1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

ENGINE FAILURE OF SECOND ENGINE IN VEHICLE WITHIN 55,000 MILES. I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE IN MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT 37,000 MILES DUE TO A LIFTER FAILURE OCCASIONED BY WHAT WAS DESCRIBED BY THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AS "SOFT METAL." A LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED AND NOW AT 55000 MILES I AM TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAS A "BAD LIFT" AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THUS, I NOW HAVE HAD TWO ENGINES IN THE SAME CAR EACH OF WHICH HAS FAILED IN ABOUT THE SAME WAY. I HAVE A WARRANTY CLAIM PENDING BUT FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I ASSURE YOU THAT THE CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR AND THAT ALL REQUIRED SERVICE WAS MET OR EXCEEDED. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS NOT ONE OF WHICH HAD ENGINE FAILURE EVEN AFTER A HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND MILES AND CONSIDERABLY LESS METICULOUS CARE.

IGNITION FROZE UP. THE KEY WILL ONLY TURN HALF THE WAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THE IGNITION HOUSING WAS REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. AN ARTICLE APPEARED IN A CONSUMER MAGAZINE THAT DOCUMENTED A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. *AK *NM

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED/CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING, AND HORN WON'T BLOW.*AK

THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE OPAQUE (GREY) WHICH AFFECTED THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONTO THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED DURING OTHER TRIPS TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. THE DRIVER PRESSED DOWN ON THE HORN AND THERE WAS NOT A SOUND. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK RECALL#1500521 *SC

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER PRESSED THE HORN AND THERE WAS NO SOUND COMING FROM THE HORN. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT HORN CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED IN JUNE 2003, ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE BELT AND TENSIONER. THE TENDENCY FOR THE BELT TO SLIP OFF AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH COULD EASILY LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR BY A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER.*AK