Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 64 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.
The 25 most recent of 64, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING VAN SPEED WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35MPH, I PULLED OVER TO FIND WIRES BURNING IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF THAT LOCATION. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO KNOWN REASON. DODGE TOLD US THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE DASH THAT CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHUT DOWN. THE TECHNICIANS INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED ON DEMAND. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY, MOST RECENTLY IN JANUARY 2014, WHEN THE COMPUTER WENT OUT, SHUTTING DOWN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE WHEELS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTINUED FORWARD, WHICH PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A CURB, FLATTENING TWO TIRES AND DAMAGING THOSE RESPECTIVE RIMS. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS INJURED, HAD THERE BEEN A VEHICLE NEXT TO THE VAN, AS OPPOSED TO A HIGH CURB, THE DEFECT IN THE VEHICLES WIRING AND COMPUTER WOULD HAVE CAUSED A COLLISION. THERE IS NEVER ANY WARNING PRIOR TO THE ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENT PANEL GOING OUT. THERE IS NO KNOWN TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. IT IS NOT TRIGGERED BY GOING OVER A BUMP, DRIVING AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED, STOPPING OR ACCELERATING. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS, BECAUSE A WITNESS (WHO HAPPENED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER) TO THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ADVISED US THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE IN DODGE CARAVANS BUILT IN THE LATE 1990S/EARLY 2000S. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STRUT TOWER ASSEMBLY WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALIGNED AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
MY PARENTS VAN. A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED I TRIED TO START IT AND ALL IT DID WAS CLICK. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I TURNED IT BACK OFF AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN,SAME THING HAPPENED. ALL IT DID WAS CLICK. I THEN TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. WE DROVE TO TOWN WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES THAT DAY. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED RIGHT UP. WE DROVE ABOUT EIGHTY MILES TO MY SISTERS HOUSE. WHEN WE CAME OUT TO LEAVE IN THE EVENING. I STARTED THE VAN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP,BUT IT WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE THAT I COULD JUST BARELY HEAR OVER THE ENGINE NOISE. I TURNED THE VAN OFF,BUT SOMETHING WAS STILL RUNNING. THE STARTER WAS STILL ENGAGED WITH THE ENGINE AND RUNNING. I TURNED THE KEY BACK ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE STARTER STAYED RUNNING. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TWO HUNDRED YARDS TO MY SISTERS GARAGE TO GET PLIERS. I REALIZED I PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET TO HER GARAGE BEFORE THE STARTER BURNT UP. I RAN IN THE HOUSE LEAVING THE VAN RUNNING. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK TO THE VAN AND GOT THE HOOD OPEN THE STARTER WAS STARTING TO SMOKE AND MAKE A REAL BAD WINNING NOISE. MY WIFE GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I PULLED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. BY THE TIME THAT I GOT THE CABLE OFF THE STARTER WAS ALREADY BURNT UP AND STARTING TO CATCH FIRE. THEIR WAS SO MUCH SMOKE. I HAVE KNOW DOUBT THAT IF I HAD NOT GOTTEN THE BATTERY CABLE DISCONNECTED WHEN I DID THAT THE VAN WOULD HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES. THE OTHER BAD THING WAS THAT IT WAS SITTING NEXT TO MY SISTERS HOUSE AND THAT WOULD HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES WITH IT. I AM JUST GLAD THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN MY SEVENTY FIVE YEAR OLD PARENTS WERE DRIVING IT,BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE VAN WOULD HAVE DEFIANTLY CAUGHT FIRE AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO FAST ENOUGH. THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THANKS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ON THE AIR BAGS BROKE ON THE VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2010 AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V480000;AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL GAUGES GO OUT ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AND HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART IS SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY, BUT THE PART HAD BROKEN ON THE VEHICLE TWICE IN THREE MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAIN ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V480000: AIR BAGS) WHICH SHE BELIEVED WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE RECALL LETTER ADVISED A NEW CLOCK SPRING WOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,750.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO OPERATE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT CARD IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
I HAD A CLOCK SPRING REPLACED IN MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THIS WAS A RECALLED PART REPLACEMENT. AFTER THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED THE COOLING FAN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE REPAIR FOR THIS WAS $590.30 TO ME. PARTS REQUIRED TO FIX THE COOLING FAN:1.BATTERY, 2.RELAY MINI, 3.RELAY PKG, 4.RELAY. *TR
THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN. UNABLE TO START THE CAR. NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE KEY PHYSICALLY DOES NOT TURN. HAPPENED COMPLETELY RANDOMLY. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED TAPPING THE END OF THE KEY WITH A RUBBER MALLET, BUT I DO NOT TRUST THIS FIX. I NOW HAVE A FAMILY VEHICLE THAT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING MY FAMILY ANYWHERE FAR AWAY IN. TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY WAS THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT A MINIVAN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS BEING WARMED UP, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. SINCE THEN, THE HEATER AND POWER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 10/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/08/09
OUR BELTS SIPS OFF DURING WET WEATHER"FIVE TIMES WE REPLACED THE "S" BELT AND THE TENSIONERS,WATERPUMP,OVERHEATING OUR 2ND YR OF OWERSHIP.NOW THE 3RD YR OF TRANSMISSIONS LEAKING,THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH W/CHILDREN IN CAR ,STARTING TO BRAKE CAUSING TO SLOW WAY DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND MADE A CHIME SOUND,THE HORN WENT OFF AND IT GOT HOT FAST CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN. THANK GOD THERE WAS ROOM TO GET OVER. ALL THE LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING ALL OVER THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR JUST LEAKS EVERYWHERE,WATER,OIL,TRANS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE CARS. I CANT EVEN GET MINE SMOG BECAUSE I HAVE TO KEEP UNPLUGGING MY BATTERY BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOMEWHERE. I BROUGHT A LEMON.....OH YEAH! I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY CANT REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL UNLESS THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. I HOPE I DON'T DIE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS WONT WORK BECAUSE I HAVE A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. 2 BATTERIES WERE REPLACED,ALTERNATOR TOO. THE CLOCKSPRING WONT WORK FOR MY CAR ONLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SO SAID THE DEALER. I WOULD FEEL BAD SELLING THIS CAR TO A FAMILY ,CAUSE WHAT IF THEY WERE KILLED. I COULDN'T DEAL WITH THAT. THE DAY THAT HAPPENED WAS ON MY DAUGHTER 16TH BIRTHDAY. I HAD TO STOP EVERYWHERE ALL DAY TO PUT WATER IN THE RADIATOR JUST TO KEEP IT COOL ENOUGH NOT TO RUIN HER DAY. I HATE HOT DAYS,I FEAR THE RAINY DAYS, I CANT SEE AT NIGHT CAUSE MY HEADLIGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE BURNED OUT AND THE COVERS HAS A GLASS OVER THEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. ON APRIL 24, 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND THE TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE INCREASED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COOL. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN DRIVING CONDITION AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,929. UPDATED 07/07/08.*LJ THE FAN RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE HEADLIGHT HAD CONDENSATION ON THEINSIDE. UPDATED
TWICE THIS YEAR MY IGNITION BROKE AND I HAD TO HIRE A LOCKSMITH TO REPAIR IT. THE LAST TIME THE LOCKSMITH TOLD ME THERE IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE HORN NO LONGER WORKED. ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,500.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1999 DODGE CARAVAN WAS RECALLED UNDER CAMPAIGN 04V480000 FOR A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAGS. THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED 01/31/07. WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OUT LAST YEAR THE HORN DIDN'T FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT THE HORN ASSEMBLY WASN'T WORKING. HE WAS SURE THAT THE RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG AFFECTED THE HORN. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THE CHECK BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR TEN MINUTES, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED; IT STAYED CHARGED FOR TWO DAYS THEN FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THE ALTERNATOR CAUSED THE BATTERIES TO FAIL.
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE STREET. THE LOCAL POLICE OFFICER INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC AND THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. *JB *BF *NM
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, HORN INTERMINTENT, WIPERS INTERMINTENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ,AND THE HORN FAILED TO WORK. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON CLOCK SPRING AFFECTING EARLIER MODELS.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V480000. FOR THE AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED PAPERWORK ON A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CLOCK SPRING REPAIR. *TC
WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (D17) ON A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN, FOR THE CLOCK SPRING. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, MARTIN DODGE IN BOWLING GREEN, KY, TO BE REPLACED. THEY REPLACED IT, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SO THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER. EVERYTHING WAS REPLACED EXCEPT FOR THE LAST BOLT. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE LAST BOLT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SO THEY TOLD US IT WAS OK TO LEAVE THE BOLT OUT OR WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $500.00 TO FIX IT. THE REPAIR THEY DID, EVIDENTLY, CAUSED A SHORT IN THE AIR BAG MODULE, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE OKAY TO LEAVE THE BOLT OUT OR WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WE REFUSED TO PAY CONSIDERING THE VAN WAS OKAY WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN THERE. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND HE SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEN, I CALLED THE CRYSLER MANUFACTURER. NEXT THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME BACK, AFTER THE SERVIC E MANAGER WAS CONTACTED BY HIS ZONE REPRESENTATIVE AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR. SINCE MY LAST TIME SPEAKING WITH HIM WE TRIED TO BLOW THE HORN ONLY TO FIND OUT NOW THE HORN DOESN'T WORK EITHER. WHEN YOU TRY TO BLOW THE HORN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THEN GOES OFF. WHY ON EARTH SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS DAMAGE, EVIDENTLY THEY HAVE CAUSED. I TRIED TO CALL THE CHRYSLER MANUFACTURER BACK AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT TRANSFER ME TO THE PEOPLE IN DETROIT I WAS TRANSFERRED TO ORIGINALLY. SHE SAID THE REPRESENTATIVE HAD MADE HIS DECISION. THE RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED, IN MY OPINION, WHEN THE LAST BOLT WAS NOT INSTALLED. ISN'T THIS GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT??? WE NEVER HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS BEFORE.*AK
THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V480000 THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND ONLY HALF OF THE SERVICE WAS RENDERED. A CLOCK SPRING WAS INSTALLED TO FIX THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE HORN FAILURE WAS NEVER FIXED. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND A CHARGE OF 670.00 WOULD GET THE HORN FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE HORN WOULD BE FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FIXED INITIALLY. *TC *JB
NO PARTS, RECALL 04V480000 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. REGAL DODGE 561-683-1511. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR RECALL 04V480000 AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK
THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. UPON HAVING THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING RECALL 04V480000 REPAIRS PERFORMED DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE HORN FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE RECALL PART, AND CHARGED THE CONSUMER $100.00 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *AK
RECALL 04V480000 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE HORN CONTINUED TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CLOCK SPRING.*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
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