1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE VAN CARAVAN. INTERMITTENTLY THE CRUISE CONTROL STAR TO FAIL, SOME TIME WOULD TURN ON OTHER TIMES WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL AND THEN DIED THEN THE HORN QUIT WORKING AND THEN E FEW WEEKS LATER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT THE VAN AT PARKED WOULD START THEN SHUT OFF; START SHUT OFF. IT DOES THAT FIVE TIMES AND THEN IT DIES. 20 MINUTES LATER IT WOULD START JUST FINE. A FRIEND OF MINE CALL TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE WERE A FEW RECALLS ON THIS VAN. ONE OF THEM WAS THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE REAR SOUND BARRIER/OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS. THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT STATS OFF BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON BY IT SELF AND THE SHUTS OFF BY IT SELF. THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL NO ENGAGING. THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH ENGINE NOT STATING, IT WAS GOOD FOR A WHILE AFTER THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED BUT AFTER FOUR WEEKS IS DOING IT AGAIN ALONG WITH WHEN I AM DRIVING IT WONT BE NO FUNCTION ON THE PANEL. IT BLACKS OUT AND NO GAUGES ACTIVITY ( SPEEDOMETER,RPM :PANEL LIGHT: TEMP;GAS;ETC;ETC. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO ANY RECALLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

OUR MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELTS STOP WORKING. THEY DON'T RETRACK ON THEIR OWN. THIS IS ABOUT THE 4TH WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEM BOTH. WE JUST REPLACED THEM IN JANUARY OF 07 AND THEY DON'T RETRACK AGAIN. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE PIN OR I FORGET WHAT THEY CALLED IT SNAPPED AGAIN. WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THEY WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY. WE ARE AFRAID THAT EVEN AFTER REPLACING THEM THAT THEY WILL NOT PROTECT OR KIDS IF GOD FORBID WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT. THEY KEEP BREAKING WITH JUST EVERYDAY USE. EACH SEAT BELT COST AROUND $200.00 JUST FOR THE PARTS AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER FOR A MONTH AND NOW MY KIDS CAN'T SIT IN THE MIDDLE ROWS. *TR

1998 DODGE CARAVAN SE FRONT STRUT COVERS ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH AND I CAN VIEW THE GROUND BENEATH. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED IN SUCH A CRITICAL LOCATION TO THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. I AM CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE AND SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF OF ACCESSORY PULLEYS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER VEHICLE FUNCTIONS, POSSIBLY AT ANY SPEED. WET WEATHER IS A CONSTANT CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, ALTHOUGH IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS DEFECT TO OCCUR. *TR

MY DAUGHTER'S VAN WITH 2 KIDS INSIDE. (1) NO CAUSE. FOUR FAILURES OF SAME PARTS. BELT AND RELATED PULLEYS. DEALER(S) CAN'T REPAIR PROPERLY. (NUMEROUS SIMILAR PROBLEMS NOTED ON THE NET.) (2)REPEATED SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE - 98 DODGE CARAVAN, 3.0L ENGINE. CAUSES INSTANT POWER STEERING LOSS, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND MORE. COULD EASILY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL, INJURY OR DEATH. (3) PARTS REPLACES 4 TIMES. NOT FIXED, BELTS STILL SQUEAL AND WILL COME OFF AGAIN.(JUST FOUND OUT AFTERMARKET GOODYEAR AND GATES KITS ARE AVAILABLE WITH REDESIGNED PULLEYS AND BELT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER DEALER MENTIONED NOTHING ABOUT THEM) IF ONLY SOME OF WHAT I HAVE READ IS CORRECT, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY-RELATED RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. AFTER PARKING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHILE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THE DRIVER FELT HEAT UNDERNEATH HER FEET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND LABELED AS DESTROYED. THE FUEL PUMP AND RADIATOR WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 148,000.

LENS ON HEADLIGHTS FOG UP WITH TEXTURED SURFACE ON OUTSIDE. UNABLE TO GET LIGHT THROUGH. *JB

1998 DODGE CARAVAN WITH STRUT PROBLEMS CONCERNING RUST. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE STRUTS MOUNT TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UN-REPAIRED. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC, THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH CARAVANS. THE MECHANIC WENT ON TO SAY THE STRUTS WERE MOUNTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED SEVERAL OPINIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT EVENTUALLY THE STRUTS WILL FORCE THEIR WAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDED DEALERS WITH A REPAIR KIT WHICH WELDS A NEW STRUT OVER THE OLD ONE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY AN AMBULANCE. THE CRASH CAUSED HIM TO LIE FLAT ON HIS BACK AND THE SEAT TO BEND BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE SEAT UPRIGHT, BUT COULD NOT BECAUSE THE SEAT FAILED IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LOWER BACK, WALKING IMMOBILITY, AND SHOOTING PAINS UP AND DOWN HIS LEFT SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT UNLESS HE HAS THE DAMAGED SEAT TO BE REPAIRED, THEY HAVE NO WORDS OR ASSISTANCE FOR HIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 165,000.

DASHBOARD DISPLAY INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. *AK