1994 Dodge Caravan Owner Complaints

MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE REAR WIPER SHORTED OUT AND BLEW THE FUSE, AND THE AIR BAGS ARE ON THE SAME FUSE.

NHTSA ID

11129570

Incident

Aug 4, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE VEHICLE JUST QUIT. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. ATTEMPT TO RESTART FAILED.4 TIMES. LET VEHICLE SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND NORMAL RESTART. THIS IS THIRD TIME IN THREE WEEKS. OTHER TWO NO STARTS WERE AFTER VEHICLE SITTING OVERNIGHT. NO ERROR CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FIRST NO START REPLACED AIR FILTER. SECOND NO START REPLACED BATTERY. INFO PROVIDED BECAUSE OF 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ISSUE AN POTENTIAL FOR IT TO EXIST IN EARLY VEHICLES. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692369

Incident

Mar 5, 2015

Mileage

95,356 mi

AS I SLOWLY WAS TURNING THE CAR TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT IN VIENNA VA SHOPPING CENTER, THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO HANDICAP PARKING POLE MARKER ( NO DAMAGE). DAMAGE TO MY VAN WHICH IS VISABLE APPEARS TO BE THE FRONT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND A DAMAGED BUT FUNCTIONING RADIATOR AS BEST I CAN SEE. NOTE: THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT ACTIVEATED, AND WONDERED WHY THEY DIDN'T.( IS THIS ANOTHER PROBLEM ?) *TR

NHTSA ID

10637824

Incident

Sep 21, 2014

Mileage

119,444 mi

1994 DODGE CARAVAN GAS TANK LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING A GAS LEAK AND CAME ACROSS RECALL 99V216000 AND WAS WONDERING IF IT APPLIED TO HER VEHICLE? AND IF SO, WILL DODGE HONOR THE RECALL AND FIX HER VEHICLE?

NHTSA ID

10323127

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

WENT TO WORK ON APRIL 1, 2009 HAD BRAKES, WHEN I WENT TO GO HOME THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND ANTI BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, CHANGED FRONT BRAKES , DID NOT NEED IT , BUT DID IT ANYWAY, WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE BACK BUT THEY DID NOT NEED IT, BLED THE BRAKES, ALL WORKED FINE , THEN WENT OKLAHOMA APRIL 11TH , STAYED IN MOTEL AND BRAKES WHERE FINE, GOT UP NEXT MORNING AND WENT TO DO SOME THINGS AND AGAIN THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON ,STILL HAS PLENTY OF FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265693

Incident

Apr 1, 2009

I TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD OF MY MINIVAN AND THE RELEASE BROKE OFF. THE RELEASE WAS ON THE INSIDE OF THE 1994 DODGE MINIVAN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK OFF. I'VE CHECKED THE SAFETY DEFECT NOTIFICATIONS FOR "1994 DODGE MINIVANS" AND COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER MENTIONS OF FAILURE OF THE HAND RELEASE FOR THE VEHICLES' HOODS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216220

Incident

Jan 26, 2008

Mileage

235,000 mi

REAR WINDOW ON LIFT GATE SHATTERED IN A THOUSAND PIECES FOR NO REASON WHILE PARKED (GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE). OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ABOUT 20 F AND CLOUDY. GLASS TYPE IS A PRIVACY TINTED WITH WINDOW DEFROSTER. IT APPEARS GLASS WAS NOT REQUIRED TO BE A SAFETY GLASS TYPE AS COMPARED TO A WINDSHIELD WITH A "PLASTIC SANDWICH IN-BETWEEN. ABOUT 10 HOURS OF CLEAN UP REQUIRED. MANY SMALL GLASS FRAGMENTS AND "GLASS DUST" TRAVELED AS FAR AS THE FRONT DASHBOARD. OWNER WILL BE REPLACING GLASS. COST ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $300 TO $400 PARTS AND LABOR. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED .*CN

