1996 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE USED, AND SINCE THEN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING, AND AT THE ODDEST TIMES. ALSO, MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY HORN STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF IT. SUDDENLY, ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING. I TOOK IT TO GET IT SERVICED AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKING. THE SERVICE MEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL. I WAS TOLD BY OTHER MECHANICS, AFTER THE FIRE THAT I DESCRIBE BELOW, THAT IF THE VEHICLE BURNS OIL, THE SMOKE WOULD BE TEMPORARY, AND IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER IT BURNS OFF. WELL... IT DIDN'T, AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED: ON APRIL 20TH, I PARKED MY CAR ON THE OUTDOOR PARKING LOT OF THE WHOLE FOODS MARKET, IN GLENDALE, CA. I HEARD AN ANNOUNCEMENT OVER THE PA, THAT THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY IN THE SOUTH PARKING LOT, AND THAT EVERYONE THERE SHOULD MOVE THEIR CAR. I WAS PARKED IN THE SOUTH LOT. ON THE WAY OUT, A LADY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A CAR ON FIRE, AND THE FIRE DEPT WAS ON ITS WAY. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY OUTSIDE, AND WHEN I GOT TO THE PARKING LOT, I SAW THAT IT WAS MY VEHICLE. THE FIRE DID NOT BURN THROUGH THE FIREWALL, BUT EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPT FROM GLENDALE, SENT AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR, SINCE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THERE HAD BEEN SOME CAR FIRES IN THE AREA. TURNS OUT, THE ARSON INVESTIGATOR TELLS ME, THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. THE VAN DID NOT OVERHEAT. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE, UNTIL THE THING CAUGHT FIRE ON SUNDAY. *JB

THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED LIT ON DASH. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING. MR SCC *JB

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CLOCK SPRING. THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING CAUSED THE AIR BAGS/HORN TO FAIL. *AK *JB *TS

THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE COVER IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND THE TENSIONER BEARING HAD FALLEN APART. THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE SHIFT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS TO GET THE SHIFT UP. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS COLD, IT WOULD DELAY ENGAGING IN REVERSE FROM PARK. SCC *JB

THE RUBBER O-RINGS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-268. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. PH *NLM

THE VEHICLES CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHICH CAUSED AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. PH *NLM

THE VEHICLES CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY SHORTED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. PH *NLM

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE HEATER. SCC *JB

THE CONSUMER LEARNED THE GOODYEAR SPARE TIRE HAD STRUCTURAL CRACKS DUE TO RAPID PRODUCT DETERIORATION. *AK *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER HAD CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION AND IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TT *NLM