1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE AIR BAGS ARE INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEREBY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, INJURING THE NECK/BACK AND SHOULDERS. *AK

THE HATCHBACK DOOR STRUT HINGES FAILED, CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT 60,000 MILES. DIFFERENTIAL PIN RELEASED AND SHATTERED THE CASING. THE CAR JOLTED AS I WAS DRIVING AS IF I FELL IN A DITCH. LUCKILY I HAD JUST PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED(25 MILES/HR). TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS RELEASED ALL OVER THE ROAD.. THE VAN IS AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP RIGHT NOW AND WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $2500. COMPLETE REBUILD IN A NEW CASING REQUIRED. I CAN ASK FOR THE OLD PART SINCE THE CORE IS NO LONGER USABLE FOR A TRADE IN. *JB

THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 GRAND CARAVAN SE WITH 85000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED RUSTING AND CRACKED METAL IN THE AREA OF THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS COMMON, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. ALSO CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE IN DETROIT, AND WAS ALSO TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD AS THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE 3 YEAR/36000 MILES WARRANTY. I SINCERELY HOPE THIS SITUATION IS LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ONE OF THE STRUTS GOES LAUNCHING THROUGH THE HOOD!*AK

THE ENGINE "BLEW UP". APPARENTLY THERE WAS AN OIL PROBLEM" ON THE INSIDE OF ONE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND A CHUNCK OF IT ACTUALLY "BLEW OFF". THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING HOSES, ETC. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE HAD ONLY 77,326 MILES!!! I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR ENGINES IN THIS SAME MINI-VAN AT OR AROUND 70,000-80,000 MILES! NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I SPOKEN WITH AND WAS WARNED THAT THIS WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN BY THE OWNER OF AN AUTO BODY SHOP, PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. HE SAID "WE SEE THESE ENGINES ON THESE MINI-VANS GO BAD RIGHT AROUND 70,000 MILES, LYNN". THIS SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM FOR THE DODGE/CHRYSLER MINI-VAN. *AK

CONSUMER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING THE V IGNITION. RECALL02V293000 WA SISSUED. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

I PURCHASED MY 1998 GRAND CARAVAN IN OCTOBER OF 2003. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS EVERYTHING I WANT AND NEED. I PURCHASED THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AFTER THE OTHER ONE WAS TOTALED BY A DEER. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE AIR CONDITIONER? I REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR IN MY OTHER VAN AND THIS ONE NEEDS THE SAME THING DONE TO IT. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN THE COOLER MONTH, BUT NOW THAT IT REACHES 100 DEGREES HERE IN FLORIDA, I NEED AN AIR CONDITIONER THAT WORKS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY $1,400 TO FIX THIS ONE, I DID IN MY OTHER VAN AND AM STILL MAKING THE PAYMENTS ON THAT REPAIR BILL. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND CANNOT GO ANYWHERE WHEN THE HEAT IS SO INTENSE. MANY PEOPLE WITH A CARAVAN HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MALFUNCTIONING PROBLEM? THANK YOU!*AK