1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH TOYO SPECTRUM TIRES SIZE 215/65/R15 (NA). THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UNDER 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE ON ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE OTHER THREE TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 12,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 163,462. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A KIT THAT COULD BE INSTALLED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

WIFE WAS DRIVING 96 GRAND CARAVAN LE TO COLLEGE IN THE RAIN. WHEN SHE ARRIVED IN THE PARKING LOT STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN SO SHE PULLED IT STRAIGHT INTO PARKING SPOT. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW BELT HAD COME OFF. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AT HOME. AS SHE STARTED TO REVERSE OUT OF DRIVEWAY STEERING BECAME TOUGH AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS ALSO RAINING AT THIS TIME. THIS HAPPENED EARLY JANUARY 2011. AROUND MARCH 2010, AGAIN WHILE IT WAS RAINING, AS MY WIFE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN THE CAR BEGAN TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE AND SHE HAD TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE. SINCE IT WAS BLOCKING THE ROAD POLICE DID COME BY AND HELP PUSH IF OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME TO TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE. NEW BELT, IDLER PULLEY AND TENSIONER WAS INSTALLED BY MECHANIC. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT (APRIL 2011) PULLEY AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LUCKILY THE SPEED WAS SLOW IN ALL INSTANCES AND NO INJURY OR DAMAGE WAS DONE...YET. *TR

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE 3.8. IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF 2 TIMES WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE OR THE VAN GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED TWICE. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER DODGE OWNERS HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE WHEEL CANNOT BE CONTROLLED WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND MY WIFE IS SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW. I THINK THAT DODGE HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO AS THEY HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, AND ARE NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS REPEATED SERIOUS SAFETY FAULT. *TR

FOR SOME TIME NOW MY WIPERS HAD A MIND OF THERE OWN. THEY WORKED WHEN EVER THEY WANTED. NO AS OF 11/29/10 MY WIPERS WILL NOT EVEN COME ON AT ALL. *TR

1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - LIFETIME LUBRICATED TIEROD END SEPARATED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING - THE RUBBER SEAL DETERIORATED THE GREASE WAS GONE AND THE BALL JOINT CORRODED TO THE POINT IT FELL APART - WIFE WAS PARKING THE VAN AT THE TIME - COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE SHE WAS 150 MILES FROM HOME AT THE TIME LESS THAN A MONTH LATER I SAW ANOTHER DODGE CARAVAN BROKE DOWN ON A HIGHWAY RIGHT FRONT TIRE NOT FACING AS IT SHOULD - I SUSPECT ANOTHER TIE ROD END FAILURE - NOW I KNOW THESE BEARINGS CAN BE MANUFACTURED SO THEY CAN NOT SEPARATE - AIRCRAFT ROD END BEARINGS COME TO MIND - ISN'T A LOSS OF STEERING A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO MAKE A PART SO IT CANT FAIL? *TR

ON JAN 2, 2009 I BOUGHT 4 KENDA TIRES (COOPER TIRE) FROM A DEALER IN WATSONVILLE CA. FIRST, I HAD A BLOWOUT ON ONE. IT WAS REPLACED. THEN A SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. CLOSE CALL. HIT TREE, TOTALED VEHICLE, AIRBAGS OFF ETC. I AM HOLDING THE TIRE FOR YOUR INSPECTION IF YOU WISH...I HAVE PHOTOS. *TR

96 GRAND CARAVAN STRUT MOUNT RUST COULDN'T PASS INSPECTION AND THEY SAID MY KIDS COULD HAVE DIED IF I HAD A ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL. THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVES IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE UNTIL IT MAKES CORPORATION PAY MONEY TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM LET SEE WHAT YOU GUYS DO WITH THIS. SORRY IM UPSET JUST SEEMS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND AS I READ ON THE INTERNET TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT IT CAUSED I CALLED THE TO AND SAID IF I HAD A ISSUE TO WRITE TO YOU GUYS BUT MOST LIKELY NOTHING WILL BE DONE. THAT IS A QUOTE FROM A CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. *TR

FRONT STRUT TOWERS RUSTED THROUGH. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE YET, BUT IF IT COMPLETELY RUSTS, I'M SURE AN ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE NOTHING WILL BE SUPPORTING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHEN EVER IT RAINS OR SNOWS AND A LIL BIT OF MOISTURE GETS UP IN THE ENGINE THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF AND I LOSE EVERYTHING, POWER STEERING, FAN, YOU NAME IT ITS GONE, AND I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED 5 OUT OF 8 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED..2 TIMES I FOUND MYSELF HAVING GOING IN TO A FIELD TO STOP DUE TO STEERING WAS GONE, AND POSSIBLE BURN/ FIRE COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM ENGINE OVER HEATING AND LIQUIDS BOILING/ AND STEAM RISING. LEADING TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO ANYONE NEAR THE VEHICLE, I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND THEY WERE WITH ME 3 OF THE 8 TIMES THE BELT CAME OFF. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY IM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.. THERE IS ALOT MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I DID HOWEVER REPLACE THE BELT ONCE AGAIN, ALONG WITH PULLEY/ TENSIONER ITS GETTING TO BE QUITE EXPENSIVE FOR ME AS A SINGLE MOM. *TR