1996 Dodge Caravan Engine Problems

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101746

Incident

May 4, 2004

Mileage

72,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY WEEK DUE TO A OIL LEAK FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079332

Incident

Jun 16, 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

ENGINE LOSES LOTS OF OIL AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. ALSO SMELL BURNING SMELL WHEN ENGINE SHUTS OFF. RADIATOR LOSES COOLANT. DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE THINGS. ALSO OIL LIGHT ONLY COMES ON WHEN YOU TAKE A SHARP TURN. ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR, SINCE WE GOT IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067571

Incident

May 7, 2003

Mileage

112,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10064905

Incident

Mar 25, 2004

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT. IT CAN SLIP OFF. WHEN IT DOES, YOU POWER STEERING GOES (SAFETY) AND YOUR CAR CAN OVERHEAT WITHIN MINUTES. YOU ARE STRANDED. PUTTING THE BELT YOURSELF IS NOT EASY, EVEN WITH THE DIAGRAM (THANK GOODNESS THEY HAVE THE DIAGRAM UNDER THE HOOD FOR OTHER MECHANICS, DO IT YOURSELFERS) THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT NOT A RECALL. I THINK THEY PUT ON A BRACKET WHICH WILL HELP KEEP THE BELT ON TRACK IN CASE OF WET WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

10071164

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

83,000 mi

I WANT TO GET YOUR ADVICE ABOUT MY CARAVAN. EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED THERMOSTAT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM RECENTLY THAT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR A LONG TIME. CARAVAN LOSES POWER WHILE RUNNING, I MEAN THAT ENGINE IS RUNNING BUT VERY UNSTABLE AND GOING TO STOP IF DEEPLY PRESS GAS PEDAL. ONCE I LOSE POWER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT POWER. BUT IF I WAIT UNTIL ENGINE COOL DOWN (TYPICALLY AN HOUR OR SO), IT RECOVERS TO NORMAL CONDITION. EVEN THOUGH I CHECKED IT AT THE CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON. ONLY WHAT THEY CAN DO IS BASED ON THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS FROM MULTIPLE MISFIRE. WHEN IT WAS CHECKED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. BUT SOME PEOPLE, WHO WORK AT A GARAGE, TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT NORMAL. THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM MAY NOT BE MONITORED BY COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED A LOT OF PARTS; SPARK PLUG CABLE, (NOT SPARK PLUG BECAUSE IT IS LESS THAN 20000 MILE AFTER REPLACED), ROTOR, ROTOR CAP, FUEL FILTER AND AIR FILTER. IF THESE PARTS ARE REPLACED AND THERE IS STILL SAME PROBLEM, WE NEED TO SUSPECT FUEL PUMP. HE TOLD ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE SOUND THAT CAN BE HEARD WHEN WE PUT THE KEY TO THE IGNITION POSITION WHEN STARTING ENGINE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HEAR FUEL PUMPING SOUND FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING IF TURN THE KEY TO IGNITION POSITION. AND HE TOLD ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS SOUND AGAIN WHEN MY CAR LOSES THE POWER. IF THIS SOUND IS NOT HEARD, HE SAID THAT IT IS DEFINITELY DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP DEFECT WHEN THE POWER IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND NEED TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP. DO YOU AGREE WITH HIS SUGGESTION. UNTIL HIS ASSUMPTION IS PROVED, IT MAY BE A WASTE OF MONEY IF SIMPLY REPLACE FUEL PUMP WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE.

NHTSA ID

10070077

Incident

May 15, 2002

Mileage

79,000 mi

RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE VAN AT 33,000 MILES THE BUMPER PAINT STARTED PEELING AWAY AND THE PAINT ON TOP OF THE BACK TRUCK DOOR, IT'S TERRIBLE AND LOOKS LIKE HELL. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED! I HAVE A WARRANTY AND THEY SAY IT WON'T COVER , I HAVE HEARD DODGE HAS HAD A RECALL ON SOME YEARS OF PAINT PEELING

NHTSA ID

10069055

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

66,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE WAS CONSUMING TWO QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. ALSO, OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053675

Incident

Jan 8, 2004

Mileage

69,000 mi

BOTH CYLINDER TOWERS CRACKED,THEY FIXED BUT VAN STILL WOULDNT RUN RIGHT,NOW WE'RE TALKING A WHOLE NEW ENGINE,WE DECLINED SINCE TRANSMISSION HASNT BEEN REPLACED AND I'M SURE THATS NEXT. DODGE DEALER ALSO WANTS US TO PAY $1080 BECAUSE THEY COULDNT FIND THE PROBLEM !*AK

NHTSA ID

10050592

Incident

Nov 30, 2003

BLOCK WAS DAMAGED AND REPAIRED DURING MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE REPAIR BROKE AND MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX- STATES OUT OF WARRANTY BLOCK WAS LEAKING FLUID - REPAIR SHOP STATES REPAIR WORK HAD TO BE DONE DURING MANUFACTURING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049764

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLOCKSPRING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *MR THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE, THEN THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BEING BROKEN, OIL LEAKED DUE TO THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. RECALL#02V293000 *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10050485

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 DRIVING 45 MPH WITH TWO PASSENGERS, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENT NEAR THE REAR SLIDING DOOR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE CURB AND WAITED 2 MINUTES, THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE SMOKE. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND, BUT WHILE GETTING BACK INTO VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE SPEWING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEELS. CONSUMER BARELY REMOVED PASSENGERS FROM VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED. *AK FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *PH

NHTSA ID

10033970

Incident

Aug 9, 2003

Mileage

115,000 mi

PEDESTAL CONNECTED TO ROCKER ARM WHICH IS CONNECTED TO CYLINDER HEAD BROKE FOR NO REASON. SINCE IT IS ALL ONE PIECE, IT ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A GREAT COST. WARRANTY GOLD EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT AS THEY SAID IT WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. DODGE DENIES THERE HAVE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

10033103

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE MOST RECENT WAS ON 7/14/2003. *AK

NHTSA ID

10027227

Incident

Jul 14, 2003

TRUCK IS LEAKING OIL, OIL ALL OVER CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS PAR TOF RECALL 96V 006 000. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT SHE HAD A LEAK FROM THE GASKETS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10024512

Incident

Jun 19, 2003

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

THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE COVER IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND THE TENSIONER BEARING HAD FALLEN APART. THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE SHIFT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS TO GET THE SHIFT UP. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS COLD, IT WOULD DELAY ENGAGING IN REVERSE FROM PARK. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10011595

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

47,268 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES ENGINE STALLED, STARTED SMOKING AND LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10009822

Incident

Feb 17, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

GRINDING NOISE FROM A/C COMPRESSOR UNIT. UNIT THEN LOCKED AND BROKE SERPENTINE BELT. CLICKING NOISE FROM PASSENGER SIDE DASH JUST AFTER STARTING STOPS AFTER APPROX. 30 SECS. TRANS DOESN'T CATCH RIGHT AWAY WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10005216

Incident

Feb 3, 2003

Mileage

135,000 mi

CLOCKSPRING DEFECTIVE, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE? DT

NHTSA ID

770735

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. TS

NHTSA ID

8022338

Incident

Sep 13, 2002