1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

DEALER REPLACED THREE TIMES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE LAST PAST TWO YEARS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH JUST UNDER 71,000 MILES ON IT. WE FIRST NOTICED SOME ANTI FREEZE ON THE GROUND AND COULD SEE IT LEAKING THINKING IT WAS A HOSE OR SOMETHING. I WENT UNDER TO TAKE A LOOK AND IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. I BROUGHT IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND IT TURNS OUT THE HEADGASKET SPRUNG A LEAK. I GAVE THEM THE GO AHEAD TO FIX IT. HE TOOK IT APART AND SAID THEIR WAS A 2 INCH PIECE MISSING FROM THE GASKET. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. IT COST ME $1000+ TO HAVE IT REPAIRED .WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP.*AK

MY A/C STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AFTER MY 3 YEAR 36 MILE WARRANTY RAN OUT. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE EVAPORATOR COIL. COSTS ME $400. RIGHT NOW MY A/C JUST QUIT. MY VAN HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. I GO THROUGH BELTS LIKE CRAZY. MY MECHANIC CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. AND OTHER MECHANICS SAY IT'S AN EPIDEMIC WITH CARAVANS. PLEASE HELP.

TRANSMISSION ------------ SUDDEN FAILURE OF ALL FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS. KEY OFF-ON BRINGS BACK FORWARD DRIVE FOR ABOUT 100 YARDS THEN FAILS AGAIN. NO REVERSE GEAR AT ALL. COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC INDICATES 3 TRANSMISSION ERRORS RELATED TO SHIFTING. SENSORS LOOK OK. SHOP HAD TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF OVER $2,000. BRAKES ------ EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS. MUST BE REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR NOW. FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED IT DESTROYED ONE BRAKE ROTOR -- HAD TO REPLACE THAT. NOW, AT THE FIRST SIGN OF BRAKE SQUEAL I MUST CHECK AND REPLACE THE PADS AS THEY ARE CLOSE TO WEARING OUT. GENERALLY GET LESS THAN 15,000 MILES PER SET.

5 BATTERIES SINCE PURCHASED NEW. THREE WERE NOTED AS HAVING LEAKED BATTERY ACID. IN MAY/JUNE 2003, THE WIRING HARNESSES (MAIN ONES) HAD BEEN EATEN BY BATTERY ACID CAUSING ALL SORTS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE HARNESSES ARE ROUTED UNDER THE BATTERY PAN. STUPID PLACEMENT. DEALER SPLICED WIRES TOGETHER TO GET IT RUNNING AT HIS COST, AT MY INSISTENCE. VAN CONTINUES TO START INCONSISTENTLY. HORN DOESN'T WORK SINCE DEALER SPLICED WIRES. TURN IGNITION KEY - CLICK, REPEAT 10-20 TIMES, STARTER WILL CATCH ON ONE. DESIGN DEFECT IS ROUTING OF HARNESSES AND LACK OF SHIELD TO PROTECT THEM.

TRANSMISSION NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING IN 2 ND GEARS. AIR CONDITIONING STILLS BLOWS SEMI-WARM AIR. SWAY BARS REPLACED.

SIX DIFFERENT CASES OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED. PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET, THE TRANSMISSION TWICE AND THREE TIMES ON THE FLYWHEEL. *LA THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BOLTS ON THE FLYWHEEL AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WERE LOOSE. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT, WHICH CAUSES THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK OFF, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE CRANKSHAFT WAS OUT OF ROUND, WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *JB

CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER PRESSED THE HORN THERE WAS NO SOUND. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN PART.*AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY THEN EVENTUALLY REMAINED ON WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. AT THE SAME TIME THE HORN ALSO FAILED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS SURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CLOCKSPRING BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS GOING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER TO RUN THE TEST. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS RECALL FOR THE 1996-2000 MINIVANS BUT NOT THE 1998'S. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES IT SHOULD BE RECALL AND BECAUSE SHE CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK