1996 Dodge Caravan Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE ODOMETER DISPLAYED AN INCORRECT READING AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V293000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10715313

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE FROM OWNER IN DEC. 2013 AND START HAVING PROBLEM THE OWNER I PURCHASE IT FROM PURCHASE IT FROM A BANK BACK IN 2006. THEY DID KNOW ABOUT AN RECALL OR ETC. ABOUT THIS VEHCLE. THE ELECTRIC HAS PROBLEM AND AIRBAGS, THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND FUEL INJECTION AND ETC,. WHERE CAN I CAN GET HELP FOR THESE PROBLEMS.ETC.,. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562062

Incident

Jan 20, 2014

THIS VEHICLE HAS A CHRONIC DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THROWING ITS SERPENTINE BELT WHENEVER THE TENSION PULLEY GETS WET. SOON AS THE BELT IS THROWN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING, AND IT STEERS 10 TIMES WORSE THAN A MACK TRUCK. THE LACK OF STEERING IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD TO EVERY OTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. AS IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY BY DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE, ETC. THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO TIME TO REACT. IN ADDITION TO LACK OF STEERING THERE IS NO ALTERNATOR OUTPUT, RESULTING IN RAPID BATTERY DRAIN. ALSO THERE IS NO COOLANT SYSTEM FAN RESULTING IN RAPID ENGINE OVERHEATING. THIS DESIGN FAULT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR WELL OVER A DECADE, NO MAKE THAT 2 DECADES, BUT CHRYSLER HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DATES BACK TO ALL CHRYSLER MINI-VAN DESIGNS FROM THE EARLY 1990S TO AT LEAST 2000. IF THE LACK OF STEERING IS NOT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. WE HAVE A USED WHEELCHAIR CONVERSION CARAVAN VAN TO TRANSPORT MY WIFE. THIS LATEST INCIDENT WAS THE PAST SATURDAY NIGHT AS WE LEFT A RESTAURANT TO RETURN HOME. IT HAD BEEN RAINING PROFUSELY AND SUDDENLY I HAD NO STEERING. I KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS SINCE THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. DO YOU EXPECT YOUR VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE JUST BECAUSE YOU DRIVE IN THE RAIN? WHY HAS NOT CHRYSLER BEEN MADE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A REPAIR RECALL? I DON'T CARE IF THE VAN IS OVER A DECADE OLD. THIS DEFECT IS ONE WHICH ENDANGERS EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AND WHICH CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO ADDRESS WELL OVER A DECADE AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522678

Incident

Jun 30, 2012

Mileage

72,000 mi

CAR STOP HAVING ELECTRICAL OUTPUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10401400

Incident

May 14, 2011

Mileage

141,775 mi

BCM-1, (WARRANTY) LOSS OF DASH FUNCTIONS 1996: BCM-2 ESTIMATE $1200 REPLACED CHRYSLER P/N P4686727 LOST 95,000 MILE ODOMETER FOR A WORKING BCM FROM JUNKYARD (2001), BCM-3, LOST FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER BCM FROM JUNKYARD FIXED P/N P46867(2006) BAD WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT LEAKS WATER INTO CABIN, BCM-3, FAILED AGAIN CURRENTLY NO WIPERS, NOT ABLE TO FIND A 1996/1997 BCM ONLY 1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER BCM P/N P04801062AE. WILL TRY TO VALIDATE COMPATIBILITY TONIGHT. ADEL CHRYSLER ESTIMATE $1,400 PLUS LABOR. ALREADY GAVE THEM $742 FOR TUNE UP AND TROUBLE SHOOTING WHAT THEY SAID WAS A BAD MULTI-SWITCH ($110) DID NOT FIX AND NO DISCOUNT FOR NOT KNOWING HOW TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM PROPERLY. THEIR NUMBER IS 515-993-4587 CORY (KARL IS THE SERVICE MANAGER-OWNER'S SON). *TR

NHTSA ID

10265009

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

18,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE NEAR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 192,400.

NHTSA ID

10241026

Incident

Sep 2, 2008

Mileage

192,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER, OR WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY LOSES CONTROL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES, HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 01-23-08. *KB THE DEALER STATED UPPER RADIATOR LOOSE, LOOSE CLAMPS, FRONT BRAKE PADS, BELT TENSIONER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND ALTERNATOR BRACKET. UPDATED 01/23/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10203219

Incident

Apr 10, 2006

Mileage

119,000 mi

IN 2003 BCM REPLACED FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. OVER $600 . LAST YEAR MY BATTERY CABLES AND BATTERY WERE SMOKING AND I WAS LUCKY I GOT TO THE DEALER JUST IN TIME AS BLACK SMOKE WAS GUSHING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD.... ANOTHER $600 REPAIR. IN JANUARY 2006 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CRAZINESS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND IT COULD NOT BE SMOGED. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE MODULE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT SMOGED 2 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD TURN OVER AND DIE ....I RETURNED AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A PCM MODULE REPLACED $719. GETTING THE CAR BACK WAS ONE ELECTRICAL MISHAP AFTER ANOTHER....THE GAUGES WENT CRAZY...TAKEN BACK TO DEALER....REPROGRAMMED ....AND THEN TOLD THEY WERE NOT SURE HOW TO FIX IT...THEN GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE CLOCK AND RADIO INTERMITTENTLY WENT ON AND OFF.. THE COMPUTER SHUTTING DOWN AND NOT ALLOWING THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE LOCKS USING THE KEY THE ALARM WOULD GO OFF AND I COULD NOT SHUT IT OFF UNTIL THE COMPUTER CAME BACK ON AND I COULD USE THE REMOTE....I WAS THEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I NEEDED A BODY CONTROL MODULE(BCM) WHICH I REPLACED IN 2003. HE WAS NASTY AND RUDE. I TOLD THE GENERAL MANAGER I REALLY DID NOT BELIEVE THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING ....FOR EACH TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN WITH ONE PROBLEM THEY RETURNED IT TO ME WITH ANOTHER. HE COULD ALSO NOT GUARANTEE THAT IF I PAID ANOTHER $550 FOR A NEW BCM THAT IT WOULD SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS.... ...AFTER 6 WEEKS AND FOUR TRIPS TO THE DEALER HAVING MY CAR OVER 2 WEEKS I WAS FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY....AND AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET COUNTLESS OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM OUTRAGED DODGE HAS IGNORED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO ITS CONSUMERS. .WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF THE CLOCK, RADIO, LOCKS AND ALARM WERE THE PROBLEM..BUT AN HOUR AFTER I PICKED IT UP IT STARTED RAINING AND GUESS WHAT....THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT OPERATING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153868

Incident

Jan 23, 2006

Mileage

144,345 mi

THE CRUISE CONTROL,AND HORN BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY USED MINI VAN. I NOW HAVE NO HORN OR CRUISE AND AIR BAG IS IS DOUGHT. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE 1996 DODGE VANS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE NEW ONES HAVE BEEN INPROVED, OR IF THEY OR GOING TO BE REPLACED AS A MATTER OF SAFTY. ALSO FROM TIME TO TIME THE WIPER BLADES COME ON AND GO OFF BY THEM SELVES. AND ONE TIME THE RADIATOR FAN CAME ON THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BY IT SELF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY DEAD. I ALSO HAVE A SIMMY IN THE FRONT END AT 35 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR.

NHTSA ID

10125055

Incident

May 15, 2003

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, AND THE CRUSIE CONTROL DOES NOT FUNCTION......A CLOCKSPRING MALIFUNTION FROM ALL REPORTS....AND DEFINETLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAZARD. WILL ATTEMPT TO REPLACE BUT AT A HIGH COST....

NHTSA ID

10111909

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

I COMPLAINED TO THE CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTING THAT THEY FIX A DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FOR FREE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I FIX IT ASAP SINCE ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS A DEFECT AND I HAVE EVEN READ IT AS A RECALL IN OTHER DOCUMENTS. THE AIRBAG AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. TEXAS WILL NOT EVEN SAFETY APPROVE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS BEING FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10080588

Incident

Jul 7, 2004

1996 DODGE CARAVAN SUFFERS FROM INTERMITTENT "BODY CONTROL MODULE". ONE OF THE POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAILURE IS RANDOM FAILURES OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS FAILURE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND APPARENTLY WIDESPREAD OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IS REPLACEABLE ONLY AT CHRYSLER DEALERS WHO CHARGE OVER $700 TO REPLACE THIS MODULE. THEY HAVE CONTRACTED WITH SOME NATIONAL SERVICE FACILITIES TO REPAIR THE MODULES (INCLUDING "UNITED RADIO" IN SYRACUSE NY) BUT THESE SERVICE FACILITES ARE CONTRACTUALLY PROHIBITED FROM PERFORMING REPAIRS ON MODULES SUBMITTED BY ANYONE EXCEPT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER. THIS FAILURE IS DANGEROUS AND DAIMLER/CHRYSLER IS USING IT AS A CASH-COW INSTEAD OF REPAIRING IT AT NO CHARGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10080509

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT WITH NO WARNING. USUALLY WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR TO TURN, SUCH AS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP. ALL THE SUDDEN NO POWER STERRING AN CAR IS DEAD. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES SEVERAL TIMES.NOTHING DONE, CZN'T FIND PROBLEM WHEN HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10075123

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10071613

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK, THE ELECTRICAL DOORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HORN DID NOT BLOW. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10071491

Incident

Apr 21, 2004

WHILE DRIVING HORN/CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10067068

Incident

Mar 31, 2004

Mileage

106,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057700

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE HORN ON MY 1996 CARAVAN HAS STOPPED WORKING; THE AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME; THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS STARTING TO FAIL.*AK I SAW THE REPORT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ON NEWER MODELS. I THINK THE RANGE OF MODEL YEARS NEEDS TO BE BROADENED. I HAVE ALSO SEEN REPORTS OF OTHER 1996/1997 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS ON INTERNET AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES.

NHTSA ID

10056434

Incident

Feb 3, 2004

Mileage

125,000 mi

I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF MY USED 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN 2000, AND SINCE THEN HAVE REPLACED MINOR MECHANICAL FAILURES SUCH AS THE STARTER, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, TIRES (TWICE), WIPER BLADES, BULBS, BRAKES (TWICE) AS WELL AS THE ROTORS. AT PRESENT I AM DEALING WITH THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: PEELING PAINT, WIPERS ENGAGING AND NOT GOING OFF EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT TURNED ON, HARD JERKS EVERY NOW AND AGAIN (POSSIBLY FROM TRANSMISSION), AND THE BREAKAGE OF A STABILIZER BAR BUSHING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ID

10070844

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

CLOCKSPRING MECHANISM

NHTSA ID

10039369

Incident

Aug 12, 2003

Mileage

115,335 mi

HAD A RADIATOR FAN RELAY RECALL ON 1996 DODGE CARAVAN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND RADIATOR FAN STILL CONTINUES TO COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN CAR IS NOT RUNNING, RUNNING BATTERY DEAD, FRONT W/S WIPER BLADES COMES ON BY ITSELF, LOST FM STEREO FREQUENCY ALL TOGETHER. CANNOT DEPEND ON THIS WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039084

Incident

Jun 16, 2002

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024978

Incident

Jun 23, 2003

Mileage

122,000 mi

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED, PUDDLES OF GAS IS FORMED UNDER IT. THIS HAPPENED ANYTIME VEHICLE WAS PARKED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS AND NO ONE KNEW WHY. ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND WINDOW WIPERS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TT

NHTSA ID

10021767

Incident

May 28, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, WATER RAN DOWN INTO THE POWER ASSEMBLY WHICH CAUSED IT TO RUST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019874

Incident

May 14, 2003

ELECTRICAL - WINDSHIELD WIPERS, RADIO, STATIC ELECTRICITY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL START OPERATION WHILE ACTIVATION SWITCH IS IN "OFF" POSITION AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING. WIPERS ALSO WILL START OPERATING WHEN EVER TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON-GOING SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN 1996. EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY, A REMEDY WAS NEVER OFFERED BY DEALER' SERVICE DEPARTMENT. STATIC ELECTRICITY IS A PROBLEM AT TIMES. UPON ENTERING VEHICLE ONE COULD EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK FROM TOUCHING DOOR HANDLE, STEERING WHEEL, ETC., RADIO/TAPE PLAYER MALFUNCTIONING OCCURRED QUITE OFTEN DURING FIRST FEW YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. WHEN REPORTED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WAS INFORMED THAT WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. SINCE THEN FM TUNER HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017052

Incident

Jul 19, 1996