1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

EA-01-007; AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING OFF AND ON ON DASHBOARD, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING WHICH PREVENTED AIR BAG LIGHT FROM FLASHING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME BY THERE SELF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR MAKING A TURN. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN DISTRIBUTOR BEARINGS SEIZED UP AND CAUSED TRANSAXLE TO LOOSEN UP. TRANSMISSION THEN FAILED. VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED PLUG ON TRANSMISSION CANISTER CAP HAD MELTED. THIS HAPPENED AT 78,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM REAPPEARED IN NEW TRANSMISSION. HAD PREVIOUSLY SMELLED SULFUR LIKE FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE GAVE BIG JERK , AND MADE A LOUD NOISE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, NOTICED GRAYISH SMOKE IN REAR. AT DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC NOTICED PLUG, MADE OF PLASTIC, HAD MELTED LIKE THE FIRST ONE.*AK *SLC

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE TRAVELING. ALSO, HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. *AK

RADIATOR LEAK CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO ENTER TRANSMISSION AND CAUSE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. $2100 REPAIR AFTER OWNING VEHICLE 1 YEAR, TOTAL MILAGE 58620. SEEMS TO BE A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE

ON JULY 19TH WE LOST ALL BRAKES ON OUR 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE NEXT DAY FULL USE OF THE BRAKES RETURNED. ON JULY 21ST WE ONCE AGAIN HAD COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. WE ARE ONLY OWNERS OF THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VAN TO TIRES PLUS TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED. THE ONLY THING FOUND WAS SLIGHT WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES. WE HAD THEM REPLACE THE PADS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS. NEXT THE BLED THE LINES AGAIN AND WE HAD BRAKES AGAIN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND DROVE IT FOR SEVEN DAYS BUT LOST BRAKES AGAIN ON THE 29TH OF JULY. THIS TIME THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BUT STILL BRAKES WERE INTERMITTANT. RIGHT NOW THE VAN IS AT JIM'S DODGE COUNTRY BEING WORKED ON. THIS TIME THE CLAIM IS THAT THE RIDE HIGH PROPORTIONING VALVE IS DEFECTIVE. WE USE THE VAN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ALL THE TIMES WE HAVE LOST OUR BRAKES CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS BUT WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY. OUR VEHICLE IS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR SO I THINK MECHANICALLY THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

I AM WORRIED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT - THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER MINI-VANS. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL? *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. EVERYTHING FAILED LIGHTS/POWER STEERING. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, PUMPED BRAKES TO STOP WITH NO AVAIL.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AND HORN IS INOPERATIVE. AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING TO RESTORE DRIVER AIRBAG AND HORN OPERATION AT $212.95 COST TO CONSUMER. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AND HORN IS INOPERATIVE. AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING TO RESTORE DRIVER AIRBAG AND HORN OPERATION AT $212.95 COST TO CONSUMER.*AK