1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Complaints

CONSUMER PURCHASED BRIDGESTONE BT70Z TIRES, ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE TIRES WERE ALREADY CRACKED. SPECIFICALLY, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. IT HAD A CRACK THAT WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES LONG LOCATED ON THE TIRES TREAD.*AK

AROUND APRIL 2004 CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TIRE PROBLEMS. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THEY TOOK BOTH FRONT WHEELS OFF AND PUT THEM IN THE BACK. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OFF. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF INJURY. CONSUMER TOOL VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET TIRES SERVICED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY DID NO LONGER HAVE THIS VEHICLE'S SPECIFIC TIRES, THEY WERE DISCONTINUED. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE TIME BELT COVER WAS A PROBLEM. *SC

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONSUMER HIT A DEER. WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE OWNER NOTICE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO REPORT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN QUIT WORKING. IT WILL NOT WORK ON ANY MODE. WHEN I PRESSED THE WIPER WASHER, IT SQUIRTED WATER AND THE WIPERS CYCLED ONCE. I TRIED IT AGAIN ONE TIME AND IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL. IT WORKED ONE TIME BUT IT CYCLED VERY FAST. ALSO, IT TURNS ON ANYTIME IT WANTS TO. IT IS SO UNRELIABLE THAT I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE CAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO RAIN.*AK

WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND OUT OF THE VENTS UNTIL THE CONSUMER SHUT OFF THE HEAT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD RIDE ROUGHLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A BULGE WAS LOCATED IN THE HOUSING STRUTS AREA, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SHUT DOWN, AND LOST ALL POWER. SAME THING OCCURRED 1 MONTH LATER. I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH 4 CHILDREN ABOARD. MECHANIC HAS CHANGED 2 RELAY SWITCHES. DO NOT KNOW IF AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

I BOUGHT A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 3 YEARS AGO. THIS PAST JULY I HAD TO TAKE A LOAN OUT TO PAY $2000 FOR A TRANSMISSION. AFTER SPEAKING TO QUITE A FEW MECHANICS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE DODGES THAT HAVE THE 3.3 LITER ENGINES IN THEM HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT HAVE HAD A LOT OF DODGES THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN AND THE DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE OWED 2 OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT DODGES AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AT ALL AND THEY ARE OLDER THAN MY VAN. I HAD TO PURCHASE MY VAN, SO I COULD PUT MY HUSBAND'S WHEELCHAIR IN IT. IT IS EASIER TO GET IT IN AND OUT OF THE VAN. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME DUE TO MY HUSBAND BEING DISABLED AND WE HAVE SON IN SCHOOL. SO MONEY IS VERY TIGHT. I WAS LUCKY I QUALIFIED FOR THE LOAN TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION, OR I WOULD BE UNABLE TO TRANSPORT MY HUSBAND BACK AND FORTH TO DOCTOR APPTS AND SHOPPING. I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER DODGE OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN THEIR DODGE 3.3 LITER VEHICLES. BUT WHAT GETS ME IS THAT ALL THE TRANSMISSION EXPERTS THAT I SPOKE WITH SAID, THEY CHANGE AT LEAST 2 -3 TRANSMISSION A WEEK IN THESE DODGES. AND THAT DODGE IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT DODGE DOESN'T MIND FIXING THE SMALL PROBLEMS, BUT OVER LOOK THAT FACT THAT THEY HAVE A DEFECT THAT CAUSING A TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND IT COSTING THE BUYER AT A MINIMUM OF $2000 TO REPLACE. THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED AND DODGE MADE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR COST. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT BROUGHT AGAINST THEM FOR THIS. ONE GUY I WORK WITH HAD HIS BRAND NEW DODGE TRUCK LEAVE HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND HE HAD ONLY 57,800 MILES ON IT. DODGE KNOWS THEY PUT OUT A DEFECT TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY ARE MAKING THE CONSUMER PAY FOR IT. THIS IS WRONG AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *JB