1990 Dodge Caravan Owner Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PUMP AT THE COST OF OVER $400. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V145000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE), BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR BEING VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,124.

NHTSA ID

10257567

Incident

Apr 5, 2007

Mileage

141,000 mi

I STARTED NOTICING A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE 1 WEEK BEFORE THE FAILURE. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS COLD AND ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A BAD U-JOINT. ON THE MORNING OF 2-16-07 8:15 AM I WAS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. IT CHEWED UP ONE OF THE BEARINGS (WHICH A MECHANIC LATER TOLD ME WAS NOTORIOUS FOR GOING OUT) AND DROPPED THEM ALL OVER THE ROAD. I WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WAS ALSO UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH HAD AN INCLINE TO IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE DRIVETRAIN AND PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK HAD NO EFFECT. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY AND LEAVE IT THERE WITH A ROCK IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. I DID HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BUT I WAS NOT GOING TO TOTALLY TRUST IT TO KEEP THE VAN STATIONARY. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE VAN. IT IS A 1990 WITH ONLY 87000 ORIGINAL MILES. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND ONLY PUT 2000-3000 MILES A YEAR ON THIS VAN. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION HAS LESS THAN 25000 MILES ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183038

Incident

Feb 16, 2007

Mileage

87,534 mi

DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM PULLED OVER AND STOPPED SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE STEAM COMING FROM THE MOTOR. IT WAS DAYLIGHT OUT DID NOT NOTICE THAT HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS TILL A FEW HOURS LATER. AFTER HAVING HEATER ON HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT SMELL WHAT SEEMS LIKE WIRES BURNING AND THE SPEAKER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAKES A CACKLING NOISE. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086757

Incident

Aug 2, 2004

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10031378

Incident

Jul 9, 2003

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS WERE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR A PERSON 5'4". THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020031

Incident

May 16, 2003

I OWN A 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE MOTOR. ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK THE ACCELERATOR STUCK OPEN. I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND REMOVED THE AIR CLEANER COVER AND MAP SENSOR TO SEE WHAT WHY THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK OPEN. I FOUND A SQUARE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE TABLE WITH A HOLE IN THE TOP. I WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW IT GOT THERE SO I TOOK THE AIR CLEANER OUT AND FOUND THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION FILTER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CANISTER. THE BAD THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT I WAS ON ICY ROADS AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD CONTROL THE VEHICLE WAS TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND COAST INTO A DRIVEWAY. I ALSO REMEMBERED THIS HAPPENING TO THE 1991 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER THAT I USED TO OWN. THESE VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED USED AND THEREFORE, I SUSPECT THAT AT ONE TIME SOMEONE HAS RAN THESE WITHOUT A FILTER IN PLACE. THE BIG QUESTION IS, OF ALL THESE VANS ON THE ROAD, HOW MANY HAVE BEEN RUN WITHOUT A FILTER. I HAD OWNED EACH OF THESE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I FEEL THAT ANYTHING IN THE AIRFLOW PATH ON A VEHICLE SHOULD BE SECURED SO THERE IS NO WAY IT CAN BE DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010150

Incident

Feb 25, 2003

Mileage

227,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AT 48,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, GLENN E. THOMAS DODGE IN SIGNAL HILL. THEREAFTER, EVERY 15,000 TO 25,000 MILES OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, PROBABLY 5 TIMES NOW; THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANS HAS FAILED TWICE, THE MOTOR COMPUTER FAILED 2 TIMES, THE POWER WINDOWS BROKE OFF THEIR TRACKS, THE SLIDING DOOR JAMMED SHUT AND WOULDN'T ALIGN. NOW THE PAINT JOB ON MY WHITE 1990 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (WITH WOOD TRIM) IS PEELING OFF, MOSTLY ON THE ROOF (WHERE IT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE, DOWN TO THE PRIMER, RUSTING THROUGH TO THE ROOF METAL) AND ON THE HOOD AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS. THE PAINT WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED TO THE PRIMER UNDERCOAT OR THE PRIMER WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED SO AS TO ADHERE TO THE TOP COLOR COAT. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER CARAVAN'S OF THE SAME MODEL WITH THEIR PAINT COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY PEELED OFF AS I HAVE DRIVEN AROUND. IT IS A VERY OBVIOUS DEFECT OF THE PAINT--THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THIS KIND OF PAINT FLAKING AND PEELING PROBLEM TO THIS EXTENT. THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE WOOD TRIM IS ALL FLAKING AND PEELING OFF AS WELL. IT MAKES THE CAR LOOK "SHAGGY!" WHAT A MESS. THIS CAR REALLY NEEDS A PAINT JOB TO BE PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE PAID OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR TRANSMISSIONS TO BE REPLACED. I AM ON A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY WITH DODGE FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER THAT WARRANTY! THE OVERDRIVE UNIT IS FULLY DEFECTIVE AND THE COMPANY WILL NOT UNDERTAKE TO FIX IT. THE CAR WILL FAIL AND THE TRANS WILL JUST SPIN WITHOUT ENGAGING ANY FORWARD GEAR OR IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR OVERDRIVE. THE SPEED SENSOR UNIT IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND FREQUENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHAT A MESS OF A TRANSMISSION! I HAVE IT REGULARLY SERVICED AND I DON'T DRIVE IT HARD OR ABUSE THE TRANS. HELP.

