1997 Dodge Caravan Body & structure Problems

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN SE PURCHASED NEW. TWO YEARS AGO I NOTICED A SPOT ON THE ROOF, AND ANOTHER ON THE HOOD WHERE THE POLYCOAT WAS BEGINNING TO PEEL. WITHIN TWO YEARS THE CAR LOOKED AS IF IT HAD SOME KIND OF DISEASE. I BEGAN TO NOTICE OTHER CARAVANS OF SIMILAR AGE, AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I SAW OTHER MAKES OF CARS THAT WERE MUCH OLDER WITH ORIGINAL PAINT JOBS AND THEY WEREN'T EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PAINT JOB AND POLY COAT ON THE DODGE CARAVAN. I FEEL FOR WHAT WE PAYED FOR, AND WITH THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED , SUCH AS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMING ON BY THEMSELVES, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND GOING OFF, THE INTERIOR LIGHT COMING ON OR NOT WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE WARNING BELL NOT GOING OFF WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPEN, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKING OR NOT WORKING, THE FOGGING OF THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS - AT LEAST THE PAINT JOB SHOULD HAVE LASTED!*AK

NHTSA ID

10187249

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF YOUR SERVICES SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS WRITTEN WAY AFTER THE FACT. MAY PROBLEM IS THAT I OWN A 97 DODGE CARAVAN, AT THE TIME IT HAD APPOX. 80,000 MILES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL THAT HOLDS THE STRAT ROTTED TO THE POINT THAT THE STRAT WAS COMING THROUGH. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID THAT PART OF THE BODY WASN'T WARRANTED AGAINST RUST THROUGH. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THAT THE DOORS AND HOOD WAS BUT NOT THE UNDER PART. I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE FOR $900 AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE IS ABOUT TO DO THE SAME. WHAT IS IRONIC IS THAT THE BODY IE DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS ARE FINE. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE CAR AND IF SO DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054282

Incident

Jul 2, 2002

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE STRUT THAT HELD THE REAR HATCH SNAPPED. THE HATCH CRASHED DOWN, AND NEARLY DECAPITATED A SMALL CHILD. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053721

RIGHT ARM ON LIFTGATE SNAPPED IN TWO. MR. WHEN THE CONSUMER OPENED THE LIFTGATE THE RIGHT ARM WHICH HELD THE LIFTGATE UP SNAPPED IN TWO AND FELL ON THE CONSUMER'S ARM, ALSO THE SUNVISOR BROKE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019637

THE TAILGATE AND THE RIGHT ARM THAT HOLD IT UP SNAPPED, AS A RESULT THE ARM FELL ONTO THE CONSUMERS LEFT ARM. THE ARM ON THE SUNVISOR SNAPPED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10011470

THE PAINT ON MY 97 DODGE CARAVAN IS PEELING OFF ON THE TOP OF THE VAN. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS? *JB

NHTSA ID

10010433

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK SPRINGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SNAP CAUSING IT TO BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO OPEN AND CLOSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID

10002185

Incident

Dec 29, 2002

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF CONSUMER NEEDED TO REMOVE CHILDREN FROM VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. TS

NHTSA ID

10001300

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

Mileage

70,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS RECALL#99V123000 LIFT GATE SUPPORT BRACKET. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDE WITH RECALL. TS

NHTSA ID

8021540

Incident

Oct 14, 2002

MICHAEL SCHOTTLAND ON BEHALF OF THE DECEASED OWNER STEPHANIE BERMAN. MS. BERMANS VEHICLE, WHILE IN MOTION, TURNED OVER AND BECAME ENGULFED IN A FIRE THAT LED TO HER DEATH, THERE WAS A RECALL 00V268 REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *JG

NHTSA ID

565283

Incident

Jul 15, 2000

WHILE OPENING SLIDING DOOR IT KEEP COMING OFF TRACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015772

Incident

Jul 25, 2002

WHEN TRYING TO OPEN SLIDING DOOR HANDLE DID BREAK IN DRIVER'S HAND WITHOUT A SHOW OF A CRACK. *AK THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER POINTED OUT THAT BREAKING OF DOOR WAS COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ID

881047

Incident

Feb 5, 2001

ENGINE HAD LEAKING SEALS WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO LEAK. FUMES WOULD COME FROM BLOWER (DEFROSTER) WHEN IT WAS TURNED ON. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ENGINE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ERRATIC & WOULD COME ON OR OFF BY THEMSELVES, AND HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH STARTER. *AK GASOLINE LEAKS FROM THE TANK DUE TO THE SEAL FAILURE. INSIDE DOOR PANEL ON DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKEN. *YH

NHTSA ID

876989

SLIDING DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS--DOOR REMAINS LOCKED AND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, OR DOOR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK. JUST BEFORE FAILURE DOOR HAS PROBLEM LATCHING SUCCESSFULLY. AUTO DOOR LOCK MAKES BUZZING NOISE WHEN LOCKING IS ATTEMPTED. AFTER SECOND FAILURE, DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT IS COMMON TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF ROCKWELL ACTUATOR PART FOR THESE VEHICLES. WE'VE HAD 3 FAILURES OF DRIVERS SIDE AND 5 ON PASSENGER SIDE. LATEST WAS TODAY, 10/11/00. VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURES KEEP HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

734098

Incident

Oct 11, 2000

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT A DOOR IS OPEN. THE PASSENGER'S DOOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAD NEARLY COME OPEN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

858710

ROTORS PITTED AND RUSTED PREMATURELY DUE TO INFERIOR MATERIALS USED TO CONSTRUCT THEM. NLM

NHTSA ID

549314

Incident

Jul 30, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *YC

NHTSA ID

548586

TENSION PULLEY BELT THATS CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING AND BATTERY WAS VERY LOW. THE BATTERY/ THERMOSTAT WENT INTO A HOT MODE. ALSO, THAT THERE IS WATER UNDERNEATH THE CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A BOAT. THE WATER UNDERNEATH COMES FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN RIDING THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

848132

Incident

Sep 17, 1999

RECURRING WATER LEAK , DEALER TRIED TO CORRECT BY ADJUSTING HATCH AND REPLACING SEAL. NO LONGER SHUTS PROPERLY. OFTENTIMES HAVE TO GET OUT OF CAR AND RESHUT. DEALER WILL ADJUST BUT WILL NOT BE RESPONSILBE SHOULD IT START LEAKING AGAIN. SUGGESTS I KEEP A DOOR OR WINDOW OPEN IN ORDER TO SHUT THE HATCH. WATER CAM EIN THRU SEATBELTS.

NHTSA ID

706126

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

HIGH BEAM LIGHTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID

607034

Incident

Oct 10, 1998

VEHICLE MUST BE LIFT BY A STRAIGHT FLAT BED OR THE WINDOWS WOULD BREAK OUT AND THE GAS TANK COULD BLOW OUT.

NHTSA ID

524514

Incident

May 1, 1997

RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND THE DOOR OPENED,HIT BRAKES AND DOOR SLAMMED SHUT, BUT DID NOT LATCH. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRIC MOTOR LOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID

813496

Incident

May 25, 1997