1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. A VALVE HAD TO BE CHANGED AT 24,000 MILES LATER WHILE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE EMITTS BLACK SMOKE. THERE HAS BEEN NO REMEDY THUS FAR FOR PROBLEMS. SLIDING DOOR RATTLES, DEALER MADE AN ADJUSTMENT, FRONT PASSENGER DOOR RATTLES WHEN CLOSING. ENGINE HESITATES, MISSES, AND SQUEALS, DEALER REPLACED BELTS FOR THE SQUEALING. WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, DEALER PERFORMED TSB 19-05-98. SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO BEING WORN. GEAR LEVEL WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK. THE LEFT VISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP, DELAER FOUND A BROKEN CLIP. *SLC

TIRE SEPARATION. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH

INSTRUMENT PANEL EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, SMOKE CAME FROM BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, WHEN GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

RECENTLY A PLASTIC BAG GOT CAUGHT UNDER MY VAN WHEN I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

THE BELT TENSIONER FROZE ON MY GRAND CARAVAN. AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING THIS PART NEEDS TO BE GIVEN MORE CONSIDERATION. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET WWW.ALLPAR.COM . THE DAMAGE THAT CAN BE DONE TO DRIVE PULLEY'S POWER STEERING UNITS CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT INCLUDE THIS PART IN THEIR WARRANTY'S. ONLY AFTER TELLING THEM I WOULD REPORT THIS TO THE NHTSA DID THEY OFFER TO PAY 1/2 THE REPAIR. IT STILL DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LOOKED AT PROPERLY THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY CARAVANS ON THE ROAD TO HAVE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING.

BELT KEEPS COMING LOOSE FROM THE SYSTEM, IS EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ALL THE TIME. I AM SURE THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND IS THE MANUFACTURER GOING TO FIX IT? OR DO I GET STUCK FOR THE REPAIRS AGAIN? *AK

SUDDEN STOPS RESULT IN GRINDING NOISES FROM THE ABS SYSTEM. NOTICED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS.

EXITING HIGHWAY AT 43 MPH DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL 2 TIMES WITH NO BRAKING ACTION OBSERVED. SLOWED TO 35 MPH AND TRIED PEDAL 1 MORE TIME WITH NO STOPPING ACTION. USED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMPRESSION TO SLOW VEHICLE. COASTED TO A STOP AND NOTICED SMOKE EMINATING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WITH THE "SMELL" OF BRAKES PREVALENT. NO INTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT ANY TIME. FIX: REPLACED REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND SHOES (EXCESSIVE WEAR NOTED), AND DRUMS TURNED. PROBABLE CAUSE UNIDENTIFIED (EXCESSIVE WEAR UNUSUAL FOR HIGHWAY MILES DRIVEN - FRONT BRAKES ALL NORMAL) FELT TO ME LIKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE WITH RESULTING ZERO PRESSURE IN SYSTEM AND NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. *AK