1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE STRAP ON THE INTEGRATED SEAT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CHILD, THE SEAT WAS UNDER RECALL 98V-0185 BUT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NLM

WHEN PUTTING CAR IN PARK IT MADE A FUNNY NOISE, CONSUMER PUT IT IN REVERSE ,AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION, AND BITS OF PIECES OF METAL WAS EVERYWHERE, LIKE IT HAD EXPLODED.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON STREET. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING GRINDING NOISE, AND GEARS WOULD JERK WHEN PUT IN PLACE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, AND THERE WAS NO POWER IN ANY OF THE GEARS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, DEALER NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MECHANIC STATED HEAD GASKET WAS GOING BAD, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE AUTO SHOPS THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS. *YH

I'VE HAD MY WINDSHIELD CHIPPED TWICE WHILE DRIVING BEHIND A DODGE CARAVAN. I'VE NOTICED THAT ON NEWER VANS PROBABLY '96 AND UP THE SIDE OF THE REAR WHEELS ARE EXPOSED AND NEED REAR MUD FLAPS

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD STILL TRAVEL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SPEED CONTROL DIS-ENGAGED AT 70 MPH, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DROPPED TO APPROX 40 MPH, THEN BOUNCED BACK TO APPROX 55 MPH, SHUT OFF SPEED CONTROL THEN TURNED BACK ON AND WORK FINE. THIS HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME IN MAY 2000. BOTH TIMES IT WAS AFTER SLOWING DOWN BY TOUCHING BRAKE, USING GAS PEDAL TO CONTROL SPEED, THEN PUSHING THE RESUME BUTTON ON SPEED CONTROL.

TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY. THE BRAKE SHOES WERE RUBBED INTO THE DRUM SO BADLY THAT THE DRUMS HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO INDICATION OF BRAKE WEAR, NOISE, OR STOPPING PRIOR TO THIS EVENT.*AK

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, AND POPPING NOISES. HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION AT 37,100 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AT 54,354 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM JOINTS AT 59,421 MILES. TIRES: TIRES LOOSE AIR PRESSURE AND GO FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON INTERMITANTLY, RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES. TIRE BURST WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF A THIRD TIRE. DOOR LOCKS: INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCK. WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH POWER CONTROL. RADIO TAPE DECK: TAPE PLAYER ACTIVATED WITHOUT TAPE IN THE DECK. UNABLE TO STOP TAPE PLAYER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY BROKE, CAUSING ALL POWER STEERING TO BE LOST. VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE BELT TENSIONER ASSEMBLY AND POWER STEERING PULLEY WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM,AND HAPPENED ALL THE TIME. OWNER VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF HIMSELF AND OTHERS. *AK TRANSMISSION JERKS WHILE TAKING OFF FROM STOP. A/C DOES NOT COOL ENOUGH. *YH