1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WE CONTACTED THE CLOSEST SERVICE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER INFORMED US BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 70,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE THEY WOULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL UNLESS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. WHAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY THE NOTICE SAYS THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAS 70,000 OR LESS MILES TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED EVEN IF APPEARS THE CLOCKSPRING IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. BUT IF THE VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN 70,000 MILES TO WAIT UNTIL THE CLOCKSPRING FAILS. SINCE THE CLOCKSPRING IS A KNOWN DEFECT. WHO WILL BE LIABLE IF THE CLOCKSPRING FAILS ON OUR VEHICLE AND WE DON'T GET IT REPLACED IN TIME BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG IS NOT DEPLOYED RESULTING IN INCREASED INJURY TO THE DRIVER IN A FRONTAL CRASH? *AK

WE NOTICED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO FIRESTONE. PROBLEM DUE TO BAD LEAK DETECTION PUMP. LDP ON ORDER BUT VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THREE DAYS. THE DAY LDP ARRIVES SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUITS. COMPUTER BURNED OUT. ORDERED REBUILT COMPUTER, SINCE NO NEW COMPUTERS AVAILABLE, FROM DODGE. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN 14 DAYS WAITING FOR COMPUTER. FIRESTONE INSTALLS COMPUTER. THREE DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. FIRESTONE SAYS PROBLEM DUE TO BAD LDP. OBTAIN NEW LDP FROM DODGE BUT INSTALLED BY FIRESTONE. TWO DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. FIRESTONE RESETS COMPUTER BUT CODES KEEPS DISPLAYING. FIRESTONE SAYS PROBLEM BEYOND THEIR EXPERTISE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DODGE. DODGE INSPECTS VEHICLE SAYS COMPUTER BURNED OUT. DODGE HAS VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS WAITING REPLACEMENT COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY. DODGE REPLACES COMPUTER AND CHECKS WIRING HARNESS FOR LOOSE CONNECTIONS. TWO DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. DODGE SAYS COMPUTER BURNED OUT. DODGE REPLACES AND THIRD COMPUTER WHICH BURNS OUT. DODGE SUSPECTS BAD LDP, BUT RULES OUT WHEN INFORMED LDP WAS REPLACED LESS THAN ONE MONTH. DODGE REPLACES AND BURNS OUT FOURTH COMPUTER. 26 DAYS AND FIVE COMPUTERS LATER, DODGE SAYS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS PROBLEM. DODGE CONSULTS WITH CHRYSLER TECHNICAL WHO RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS. WE DECLINE BECAUSE NOT A SURE FIX AND HAVE DODGE PUT THE VEHICLE BACK TOGETHER. DODGE DISCONNECTED WIRE BETWEEN LDP AND COMPUTER TO PREVENT COMPUTER FROM BURNING UP. UPON TAKING VEHICLE HOME RADIATOR LEAK DISCOVERED WHICH WE REPLACE. WIRING HARNESS INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL EXPERT WHO SAID VEHICLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO TRACE.*AK

WHEN BRAKING CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AFTER REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MUFFLER/INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE MUFFLER AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK. 2. MANIFOLD BOLTS RUSTED AND BROKEN, WHICH COULD CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT WITH SUDDEN BREAKDOWN WHILE DRIVING. 3. OVERHAUL COOLANT SYSTEM. *AK

WHEN SERPENTINE BELT GETS WET ITWILL COME OFF OF THE PULLEY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES AND CONSUME RLODT CONTROL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS AS RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL *TC

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *SC

WHEN TURNING A CORNER AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF. THEN, HORN WENT OUT, AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. RECALL 02V293000 WAS ISSUED FOR 1996 AND 1998, BUT NONE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK *SC

HAD A COMPLETE CHECK DONE ON VAN BEFORE LEAVING FOR A LONG VACATION TRIP. AT THIS CHECK IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WE DID SO THINKING THIS WAS NORMAL MAINTENANCE. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER WE NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AND WITHIN ONE DAY AFTER TRYING TO MAKE A STOP AT A TURNING LANE AFTER GOING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR. TOOK TO GARAGE AND FRONT BRAKES HAD GONE TO THE ROTORS. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THEM CHECKED EVERY FOUR WEEKS DUE TO THE HORRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WE CONTINUE TO HEAR. *AK