NHTSA ID

10005828

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

Mileage

140,000 mi

PAINT ON 1990 DODGE CARAVAN IS PEELING OFF.

NHTSA ID

10000775

Incident

Dec 21, 2002

FUEL RAIL LEAKING WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER THAT RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8023835

Incident

Nov 30, 2002

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

568098

FUEL RAIL IS LEAKING OIL ONTO MOTOR, AND COULD CAUSE AND FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8013870

Incident

Jun 17, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR/ STARTED JERKING, AND LOCKED IN PARK. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8007468

THE METAL TIRE BELTS CAME THRU THE SIDEWALLS, LETTING THE AIR OUT. TOOK BACK TO GOODYEAR DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS UNDERINFLATED. NOT SO! HAD 3 TIRES ALL FAIL LIKE THIS. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD SELL ME THE REPLACEMENT TIRE, BUT THEY DON'T MAKE THIS TIRE ANYMORE. WONDER WHY? ONE TIRE EVEN LOST A SECTION OF THE TREAD, ALA FIRESTONE TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: MKKA33HR18 TIRESIZE: 195/75/R14)

NHTSA ID

750196

Incident

Aug 4, 2001

FRONT END LOCKED UP AFTER SNAP RING BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

888013

Incident

May 1, 2001

FRONT END LOCKED UP AFTER SNAP RING IN VHICLE BROKE. CONTACCTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

887819

Incident

May 6, 2001

I KNOW OF 3 OTHER FAMILY'S THAT HAVE THE SAME YR., MAKE & MODEL OF VAN WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

743772

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

THIS SEEMS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE . I FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS CONSIDERING THAT THEY KNOW THE ARE BAD . PEOPLE SHOULDNOT HAVE TO GO TO COURT FOR DODGE TO PAY UP.THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL AS THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON FILE .THE TRANSMISSIONS LOCK-UP WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN BE A MAJOR CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. THEN WHAT WILL BE DONE?*AK

NHTSA ID

743310

FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE O-RINGS FAILED AT THE FUEL RAIL CONNECTIONS ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. THIS PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES. REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V184000.*AK

NHTSA ID

742121

Incident

Nov 25, 2000

STEERING LOCK UP AND PULLED ALL THE TO LEFT AND COULDN'T TURN IT AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

738354

Incident

Dec 27, 2000

VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AND CONSUMER INSERTED KEY INSIDE OF VEHICLE, AND KEY STARTED VEHICLE FIRST TIME. NEXT TIME IGNITION SWITCH HAD PLAY. SHE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP BECAUSE KEY COULDN'T COME OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH.*AKI

NHTSA ID

876674

Incident

Dec 3, 2000

CONSUMER HAD USED JACK THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT FAILED AND COLLAPSED WHILE CONSUMER WAS USING IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

875640

Incident

Nov 23, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

735879

THE FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO MY TIRES. HAD ONE TIRE LOOSE TREAD LAST YEAR AND NOW ANOTHER TIRE IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. THE STEEL WIRE OF THE BELT IS COMING THRU THE SIDE WALL.*AK (TIRESIZE: 195/75/14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/75/14 )

NHTSA ID

733127

Incident

Aug 22, 2000

MY 3.0 L 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC 1990 DODGE CARAVAN RECENTLY BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE. IT SHIFTS INTO 1ST, 2ND, THEN 3RD, BUT AS IT TRYS TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE IT BUCKS THREE TIMES THAN ABRUPTLY SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR SURGING THE PASSANGERS FORWARD. I MUST THEN SHUT OFF THE VAN AND RESTART IT FOR IT TO BE DRIVABLE. I NORMALLY DON'T TAKE THIS TYPE OF ACTION BUT THROUGH MY RESEARCH HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. WHEN I FOUND AN ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS (OCTOBER 1999) WHERE THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL I DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION.

NHTSA ID

728475

Incident

Aug 16, 2000

A METAL FUEL LINE LOCATED NEAR EXHAUST SYETEM COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. DEALER NOTIFED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

867975

Incident

Jun 28, 2000