1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON A FUEL RAIL PROBLEM. ON 10/08/02 MY WIFE TOOK OUR VAN IN FOR THE APPOINTMENT AT SAVANNAH DODGE FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN SHE PICKED IT UP THEY TOLD HER THEY NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY HAD DIAGNOSED IT AS A CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. THEY TOLD HER IT WOULD BE $181 TO REPAIR IT. WE TOLD THEM WE WOULDN'T DO IT THEN. ON NOVEMBER 5 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A LEFT FRONTAL COLLISION AND ONLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN OUR CAR. THAT IS NOT THE POINT OF MY COMPLAINT. TODAY WE RECEIVED A HAND WRITTEN POSTCARD FROM THE DEALER SAYING OUR CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FACTORY RECALL CLOCKSPRING B24. I THOUGHT THIS WAS QUITE UNUSUAL THAT THE NOTICE CAME FROM THE DEALER AND NOT CHRYSLER. I JUST DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IN AUGUST 2001 TSB 08-010-01 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND THERE'S QUITE A CONSUMER CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM OR NOT AND WHETHER IT WARRANTS A SAFETY RECALL. SO WHAT'S SUDDENLY CHANGED? IS IT REALLY A RECALL OR IS THE DEALER JUST TRYING TO DRUM UP BUSINESS? THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICE. I HAVE SAVED THE POSTCARD IN CASE YOU'D LIKE IT. DT

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON THIS MINIVAN APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. YES, I GOT A WARRANTY BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR AND BRAKES SHOULD BE LASTING 40,000 MILES OR MORE. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT BRAKES, OR WHEEL BEARINGS. (WHICH I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE) DT

HORN DOESN'T WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. DT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCK SPRINGS WHICH IT AFFECTS HER CRUISE CONTROL THE AIR BAG AND HORN CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE KNOWS THAT A RECALL MAY COME OUT SOON AND JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE HER VEHICLE IS INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A OFICCIAL RECALL YET. TS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON HORN WOULDN'T WORK CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK DEALER KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. DT

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE EXPOSURE OF THE SUN HAD CAUSED THE LENSES TO BECOME CLOUDED, WHICH REDUCED THE LIGHTING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. MR *JB

THE SEAT BELT ON BOTH INTEGATED CHILD SEATS FAILED WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. ONE FAILED WHILE VAN WAS IN MOTION WITH CHILD IN SEAT. THE LATCH SYSTEM THAT LOCKS THE SHOULDER BELTS BROKE. THIS FAILURE PREVENTS THE SHOULDER BELTS FROM SAFELY RESTRAINING A CHILD IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE SOMETHING IN THE CABLE ASSEMBLY THAT LOCKS SHOULDER BELTS AFTER BUCKLE IS LATCHED. I WAS TOLD REPAIR WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND COMPLETE SEAT REPLACEMENT WAS MY ONLY OPTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS FAILURE COULD PUT A CHILD IN SEVERE RISK IF IT HAPPEN DURING AN ACCIDENT. DT

CONSUMER STATES HEAD LAMP BECOME POOR VISIBILITY, FOGGED AND HARD TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON ALL BY THEMSELF. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG IS FUNCTIONAL OR NOT. DT

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE HOOD BECAME ATTACH FROM THE PANEL. AND FLEW IN THE WINDOW THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR