1997 Dodge Caravan Suspension Problems

THE STRUT TOWER ON THE 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, THAT HAS ONLY 85,500 MILES RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. DODGE ADMITTED TO A DESIGN FLAW FOR THE PREMATURE RUSTING STRUT TOWERS. A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FROM CHRYSLER DATED OCTOBER '02 EXPLICITLY STATED THAT ALL '1996 TO 19'99 CHRYSLER VANS PLYMOUTH, DODGE, AND CHRYSLER, HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT TOWERS. ALL OF THEM WILL EVENTUALLY RUST FROM THE BOTTOM UP. AS I STATED, THE STRUT TOWERS WERE DEFECTIVE IN THERE DESIGN. CHRYSLER HAS A WARRANTY PART NUMBER 05086513AA BUT REFUSES TO FIX A KNOWN DANGEROUS DEFECT, BECAUSE THE VAN IS OVER THE 7 YEAR, 100,000 MILE, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST WARRANTY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS VAN HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR ALMOST ALL MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND YEARLY STATE OF MAINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, AND THIS ISSUE WAS NEVER MENTIONED. CLEARLY, WHEN THE RUSTED STRUT TOWER GIVES, THE STRUT WILL COME UP THROUGH THE HOOD. AT THAT POINT, LIVES WILL BE IN DANGER, AS THE PROBABILITY OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS INEVITABLE. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS MY FORMAL COMPLAINT. WILL CHRYSLER LIVE UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR THIS KNOW DEFECT FOR THOSE OF US OUT OF THE WARRANTY TIMELINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10196573

Incident

Jul 17, 2007

SUMMARY: CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKLOG: WIDES-SPREAD OCCURRENCE OF THIS DEFECT INDICATES THE NEED FOR RECALL ON THESE PARTS. DETAILS: OUR DODGE CARAVAN IS IN NEED OF NEW CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, HOWEVER THERE IS A NATIONAL BACKLOG FOR THESE PARTS AND THEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 4-8 WEEKS OR LONGER. WE BELIEVE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT IS A NEEDED AND FAIR WAY TO HANDLE THIS, AS THIS DEFECT IS OBVIOUSLY SO WIDE-SPREAD AS TO BE UNMANAGEABLE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER DIRECTLY AND THEY HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. VIN: VB482644, MILEAGE: 82,000. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161721

Incident

Jun 30, 2006

Mileage

82,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER IN BOTH OF MY CHRYSLER MINIVANS 97 CARAVAN & 96 TC ARE RUSTING EXCESSIVELY. MY 97 CARAVAN LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BREAK THROUGH SOON. MY MECHANIC CLAIMS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY CHRYSLER MINIVAN'S. THE REPAIRS COST MORE THAN THE VAN IS WORTH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153885

Incident

Mar 24, 2006

Mileage

110,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING A STATE INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED CORROSION ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHICH DETERMINED THE STRUT TOWER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS AWAITING THE REPLACEMENT PART.

NHTSA ID

10153403

Incident

Mar 22, 2006

Mileage

99,700 mi

1997 DODGE CARAVAN TWO FRONT STRUT TOWERS ARE IN A DEFECTIVE STATE.*MR *JB

NHTSA ID

10117341

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

THIS IS RELATED TO COMPLAINT 10090457. MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN HAS EXCESSIVE RUST AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVER-SIDE STRUT CAP. LARGE CHIPS OF RUSTED METAL CAN EASILY BE REMOVED WITH A SCREW DRIVER.*AK I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RISK IN CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN LATE 1996, AND HAVE KEPT IT IN MINNESOTA SINCE. THE REST OF THE BODY HAS EVIDENCE OF EARLY RUST THAT, IN A COUPLE YEARS, WILL BE UGLY, BUT LOOKS OK NOW AND IS TYPICAL FOR AN 8-YR OLD CAR IN MINNESOTA. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, WHICH DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM AS COSMETIC, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO PROVIDED A REPAIR KIT. THE KIT USES EPOXY TO GLUE ON A REPLACEMENT CAP, SO THAT SUGGESTS THE PROBLEM REALLY IS COSMETIC. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THE BODY-SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE KIT IS OUT OF STOCK. IS IT SAFE?

NHTSA ID

10102871

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

STRUT TOWERS RUSTED THRU GREAT LOOKING VAN ON OUT SIDE I HAVE SEEN MORE OF THESE .THE LOCAL WELDIG SHOP DOES THESE JOBS VREY OFTEN FOR 1200 BUCKS!*AK

NHTSA ID

10098162

Incident

Oct 29, 2003

Mileage

14,000 mi

DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP. WON'T REIMBURSE FOR REPLACEMENT OF CLOCKSPRING BECAUSE REPAIR WASN'T DONE FROM A DAIMLER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. (NAR) *LA

NHTSA ID

10059890

Incident

Nov 6, 2003

Mileage

87,940 mi

WE BOUGHT THIS VAN ONE YEAR AGO AND SO FAR WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OXYGEN SENSOR, SPEED SENSOR, HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHENEVER THEY WANT NOT JUST THE 16 MPH THING, BALL JOINTS ARE CLUNKING, THE CD PLAYER QUIT AND THEN SOON AFTER FM RADIO ONLY AM WORKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056554

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

SHOCK TOWER WAS DECAYING.*AK CONSUMER WATCH TOWER STRUT RUST TO THE POINT WHERE THE METAL WAS RIPPING APART. DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED PART IS STILL ON VEHICLE AND AVAILABLE TO LOOK AT. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10042003

Incident

Sep 30, 2003

Mileage

144,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019880

Incident

May 14, 2003

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGING ON COLD START. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *TT

NHTSA ID

564629

Incident

Nov 16, 2001

WHILE DRIVING IN DRIVEWAY THE SWAY BAR IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION SNAPPED, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM

NHTSA ID

561567

Incident

Apr 7, 2001

WHILE USING AIR CONDITIONER IT STOPPED WITHOUT A WARNING OF ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK A/C WAS REPLACED ON WARRANTY. THE STRUTS WERE LEAKING. THE FUEL SENSOR SYSTEM FAILED PREMATURELY AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID

881048

Incident

Feb 5, 2001

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, AND POPPING NOISES. HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION AT 37,100 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AT 54,354 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM JOINTS AT 59,421 MILES. TIRES: TIRES LOOSE AIR PRESSURE AND GO FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON INTERMITANTLY, RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES. TIRE BURST WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF A THIRD TIRE. DOOR LOCKS: INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCK. WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH POWER CONTROL. RADIO TAPE DECK: TAPE PLAYER ACTIVATED WITHOUT TAPE IN THE DECK. UNABLE TO STOP TAPE PLAYER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

NHTSA ID

726588

Incident

Mar 24, 1999

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN HARD, VEHICLE SHIMMIED VERY HARD WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAD TO FIX THE STABLIZAR BAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

866294

Incident

Jul 28, 2000

SNOW BUILD-UP UNDER FRONT-END CAUSED STEERING LINES TO LEAK LEADING TO FIRE AND DAMAGE TO LOWER ENGINE COMPONENTS. ONLY 6INCHES OF SNOW ON GROUND.LINES POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

717984

Incident

Jan 24, 2000

VAN OVERTURNED WHILE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

542628

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO EITHER SIDE CAUSE UINKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

830822

VEHICLE'S PRNDL INDICATOR GOES BLANK AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL DRIVE WHILE TRAVELING, RESET CAN ONLY BE DONE BY STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

535332

Incident

Dec 1, 1997