1998 Dodge Caravan Suspension Problems

MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT THE STRUT HOUSING ROUGHING OUT BEEN LOOKING THIS UP AND FROM 97 TO 2000 MAYBE A BIT LONGER THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE THAT CHRYSLER NEED TO ADDRESS. I KNOW THEY DON'T WANT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MATTER ,BUT SOME ONE COULD GET HURT FROM THIS.I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ALL THE INFORMATION I CAN FIND ON THIS ISSUE.THIS IS FAULTY DESIGN OF CHRYSLER,THEY MADE TONS OF MONEY SELLING THE VANS,EVEN AFTER THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN THEY STILL DIDNT CHANGE THE DESIGN.WELL I HAVE TO HAVE MINE DONE BUT IN THE MEAN TIME I BETTER NOT GET HURT FROM ONE LETTING LOOSE. I SURVIVED CANCER NOT TO DIE FROM A AUTO ACCIDENT DO TO A SO SO GOOD DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10506039

Incident

Apr 11, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A BRAKE REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10410658

Incident

Jul 6, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

1998 DODGE CARAVAN STRUT TOWERS RUSTING THROUGH. DODGE SAID ITS A COSMETIC REPAIR. I BOUGHT THIS VAN USED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT IS NOW MADE MY VAN DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS NOW RESTING ON STRUT. THE SELLER WILL NOT LET ME RETURN IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10406087

Incident

May 1, 2011

Mileage

172,000 mi

1998 DODGE CARAVAN SE FRONT STRUT COVERS ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH AND I CAN VIEW THE GROUND BENEATH. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED IN SUCH A CRITICAL LOCATION TO THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. I AM CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE AND SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361506

Incident

Oct 16, 2010

Mileage

117,171 mi

I BOUGHT A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN FROM FALLS CHURCH MOTORS FALLS CHURCH VA AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF DRIVING I STARTED TO NOTICE AND FEEL A WOBBLE IN THE FRONT LEFT DRIVERS FRONT TIRE A FEW MONTHS LATER I HAD A FLAT WHILE THE VAN WAS PARKED IT TOOK ME AND TWO OTHER MEN TO LOOSEN THE LUGS ON THE TIRE TO GET OF THE TIRE THE JACK WHILE THE VAN IN THE AIR BENT AND THE VAN FELL TO THE SIDE I PULLED ONE OF THE MEN AWAY FROM THE VAN AS I SAW IT FALLING TOWARD US WE GOT ANOTHER JACK AND GOT THE VAN BACK UP IN THE AIR AND PUT THE DONUT ON I THAN A SHORT TIME LATER GOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DONUT FLEW OFF THE VAN IF IT WERE IN TRAFFIC IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND OTHER ON THE HIGHWAY A COUPLE OF MONTH LATER THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND THE WATER PUMP I THOUGHT THE VAN WAS STILL UNDER WARRANT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM FALLS CHURCH MOTORS I LATER FOUND OUT IT WAS NOT THEY I THOUGHT FIXED THE TIMING BELT IT HAS BEEN RUNNING ROUGH EVER SINCE THE VAN NOW WHILE RUNNING THE MOTOR TURNS OFF WHILE ANY SHARP TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THEY SAID TO ME IN THE RECENT PAST AFTER I THOUGHT THEY FIXED IT . IT'S NOT GOING TO RUN LIKE NEW I FEEL THIS DEALER SHIP DID SELL ME A DEFECTIVE VAN AND UNSAFE PARTS ON THE VEHICLES AND SOME OTHER VEHICLES THEY ARE SELLING MAYBE ENDANGERING OTHER PEOPLES LIFE I MET ONE MAN AT A GAS STATION HE SAID HE HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY AND IT SLIPPING AFTER HE BOUGHT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318239

Incident

Oct 11, 2009

Mileage

10,600 mi

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE UPPER STRUT TOWERS ON MY 19998 DODGE CARAVAN ARE RUSTING THROUGH CAUSING POSSIBLE STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS TOLD IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED AND THE TOWER COLLAPSES WHILE DRIVE I WILL LOOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF STEERING AND POSSIBLE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260698

Incident

Mar 2, 2009

Mileage

170,000 mi

BOTH STRUT TOWERS ON MY 1998 CARAVAN HAVE RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. SPEAKING TO MANY CARAVAN OWNERS AND GOING TO MANY SITES THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON THESE VEHICLES. WHY DOES CHRYSLER NOT HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO ALL THESE VEHICLE OWNERS OR THE ONES THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO THIS BUILT IN DEFECT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10238539

Incident

Aug 15, 2008

1998 DODGE CARAVAN SE FRONT STRUT COVERS ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH AND I CAN VIEW THE GROUND BENEATH. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED IN SUCH A CRITICAL LOCATION TO THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. I AM CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE AND SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222663

Incident

Mar 29, 2008

Mileage

142,000 mi

1998 DODGE CARAVAN WITH STRUT PROBLEMS CONCERNING RUST. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE STRUTS MOUNT TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UN-REPAIRED. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC, THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH CARAVANS. THE MECHANIC WENT ON TO SAY THE STRUTS WERE MOUNTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED SEVERAL OPINIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT EVENTUALLY THE STRUTS WILL FORCE THEIR WAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDED DEALERS WITH A REPAIR KIT WHICH WELDS A NEW STRUT OVER THE OLD ONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10203830

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT: FRONT SUSPENSION: STRUT RUSTED. THERE IS NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BUT THE CONSUMER IS NOT SURE IF THIS WAS RELATED TO THE CORRODED STRUTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE STRUTS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK THE RUST WAS ON TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER WHICH WAS WEAKENING THE STRUCTURE SO THAT THE STRUT SPRING BEGAN TO PROTRUDE THROUGH THE SUPPORT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10126844

Incident

May 28, 2005

THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STRUT TO COME OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER ANTICIPATED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10115603

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

STRUT TOWER CORROSION - FAILURE IN NEAR FUTURE 1998 DODGE CARAVAN 86000 MILES QUOTED $ 800 TO REPAIR THIS SHOULD BE A GENERAL RECALL BY MANUFACTURER !!!!!*JB

NHTSA ID

10110034

Incident

Feb 7, 2005

LEFT STRUT TOWER RUSTED ALMOST THROUGH. MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPLACE STRUT. CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR REPAIR ALTERNATIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10103971

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

EXPERIENCE LOST OF ENGINE POWER AND STEERING. BOLTS BROKEN AND REPLACE GASKETS. LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *BF THE FRONT END APPEARED TO BE MUCH LOWER THAN USUAL AND THE BELT WAS HANGING BELOW THE CHASSIS. *SC

NHTSA ID

10101144

Incident

Sep 17, 2004

ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 I WAS INFORMED BY MY DEALER ROUEN CHRYSLER IN WOODVILLE, OHIO THAT MY LS FRONT POWER TOWER (HOUSING FOR LEFT STRUT, ENGINE BRACKET, ETC) WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WOULD IMMEDIATE REPAIR OR THE STRUT WOULD COLLAPSE, ENGINE BRACKET AND ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WOULD COLLAPSE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY. THE REPAIR WAS EXHORBITANT INITIALLY. AFTER DISCUSSION A SERVICE BULLETIN 23-044-02 WAS PRODUCED THAT INDICATED THERE WAS A DEFECT FOR ALL DODGE CARAVAN'S MODEL YEARS 1996-200. MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATED A REPAIR KIT AND I WAS GIVEN A MORE REASONABLE ESTIMATE BY THE ROUEN BODY SHOP. THE SERVICE TECHS WERE SEEKING THE PROBLEM WITH MY HORN WHICH WASN'T WORKING ON ALL DECIBLES. IF THEY HAD NOT BEEN LOOKING AT THE LEFT FRONT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THIS CONDITION WOULD HAVE CONTINUED UNTIL THERE WAS A FATALITY. MY VEHICLE [XXX] HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVELY SERVICED BY ROUEN TECHNICIANS FROM ITS PURCASE IN AUGUST 1996. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS OVERSIGHT AND I FEAR THAT LEFT UNNOTICED AS IT HAD BEEN FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME A FATALITY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I BLAME THIS DEALERSHIP ENTIRELY FOR THIS NEGLIGENCE AND DOUBT IF I WILL EVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AND CERTAINLY NOT AT THIS DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WARREN ARE WELL AWARE OF MY CONCERN. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. I WILL NEED IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION. MY FIRST VEHICLE PURSHASED IN APRIL 1996 A PLYMOUTH VOYAGER HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND COULD NTO BE FIXED, NOW THIS. IS IT ANY WONDER I DOUBT THE CREDIBILITY OF CHRYSLER PRODUCTS AND THE LONG-TERM RELIABILITY DUE TO PROVEN MANUFACTURING DEFECTS WHICH ENDANGER MY LIFE.*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10093533

