1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE LOS ANGELES CBS AFFILIATE STATION AIRED A STORY ABOUT CHRYSLER VEHICLES YEAR 2007 TO 2012 THAT WERE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR A POTENTIAL RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY TIPM, ALSO KNOWN AS A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. VEHICLE OWNERS REPORT INSTRUMENT PANEL PROBLEMS, GAUGES NOT WORKING, AIRBAG NOT WORKING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE, AND SO ON. I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH MANY OF THESE SAME PROBLEMS/SYMPTOMS. I SPENT $212 ON INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS FEES. PEP BOYS TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND IT WOULD TAKE A PROHIBITIVELY HIGH PRICE TO REPLACE. MY VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THE ONES DESCRIBED ABOVE: FUEL GAUGE NOT CONSISTENTLY SHOWING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK; THE AIRBAG AND HORN NOT WORKING; THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY OPERATE WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON; THE POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING LOCKED & UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY; THE HEATER OPERATES WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, AND SO ON. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE USED SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER OR COMPARED IN INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY OTHER CHRYSLER OWNERS. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS A DURABLE PART, IT SHOULD OPERATE WELL FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY INVESTIGATION GOING ON WHICH MAY LEAD TO A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERABLE THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOUR TIMES TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ

ONLY A BLOCK OR 2 FROM HOME, DOING 20 MPH THERE WAS THE SMELL OF SMOKE THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. WE BAILED FROM THE VAN AND BEFORE 911 COULD BE CALLED THE VAN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I HAVE A 98 DODGE CARAVAN IT HAS NO DASH LIGHTS PARKING LIGHTS OR HORN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE. *TR

THE BELT KEEPS SLIPPING OFF ON MY DODGE CARAVAN. THIS HAS BEEN CONTINUAL. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF THESE COMPLAINTS. IT IS THE SERPENTINE BELT. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE MECHANIC. THEY TRY EVERYTHING, BUT WHEN IT IS WET, IT COMES OFF. I EVEN TRY NOT TO DRIVE IN RAIN, BUT AFTER THE RAINS, I DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND ITS OFF AGAIN., I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SEEMS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS, AS IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY SO FAR, I HAVE NOT BEEN GOING AT SPEED DURING THESE INCIDENTS. I HAD THE TENSIONERS TIGHTENED AGAIN LAST MONTH, AND ITS OFF AGAIN. *TR

DRIVING DURING HEAVY RAIN/SNOW OR GOING THROUGH STANDING WATER, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF OF THE PULLEYS. THIS LEADS TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES AND ENGINE COOLING. MILEAGE AND DATE ARE APPROXIMATE. MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT LANE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. *TR

MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT THE STRUT HOUSING ROUGHING OUT BEEN LOOKING THIS UP AND FROM 97 TO 2000 MAYBE A BIT LONGER THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE THAT CHRYSLER NEED TO ADDRESS. I KNOW THEY DON'T WANT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MATTER ,BUT SOME ONE COULD GET HURT FROM THIS.I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ALL THE INFORMATION I CAN FIND ON THIS ISSUE.THIS IS FAULTY DESIGN OF CHRYSLER,THEY MADE TONS OF MONEY SELLING THE VANS,EVEN AFTER THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN THEY STILL DIDNT CHANGE THE DESIGN.WELL I HAVE TO HAVE MINE DONE BUT IN THE MEAN TIME I BETTER NOT GET HURT FROM ONE LETTING LOOSE. I SURVIVED CANCER NOT TO DIE FROM A AUTO ACCIDENT DO TO A SO SO GOOD DESIGN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.