1998 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE CLOUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER.

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN THAT THE GAUGES DO NOT REGISTER OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, THE LIGHTS, HORN, TURN SIGNALS AND ACCESSORIES STILL WORK, ON THE CAUTION PANEL THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, THE DODGE DEALER(OZARK, ALABAMA) HAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER, AND ELECTRICAL BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD IT WORKS FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS THEN GO DEAD AGAIN. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP DETACHED, FELL INTO THE TANK ASSEMBLY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE A FILM OVER THEM WHICH MAKE IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 05/22/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A PIN LOST INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN WET CONDITIONS, THE SERPENTINE BELT FRACTURED AND SLIPPED OFF. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR.

MY 1998 DODGE CARAVAN (CURRENT MILEAGE 108,000 MILES) HAS SEVERE CORROSION AROUND THE TOP TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED BY A MECHANIC LAST SUMMER, BUT HAS SINCE ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND LOOKS LIKE A SAFETY RISK SHOULD THE TOWER COLLAPSE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ANY SUDDEN FAILURE. THERE IS VERY MILD CORROSION IN THE SAME TOP AREA OF THE OTHER STRUT TOWER. I WAS TOLD BY A DODGE DEALER IN ST. PAUL THAT CHRYSLER WAS COVERING ALL OR PORTIONS OF SELECT TOWER REPAIRS. WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER TODAY I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT A SUBJECT OF RECALL AND, THEREFORE, NOT COVERED WHATSOEVER. I DID FIND CONSIDERABLE INFO ON THIS PROBLEM AT AN INTERNET SITE CALLED ALLPAR.COM WHICH WAS QUITE HELPFUL. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO OPERATE . HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER; THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BECOME INTERMITTENT AND GETTING WORSE TO THE POINT OF NOT COMING ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON FOR A HALF HOUR. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE PANEL LIGHTS SUCH AS FOR THE AC UNIT ETC BEGAN TO BLINK AT A CONSTANT RATE AND THEN THEY STEADY OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES. HAVE GONE TO TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS. FIRST ONE HAD ME PAY FOR AND REPLACE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SECOND DEALER SAID I HAVE TO ORDER A $500 BODY CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER PLUS LABOR AND IT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT IS A NON-REFUNDABLE EXPENSE EVEN IF THEY CANNOT FIX THE WIPERS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE WIPERS WORKING AND I FEEL IRRESPONSIBLE THAT A COMPUTER IS NECESSARY FOR THE WIPERS TO WORK. THE NTSB SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER DODGE TO FIX THIS SITUATION AT DODGE'S EXPENSE SINCE IT IS AN OBVIOUS SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *JB