1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

OWNER REPORTED RAW FUEL ODOR AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK. PREVIOUS TSB #845 RECALL (O-RING) WAS PERFORMED 04/21/2000 AND VERIFIED OK. SERVICE AGENT REPORTS VENT ASSEMBLY ON GAS TANK DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING. FIX INVOLVED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK WITH NEW MODEL, AS PRESENT VENT ASSEMBLY IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED NOR COMPATIBLE WITH ORIGINAL TANK. DODGE POST WARRANTY PARTICIPATED FOR 50% OF MATL COST OF TANK ONLY. DISSATISFIED OWNER MADE TO INCUR $302 MATL/$100 LABOR + TAX TO INCUR FIX. OWNER REQUESTED DEFECTIVE PART; DODGE SERVICE AGENT REFUSED CITING NOT APPLICABLE TO EXTENDED POST WARRANTY OFFER AND NEED FOR SERVICE REP TO ACCOUNT FOR SAME. WOULD ONLY RELEASE PART IF OWNER FULLY PAID FOR FIX. (SOUNDED LIKE A RUSE.) OWNER WAS FORCED TO ACCEPT OFFER IN LIGHT OF SAFETY CONCERNS. SUGGEST INVESTIGATION OF DEFECTIVE PART, AS CURRENTLY HELD BY SERVICE AGENT AND WHY ORIGINAL PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO ACCOMMODATE REPAIR MAKING THE FIX TO MANUFACTURER'S NEW DESIGNS(DESIRES)? OWNER HAS EXPRESSED HIS TOTAL DISSATISFACTION TO SERVICE AGENT WITH NO RESULTS, SHORT OF SUGGESTED WITHDRAWAL OF OFFER. SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED IF OWNER DID NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE "FIX" HE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE OWNER NOT COMPLETELY FILL UP THE GAS TANK. OWNER NOTES AN EXTREMELY CLOSE PROXIMITIY OF THE DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL (AND REPLACED) PLASTIC VENT ASSEMBLY TO REAR MUFFLER ASSEMBLY. THE REPLACEMENT TANK IS ALSO PLASTIC. THE ORIGINAL GAS TANK WAS REPORTED TO BE "GOOD" AT TIME OF RECALL, AND AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT. SERVICE MANAGER ALLUDED TO FREE REPLACEMENT OF TANKS SHOWN TO BUCKLE OR BOW AT TIME OF RECALL #845. SIMILAR OFFER WAS NOT EXTENDED AT PRESENT TIME OF REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK.*AK

I HAVE A GRAND CARAVAN ES PURCHASED NEW IN 1996. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE AIR BAG, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HORN ALL QUIT AT ONCE. BEING UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN CLOCK (SP.) SPRING LOCATED BEHIND THE AIR BAG. THIS DEVICE APPARENTLY AFFECTS ALL THREE NON-WORKING SYSTEMS, AND WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM, $350 TO FIX. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS AND A RECALL "COULD BE IN THE WORKS" ADDITIONALLY, FOR SOME REASON DURING COLD WEATHER MY TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING, AS THE LEVER ENTERS THE STALK IN THE CLOCK SPRING AREA I SUSPICION IT IS AFFECTING THEM ALSO.

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME, MANUFACTURER STATES OUT OF WARRANTY THIS TIME. EXTREMELY RUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT CHRYSLER HOTLINE STATED CAR IS OLD AND NO ONE IN THE CHYRSLER CORPORATION CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HISTORY OF THIS TRANSMISSION IS POOR AND MANUFACTURER DEFECTS ARE CLEARLY THE CAUSE.PLEASE HELP MAKE CHRYSLER UNDERSTAND ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

HORN COMMUNICATION WORKS INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON AND OFF. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON DASHBOARD, AND THERE IS NO CRUISE CONTROL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AKTHE FAILED PART IS THE CLOCK SPRING. THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED CONCERNING THIS PART. THE ONTARIO SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS ISSUED. *JG

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WAS FLAGGED DOWN BY A PASSING MOTORIST AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE FAN BELT CAUSED THE FIRE, CLAIM 17-9113-989. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 04-1215-889. *SLC

WHILE LEAVING HOME, CONSUMER HEARD A POFF, WHEN LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, IT WAS SMOKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE MAIN HARNESS IS MELTED, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A FIRE, CLAIM 25-5394-275. *SLC

CONSUMER TOOK CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND COULD SMELL GAS, CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER HE DID NOT BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE RECALL, AFTER PACKAGE, VEHICLE WENT INTO HOUSE, NEIGHBOR CALLED HER AND STATED HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED, CLAIM 20-5211-880. *SLC

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN CARPORT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 03-3171-084. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS DROPPING OFF NIECE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY, AFTER DRIVING PAST 4-5 HOUSES, CONSUMER SAW ORANGE AND STOPPED, VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, CONSUMER HAD HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL LINE, CLAIM 49-3238-941. *SLC