1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

RACK AND PINION WAS LOCKING UP ON TURNS CAUSING DIFFICULTY TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

3 SPEED (NON AOD) TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRYING TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY. TEARDOWN REVEALED MASSIVE INTERNAL FAILURE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED DOWN TO 25 MPH, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND TRANSMISSION/ ENGINE MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF, CAUSING POWERSTEERING TO GO OUT. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A TSB OUT ON THAT COMPONENT, AND THAT BELT WOULD COME OFF AS SOON AS VEHICLE WENT THROUGH 6 INCHES OF SNOW. *AK INSTALLING A SNOW GUARD WASHER SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *YH

ENGINE HAD LEAKING SEALS WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO LEAK. FUMES WOULD COME FROM BLOWER (DEFROSTER) WHEN IT WAS TURNED ON. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ENGINE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ERRATIC & WOULD COME ON OR OFF BY THEMSELVES, AND HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH STARTER. *AK GASOLINE LEAKS FROM THE TANK DUE TO THE SEAL FAILURE. INSIDE DOOR PANEL ON DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKEN. *YH

ALL SIX SEATBELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE SEATBELT WAS WEARING OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE LESS PROTECTION IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *AK THE SEAT BELTS WERE POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. *YH

VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING BOTH AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, THE PASSENGER WHO IS UNDER 5 FEET TALL EXPERIENCED DAMAGE TO THE FACE AND EYES BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. *SLC

FUEL INJECTION DELIVERY SYSTEM LEAKS FUEL FROM SOME OF THE SEALING O-RING OR FROM HAIR LINE CRACKS IN THERMOSTAT FUEL INJECTION RAIL. *AK THE O-RINGS HAD RUPTURED ON THE FUEL INJECTION RAIL CAUSING THE FUEL TO RUN ON TO THE VALVE COVERS AND MANIFOLDS. *YH

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING IN REVERSE WHEN WEATHER IS COLD. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND HAD SOME REPAIRS DONE AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

HAD JUST TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONER WHEN CONDENSATION STARTED TO BUILD UP & DRIPPED ON BELT CONTROLLING STEERING. THIS CAUSED BELT TO SLIP & LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #19-01-97 REVISED A WAS SENT ON THE PROBLEM. REPLACING AIR CONDITIONER. *AK THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW BY THE MANUFACTURER, ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR. *YH