Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 33 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 33, in the owner's own words
MY SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT ON ME NO MATTER WHERE I AM AT. MY FRONT SEATS WILL NOT MOVE BACK AND FORTH AT DUE TO THE HANDLE MECHANISM BREAKING. MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES DO NOT PUT OUT THE RIGHT BEAM OF LIGHT THE IT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE PROPERLY AT NIGHT. I NEED YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER PLEASE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOWER STRUT WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
PREPARING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ACCIDENTALLY CAUGHT BY MY SLEEVE AND PULLED DOWN TO THE "DRIVE" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, BUT IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD. BEING ON SOMEWHAT OF A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE PULLED ONTO A BUSY STREET. I GRABBED THE WHEEL TO TURN THE VAN AWAY FROM TRAFFIC, BUT IT HIT AND SCRAPED AGAINST A HIGH CURB, FLATTENING 2 TIRES, DAMAGING THE WHEELS/RIMS OF THOSE TIRES, BENDING A STRUT AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION (I GOT A REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM FIRESTONE, WHICH TOTALED OVER $1,900.00). I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE GEAR SHIFT TO MOVE WITHOUT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT MOVE IT DID AND SO DID THE VAN. OTHER THAN BEING FRIGHTENED AND SHAKEN, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT NO PHYSICAL INJURIES OCCURRED. HOWEVER, HAD I NOT HAD THAT SPLIT SECOND REACTION TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD COLLISION WITH AT LEAST TWO VEHICLES DRIVING DOWN THE BUSY STREET. WONDERING WHY THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT THE CAR RUNNING AND WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS GRIEVOUS OMISSION AND DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE EXTRA $9.00 PER VAN TO INSTALL A BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. I'M INCREDULOUS! I INTEND TO WRITE TO CHRYSLER IN HOPES OF BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGES SUSTAINED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT FIRST WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY. *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.
THE LEFT HAND STRUT TOWER ON MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN HAS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH AND I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. LOCAL DODGE DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL AND THAT IT'S ONLY A COMESTIC PROBLEM. THEY WANT $2200 TO REPAIR WHICH IS MORE THAN VALUE OF VEHICLE. EVERYTHING I HAVE READ INDICATES THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD CAUSE A CRASH IF DRIVING WHEN THE STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY FAILS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS WELL KNOWN AND DOCEMENTED SAFETY PROBLEM? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED A PRIVATE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STRUT TOWERS ON THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS A HOLE CAUSED BY CORROSION ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE STRUT HOUSING TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
STRUT TOWER CORROSION. *TR
BOTH STRUT TOWER CAPS RUSTED OUT. *TR
FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BREAKING CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE STRUT MOUNTS. HE FEELS THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS WILL DETACH SOON AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 155,000. UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB
THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE STRUT TO BURST THROUGH INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. A AUTO BODY REPAIR MAN SAID THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS STRUCTURAL AND SAFETY ISSUE. IN RESEARCHING A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS OF DODGE CARAVAN, TOWN AND COUNTRY, AND PLYMOUTH VOYAGER MODELS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS DANGEROUS ENGINEERING FAILURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO SHOCK RESISTANCE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUSPENSION HOUSING THAT COVERS THE SHOCKS WAS CORRODING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT END SUSPENSION HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 03/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/19/09. *JB
STRUT TOWERS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. WHY IS SUCH A CRITICAL AREA ONLY GOOD FOR 9 YEARS? IS VEHICLE NOW IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION? WILL CHRYSLER PAY FOR REPAIRS. THEY SHOULD! *TR
ON 1999 AND POSSIBLY 2000, OR OTHER MODELS, DODGE CARAVAN/GRAND CARAVAN THE TOP OF THE DRIVERS SIDE & POSSIBLY PASSENGERS SIDE 'STRUT TOWER' RUSTS OUT. MOST BODY SHOPS AVOID MESSING WITH THIS DUE TO LIABILITY ISSUES. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED, AND THE MECHANIC AND THE BODY REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. DIAMLER-CHRYLSER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT COST TO THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 67000. *AK
UPON TAKING OUR 1999 DODGE CARAVAN IN FOR REPAIRS WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR LIVES WOULD BE AT RISK IF WE CONTINUED ON DRIVING OUR VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT THE UPPER STRUT MOUNTING HOUSE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF OUR VEHICLE IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND READY TO CRACK, THE SAME HOLDS TRUE ABOUT THE RIGHT SIDE BUT AT THIS TIME NOT AS SEVERE. WHEN ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH THEY HAVE WITNESSED BEFORE IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES. HOW HORRIBLE TO KNOW I HAVE DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE WITH NOT ONLY MY CHILDREN BUT OTHERS IN IT. I WAS PUTTING ALL OUR LIVES AT RISK AND DID NOT EVEN KNOW IT. I CAN NOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU OF THE GREAT ANXIETY I HAVE SUFFERED OVER THIS SITUATION. WE WERE TOLD FOR OUR OWN SAFETY TO GET RID OF THE VAN, EASY FOR PEOPLE TO SAY WITH ONLY 2 PAYMENTS LEFT I MUST TAKE A GREAT LOSS OR FEAR FOR OUR LIVES. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT IS A DEFECT OF THEIRS, I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND NO RECALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM ME WHAT TO DO I NEED YOUR HELP. *JB
CORROSION ON TOP OF STRUT TOWERS CAUSING STRESS CRACKS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING NORMAL MAINTENANCE, THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES WERE WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE EXTREMELY WORN AND NEEDED REPLACED.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER SUPPORT WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
DT: STRUT TOWERS RUSTING . CALLER HAD OIL CHANGED, AND THE ATTENDANT TOLD HIM THAT STRUT TOWERS WERE RUSTED. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. MANUFACTURER WILL OFFER NO HELP.*AK *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN AND THE STRUT TOWERS RUSTED OUT ON THE TOP IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE NOTICED THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN HE HAD THE ENGINE CLEANED. THE CONTACT TALKED TO CHRYSLER, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP HIM BECAUSE THE CORROSION WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. CHRYSLER CAME OUT WITH A KIT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK
STRUT TOWER CORROSION ON 1999 DODGE CARAVAN.*** NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I DISCOVERED THAT MY DODGE CARAVAN, 1999 DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTED SIGNIFICANTLY ,AND MAY POSSIBLY BREAK. THIS COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM LATER. I THINK THAT THIS PROBABLY WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL USED BY A CHRYSLER SUPPLIER. CHRYSLER SHOULD CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS ISSUE, AND AT LEAST WARN PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR CARS, OR PAY FOR THE REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT OF THE STRUT TOWERS. THE TOWER WAS NOT REPLACED. TWO ESTIMATES WERE QUOTED AT OVER $1000. *AK
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HOUSING AREA WHICH HELD THE FRONT STRUT RUSTED. *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.
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