RoadVitals

1994 Dodge Caravan Heating & air conditioning Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the heating or air-conditioning system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Heating & air conditioning reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest Jun 25, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 644 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming heating or air-conditioning

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 25, 2002

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR IS NOT WORKING, IT DOES NOT ALLOW AIR CONDITIONER TO WORK. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE PART BEFORE, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
8012573
Incident
Jun 2, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Apr 24, 2001

AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM EVAPRATING COIL FAILED WICH COULD BE HARMFULL TO FAMILY. *AK

NHTSA ID
886703
Incident
Apr 24, 2001
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 5, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
723617
Incident
May 5, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed May 22, 2000

COOLANT LEAKS FROM AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
862296
Incident
Feb 2, 1994
Heating & air conditioning
Filed May 9, 2000

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
784646
Incident
Aug 1, 1999
Heating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed May 8, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
722394
Incident
Aug 12, 1999
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Feb 25, 2000

THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS HAD 3 NEW TRANSMISSIONS, 3 NEW AIRCONDITIONERS,, A NEW STARTER, 3 OR 4 RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS AND NOW AN OIL LEAK THAT HAS TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
719278
Incident
Feb 13, 1997
Heating & air conditioningEngineInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Jan 5, 2000

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID SINCE PURCHASE FROM AXLE SEAL TRANSFER CASE. FRONT RIGHT STRUT ASSEMBLY MAKES EXSTREME NOISES OVER BUMPS AND SHARP CURVES. ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK. LEFT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED WITH KEY. SUSPECT FLOOD DAMAGE DUE TO A REOCCURRING ODOR FROM HEATER VENTS. WE HAVE CONTACTED DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND WERE GIVEN A "DODGE" ! DEALER HAS CHANGED THE BUISNESS NAME AND STATES HAS NO LONGER AN OBLIGATION TO HONOR THESE PROBLEMS WHICH WE ENCOUNTERED UNDER WARRANTY! ALSO, AIR CONDITION UNIT HAS BEEN LEAKING AND WAS SERVICED UNDER WARRENTY AND REMAINS A PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS TOO LONG TO LIST. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS FAILING RAPIDLY MECHANICALLY! I FEEL STRONGLY THAT I HAVE BEEN "RIPPED OFF!" BY THIS DEALER AND AM IN NEED OF SOME SORT OF SOLUTION!. *AK

NHTSA ID
716950
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Dec 15, 1999

A/C EVAPORATOR FAILED AFTER ONLY 2.5 YEARS, $800 TO REPAIR, CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY HALF, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. IN MY OPINION, IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
716101
Incident
Jul 1, 1997
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 29, 1999

SEVERAL TIMES I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO ARRIGO BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. THEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT AND THEY SAID TOO BAD, NOT THERE PROBLEM. I HAVE RECORDS OF EVERY TIME I WAS THERE FOR SERVICE TELLING THEM THAT THE SQUEALING NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A COMPRESSOR LEAK. I'M JUST VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS PURCHASED.

NHTSA ID
715361
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 9, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
713058
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Sep 27, 1999

8/98-A/C FAILS-EVAPORATOR COIL LEAK BLAMED-RECHARGED-8/99 FAILED AGAIN

NHTSA ID
712244
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Heating & air conditioningSteeringTransmission
Filed Aug 9, 1999

THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THIS VEHICAL. BOTH HAVE OCCURED AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. THIS IS A FAMOUS PROBLEM NOW WITH THESE VEHICALS. COUNTLESS MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS "GO" AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. THE WEB HAS PAGES DEDICATED TO THE FACT THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS FAIL. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE THERE ARE MORE ACCIDENTS THAT PUT OUR TAXPAYING LIVES AT RISK. YOU SHOULD LOOK UP PAGES ON THE INTERNET THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE A CONSISTANT PATTERN OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT OR NEAR 70,000 MILES. ALSO AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD LOOK AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THERE IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SET OF WEB PAGES DEDICATED TO THESE PROBLEMS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THESE ENGINEERING PROBLEMS ARE COSTING OWNERS OF THESE CARS ENOURMOOS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND SEVERELY JEOPRODIZING PEOPLES' SAFTEY!! THERE MUST BE SOME RECOURSE FOR THE SHODDY ENGINEERING OF CHRYSLER/DODGE!! DON'T STOP AT JUST THE AIRBAG PROBLEMS!! THE LARGE AMOUNT OF FAMLIES WHO OWN CHRYSLER/DODGE MINI-VANS AND THE SERIOUS SAFTEY PROBLEMS- IMAGINE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING INTO 2ND AT FIFTY ON AN ICY MN ROAD, OR THE STEERING COMING LOOSE PASSING AT 60MPH - THAT THESE CARS EXHIBIT AT REGULAR INTERVALS SHOULD BE ENOUGH REASON TO START AN INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ID
709757
Incident
Aug 6, 1999
AirbagsHeating & air conditioningFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 8, 1999

