1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WE HIT WATER ON THE ROAD AND THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF, YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AT THE TIME IF IT HAPPENS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC YOU COULD HAVE A CRASH. WHEN LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM I FOUND IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. GATES MAKES AN AFTER MARKET FIX PART# 38379K. DODGE WILL NOT FIX IT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE STOPPED AND PREPARING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, DESTROYING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 03/23/11 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE TIRE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND EXHIBITED SIGNS OF RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE UNATTAINABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED A FUEL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE FUEL RAIL. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AGO UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V268000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR PART WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, THE HIGH FUEL PRESSURE LINE SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO MASSIVE CORROSION AND THE FUEL PUMP LINE EXHIBITED A CRACK. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPLACEMENT FUEL SENDING UNIT THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 2004 CRACKED. UPDATD 10/25/10

1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, TRAVELING WESTBOUND WHEN HIS RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. UNIT 1 SPUN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND CAME TO REST IN THE MEDIAN. *BF THE RIGHT REAR FENDER HAD MINOR CONTACT DAMAGE FROM THE TIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0236-89) *JB UPDATED 08/06/10 *BF

THE BELT TENSIONER ON MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE 3.3L ENGINE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT HAS A DESIGN FLAW, THE BELT COMES OFF WHEN THE VAN IS DRIVEN THROUGH PUDDLES. I HAVE OWNED MY VAN FOR 2 YEARS AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BELT AND COORDINATING PARTS ABOUT 7 TIMES. I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CHILDREN AROUND DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS NOR DO I FEEL COMFORTABLE SELLING THIS VEHICLE TO ANOTHER FAMILY AND PASSING THIS SEVERE PROBLEM ON TO THEM. PLEASE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS DESIGN DEFECT AND DO A RECALL!!!!! *TR

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID NO STOPPING ABILITY EXCEPT EMERGENCY BRAKE (ONLY EFFECTIVE AT LOW SPEED). *TR

TURNING OUT PARKING LOT AND DID NOT SEE POLE. DAMAGED MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT AND MY FENDER. *TR

TURNING OUT PARKING LOT AND DID NOT SEE POLE. DAMAGED MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT AND MY FENDER. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO NOT BE BRIGHT ENOUGH. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME KIND OF FILMS BLOCKING THE LIGHT. *TR