1998 Dodge Caravan Airbags Problems

AIRBAG LIGHT ON NO TURN SIGNALS AND NO REVERSE LIGHTS DUE TO FAILED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING

NHTSA ID

11196029

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH NO PASSENGER WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD LACERATION ABOVE THE RIGHT EYE, A CONCUSSION, A BRUISED HEART AND LUNG, LEFT KNEE LACERATION, AND CHEST BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. ALSO, BOTH WRISTS AND ELBOWS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11160520

Incident

Nov 29, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE INDICATOR LAMP AIR BAG IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. I DRIVE A VEHICLE ALL THE TIME, AND MY TRIP 50% HIGHWAY AND 50% CITY.

NHTSA ID

11052123

Incident

Dec 3, 2017

Mileage

104,580 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10676972

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

55,000 mi

HORN STOPPED WORKING. HORN FUSE IS GOOD. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10426761

Incident

Jul 6, 2010

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 DODGE CARAVAN VAN AT WESTSIDE DODGE 1672 CASSAT AVE JACKSONVILLE FL 32210 AND WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS SUPPOSE TO STAY LIT AND THE A/C LIGHTS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BLINKING. WHEN I FOUND THE OWNERS MANUAL THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VAN I READ THAT THE`AIRBAG LIGHT IS SUPPOSE TO GO OFF IN 8 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED AND I ALSO READ THAT WHEN THE A/C LIGHTS ARE FLASHING THE A/C NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. I ADVISED THE SALESMAN AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I DID THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME $119.00 TO CHECK THE AIRBAG AND $49.95 TO CHECK THE AIRCONDITIONING. I REFUSED TO SIGN ANY CONSENT AND TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER AND WAS TOLD "WE ONLY SELL JUNK CARS TO THE PUBLIC AS A COURTESY", AND THAN HE HUNG UP ON ME. I ALSO FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER CUSTOMER OF THIS DEALERSHIP WHO BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND HAD THE SAME EXACT AIR BAG PROBLEM AND TO THIS DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED, I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS NO AIR CONDITIONING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273745

Incident

May 2, 2009

CLOCK SPRING WENT OUT WITH 113,000 ON VEHICLE. WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT NO CHARGE IN ABOUT AN HOURS TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185210

Incident

Jan 2, 2007

Mileage

113,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER #02V293000, PERTAINING TO THE AIRBAG:FRONTAL, WAS RECEIVED AFTER HAVING THE PART REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER ONLY AGREED TO REIMBURSE FOR PARTS NOT LABOR. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL AS PROMISED IN THE RECALL LETTER RECEIVED. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172264

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

133,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT AT 55 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, AND HIS COWORKER WAS THE PASSENGER, AND HE WENT INTO THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH OCCUPANTS WHERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS AND WHERE PROPERLY RESTRAINED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE IN JULY 2005, AND HORN WOULD NOT WORK. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED THE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON. THERE WAS PRE-IMPACT BRAKING TO BOTH OCCUPANTS. THIS CAUSED INJURIES TO BOTH OCCUPANTS. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED, AND THEY TOLD HER THEY WOULD SEND HER FILE OFF TO SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND SHE MAY HEAR FROM BACK FROM THEM, AND SHE MAY NOT. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 11, 2005. T A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10139497

Incident

Oct 11, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATED ON 3-20-05 ANOTHER VAN VEERED INTO CONTACT'S VEHICLE LANE AND HIT IT AND RAN IT INTO A CEMENT POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. CONTACT NOT YET TALKED TO DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON 8-8-05 REGARDING THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE AIR BAG. SHE DID NOT THINK THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. CONTACT OWNED THE CAR FOR 14 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131969

Incident

Mar 23, 2005

DT: AIR CONDITIONING LIGHT IS BLINKING; ENGINE CHECK AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, NOTHING ON THE DASH (SPEEDOMETER ETC) DOES NOT WORK. DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK; IT'S LIKE IT ALL WENT OUT AT ONCE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10120105

Incident

Mar 6, 2005

Mileage

135,000 mi

DT: DURING A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10120081

Incident

Nov 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH, GOING AROUND A CURB, THE BACK OF THE VAN SKIDDED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE GOING OVER A HILL, AND IMPACTING A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, ONLY PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED I FACIAL INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110888

Incident

Sep 7, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

NHTSA RECALL 04V480000 ON THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING. AFTER HAVING THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY REPLACED, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10108671

Incident

Jan 21, 2005

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ARRIVED HE WAS TOLD THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS IN STOCK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10099031

Incident

Oct 26, 2004

THIS VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. WHEN PRESSING THE HORN IT FAILED TO COME ON ITS OWN. ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF OUT. NO INJURIES REPORTED. HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HORN ASSEMBLY AND AIR BAGS WERE SEPARATED PROBLEMS, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS OKAY. NO DETERMINATION ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS WAS MADE. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099913

Incident

Nov 12, 2004

CONSUMER STATED THAT DODGE WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL 04V480000. VEHICLE HAD OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS STATED FOR THE ONES WITH LESS THAN 70, 000 MILES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099409

Incident

Nov 4, 2004

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45-50 MPH IMPACT WITH A TRACKER TRAILER AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER RECEIVED FACIAL AND BODY BRUISES. DRIVER DID NOT GO TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL UNTIL A WEEK OR TWO LATER. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10097491

Incident

Dec 22, 2003

Mileage

82,000 mi

CLOCK SPRING MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, AIR BAG LIGHT</A> STAYED ON. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIR. *TC

NHTSA ID

10092543

Incident

Sep 11, 2004

Mileage

64,341 mi

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SKIDDED INTO EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED TWICE. THE DRIVER 'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR DID DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS DEAD ON ARRIVAL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED TOTALED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096669

Incident

Oct 12, 2004

SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094023

Incident

Sep 21, 2004

DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATE ON THE THE DASH BOARD. *JB ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 02V-293000, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10089266

Incident

Aug 18, 2004

Mileage

65,616 mi

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083679

Incident

Jun 22, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. RECALL 02V950000 CONCERNING CLOCK SPRING FAILURE WAS ISSUED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087424

Incident

Jul 8, 2004

Mileage

87,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED,STRUCK THE MEDIUM, WENT OVER 5 LANES AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES INCLUDING A SORE NECK AND BURIES. *NM THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH ALWAYS INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE ENABLED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10074366

Incident

May 16, 2004

Mileage

111,000 mi