1994 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH HAD A FRONT CRASH,AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, SUFFERING MINOR INJURIES.*AK

MY WIFE TRIED TO HAVE TWO NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON THE FRONT AXLE OF HER VAN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A NEW DOT REGULATION PROHIBITING FRONT-MOUNTING OF TWO TIRES. THIS MAKES NO SENSE IN A VEHICLE THAT IS FRONT-HEAVY, OF WHICH THERE ARE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER ON THE ROAD. THE INSTALLER MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT UNDERSTEER AND CONTROLLABILITY AND THE FORD/FIRESTONE FLAP (HE WASN'T TOO SURE). IF THAT IS THE REASON IT SOUNDS TO ME AS IF BAD SCIENCE AND MEDIA HYPE ARE DICTATING POLICY. I SUSPECT THAT EXCESSIVE SPEED, OVERLOADING, AND NEGLECTED MAINTAINENCE CAUSED A MAJORITY OF THE FORD/FIRESTONE FAILURES. ANYWAY, IWOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THIS NEW REGULATION: WHAT IT IS, WHAT INSPIRED IT, WHY IT WAS DEVELOPED, AND WHO IMPLEMENTED IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE. REGARDS, JOCK SELFRIDGE. *AK

TRAVELING ALONG THE INTERSTATE, VIBRATION DEVELOPED. PULLED OVER & EXAMINED ALL 4 TIRES/WHEELS. NO FOREIGN MATTER, LUGS TIGHT, WHEELS TIGHT, NO VISIBLE TIRE/WHEEL TRBL. TIRE PRESS SET TO MFG RECOMMENDED 35PSI. DID NOT STRIKE ANY ROAD DEBRIS. AFTER ANOTHER 20 MILES, TREAD PEELED AWAY DAMAGING WHEEL WELL MOULDINGS, REAR BUMPER, & SIDE PAINT FINISH. TIRE RETAINED PRESSURE. WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OVER SAFELY & STOP. TIRE PRESSURE VERIFIED AT REPLACEMENT. PHOTOS OF TIRE & VEHICLE AVAILABLE. APPROX 10K MILES ON TIRE. (DOT NUMBER: CKHB2MC529 TIRESIZE: P21575R14)

FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR SEPARATED FROM HINGE ON TWO OCCASIONS. CONSUMER STATED DOOR HINGE WAS NOT RUSTED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS DODGE VAN WILL FAIL AT UNKNOWN TIMES. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE OR SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. IT CAN FAIL WHILE TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. IT CAN AND HAS FAILED IN THE CENTER LANE OF THE DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY AT 3:00PM ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN IT FAILS THE CAR IS TOTALLY WITHOUT DRIVE POWER AND CANNOT BE MOVED. THE DEALER HAS SEEN THIS AND CANNOT 'DETERMINE A CAUSE' I HAVE REPORTED TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER ( TRACKING NUMBER 355565) NO RESPONSE FROM EITHER.*AK

BROUGHT VAN TO ATTENTION OF DEALER D/T DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS NOT AT UPRIGHT POSITION, COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO UPRIGHT POSITION. DEALER LUBRICATED IT, CHARGED US $40. DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RETURNED VAN TO DEALER AFTER SEEING SIMILAR REPORTS REPORTED ON THIS SITE. DEALER SET UP APPOINTMENT FOR VAN TO BE RETURNED TO HAVE A BRACKET REPLACED. UNABLE TO FIX AT OUR APPOINTMENT D/T THEY HADN'T ORDERED THE PART. MECHANIC STATED THAT VAN WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, KEPT VAN WHILE AWAITING PART ARRIVAL SEVERAL DAYS LATER. REPLACED BRACKET AT THIRD APPOINTMENT. SEAT MARKEDLY WORSE, "SPONGY" AS WELL AS RECLINED. OBVIOUSLY NO SUPPORT, SEAT COULD BE RECLINED BY PUSHING WITH HAND, NO NEED TO RELEASE LEVER. DEALER INSISTED CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ORDERED ADDITIONAL PARTS. UNABLE TO SERVICE CAR AT FOURTH APPOINTMENT D/T SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE TIME. DID PROVIDE RENTAL REPLACEMENT. AT FIFTH APPOINTMENT, BOTH SEAT TRACK RAILINGS ("ADJUSTER 23047006") WERE REPLACED; ONE WAS OBVIOUSLY BROKEN. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND SEAT NOW WORKS PROPERLY AND SAFELY.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TIE ROD BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

TAILGATE WILL NO LONGER LATCH PROPERLY, DOOR HAS TO BE SLAMMED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE IT SHUTS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 52 MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID A DOG, AND VEHICLE SWUNG TO THE RIGHT. ROLLED 1 TIME, AND ENDED UP RIGHT SIDE UP. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, NO INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES 99V113000/ AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; 99V213000/LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET, AND 00V305000/ STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE MAIL. WHEN DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS, SHE WAS TOLD THAT WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN EXAMINED FOR THESE RECALLS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK