1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DISCONNECTED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. *JB

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WHICH WAS BROKE AND RUBBED AGAINST THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, ALSO THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *TS *JB

WE BOUGHT THE DODGE CARAVAN SE IN 1998. LAST YEAR, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AROUND 30,000 MILES, THE CAR WAS STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEM ON SHIFTING. IT SOMETIMES LOCKED ON THE 2ND GEAR AND WOULDN''T GO FASTER. AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED, IT WAS ALL OK AGAIN. ON FEB 21ST, 2003 WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE UP AND BROKE. THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS STRANDED, AS THE VEHICLE WOULDN''T MOVE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT AND ONLY 6000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I THEREFORE CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER SUPPORT. THEY REPLIED PLAINLY THAT IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT HAS PASSED THE WARRANTY. I THEN PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION FROM PHOENIX REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IN ARIZONA AND HAD KUAN''S AUTO REPAIR, AN ASE CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP IN ST. PAUL, FIX IT. I WENT ON AND CONDUCT AN EXTENDED RESEARCH ON CHRYSLER''S TRANSMISSION. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG IF A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BROKE IN 42000 MILES. THE RESULT OF THE RESEARCH IS ASTOUNDING: CHRYSLER HAD THIS TYPE OF THE TRANSMISSION SINCE 1988 AND IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE WORST PART IS, CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT IT SINCE BEGINNING AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION (A604 41TE) ON DODGE, PLYMOUTH, CHRYSLER BRANDS OF MINI VANS. CHRYSLER''S IGNORANCE TO THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WITH THIS DEFECTED TRANSMISSION ON THEIR MINI VANS. A MINI VAN IS A FAMILY CAR AND THOUSANDS OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN DEPEND ON IT. IT IS TIME FOR CHRYSLER TO PUT THE SAFETY AND QUALITY ON THEIR PRIORITY AND PAY FOR THE COST TO FIX THOSE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS.

REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKED, WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO USE 3 QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. MR...*AK

A HUMMING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO STARTED TO SLIP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD WHEN THE GEARS WERE CHANGED. *NLM

1998 DODGE CARAVAN: (1.)TWICE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS "FLEX PLATE" BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED BREAKING IN THE CENTER IMITATING THE SOUND OF A FAILING MAIN BEARING. UNDER 100,000 MILES. (2.) TRANSMISSION FAILED 100,000 MI., (3.)WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE ENGINE RUNNING - DESTROYED HARNESS. (SPARKS SHOOTING OUT FROM BENEATH VEHICLE - FIRE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE MAJOR DAMAGE @ 110,000 MILES. ,000 MI. ( 4.) HEADLIGHT LENS PLASTIC TURNED MILKY AND INHIBITS PROPER LIGHT PROJECTION - DIFFICULT TO SEE WELL AT NIGHT EVEN WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON BRIGHT. *NLM

I HAVE TO CHANGE MY FRONT BRAKE PADS ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH DUE TO THE BRAKES GET TO HOT AND USUALLY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE PAD JUST FALLS OFF WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN THIS PROBLEM IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT IT WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER HAD MY VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. WHEN I GOT MY VAN BACK IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS, AND THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS COSTING A FORTUNE TO KEEP UP THE BRAKE PAD MAINTENANCE. I CONSIDER THE BRAKES ON A VEHICLE A LIFELINE AND AM SURPRISED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. EVERY PERSON I KNOW THAT OWNS A DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE SAME COMPLAINT. I BOUGHT MY VAN 01/01/00. *NLM

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 2000. TWO MONTHS LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT. 16 MONTHS AFTER THAT MY MOTOR WENT. I HAD TO LET MY VEHICLE SIT FOR NINE MONTHS NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND YET STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO REPLACE TO THE MOTOR. SO 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AGAIN. SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS REPLACED WITH A FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME AROUND. THIS SERIOUSLY UPSETS ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AGAIN. I STILL OWE 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I AM BACK TO I CANNOT DRIVE IT AGAIN BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD OF SOME FACTORY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND I WONDERED IF THIS COULD BE THE REASON THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF COMMISSION AGAIN. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THIS USED VEHICLE IS COSTING ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF TO BUY A NEW ONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. *NLM

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR SHOOK. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED FOR A FLAT. THERE WASN'T ONE. MY POWER TRAIN DIFFERENTIAL PIN WENT THROUGH THE CASING RENDERING MY TRANSMISSION USELESS, IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE REPAIR BILL IS $2500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THESE VANS. A SEARCH ON THE WEB REVEALED THEY USUALLY BLOW OUT BETWEEN 60,000-70,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION. A PHONE CALL TO CHRYSLER WAS USELESS.8JB

THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED FOURTH GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. *JB