1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON THE 1998 DODGE CARAVAN, HAS FALLEN OFF DURING DRIVING, WHENEVER THE CAR GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. THIS CAUSES NEARLY UNRESPONSIVE STEERING UNTIL THE BELT CAN BE REPLACED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS ON THIS ISSUES ON ONLINE FORMS, AND DODGE DOES NOT ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

ON 3 OCCASIONS RECENTLY ALL THE DASHBOARD GAUGES STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE GAUGES RESUMED EITHER ON THEIR OWN AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OR AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VAN. DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE ONLY SAID THAT COMMUNICATION HAD BEEN LOST. THE TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT HE COULD NOT FIND SIMILAR ISSUES IN HIS DATABASE, BUT FROM THIS WEBSITE I SEE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SURE-FIRE FIX. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE AND LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUE TO WORK WHILE THE GAUGES MALFUNCTION. BUT, DRIVING IS DIFFICULT WITHOUT THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE ODOMETER AND TRIP MILEAGE ARE INCORRECT AFTER THE GAUGES COME BACK TO LIFE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM ON A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 148,000 MILES. IT WOULD ALSO NOT START, ACTED LIKE SENTRY SYSTEM KICKED IN (NON SENTRY SYSTEM VEHICLE) FINALLY IT MALFUNCTIONED AND STAYED IN MALFUNCTION MODE AND I GOT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS "NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE MODULES ON HE CCD BUS - CIRCUIT WAS FOUND SHORTED TOGETHER AND WITH THE CLUSTER UNPLUGGED, BUS COMMUNICATION WAS POSSIBLE - SHORT IN THE BUS" THE "BOARD INST CLUSTER P/C W/FLEX P/C ( PART # 4874440) WAS REPLACED " $850 REPAIR JOB BUT IT HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AND CAUSED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

ON 3 OCCASIONS RECENTLY ALL THE DASHBOARD GAUGES STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE GAUGES RESUMED EITHER ON THEIR OWN AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OR AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VAN. DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE ONLY SAID THAT COMMUNICATION HAD BEEN LOST. THE TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT HE COULD NOT FIND SIMILAR ISSUES IN HIS DATABASE, BUT FROM THIS WEBSITE I SEE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SURE-FIRE FIX. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE AND LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUE TO WORK WHILE THE GAUGES MALFUNCTION. BUT, DRIVING IS DIFFICULT WITHOUT THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE ODOMETER AND TRIP MILEAGE ARE INCORRECT AFTER THE GAUGES COME BACK TO LIFE. *TR

THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF OF THE PULLEYS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN WET WEATHER, INCLUDING RAIN AND SNOW/SLUSH, ESPECIALLY WHEN A PUDDLE IS GONE THROUGH BY THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ON TWO OF THESE OCCASIONS, I WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN THE BELT CAME OFF, LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR WHICH WAS STOPPED ACROSS FROM ME. THE BELT COMING OFF ALSO CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THIS ISSUE CAUSES A LOSS OF CONTROL AND WILL LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH. CHRYSLER CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.. THERE IS AN UPDATED BELT/PULLEY KIT WHICH HAS A DOUBLE-SIDED-GROOVED BELT AND PULLEY WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BUT THE COST TO THE CONSUMER IS APPROX $400-500 SINCE CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON WET ROADS ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AS I DO, WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55-65MPH OR TURNING A CORNER AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE OTHER CARS ARE STOPPED. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERS WHILE DRIVING. RADIO/CD-PLAYER DIES OUT SOME TIMES. IT HAPPENS AROUND 3 TO 5 TIMES IN 1 HOUR DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN OCTOBER 2009, ALL OF THE GAUGES AND LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO FAIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT DIAGNOSTIC CODE P1689 CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT DODGE IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. CHRYSLER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT WAS "NOT THEIR PROBLEM, BUY A NEW CAR." THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

THE STRUT TOWER IS DEFECTIVE AND FAILS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE INJURY THIS HAPPENS ON ALL NEW (1995 AND NEWER) BODY STYLE MINIVANS MADE BY CHRYSLER/DODGE AND DRIVEN IN CLIMATE WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS IN THE WINTER. THE STRUT TOWER REQUIRES PATCHES WELDED TO REINFORCE THE CORRODED AREA. *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

SUSPENSIONS MOUNTS ARE RUSTED ALL THE WAY AND MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE AND HITS HARD AND MAKES NOISES WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. WATER RUNNING IN MY FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN RUNNING THE HEATER. THIS IS WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR