Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ONLY A BLOCK OR 2 FROM HOME, DOING 20 MPH THERE WAS THE SMELL OF SMOKE THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. WE BAILED FROM THE VAN AND BEFORE 911 COULD BE CALLED THE VAN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY AN AMBULANCE. THE CRASH CAUSED HIM TO LIE FLAT ON HIS BACK AND THE SEAT TO BEND BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE SEAT UPRIGHT, BUT COULD NOT BECAUSE THE SEAT FAILED IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LOWER BACK, WALKING IMMOBILITY, AND SHOOTING PAINS UP AND DOWN HIS LEFT SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT UNLESS HE HAS THE DAMAGED SEAT TO BE REPAIRED, THEY HAVE NO WORDS OR ASSISTANCE FOR HIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 165,000.
THE HOOD LATCH BROKE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING APPLIED. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD FAILED TO OPEN EVEN WHEN IT WAS UNLOCKED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE HOOD LATCH THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. CONSUMER FELT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTED, BUT WENT UNNOTICED BECAUSE THE HOOD WAS RARELY USED.*AK
THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR OPENED. ALSO, THE HANDICAP LIFT OPENED , AND FOLDED OUT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND CLOSED THE LIFT AND THE DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AN RECALL, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WE HAVE HAD THE STEERING RAC REPLACED TWICE. WE ALSO HAVE CONSTANT ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WHAT WE ARE WONDERING HAS THERE EVER BEEN REPORTS ON THE FRONT SEATS (DRIVERS SEAT) SEPARATING AS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED 8/3/03 THE WELDING HAS SEPERATED AND THE SUPPORT BAR HAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY APART WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. *AK
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS ON THE BACK. ALSO STATED THAT THEY ARE RIPPEN FROM THE FABRIC AND IS NOW ALSO HAPPENING WITH THE ONES ON FRONT TOO. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. MR
WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS TO SNAP BACKWARDS. VEHICLE SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGES AS WELL. MANUFACTURER NOT YET NOTIFIED. *TT *TS
SEATBACK BOLTS KEEP GETTING LOOSE FROM JOLTS DUE TO SEATS BEING FLIPPED FOREWARD TO EXIT REAR 3RD ROW SEAT,SEATBACK WILL BECOME UN ERECT AND NOT LATCH IN UPRIGHT POSITION. *AK
AKIF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS WHERE YOU NEED TO EXIT THE MINIVAN FOR SAFETY REASONS (IE FIRE OR WATER) YOU WOULD BE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VAN. *AK
CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE LOWER THAN THE RIGHT AND THE BRAKES WEAR DOWN ONLY ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE, VEHICLE SKIDDED WHEN BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER WAS ADVISED FRONT CALIPER, ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY VEHICLE WAS SKIDDING, CONSUMER IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE ROTOR, CALIPER AND BRAKE ONLY ON FRONT SIDE EVERY 8000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DELEARSHIP THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY SIX MONTHS. *JB KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION, DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE CYLINDER AND IT BROKE, DEALER REPLACED. TAPE DRAGGED IN THE TAPE PLAYER, DEALER REPLACED. AT TIMES WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS NO RADIO, LIGHTS, OR HORN, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. SLIGHT FLUID LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE,CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION JERKED. ARM REST FASTNER BACKED OFF. LEFT FRONT BRAKES CONTINUE TO WEAR AND PULL VEHICLE, BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. *SLC
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH AND REARENDED A VEHICLE THAT CAME TO SUDDEN STOP. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES IN BOTH CASES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AFTER 12/14/00. *AK
REAR DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WAS STAYING ON DURING TRAVELING, CAUSING OVERHEAD LIGHT TO STAY ON . *AK THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO POSSILY WITH THE LATCH. JUST HAVE TO KEEP RESLAMMING THE DOOR DOWN TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LAY DOWN WHILE STILL TRAVELING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AND SLIDING DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OPEN. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
THE CONSUMER STATE'S THE REAR DOOR LOCK IS BROKEN AND LOOSE. MJS.
FUEL GAUGE FAILED. *YC
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, IMPACT 30-35 MPH FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED TO THE RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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
Data on this page last refreshed .