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTED AND WAS COMING THROUGH THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092591

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VAN IN 1998 WITH THE INTENT OF RESEARCHING THE VALUE FOR A TRADE IN. FIRST ITEM THEY LOOKED AT WAS THE SHOCK TOWERS IN THE FRONT OF THE VAN. SHOWED ME HOW THEY HAD ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH, EXPLAIND TO ME HOW THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS VAN, THUS LOWERING THE TRADE IN VALUE AND ALSO INFORMING ME AS TO THE DANGERS INVOLVED. WHICH WER SUBSQUENTLY CONFIRMED MY A MECHANIC. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHRYSLER BLEW ME OFF. THERE IS NO OTHER RUST ON THE VAN IN THIS MAGNITITUDE. HELP PLEASE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088984

Incident

Jul 23, 2004

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STRUT TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VINE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $500 FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10087383

Incident

Aug 6, 2004

PREPARING FOR TRIP, NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST/CORROSION ON DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER. LARGE CHUNCKS OF RUSTED METAL LOOSENED WHEN LIGHTLY TOUCHED. THIS WAS WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF AN OIL CHANGE, LUBE AND FILTER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED IN 1999. HAD CHECKED BY LOCAL MECHANICS, ALL SAID, "GET RID OF THE CAR". DID RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP STATED "NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. *AK .

NHTSA ID

10086424

Incident

Jul 29, 2004

Mileage

115,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STRUTS RUSTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082126

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

TRANSMISSION NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING IN 2 ND GEARS. AIR CONDITIONING STILLS BLOWS SEMI-WARM AIR. SWAY BARS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10068947

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PREPARING TO PULL OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, BOTH OF HIS FRONT WHEELS COLLAPSED. HE STATES HE HAD HIS VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION AND REPAIRED. BUT HE DOESN'T THINK THERE IS A RECALL OF THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10048514

Incident

Nov 21, 2003

ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP I HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I CALLED A MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. HE LOOKED AT MY VAN ON THAT MONDAY TO FIND THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE AND ZIPPITY STRIP TO THE STRUT WHICH WAS ALSO BAD. THE DEALER LET ME DRIVE 180 MILES WITH MY SON IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE FRONT END WAS LIKE THIS. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE VENTS SO I RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC AND PAID $105.00 TO HAVE FREON WITH DYE RAN THROUGH MY SYSTEM TO FIND THE EVAPORATOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST AT LEAST $860.00. THEN AT 36 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP AND ONLY 64000 MILES THE CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT IS BAD AND A NEW TRANSAXLE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUT IN THIS WEEK. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND ALL THEY CAN SAY IS WERE SORRY WE GOT THE VEHICLE IN 2 DAYS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE AND WAS NEVER INSPECTED, THERE MONEY WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME AND MY SON. I THEN CALLED THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION WHERE THEY WERE RUDE AND SAID THERE IS NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE THERES NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU. I KNOW FROM SOME RESEARCH THERE HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE EVAPORATORS ON CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. PLEASE HELP ME I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THIS IS THE VAN I WILL BE DRIVING MY TWO SONS TO SCHOOL IN, I STARTING TO WONDER HOW SAFE WE WILL BE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032989

Incident

Jul 3, 2003

Mileage

63,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10030798

Incident

Aug 3, 2003

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER IS CRACKED ON TOP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WASN'T AN UNUSUAL FAILURE AND WITHOUT REPAIR, THE PROBLEM WILL GET WORSE UNTIL THE SUSPENSION BREAKS. *SCC

NHTSA ID

10018154

Incident

Apr 27, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi