1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START UP SPORADICALLY ON THEIR OWN (NO ONE TURNS THEM ON - THEY JUST START WIPING). THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. OUR MECHANIC TELLS US THAT DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CAN NOT ISOLATE WHAT CAUSES IT. INSTEAD, THEY RECOMMEND YOU START WITH ONE EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO SEE IF THAT WORKS, AND IF NOT, YOU MOVE ON TO PROGRESSIVELY MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GO OFF AND IT IS SOMETIMES STARTLING WHEN THEY DO. YOU THEN HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO TURN THEM OFF TAKING YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO (DRIVING!).*AK

CLOCK SPRING BROKE, AND AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WILL STAY ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. OWNER THEN TOOK VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED HER THAT AIR BAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION OR CAUSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

IN A HEAD ON COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. *AK *SLC

THE TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE BLEW. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHEN I LOST POWER. THIS CAUSE THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, CAUSING SEVERAL CARS TO SWERVE IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION.*AK

THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DO NOT WORK. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS STATED THAT THE "CLOCK SPRING" IS THE PART IN QUESTION, THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE AT ONE TIME (NHTSA# 98V046) FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL , WHY IS IT NOT A SAFETY RECALL ITEM NOW? IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE THE AIR BAG WILL NOT PERFORM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART DEFECTIVE, WHICH WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGES OR WORSE YET "DEATH ". IF WE GET A REDUCTION IN OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR PURCHASING RESTRAINT SYSTEMS SUCH AS THIS , IT SHOULD BE UPON THE MANUFACTURER TO STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT.*AK

AIRBAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL ALL FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. CAUSE IS THE CLOCKSPRING MODULE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A SAFEFY HAZZARD AND CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY THE REPAIR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MINI VAN.*AK

ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS I'VE BEEN DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT (OK FRONT BENCH OF MINIVAN) AND ON SHARP TURNS OR ABRUPT BRAKING THE SEATBELTS HAVE JUST POPPED UNDONE. BOTH THE ONE THAT HOLDS MY 18 MONTH OLD SON'S CAR SEAT AND THE ONE THAT MY 4 1/2 Y/O DAUGHTER USES WITH HER BOOSTER. UP TO NOW IT'S BEEN A MATTER OF INCOVENIENCE OR MINOR BUMPS, BUT I'M SCARED IT COULD HAPPEN AT A MORE CRUCIAL MOMENT AND THEY COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. BOTH SEATBELTS ON THE FRONT BENCH ARE SHOULDER HARNESS TYPES.*AK

ANOTHER CAR HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FRONT LEFT END AT A HIGH SPEED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK THE AIRBAG SENSOR HAD BROKEN. *SCC