NHTSA ID

10213365

Incident

Dec 31, 2007

Mileage

176,380 mi

SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF...DRY, WET, SNOW..BIG, LITTLE ...LITERALLY NO PUDDLES...AND THE GATORBACK BELT DOESN'T FIX IT, NOR THE SNOW SHIELD ON THE PULLEY SHIELD.....WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND THE NUMEROUS TIMES MY BELT HAS COME OFF..YOU'D THINK CHRYSLER WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS LONG AGO...NO JUST SOAK PEOPLE FOR MONEY..IF THEY R NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED( WHICH THANKS TO MY FATHER, BROTHER, AND HUSBAND) I AM.....AND I KNOW ABOUT THE INTERNET SITE FORUMS THAT HELP EACH OTHER OUT...IN TIMES LIKE THESE. SOME UNFORTUNATELY..SEVERAL HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LATER...HOW UNFAIR OF CHRYSLER...AND WE'RE TALKING.... THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND AWHILE...YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD'VE FIXED IT LONG AGO ..EVEN BEFORE PUTTING OUT NEW ONES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM....I BET THOSE NEW BUYERS ARE FIT TO BE TIED RIGHT ABOUT NOW!!!! HOPEFULLY ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND I HOPE YOU PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING...GETS SOMETHING DONE!! *NM

NHTSA ID

10172482

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

1994 DODGE CARAVAN MILEAGE 66.873 WITH WHEELCHAIR LIFT REAR LIFTGATE HINGE, BOLT HOLDING THE HINGE TOGETHER BROKE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, LETTING HINGE SEPARATE, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO DROP DOWN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. CHRYSLER/DODGE 1-800-992,1997 REF.#15261363 WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS TOLD THAT II WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. SORRY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VAN IS ALWAYS PARKED IN MY CARRAGE. LIKE NEW. I HAVE THE OLD PARTS AND 17 COLOR POCTURES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10165126

Incident

Aug 5, 2006

Mileage

66,793 mi

LACKS POWER, WANTS TO STALL LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS INCLUDING WHAT WAS LISTED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCANS, CLUNKING NOISE UNDER VAN. NOTHING SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HAVE SPENT OVER $600 IN PARTS ALONE, NOT COUNTING LABOR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10130729

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

114,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER STATES HIS 1994 DODGE CARAVAN THAT HE PURCHASED USED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF GEAR WHEN IT IS HOT. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND THEN IT WILL START AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, SEPTEMBER 2004, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO AND HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10128573

Incident

Sep 26, 2004

Mileage

44,900 mi

WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO STRIKE THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF HIM. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS COLLAPSED. THE DRIVER SEAT FELL ONTO THE CHILD PASSENGER, BREAKING SEVERAL BONES IN HIS FACE AND HAD TO UNDERGO SURGERY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10113531

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

17,000 mi

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V213000, THE BOLT TO THE HATCH BROKE, CAUSING THE PISTON TO BREAK IN HALF. A STICK MUST BE USED TO HOLD THE HATCH UP. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10113289

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS OFF WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112852

Incident

Nov 11, 2004

THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF THE HINGES. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OPEN/CLOSE DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10109270

Incident

Dec 11, 2004

Mileage

200,000 mi

HAVE A 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. ALREADY REPLACED ONE TRANSMISSION AND I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING ANOTHER. TOLD BY TRANSMISSION MECHANICS AND OTHERS THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILURE AND THAT THE COMPANY KNOWINGLY INSTALL SUCH EQUIPMENT AT THE CONSUMER'S ULTIMATE EXPENSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056378

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF OF THE VAN (THE ROOF IS NOW ALMOST BARE, A YEAR LATER) AND NOW HAS BEGUN TO PEEL OFF THE HOOD, AS WELL. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY ANY SORT OF WARRANTY OR LEMON LAW AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPAINT THE VAN. OTHER THAN THE PAINT PROBLEM... THE VAN IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT SOON IT WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY PAINT. IT IS A DARK BLUE COLOR, AND WE HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER DODGE GRAND CARAVANS FROM THAT SAME YEAR WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE SOLD THEIR VANS RATHER THAN PAY TO REPAINT AN AGING, HIGH-MILEAGE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10071071

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

Mileage

99,000 mi

I HAVE NOT ACTUALLY TRIED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BECAUSE I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT, AND I AM SIMPLY TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THAT IS TRUE. MY PROBLEM IS WE HAVE A LIGHT BLUE DODGE CARAVAN AND THE PAINT IS PEELING BADLY!!!! I HAVE SEEN OTHER LIGHT BLUE DODGE CARAVANS THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL THAT ARE ALSO PEELING BADLY. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET IT REPAIRED?

NHTSA ID

10070752

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGING OVER MAKING NIGHT DRIVINGA CHORE. SO FAR I;VE HAD TO ADD ACCESORY LIGHTING AND BRIGHTER BULBS IN HOPE OF JUST STAYING EVEN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048840

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ON OUR WAY HOME, AT NIGHT, THEN IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON A CORNER. WE PUSHED IT SOMEWHAT OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED ON THE HAZARDS. THEN I PROCEEDED TO HAUL MY FIVE KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND DOWN THE ROAD TO TRY TO PHONE FOR HELP. WALKING AT NIGHT WITH 5 YOUNG CHILDREN ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD IS DANGEROUS. I TRIED TO GET IT REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY $3,000.00 TO FIX AND THEN IT COULD TURN AROUND AND HAPPEN AGAIN. NO INDICATOR LIGHT EVER CAME ON. THE DEALER TOLD ME THESE WERE GOOD VANS AND VERY DEPENDABLE TOO. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BY BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING? THESE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD BE DECLARED LEMONS, RECALLED AND MADE GOOD ON. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043256

Incident

Oct 4, 2003

Mileage

157,000 mi

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND TURNED ON. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF WINDOW PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10042534

Incident

Oct 2, 2003

Mileage

180,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPLODED INTERNALLY, AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038277

Mileage

105,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON OUR 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITHOUT ANY WARNING - THE VAN IS JUST UNDER 9 YEARS OLD AND HAD 86292 MILES. IT HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND IS MAINTAINED IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. IT IS USED TO COMMUTE TO WORK AND AS A FAMILY CAR WITHOUT ANY TOWING OR HEAVY LOADS. REGULAR TRANSMISSION SERVICE AND CHECKUP HAS BEEN PERFORMED WITH LAST ONE BEFORE THE FAILURE AT 72456 MILES. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND AT THIS SERVICE, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE TAKEN APPROPRIATE ACTION. THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN AN OFFICE UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN MY WIFE TRIED TO PARK IT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR ON A BUSY STREET AND COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO HER SAFETY AND TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. I RESEARCHED INTO THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A LOT OF CHRYSLER/DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS OVER THE YEARS. I EVEN TALKED TO FRIENDS AND PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ARE CARAVAN OWNERS AND SEVERAL TOLD ME IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS BUT CHRYSLER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. FAILURES EVEN HAPPEN AT LOWER MILEAGE THAN MY VAN AND TO OLDER MODELS. REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS ARE ALSO KNOWN TO FAIL WITH LOW MILEAGE IN SEVERAL CASES THAT I CAME ACROSS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER ON THIS MATTER AND THE RIDICULOUS COST OF $2500 THAT I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE. THE DEALER THAT CHECKED THE PROBLEM ON MY VAN FOUND THAT THERE WERE 4 PROBLEMS FOUND INCLUDING WORN OUT CLUTCHES AND HE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. CHRYSLER INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME BUT THEY MAY HAVE ONE LATER ON. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS WITH A BETTER DESIGNED ONE FOR THE SAKE OF SAFETY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10030406

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

Mileage

86,292 mi

TRANSMISSION HAD SOME MAJOR REPAIRS DONE AT 90,000 MILES. CURRENTLY, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029668

Mileage

90,000 mi

THERE IS A LIGHT ON THE SLIDING DOOR THAT GETS VERY HOT IF THE DOOR STAYS AJAR FOR A FEW SECONDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024219

Mileage

99,000 mi