1996 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

I COMPLAINED TO THE CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTING THAT THEY FIX A DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FOR FREE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I FIX IT ASAP SINCE ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS A DEFECT AND I HAVE EVEN READ IT AS A RECALL IN OTHER DOCUMENTS. THE AIRBAG AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. TEXAS WILL NOT EVEN SAFETY APPROVE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS BEING FIXED.*AK

1996 DODGE CARAVAN SUFFERS FROM INTERMITTENT "BODY CONTROL MODULE". ONE OF THE POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAILURE IS RANDOM FAILURES OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS FAILURE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND APPARENTLY WIDESPREAD OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IS REPLACEABLE ONLY AT CHRYSLER DEALERS WHO CHARGE OVER $700 TO REPLACE THIS MODULE. THEY HAVE CONTRACTED WITH SOME NATIONAL SERVICE FACILITIES TO REPAIR THE MODULES (INCLUDING "UNITED RADIO" IN SYRACUSE NY) BUT THESE SERVICE FACILITES ARE CONTRACTUALLY PROHIBITED FROM PERFORMING REPAIRS ON MODULES SUBMITTED BY ANYONE EXCEPT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER. THIS FAILURE IS DANGEROUS AND DAIMLER/CHRYSLER IS USING IT AS A CASH-COW INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT AT NO CHARGE.*AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE CLOUDED OVER. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, EVEN WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING RECALL 02V293000 ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A ACCIDENT. *AK *SC *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS LENS DEVELOPED A DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE STATE INSPECTOR CHARGED CONSUMER $155.00 TO CLEAN THE LENS. THE CAUSE OF THE DISCOLORATION WAS DUE TO THE TYPE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL BEING USED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON BY THEMSELF WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED. DEALERSHIP URGED CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR ARMS AND THE BCM. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED, AND CURRENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. TSB 083198A WAS ISSUED. *AK

AS A PRECAUTION TO OTHER DRIVERS.MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN 125000 MILES,UPON LEAVING A PARKING LOT AFTER A HIGHWAY SPEED AND CITY SPEED TRIP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD.A POLICE OFFICER WAVED ME TO STOP.UPON INSPECTION OF THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WE FOUND THE OUTER TIE ROD JOINT BROKE SEPERATING AT THE BALL SOCKET CAUSING THE WHEEL TO NOT MOVE WITH THE STEERING.BY THE GRACE OF GOD IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE WAY WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD.WE WERE ABLE THE CHANGE THE TIE OUTER TIE ROD SO WE COULD RETURN HOME.THE OTHER DRIVER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED THE NEXT DAY AS A PRECAUTION.IS THERE A RECALL ABOUT THESE TIE RODS? THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM A AFTERMARKET PARTS STORE APPEAR HEAVY DUTY COMPARED TO THE ORIGINALS.THE ORIGINAL PART SHOWED WEAR ON THE BALL ASWELL AS THE SOCKET.THE REPACEMENT PART HAS A GREASE FITTING TO LUBE THE JOINT AND THE ORIGINAL DOES NOT.PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA E-MAIL IF A RECALL EXIST OR WITH QUESTIONS.PLEASE INFORM THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THESE PARTS INSPECTED BEFORE A PROBLEMS OCCURS FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND BEST REGARDS /DAVID DEROUEN. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY WEEK DUE TO A OIL LEAK FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT WITH NO WARNING. USUALLY WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR TO TURN, SUCH AS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP. ALL THE SUDDEN NO POWER STERRING AN CAR IS DEAD. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES SEVERAL TIMES.NOTHING DONE, CZN'T FIND PROBLEM WHEN HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. *AK *NM