1996 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

DURING THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON RANDOMLY AND STOP WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INTERACTION. IT HAPPENED TODAY AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND EVEN STANDING STILL IN PARK. IT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND AS I WAS PASSING A TRUCK ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 70MPH. WHEN IT OCCURS IT DISTRACTS ME FROM MY DRIVING AND SOMETIMES STARTLES ME. THE TURN SIGNAL/WIPER MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPLACED WAS ON 08/13/97 BY LANDMARK DODGE, INC., 6823 MT. ZION BLVD, MORROW, GA 30260, TEL:770/968-4900 UNDER INVOICE #DOCS22788.

AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK I PARKED THE SAID VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE WITH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FACING DOWNHILL. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE, I COULD SMELL GAS. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW GAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. I MOVED THE VEHICLE TO LEVEL GROUND AND THE GAS STOPPED LEAKING. ON 06/05/2000 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ELMHURST DODGE AT WHICH TIME THEY SAID THE GAS TANK HAD A CRACK IN IT AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO COMMENTED THAT THEY HAD MADE THE SAME REPAIR TO THREE OTHER VEHICLES THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND THAT THE TANKS WERE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACE UNDER INVOICE #220957. DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK LOCKING RING (RECALL 845) UNDER INVOICE #221121. PRIOR TO 06/04/2000 I HAD SMELLED GAS IN MY GARAGE FOR OVER A YEAR, NOT KNOWING IT WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE.*AK

CLOCKSPRING "BROKE" AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HORN/CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK . REPLACED, BUT SAME SYMPTOMS ARE HAPPENING AGAIN. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. I FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SO MANY MINIVANS MADE BY CHRYSLER.

HVAC BLOWER FAN ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. LOWER SPEEDS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. NEEDS THIRD REPLACEMENT. *AK

MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES THIS VAN WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM, AND USUALLY IT OCCURS FROM COLD START, BUT HAS ALSO OCCURRED OVER 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. ALSO LOST TRANSMISSION SENSOR AND THAT KILLED CAR WHILE DRIVING BUT HAS BEEN REPLACED. CHRYSLER IS NOT HELPING AND I AM NERVOUS DRIVING MY KIDS IN THIS VAN. HAD IT 2 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN STRANDED MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES. NOTICED OTHERS WITH SIMILAR UNSAFE SITUATIONS AND HOPE CHRYSLER WILL ADDRESS THEM SOON.*AK

1. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, HORN QUIT WORKING. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS THE CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. 2. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON - COMPUTER CODE INDICATES THIS IS A COIL PACK FAILURE. 3. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 55,000 MI. 4. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON FOR NO REASON 5. A/C FREON CHARGE AT 98,000 6. WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 98,000

CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND MY HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED AT A COST OF $330.28.

ENGINE SHUTS OFF DURING DRIVING OPERATION/DEALER THINKS IT'S A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (THEY CAN'T FIND IT)/PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE1999/I'VE TALKED TO OTHER CARAVAN OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM; THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS EITHER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION WITH A BANG IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. LATER, FOUND OUT THAT TRANSMISSION HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF SITUATION WHICH HAD NOT BEEN SOLVED. *AK CONSUMER IS REQUSTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOWING, RENTAL CAR, MOTEL, AND REPAIR EXPENSES. AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *SLC

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. DID NOT CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK