Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
TL* - THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM HER CAR. SHE PULLED HER CAR OVER AND GOT OUT AND THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE CAN GET A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. THE SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 96V006000.
LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DURING LOW SPEED (2 MPH) DRIVING, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF, ALSO DESTROYING PART OF THE SWAY BAR AND THE LEFT DRIVE SHAFT. AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SUCH A FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP THE PRIOR DAY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE DEALERSHIP ALSO PERFORMED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION FOUR MONTHS PRIOR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF BALL JOINT WEAR OR DAMAGE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE PULLING FROM A STOP VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVESHAFT. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN IT RAINS. CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. TS *DT
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HE STOPPED AT A REST AREA AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FILL TUBE. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. *SCC
CAR WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. JUST AS I STARTED FORWARD, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE AXLE BROKE AS SOON AS TORQUE WAS APPLIED TO IT. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SLOPE AND WAS ABLE TO ROLL THE CAR BACK OFF THE ROAD. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHOSE OWNER STATED THAT BROKEN AXLES WERE "A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CARAVANS". I HAD THE DEALER CHECK FOR RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS; THERE WEREN'T ANY OUTSTANDING ON THIS CAR. DEALER WAS SYMPATHETIC BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ADJUSTMENT.*AK
THE LEFT DRIVESHAFT INTERCONNECTING SHAFT ON MY 1996 CARAVAN SHEARED AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE DAMPER WEIGHT. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY, WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND HEARD AND FELT A LOUD THUMP WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THAT THE LEFT DRIVESHAFT (AXLE) WAS SHEARED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED AT A DODGE DEALER. I COULD NOT GET A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHY THIS HAD HAPPENED. I HAVE KEPT THE DAMAGED PART. THE "TUNED DAMPER WEIGHT" WHICH ENCIRCLES THE "INTERCONNECTING SHAFT" AT ABOUT MIDPOINT ON THE SHAFT HAD RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT (ETCHED) THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SHAFT, WEAKENING THE SHAFT AND CREATING A STRESS FRACTURE POINT WHICH WILL SHEAR UNDER NORMAL STRESS LOADS. THE SHAFT IS 27MM IN DIAMETER WHERE IT IS NOT CORRODED, BUT AT THE CROSS-SECTION WHERE IT SHEARED AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE RUBBER COVER OF THE DAMPER WEIGHT, THE SHAFT IS CORRODED DOWN TO 21MM, MORE THAN A 22% REDUCTION IN SHAFT DIAMETER! APPARENTLY THE METAL USED IN THE DAMPER WEIGHT IS SUBJECT TO SEVERE RUSTING, AND THE RUBBER COVER AROUND THE WEIGHT TRAPS MOISTURE. NOTE: THE TRIPOD AND CV JOINTS ARE NOT DAMAGED; THE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY IS LITERALLY BROKEN IN HALF. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE IN MOTION WE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED, PARTICULARILY IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR MAKING A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE IT IS CAUSED BY CORROSION OVER TIME WEAKENING THE DRIVESHAFT, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT DRIVESHAFTS OF THIS DESIGN (OR LOTS USING THIS COMBINATION OF MATERIALS) WILL BE BREAKING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY (APPROXIMATELY 6 YEARS BEFORE FAILURE?), CAUSING ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND DEATHS.*AK
LEFT DRIVESHAFT INTERCONNECTING SHAFT ON MY 1996 CARAVAN SHEARED AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE DAMPER WEIGHT. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY, WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND HEARD AND FELT A LOUD THUMP WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THAT THE LEFT DRIVESHAFT (AXLE) WAS SHEARED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED AT A DODGE DEALER. I COULD NOT GET A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHY THIS HAD HAPPENED. I HAVE KEPT THE DAMAGED PART. THE "TUNED DAMPER WEIGHT" WHICH ENCIRCLES THE "INTERCONNECTING SHAFT" AT ABOUT MIDPOINT ON THE SHAFT HAD RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT (ETCHED) THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SHAFT, WEAKENING THE SHAFT AND CREATING A STRESS FRACTURE POINT WHICH WILL SHEAR UNDER NORMAL STRESS LOADS. THE SHAFT IS 27MM IN DIAMETER WHERE IT IS NOT CORRODED, BUT AT THE CROSS-SECTION WHERE IT SHEARED AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE RUBBER COVER OF THE DAMPER WEIGHT, THE SHAFT IS CORRODED DOWN TO 21MM, MORE THAN A 22% REDUCTION IN SHAFT DIAMETER! APPARENTLY THE METAL USED IN THE DAMPER WEIGHT IS SUBJECT TO SEVERE RUSTING, AND THE RUBBER COVER AROUND THE WEIGHT TRAPS MOISTURE. NOTE: THE TRIPOD AND CV JOINTS ARE NOT DAMAGED; THE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY IS LITERALLY BROKEN IN HALF. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE IN MOTION WE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED, PARTICULARILY IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THEWAY OR MAKING A TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE IT IS CAUSED BY CORROSION OVER TIME WEAKENING THE DRIVESHAFT, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT DRIVESHAFTS OF THIS DESIGN (OR LOTS USING THIS COMBINATION OF MATERIALS) WILL BE BREAKING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY (APPROXIMATELY 6 YEARS BEFORE FAILURE?), CAUSING ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND DEATHS.*AK
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. WHEN MOVING FORWARD CONSUMER HEARD A BIG CLINK AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARARGE. AXLE WAS REPLACED. CHRYSLER COULDN'T ASSIST BECAUSE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING DUE TO MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP DOWN, DAMAGING THE CV JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE EVEN AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FIXED. *YH
VAN WAS IN FOR NORMAL SERVICE AND MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE VAN INTO SERVICE BAY WHEN HE HEARD A SNAP. THE VAN STOPPED MOVING. WHEN IT WAS CHECKED THEY FOUND THE AXLE SNAPPED AND AT THE PLACE OF FAILURE CORROSION AND RUST WAS FOUND UNDER RUBBER COVERING. OUR CONCERN WAS THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT ON DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD WORKED LOOSE. IT WAS MOVING OR SWERLING AROUND INSIDE & RUINED DIFFERENTIAL/CASING. HAD REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT ONE. *AK
FRONT AXEL BROKE IN TWO WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. IF THIS WERE TO HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED STEERING WAS VERY SHAKY. PROBLEM STARTED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME & IS STEADILY GETTING WORSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC NOTICED RIGHT FRONT AXLE WAS BENT. SUSPENSION FROM MANUFACTURER WAS DEFECTIVE. BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION ON THE SEALS FOR RUBBER BOOT.*AK
WHEN TURNING OFF CAR OIL WOULD LEAK ALL OVER THE GROUND, TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SEAL LEAK. CONSUMER COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE VEHICLE FIXED. CONSUMER IS NOT DRIVING VEHICLE NOW.42B4FP. *AK
CAM SEAL, CRANKCASE SEAL,TRANSMISSION SEAL AND AXLE SEAL WHERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE. NLM
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE/ ODOMETER/ TEMPERATURE GAUGE DO NOT WORK, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENLY.*AK
MANY SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS VEHICLE
WAS TURNING ONTO HIGHWAY, GOING AROUND A CURB WHEN A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD. HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT TIME. MANAGED TO MOVED TO SIDE OF ROAD & NOTICED THE AXLES HAD BROKEN. THIS CAUSED THE DOUGHMENT TO DROP OUT. *AK
DIFFERENTIAL BLEW UP . PIN BLEW THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION INTO SPIDER GEARS - LEFT TWO HOLES THE SIZE OF A FIST IN THE CASE.PIN BROKE INTO THREE PIECES - MECHANIC FOUND PIECES IN TRANSMISSION.
VEHICLE HAD FLUID LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE MECHANIC TOOK TRANSMISSION APART & NOTICED PINION PIN & GEARS WERE VERY BADLY DAMAGED. THE PINION PIN HAD DETACHED FROM TRANSFER CASE IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS THE VHEICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER STRAIGHT, CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN DRIVNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 50 TO 55 MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP INSTANTLY AND THE OCCUPANT WAS PUSHED IN THE THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO ABS BRAKES PULSATED UNDER HEAVIER BRAKING APPLICATIONS/CHILD SAFETY SEAT LOCKED UP, AND IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET 2-YEAR OLD OUT/HEATER HOSE DEVELOPED A HOLE AND LEAKED/REPLACED POWER WINDOW FUSE, AND DRIVESHAFT BROKE, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
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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