1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A DECLINE, FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT WHEN IT WAS FULL OR 3/4 FULL. MECHANIC INDICATED BALL UNIT THAT PREVENTS FUEL FROM LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK CONVERTOR WAS FAILING AND NOT SEALING IT OFF.*AK *JB

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON PERMANENTLY ON 10/10/01. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, DISCOVERED BOTH HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL INOPERABLE. REMEMBERED INTERNET REPORT ABOUT NHTSA STEPPING UP PROBE OF CHRYLSER MINIVANS FOR CLOCKSPRING FAILURE COMPLAINTS (INTERNET REPORT FROM 3/2000). MENTIONED REPORT TO DEALER PERSONNEL WHEN TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DODGE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY INDICATED NO FORMAL RECALL ON THIS PART YET, BUT SAVE RECEIPT IN EVENT FUTURE RECALL REQUIRED. SENDING THIS INFORMATION AS FURTHER EVIDENCE TO NHTSA THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART ON THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES.*AK

I PURCHASED MY MINIVAN FROM BEDARD BROS. ON FEB. 21, 2000. ON APRIL 3, 2000 IT HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN BY BEDARD BROS. BECAUSE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT SUDDENLY DROPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR. THEN IT STARTED LEAKING FLUID. BEDARDS SAID A PIN CAUSED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. ON MAY 10, 2000, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION DROPPING INTO A LOW GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. A MECHANIC AT BEDARD BROS. HOOKED HIS COMPUTER TO THE VEHICLE AND RESET THE CODES NOT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN OCT. 2001 I AGAIN FELT A "CLUNK" AND IT DROPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR BUT THAT SOMEHOW CORRECTED ITSELF. BUT, NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT TO BEDARD BROS. ON 10/15/01 AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PUMP SEAL. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 10/17/01. ON 10/18/01 I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION STILL LEAKING SO I DROVE IT BACK TO BEDARD BROS. THE PUT SOME TYPE OF DYE INTO THE SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP THEM LOCATE THE SOURCE. HE STATED IT MAY BE A CRACK OR SOMETHING BUT IT HAS TO GO BACK FOR A LOOK ON 10/22/01. MY CONCERN IS THAT THESE ARE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I TALKED TO A PERSON FROM FENN ST. TRANSMISSION WHO SAID THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN FOR THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT THERE IS A PIN THAT BREAKS LOOSE AND OFTEN GOES THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASE. *AK

THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND HAS CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE GASKETS ARE NOW BAD AND LEAKING OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER (MOSER DODGE) THAT THIS IS AFFECT AND A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS 3.0 ENGINE. THIS ALSO CREATES A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. HOWEVER DODGE SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO WITH ME TO REPAIR THIS OR SHARE THIS COST. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF DODGE AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE.*AK

FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATES, WITHIN A PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES IT WILL SHOW 1/2 A TANK, THEN ALMOST EMPTY.*AK

CLOCK SPRING CONNECTOR PROVIDING VEHICLE WITH HORN, DRIVER AIR BAG, AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY LEAVING VEHICLE WITH NO HORN, DRIVERS AIR BAG, AND CRUISE CONTROL.

BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A MOVE FROM MARYLAND TO GEORGIA, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING RAINSTORM. ARRIVED AT DEALER ONLY 451 MILES AFTER EXPIRATION OF 75K WARRANTY. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WOULD ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS. HAVE SUBMITTED TWO LENGTHY VOQ'S TODAY AS I AM FINALLY FED UP WITH THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT AND THE FAILURE OF CHRYSLER AND THE NHTSA TO ENACT ADDITIONAL FORCED RECALLS OF THESE VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION, FUEL TANK, BODY CONTROL MODULE, CLOCK SPRING (WHICH RESULTED IN INOPERATIVE AIRBAGS), AND SUSPENSION PARTS ALL FAILED LONG BEFORE THEY SHOULD HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, A CURSORY SEARCH OF BOTH NHTSA AND OTHER WEB SITES REVEALS THAT THESE PARTS HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE. DESPITE BEING REPLACED BY A DEALER ONLY TWO YEARS AGO, THE STEERING RACK ON MY MINIVAN IS ALREADY FAILING AGAIN. I AM EXTREMELY UNIMPRESSED WITH BOTH THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM CHRYSLER IN ADDRESSING REPEATED FAILURES.

VEHICLE WAS DRIPPING TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

LEFT AND RIGHT TURNING SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO TURN OFF A BUSY STREET WITH OTHER CARS BEHIND. *AK THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, WHEN THE SIGNAL FAILED THE FOURTH TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE FLASHERS, THE TURN SIGNALS WORK FINE NOW. *NLM

A REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A FUEL LEAK ORIGINATING FROM FUEL RAIL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DODGE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ANY RECALLS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK