1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF 3 TIMES DUE TO SNOW AND RAIN SPLASHING UPON THE ENGINE RESULTING IN POWER STEERING TO FAIL AND ENGINE OVER HEATED. *YH

AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO NOT COOL THE AIR. TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR (GEMINI) DEALER IN WADSWORTH, OH WHO CHARGED THE UNIT AND ADDED DYE TO PINPOINT THE COOLANT LOSS POINT. ON RETURN THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE EVAPORATOR WHICH BY INFERENCE FROM THEIR COMMENTS IS QUITE COMMON. COST WAS $742.00 PLUS THE PREVIOUS CHARGE OF $75.00. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOMETHING THIS COMMON IS A FAULT THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE MFG. NOTED A 94 COMPLAINT ON NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME THING WITH COSTS ALMOST IDENTICAL.

I'VE HAD A HALF DOZEN CUSTOMERS' CARAVANS WITH GOODYEAR CONQUEST TIRES THAT I'VE CAUGHT IN TIME TO AVOID ANY BLOWOUTS. THESE TIRES ARE SLIPPING BELTS, AND THE TREADS ARE SEPARATING. THE WORST CASE WAS ONE 1998 CARAVAN WITH 35K MILES, AND 3 OF 4 TIRES WERE ABOUT TO LET GO.(STEEL BELTS BREAKING THROUGH TREAD AROUND 1/2 CIRCUMFERENCE OF TIRE) I DON'T BELIEVE AIR PRESSURE TO BE AN ISSUE HERE!!*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/70/15? )

SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF DURING A 25 MPH TURN. BELT THEN WRAPPED ITSELF UP IN A/C PULLEY. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR ENSUED. I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NOW 3 TIMES FOR ALTERNATOR OR BELT PROBLEMS - THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF TSB AFFECTING THE SERPENTINE BELT. *AK

FUEL WAS POURING OUT FROM VEHICLE WHEN TANK WAS FIRST BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE. DEALER HAS REPLACED O-RING 2 TIMES/ A FILLER TUBE AND GAS TANK ONCE WITHIN 2 YEARS. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP ALSO REPLACED O-RING ONCE, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, AND THE MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BRAKE ROTOR RUSTED AND CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. DEALER CLAIMS THAT IT IS NOT AN ITEM WHICH IS COVERED BY WARRANTY. I AM APPEALING TO CHRYSLER AS THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST. NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL ON EARLIER CHRYSLER VEHICLES FOR BRAKE ROTOR CORROSION. RECALL NO. 98V005. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP/DIED DUE TO COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXING TOGETHER IN RADIATOR, AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. *AK *ML