1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED CLOCK SPRING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT OTHER VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN A RECALL, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS LEAKING, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *SLC

DODGE CARAVAN FAILURE OF CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM WHICH IS FAILING IN 1996-2000 CARAVANS AND THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING.*AK

I NOTICED MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON AND THE HORN NOT WORKING. I CALLED A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A CLOCKSPRING. SHE SAID THEY GO OUT REGULARLY. IT EVIDENTLY AFFECTS THE AIRBAG, HORN AND OTHER COMPONENTS. NOT LONG AFTER MINE WENT OUT, MY MOTHERS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. SHE ALSO HAS A 1997 MODEL DODGE, BUT HERS IS A GRAND CARAVAN. I THEN WENT TO MY MECHANIC TO ASK HIM IF HE COULD FIX IT AND HE SAID HE HAD JUST HAD SOMEONE ELSE COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE.*AK

CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT FOOT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON BRAKE TO SHIFT VEHICLE INTO GEAR. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAME W/2 BUILT IN CSS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLS AND THEN SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH, SPEEDOMETER KEPT MOVING BETWEEN 20MPH AND 90MPH, WITHOUT DRIVER DECREASING OR INCREASING IN SPEED. OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ALONG WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ENGINE OIL, THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS FRAYED ON ONE SIDE EVENTUALLY COMING OFF IDLE PULLY, LOSING STEERING ABILITY, CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND SPEEDOMETER AND FIXED THE PROBLEM AS A GOODWILL GESTURE.*JB

TRANSMISSION REPLACED. INFORMED BY 5 PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR MODEL IS OF POOR MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN , AND IS ON GOING PROBLEM WITH ALL 1996 & 1997 DODGE CARAVANS WHICH DODGE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THE VEHICLE WOULD "JUMP" OUT OF GEAR & NO ACCELERARTION WAS POSSIBLE. OUR PROBLEM WAS DETECTED EARLY AND REPAIRED BEFORE ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURED. BECAUSE WE ARE SURE DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS ON OUR VEHICLE! BECAUSE OUR PROBLEM WAS DETECTED EARLY, OUR FAMILY AVOID SERIOUS INJURY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS COMPANY IS ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN POOR WORKMANSHIP! I AM FILING COMPLAINTS WITH ANY & ALL APPLICABLE ORGANIZATIONS & AGENCY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *SCC

MOPAR BELT TENSIONER PART 4536154 HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, COUNTING OE PART. THE TENSIONER FAILS BETWEEN 25,000 AND 30,000 MILES DESTROYING THE BELT. THE LAST DODGE DEALER MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE PART STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT IT PERSISTS WITH MOPAR REPLACEMENT PARTS.*AK

COCKSPRING MECHANISM HAS FAILED, RESULTING IN AIRBAG LIGHT ON. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY OR NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF A COLLISION. FRONTAL DRIVER AIR BAG IS AFFECTED.*AK