1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE CRITERIA WAS FOR ISSUING A RECALL. *SCC *JB

PURCHASED A USED DODGE CARAVAN ON 8-19-02 WITH 28,000 MILES SHOWING ON THE METER. IT NOW HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT AND THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL DOWN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND ON TO THE GROUND. DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. SEEMS LIKE A VERY COSTLY REPAIR ON A VAN WITH THIS FEW MILES ON IT. THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHRYSLER PRODUCT I WILL PURCHASE. *LA

MY 98 DODGE CARAVAN HAD A FAILED CLOCKSPRING, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL TO NOT FUNCTION. CHRYSLER HAS A RECALL ON A FAILED CLOCKSPRING FOR 96-98 DODGE CARAVANS, AND CLEARLY STATES ON ITS WEBSITE IT WILL REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR REPAIRS TO THE CLOCKSPRING. HOWEVER, WHEN I BROUGHT MINE IN FOR REPAIR, AND ON SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALLS AND LETTERS WRITTEN TO CHRYSLER, THEY INDICATE THAT MY BUILD DATE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THEY NEED TO EXPAND THE BUILD DATE TO LATER MONTHS IN 1998, AND CONSEQUENTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CARS COVERED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCKSPRING DURING MY BUILD DATE. THIS WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO HAVE NON-FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND HORNS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MAY CAUSE LIVES TO BE LOST. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD ALSO REIMBURSE ME THE $284.20 I HAD TO PAY TO GET THE CLOCKSPRING REPAIRED, AS THEY INDICATE ON THEIR WEBSITE THEY WILL REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS WITH 98 CARAVANS FOR REPAIRS ON FAILED CLOCKSPRINGS. BY THEM NOT REIMBURSING ME, THEY ARE FALSELY ADVERTISING ON THEIR WEBSITE. *LA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PREPARING TO PULL OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, BOTH OF HIS FRONT WHEELS COLLAPSED. HE STATES HE HAD HIS VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION AND REPAIRED. BUT HE DOESN'T THINK THERE IS A RECALL OF THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. *NLM

HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGY. EACH TIME IT RAINS IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT TIME DRIVING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, UPON FRONTAL COLLISION THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT HARNESS CLIP UNSNAPPED FAILING TO RESTRAIN CHILD IN CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE ID#1B4GP44GOWB500517 WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES ENDED THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH A LOUD METALIC CLUNK.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FAILED TWICE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. ALSO, SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED 6 TIMES. WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH DRIVER NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VENTS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, HE LIFTED UP HOOD AND NOTICED THAT A FUEL LEAKAGE WAS PRESENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS,WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL.*AK

I'VE GONE THROUGH 5 BELTS IN THE PAST YEAR. MY A/C JUST WENT OUT AGAIN. I HAD THE EVAPORATER COIL REPLACED JUST AFTER MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY GAVE OUT 2 YEARS AGO. MY VAN ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT NEW IN OCT.97. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. I'VE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN A VEHICLE AS I DO IN MY VAN. *LA