1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

FAN BELT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY OTHER MECHANICS THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THAT SOME CONSUMERS HAVE PUT ON SHIELDS TO PREVENT FAN BELT FROM FALLING OFF. *AK

SCREW CLAMP THAT CONNECTS RUBBER FUEL LINE TO THE METAL FUEL LINE ON TOP OF ENGINE CAME LOOSE, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK ONTO HOT ENGINE. I SCREWED CLAIM TIGHT AND SO FAR SO GOOD. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE USED A DIFFERENT TYPE CLAMP TO SECURE THIS FITTING.*AK

INTEGRATED SEAT BROKE AT THE LATCH PLATE BETWEEN LEGS. THERE'S A JAGGED PLASTIC PIECE THAT CAN INJURE CHILD. IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS OVER 36,000. CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COST.*AK

BRAKING DISTANCE IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE, MOSTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT SPEEDS OF 60-65 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES, DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

GOODYEAR, CONQUEST TIRES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P215-65-R15, DOT # IS M6VFHKDR128. THERE WAS TREAD SEPERATION ON 3 OF 4 TIRES, TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 50 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM, ONLY REAR RIGHT TIRE DID NOT SEPARATE, CONTACTED GOODYEAR DEALER, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR ALL 3 NEW TIRES.*AK *SLC

POWER STEERING BELT COMES OFF WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW GREATER THAN 6 INCHES IN DEPTH. CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. TECHNICAL BULLETIN FROM REPAIR SHOP INDICATES THAT THE TENSIONER ARM ON THIS MODEL IS DEFECTIVE (INSUFFICIANT TENSION TO KEEP BELT ON), AND THAT IT NEEDS A SNOW SHIELD. SNOW UNDER VEHICLE GETS PUSHED INTO BELT ASSEMBLY CAUSING BELT TO FALL OFF. TECHNICAL BULLETIN INDICATES THE CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE (STRONGER TENSIONING ARM AND SNOW SHIELD) WILL BE COVERED ONLY IF VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE E-MAIL ADDRESS. THE WORK PHONE LISTED WILL ONLY BE CURRENT UNTIL 01/24/00. NEW WORK PHONE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK

WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN WERE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH, HEARD CLUNK, COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WHERE TRANSMISSION GEARS AND PARTIAL SHAFTS FELL INTO ROAD FROM APPROX. 4" HOLE IN TRANSMISSION CASE.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT FIND A LEAK BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER SAID IT HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 2 YEARS. NLM

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. *AK *SLC

NOVEMBER 1999 TRANSMISSION LEAKED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, AND LEAK STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. ON DECEMBER 4 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HEARD LOUD NOISE, PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID POURING OUT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE AT DEALER NOW. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER PAID ONLY HALF OF THE COST OF THE PARTS. *YH