1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED,STRUCK THE MEDIUM, WENT OVER 5 LANES AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES INCLUDING A SORE NECK AND BURIES. *NM THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH ALWAYS INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE ENABLED. *SC *JB

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 1998 DODGE CARAVAN WOULD STALL WHEN STARTING UP, IT HAS A REOCCURING AIRBAG LIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL MISFUNCTIONING AND HORN STALLING ISSUES. I CURRENTLY HAD TO TAKE IT TO CHYRISTLER FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DODGE CARAVAN 1996-1998 RE:CLOCKSPRING. MY VEH. WAS NOT LISTED WITH THIS RECALL AND I'M CONCERNED THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE DODGE CARAVANS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAIN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V293000 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE IN MOTION, ALSO, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL GAVE OFF AN CONSENT ALARM SOUND WHEN ENGAGED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING,THE THERMOSTAT LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE JUNCTION BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REWIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, WITHOUT ANY WARNING CONSUMER LOST THE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DUE TO ONE SECTION OF THE STEERING PUMP IS RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. DEALER NOTIFIED. *LA

ON AUGUST, 1, 1998, ALLEN AND ANNE MAZEROLLE PURCHASED A NEW 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER FROM LEE DODGE IN WESTBROOK, MAINE. AT THE TIME OF THEIR PURCHASE, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER PROVIDED ANY DISCLOSURE TO THE MAZEROLLES CONCERNING THE DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMISSION DEFECT. IN 2001, ANNE MAZEROLLE WAS OPERATING THE CHRYSLER MINIVAN WITH HER CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING, A THUNDEROUS NOISE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE WHEELS LOCKED IN TRAFFIC. MRS. MAZEROLLE TELEPHONED CHRYSLERS AUTHORIZED DEALER, LEE DODGE, FROM THE HIGHWAY SEEKING ASSISTANCE. MRS. MAZEROLLE WAS INFORMED THAT, WHILE IT WAS WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE VEHICLES PURCHASE, THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 36,000 MILE LIMITATION AND THE MAZEROLLES WERE OUT OF LUCK AS TO ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE MAZEROLLES THEN INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER THERE WAS ANY RECALL OR PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE CHRYSLER TRANSMISSION. THEY WERE INFORMED BY THE CHRYSLER DEALER THAT NO SUCH PROBLEMS HAD BEEN REPORTED BY CHRYSLER AND THERE WAS NO RECALL CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION. IN THE EMERGENCY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, A&M TRANSMISSION, IN SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE. MRS. MAZEROLLE WAS INFORMED BY TECHNICIANS THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE PINION GEAR HAD SEIZED TO THE PINION SHAFT AND PENETRATED THE BELL HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE LOCK-UP OF THE VEHICLES DRIVE TRAIN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *SC *JB

I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE SUDDENLY AND THE CAR SEAT MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS BUCKELED INTO WENT FLYING INTO THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SEAT BELTS IN THE 1998 DODGE CARAVAN ARE EASILY DEPRESSED BY A GAME BOY, DOLLS OR MY OLDER DAUGHTER EITHER BUCKELING OR UNBUCKELING HER BOOSTER SEAT. I'VE FOUND MY 4 YEAR OLDS STRAP IN CAR SEAT UNBUCKELED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS. HAD WE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RATHER THAN JUST A SUDDEN BRAKING MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERLY INJURED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN THE RAIN, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF. THE BELT DISCONNECTED FROM THE PULLEY FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS. THE CONSUMER EXAMINED THE PULLEY AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SMOOTH AND DID NOTR HAVE A LIP TO HOLD THE BELT ON. *AK *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH GEN3 SEAT BELTS WHICH HAS A RELEASE BUTTON WHICH PROTRUDES FROM THE REST OF THE BUCKLE. THE BUTTON CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY Y BUMPED WHICH CAUSES THE BUCKLE TO RELEASE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE BUCKLE BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS. *AK *NM

WHILE PLACING KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO WORN PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM