEDED A NEW CONDENSER. *SCC