I HAVE HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED BY A RI DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. THE LATEST TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN ON JUNE 11TH 1999. THE TRANSMISSION PREVIOUS TO THAT WAS PUT IN IN APRIL 1999. AT THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN APRIL, I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER HOURS AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT A BAD TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY ANTOTHER BAD TRANSMISSION! I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE 800 TELEPHONE # IN MY OWNERS MANUAL AND HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERANT COMPLAINT CASE NUMBERS ASSIGNED. I HAVE SENT AN E-MAIL MESSAGE TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR THIS AREA FOR CHRYSLER AND HAVE MADE MORE THAN 2 DOZEN REQUESTS AND DEMANDS THAT SHE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS LEMON THAT I SPENT $17,000. ON! I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LUCK. THE FUSE FOR MY AIR BAGS WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS BLOWN FOR THE SECOND TIME AND I NOW HAVE NO AIRBAGS! I HAVE NOT HAD A WORKING FLOAT IN MY GAS TANK SINCE I HIT THE 12,000 MILE MARK, NOW I HAVE NO AIR CONDITIONING. I HAVE NOT USED IT ALL THAT MUCH AND HAVE HAD IT RECHARGED AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I KEEP ASKING THE PEOPLE AT CHRYSLER AND HAVE BEEN ASKING SINCE 1995, WHO I MAY TALK TO OR WRITE TO FOR SOME SATISFACTION, BUT THEY WON'T COOPERATE. N I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TALK TO. I AM VERY NERVOUS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, WHEN THE THIRD TRANSMISSION BLEW WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, WE LOST POWER AND OUR SPEED DROPPED TO AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR, WE WERE LUCKY TO MAKE IT TO SAFETY! MY SON WAS VERY SCARED. PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
709741
Incident
May 1, 1995
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 24, 1999

I HAVE TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
709114
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 14, 1999

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR STICKING CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. MJS

NHTSA ID
547138
Heating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed Mar 12, 1999

IT JERKS SEVERLY WHEN GOING INTO GEARS WHEN SHIFTING SOMETIMES DOES NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST TILL AFTER 50MPH, WHEN YOU STOP HAS POOR TAKE OFF SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO MOVE, PREVIOUS OWNER HAD PUMP IN TRANSMISSION AND OTHER COMPONENTS CHANGE A YEAR BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT IN 1997 AND NOW WE ALSO HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, ALSO WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE DOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE AT FIRST OR WHEN IT DOES CLUNKS BADLY AND WE HAVE HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE

NHTSA ID
704361
Incident
Mar 12, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jan 7, 1999

AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO BLOW COOL AIR AFTER A COLLISION DAMAGING THE UNIT.

NHTSA ID
781851
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jan 7, 1999
Fire reported

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED,VAN WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT 1000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR.THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE COMPONENTS REPAIRED,I WAS TOLD THAT THE EVAPORATOR WAS CLOGGED AND THAT THE CONDENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FREON HAD LEAKED OUT.AFTER GETTING BACK THE CAR FROM THE DEALER THE COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP FROM LACK OF LUBRICATION FROM THE OIL THAT IS IN THE FREON. NOW MY LATEST ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONER IS 2500 DOLLARS. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM TO OCCUR.THE VAN HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR EVERY SERVICE IMAGINABLE AND NEVER ONCE WAS I TOLD THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER NEEDED ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE.NOT EVEN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IS THERE ANY MENTION OF AIR CONDITIONER MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA ID
701994
Incident
Feb 5, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 30, 1998

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO LEAKING EVAPORATOR.

NHTSA ID
542796
Incident
Oct 20, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 4, 1998

EVAPORATOR MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
537721
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 16, 1998

WHILE TURNING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THERE WAS NO INDICATONS OF WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
824359
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 28, 1997

WHENEVER 134A IS USED IN AIR CONDITIONER, IT WOULD EAT/LEAK THROUGH IT, CAUSING IT NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. HAD AIR CONDITIONER REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF 134A. TALKED TO MANUFACTURER & INFORMED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR USE OF 134A IN VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
820251
Incident
Aug 28, 1995
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 23, 1997

A HOLE IN THE EVAPORATOR CAUSED AIR CONDITIONING TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID
518898
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 25, 1996

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 25MPH STOPPED FOR STOP SIGN AND EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUT DOWN, NO WARNING, DUE TO THROTTLE BODY CONTAMINATION; ALSO REPLACED SERPENTINE BELT AND A/C BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
801921

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .