Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 53 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 53, in the owner's own words
STRUT TOWER CORROSION 10090457 RIGHT / LEFT STRUT TOWER RUSTED OUT ON 96 DODGE CARAVAN. TOOK VAN INTO REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT STEERING ISSUE THEY FOUND A COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT STRUT HOUSING SAID ITS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH VEHICLE AND SAFETY BULLETIN WAS ISSUED SINCE ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM. SUSPENSION/BODY - STRUT TOWER CORROSION NUMBER: 23-044-02 GROUP: BODY DATE: OCT. 14, 2002 SUBJECT: NS STRUT TOWER CORROSION . *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOCKS UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH THE METAL, WHICH HOLDS THE WHEEL IN PLACE. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE AT TIMES. WHILE DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES, BUT THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS ONLY A KIT USED TO SEAL THE SHOCKS IN PLACE; HOWEVER, IT IS A TEMPORARY REMEDY AND THE FAILURE WOULD MOST LIKELY RECUR. THERE IS CURRENTLY NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR FOR THIS DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
FRONT STRUT MOUNTS ON EVERY 96 THRU 00 CARAVAN, VOYAGER, CHRYSLER MINIVANS THAT I'VE LOOKED AT,HAVE SERIOUS RUST PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THE LEFT SIDE, RESULTING IN THE STRUT ITSELF BREAKING THROUGH AND HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE HOOD, AND RESULTING OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE REPAIR COST TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED IS VERY COSTLY,$300-1000 TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM ON ALL 96 THRU 00 MINI-VANS BEFORE SOMEBODY HAS A FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WITH THEIR FAMILY, AND HAVE A FATAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE CURE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND NOT AFTER PEOPLE ARE KILLED DUE TO THIS STRUCTURAL FRONT STRUT TOWER FAILURE. *TR
I OWN AN 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE STRUT TOWERS, ESPECIALLY THE DRIVER SIDE, ARE RUSTING HORRIBLY AND WILL NEED REPAIR TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF THE RUST GIVES WAY, THE STRUTS WILL GO UP THROUGH THE TOWER WHICH BEST CASE CAUSES HUGE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND WORST CASE COULD RESULT IN A FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. READING AROUND THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM 1996 THROUGH 2000 VANS AND REPAIR KITS ARE BACK ORDERED AT DEALERSHIPS AROUND THE NATION. DAIMLER/CHRYSLER IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AS THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. *NM
STRUT TOWER RUSTING OUT ALMOST CAUSED CRASH. I READ THAT THIS IS COMMON ON 96-00 CARAVAN WHY IS THIS NOT COVERED.
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER ON THE VEHICLE WAS SO RUSTY THAT IT WAS STARTING TO BREAK OFF.*AK *NM
THE SHOCK STRUTS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RUSTED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP, AND THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT STRUTS ARE RUSTED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONDEMNED BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST. THE RUST WAS NOT EASILY DETECTED BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER PAINT. *NM
SHOCK TOWERS WHICH LEAD TO THE SPRINGS OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GAS STATION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK THE FRONT AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING, THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE REAR SHOCKS. *JB
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER WAS DETERIORATING AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC
LEFT FRONT STRUT MTG TOWER RUSTED THROUGH BY THE TIME THE RUST WAS SEEN THE METAL IN THE STRUT TOWER HAD FAILED CHRYSLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING STATING IT WAS OVER 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE FOR MANIFACTURERS DEFFECT REPAIR YET THIS IS KNOWN AS A COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL IF IT FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY.
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.
THE STRUT SHOCK TOWER THAT SUPPORTED THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM RUSTED THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE OUT. AT THE TIME THAT RUST WAS NOTICEABLE THE TOWER HAD ALREADY FAILED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FRONT END TO DROP WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SUPPLIED A REPAIR KIT UNDER THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. *AK *NLM
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER IS RUSTED.*MR THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. DAIMLER CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *JB *NM
WHILE GETTING SERVICE ON MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE VIN/[XXX] RUST WAS OBSERVED ON THE BODY STRUT MGT TOWER LOCATED IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THIS TOWER IS A MAIN PART OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM. FAILURE OF THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST OUT FROM THE INSIDE CAN CAUSE THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WELD RUSTED PREMATURELY. *AK
CLOCKSPRING SAFETY DEFICIENCY.*MR THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE CLOCKSPRING PURCHASED BEFORE RECALL WAS ISSUED. *CB
DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK MECHANIC FOUND THAT STRUTS WERE POPPING THROUGH THE STRUT TOWER. STRUT TOWER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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 STATES THAT RIGHT STRUT CAP THAT HOLDS THE SUSPENSION HAS RUSTED OUT. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.
THE WHEEL BEARING SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO WOBBLE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.*JB
NEED TO ADD THIS VEHICLE TO RECALL AND SERVICE BY DEALER NEED TO RECALL EVERY CLOCK SPRING MADE. DT
STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED OUT AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. STRUT TOWER HOLDS THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A FLAT TIRE REPAIR. PASSENGER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED AND SPRING WAS STARTING TO COME THROUGH. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED FRONT END TO COLLASPE ONTO THE WHEELS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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