Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 153 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 153, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES TO THE RIGHT ARM WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH. ANOTHER DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND NO LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, INCLUDING A BROKEN NOSE AND CHEEK BONES, AND ALSO A SHATTERED RIGHT FOOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND PICTURES OF THE CRASH ARE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V293000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 1997 CARAVAN CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. *TS THE VEHICLE'S HORN FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE'S CLOCKSPRING HAD BEEN RECALLED, RECALL NUMBER 02V293000 . THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTICE. *NM
DT: AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON/THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH DIDN'T WORK, AND THE HORN MALFUNCTIONED. NOTICED THESE FAILURES ON JUNE 1, 2005. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. HAD CHECKED THE FUSES, THEY WERE STILL GOOD. *AK
DT: AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DOESN'T WORK. *AK CONSUMER STATES HAVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THESE PROBLEMS BUT DELEARSHIP REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT A 1998 OR NEWER. THE CONSUMER'S STEERING WHEEL IS GETTING WORST. CONSUMER'S VIN #'S ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, CONSUMER ALSO OWNS A 2000 DODGE VAN. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE CLAIM. *NM
I HAVE A MINI- CARAVAN 1997 AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON OR BLINKS INTERMITTANTLY HORN DOESN'T WORK OR ONLY WORKS SOMTIMES (THATS FUN) CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK
RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FOR THE CLOCKSPRING ON MY MINIVAN (YR714091 NOTIFICATION CODE D17) ISSUES WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYING LIGHT AND HORN WILL NOT WORK. ACCORDING TO DODGE, THE REASON THIS IS HAPPENING IS BECAUSE OF THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE MINIVAN. WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT DODGE AND THE SERVICE MAN AT DODGE SAID MY MINIVAN DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. TOLD HIM WHY MY PROBLEMS ARE THAT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL LETTER. HE SAID IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY VEHICLE WAS MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 516, OLD BRIDGE, NJ. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A SCHOOL BUS AND PUSHED INTO A LAMP POLE. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED AS PER STATE FARM INSURANCE. BOTH AIR BAG FAILED TO WORK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARD INSTEAD OF PROTECTING OUR NECK AND BODY. THE VEHICLE IS WITH STATE FARM INSURANCE. *JB. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN TWO INJURIES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN RECALL 04V480000 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK
THE CONSUMER STATED HER HUSBAND WAS COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE. SHE STATED THAT HE RECEIVED SOME MINOR INJURIES AND HIS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *SC
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. ONLY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO BREAST AND STOMACH. RECALL 04V480000 AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WAS ISSUED. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO MODEL YEAR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE DRIVER PRESSED DOWN ON THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO WORK. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE THE DEALER. *NM THE A/C WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE SES LIGHT. RECALL# 04V480000. *SC *JB
THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I LATER REALIZED THAT THE HORN DOESN'T WORK. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. AT A NYS INSPECTION VISIT. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION.*AK I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I NEEDED TO USE THE HORN, AND WAS UNABLE TO. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.
HI MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I PURCHASED A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN FOR $3,600 AND TRADED IN MY CAR WHICH WAS WORTH $400 AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THE DEALER MAN SAID. I BROUGHT BACK THE CARAVAN THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO FIX SOME MINOR PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE HORN THAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL . THEY SPENT THE WHOLE DAY WITH THE VAN AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO IT, THEN THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME THAT THE HORN WAS GOING TO GET ORDERED AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE BECAUSE THE PART THAT THEY NEEDED COULDN'T BE SENT VIA MAIL BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE EXPLOSIVE SO WHEN I DECIDED TO ASK FOR MY MONEY BACK SINCE IT HAD A 30 DAY WARRANTY THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO FIX IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WENT TO PICK UP MY VAN AND WHEN I SAW IT THEY PUT IT A DIFFERENT HORN AND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION AND THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PART THAT THE VAN NEEDED IF I WAS WILLING TO PAY HALF ON IT. IN CONCLUSION TO THIS THE PIECE THAT THEY NEED IS THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH COST ABOUT $ 400 TO $ 900 AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VAN WITH THE HORN THAT THEY PUT IN INSTEAD OF PUTTING A NEW CLOCK SPRING. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT ONCE THE CLOCK SPRINGS BREAKS DOWN THE AIRBAG , CRUISE CONTROL. AND THE RADIO WOULDN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD'VE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SELLING THAT VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN HELP ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I OWN A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, WITH APPROX 139,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST READ IN THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATING DAIMLER-CHRYSLER'S 1998-1999 DODGE CARAVANS/CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRYS/PLYMOUTH VOYAGERS. THE ARTICLE STATES THE VANS HAD A DEFECT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL/AIRBAG. MINE IS DOING THIS EXACT THING. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. PLEASE INCLUDE THE 1997 MODEL YEARS IN THE INVESTIGATION.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED AND REMAINED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GARAGE, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER STATED THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WITH THE HARD SURFACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUED, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT RELATED.*JB *JB *NLM
VEHICLE HORN IS INOPERATIVE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. *MR *SCC *JB
WARNING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY, AND AIR BAG SENSOR TO STAYS ON. *AK THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE AIR BAG AND HORN PROBLEM MAY BE THE RESULT OF A CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *PH *NLM
THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL 02V293000 FOR THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING, INDICATING THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE RECALL LETTER.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE THIRD ROW SEAT SEPARATED FROM THE TRACK AN SLID FORWARD. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS LIFETIME INJURIES FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES ALL THE TIME, SOMETIMES THEY STOP AFTER A FEW SWIPES AND SOMETIMES I NEED TO TURN THE SWITCH ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN TO MAKE THEM STOP. SO FAR THEY HAVE WORKED WHEN I NEEDED THEM BUT IT MAY ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, IT IS VERY UNSAFE! (1999) AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON NEARLY ALL THE TIME NOW. (JUN 2003) SLIDING DOOR LOCK DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHEN USING THE POWER LOCKS. *JB
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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