1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR) ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. THE WIPERS COME ON "MAGICALLY" WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR WIPER SOMETIMES COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR PROLONGED PERIODS, ESPECIALLY IF THE REAR DEFROSTER IS ON. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THREE TIMES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE DEALER NOW TELLS ME THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER OF THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED....A $700 REPAIR!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! I CAN NOT AFFORD $700 FOR THIS REPAIR, OR SHOULD I HAVE TO. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS LIKE THIS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN DODGE'S DESIGN. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. I KNOW OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND SOMETIMES THEIR WIPERS JUST STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR SNOW. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ME....ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN A RAINSTORM! WHY HAVEN'T THESE VEHICLES BEEN RECALLED FOR THESE PROBLEMS? WILL IT TAKE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FATALITIES BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? IF DODGE DOES NOT DO SOMETHING TO FIX MY PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE, THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHYRSLER PRODUCT I WILL EVER OWN. PAUL BAZIL

CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED WITHOUT DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. IT WAS VERY HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AFTER IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. *AK

BODY MODULE FOR 96 GRAND CARAVAN PART # 04686930 FAILED. *AK THIS MODULE CONTROLS BODY ELEMENTS: POWER WINDOWS, POWER LOCKS, A/C, INTERIOR FEATURES, INSTRUMENTS (ODOMETER SPECIFICALLY) AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASE TO OPERATE UPON FAILURE OF THIS MODULE. THIS CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME, AT ANY PLACE (PARKED OR DRIVING) UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITIONS (SUNSHINE OR HURRICANE). I SEE THIS AS A CRITICAL DESIGN FLAW. FUNCTIONALITY OF A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT, WINDSHIELD WIPERS,IS TIED TO A PART THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED EASILY. ACCODING TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, THE PART IS NOT PRODUCED ANY MORE, IT IS NOT STOCKED. THE ORDER WILL NOT BE FILLED. THE PART IS NOT READILY REPAIRABLE. THE MODULE MUST BE PROGRAMMED WITH VEHICLE INFORMATION (FEATURES, ODOMETER READINGS) SO THE PART IS NOT STOCKED BY DEALERS OR DISTRIBUTORS. CUSTOMERS MUST WAIT FOR OLD PART TO COME IN AND BE RECONDITIONED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER CANNOT DELIVER PARTS TO BE PROGRAMMED AND RESTORE FUNCTIONALITY AND SAFETY TO VEHICLES.

CONSUMER STATED BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. *AK CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1991 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - TENSIONER PULLEY. *PH *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER STRUT TOWER HOUSING RUSTED SEVERELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE FOM RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT STRUT TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHILED RIVING AT NORMAL SPEED FRONT LEFT AXLE BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT WARRANTY.*AK

ROCKER ARM PEDISTAL SHEARED OFF CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. MULTIPLE REPAIR CENTERS BELIEVE CAUSE IS DESIGN FLAW OF CYLINDER HEAD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE FAILED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ENGINE'S MAIN COMPUTER WOULD NOT FIRE THE #2 AND #5 SPARK PLUGS, RESULTING IN FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 OTHER MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER FAILURES SINCE VEHICLE OWNERSHIP.*AK

CAMSHAFT ON 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FAILED (BROKE INTO TWO PIECES) WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE OHIO TURNPIKE WITH FAMILY (TWO YOUNG CHILDREN) IN THE VAN - FAILURE OF ALL POWER ASSIST AND FOWARD MOTION (OTHER THAN COASTING) WAS IMMEDIATE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT THE TIME AND IF THE ROAD HAD BEEN BUSIER THE POTENTIAL EXISITED FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE INJURY/DEATH. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 98,100 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME (3.3L ENGINE). THIS FAILURE MAY BE RELATED TO CHRYSLER TSB 09-008-01 WHICH DISCUSSES CAMSHAFT FAILURE WITH CAMSHAFT BEARING WEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DAIMLER/CHRYSLER "STEP UP TO THE PLATE" ON THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OCCURING. I WILL BE CONTACTING D/C TO PURSUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEW ENGINE AS AN EVENT LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR.