1991 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

NHTSA RECALL: 96V099000 LIFETIME COVERAGE...BENDIX 10 ABS BRAKE FAILURE. CHRYSLER CORPORATION DENIED REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIRS ON 10/20/2020..

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AND TRAVELED HALFWAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES EVENTFULLY ENGAGED AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-LOCK AND BRAKE INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE NOT EQUIPPED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONTACT TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO THEN REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GLENBROOK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP (100 W COLISEUM BLVD, FORT WAYNE, IN 46805, (260) 579-4713) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN MANUAL MODE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PARTS WERE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY BUCKLED, INSIDE OF PLASTIC CAME OUT WITH BUCKLE.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO LATCH PROPERLY. HAD TO INSERT LATCH INTO BUCKLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE IT LOCKED PROPERLY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

FUEL RAIL LEAKS GAS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WITH MY FOUR KIDS WHEN I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. WHEN MY HUSBAND GOT HOME I HAD HIM LOOK AT IT TO FIND OUT IT WAS LEAKING GAS FROM THE FUEL RAIL SO BAD THAT THERE WAS STANDING GAS ON THE VALVE COVER LEAKING INTO WHERE MY SPARK PLUGS ARE. I CONTACTED THE PLACE I AM BUYING IT FROM AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT, UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. IS THERE ANY RECALL IN THIS PROBLEM?I SEE THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS SAME AS MINE. *JB

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BY DEALERSHIP AT OUR EXPENSE. LATER, HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSES AND WE HAVE NEVER HEARD IF ANY RECALL WORK WAS DONE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.*AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.*AK

UPON ENTERING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND SHUTTING DOOR, THE BACK WINDOW OF THE HATCH SHATTERED. *AK

RECALL 99V-21 IS FOR CRACKED LIFTGATE BOLTS, DEALER UNWILLING TO CHECK FOR HAIRLINE CRACKS AND STATED BOLTS COULD ONLY BE REPLACED IF BROKEN, CONSUMER NOT SATISFIED (NOT PLEASED). YH

ANDY LEWIS DODGE DID NOT REPAIR ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON RECALLS THEY WERE HOSTILE TO ME AND MY VAN WAS OPERABLE WHEN LEFT THERE. WHEN I PICKED IT UP I HAD TO HAVE A WRECKER TAKE IT HOME.THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND THE ANTILOCK LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. THEY NEVER REPAIRED THE BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE RECALLS. THEY ARE LEAKING NOW.

PART FAILURE CAUSED 4 PEOPLE TO BE MAROONED ON INTERSTATE HWY5 AT NIGHT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *JB WIPERS WERE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL THE FIRST TIME, THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS THE CRANK THAT CONNECTED TO THE WIPERS AND IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. CONSUMER REPAIRED THE PART ON THEIR OWN. THE SLOTS IN THE CRANK FLARED OUT WHICH CAUSED IT TO ROCK AND LOOSEN THE NUT AND FALL OFF. *PH *NLM

GLASS WIPER WON'T OPERATE ON REAR DOOR (STUCKED UP WHILE IN OPERATION)CREATING VISUAL HAZARDS ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP THE VEHICLE DURING SNOW/RAINY CONDITIONS.

THE HEAD LIGHT COVERS BECAME DISCOLORED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. *JB *TS

FRONT HEADLAMP PLASTIC LENSES OF THIS MODEL GROW OPAQUE WITH TIME AND VERY LITTLE LIGHT IS ABLE TO PASS THROUGH MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. THE MODEL INCLUDES YEARS 1991 THROUGH 1995 AND POSSIBLY THE MODEL PREVIOUS. THE LACK OF LIGHT AT NIGHT IS A ROAD HAZARD BOTH TO THE DRIVER AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THERE IS POSSIBLY A DEFECT IN THE TYPE OF PLASTIC USED OR A REACTION WITH THE HEAT OF THE LAMPS WITH THE PLASTIC. I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN CLEAR FRONT LENSE IN THESE MODELS WHICH INCLUDE THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, CARAVAN, PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER AND VOYAGER. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD NO INSTRUMENT PANEL READOUT. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TELL HOW FAST SHE GOING. *JB.

LIFTGATE BOLT BROKE, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO FALL DOWN, AND MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1992 GRAND CARAVAN, RECALL 97V079000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ABS BRAKE ALARM AND DUAL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS PART OF THE RECALL BUT THE PRESSURE SWITCH WASN'T REPLACED. *PH THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO START UP DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. *MR

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE OUT OF DRIVEWAY AN NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

ANDY LEWIS DODGE DID NOT REPAIR ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON RECALLS THEY WERE HOSTILE TO ME AND MY VAN WAS OPERABLE WHEN LEFT THERE. WHEN I PICKED IT UP I HAD TO HAVE A WRECKER TAKE IT HOME.THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND THE ANTILOCK LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. THEY NEVER REPAIRED THE BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE RECALLS. THEY ARE LEAKING NOW.

AROUND AUGUST 4, 2003, MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SUDDENLY LOCKED IN SECOND GEAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE FILTER AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS DID NOT FIX THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE ASKING FRIENDS IF THEY KNEW ANY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE I TAKE IT TO A SHOP TO BE FIXED, ONE OF THEM PRINT ME THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHRYSLER ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION REPORT THAT IS ON YOUR WEB SITE. I HAVE GOT TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR RECALL. I SHOWED THE DEALER THE INFORMATION THAT I PRINTED FROM THE WEB SITE. DODGE SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO CALL CHRYSLER. I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER RELATIONS ABOUT THE ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN SECOND GEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY HAVE 4 RECALLS ON THE VAN TWO OF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLETE BUT TO HAVE NOT. THE TWO RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ARE: LIFTGATE LATCH PN CFXR6406 AND SEAT BELT BUCKLE/ANCH. CLIP. THE TWO RECALLS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE ARE: LIFTGATE SUPPORT WASHER AND A LEFT WIPER PIVOT. I THEN EXPLAINED TO THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER RELATION THAT THE RECORDS ON THEY WEB SITE ONLY SHOWS BACK TO 1996 PER THE WEB SITE INFORMATION. THEY SAID THAT ANY RECALL WOULD BE WITH THE VEHICLE FOR LIFE IN THE SYSTEM. I ALSO ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY INFORMATION ON THE ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSIONS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE 1989 TO 1991 MODELS. THE PERSON SAID THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOOK THAT INFORMATION UP. I THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE INFORMATION IS ON THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY WEB SITE. THE CUSTOMER RELATION PERSON SAID THAT IF THE INFORMATION IS NOT ON THE CHRYSLER OR DODGE WEB SITES THEN THE INFORMATION IS NOT RIGHT. ALSO THE RELATIONS PERSON SAID THAT EVEN IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION THAT IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY ANYMORE. PLEASE CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT I MAY USE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION.

FAILURE OF FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT AND AXLE. BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JB

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT AXLE BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP BECAUSE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. HAD REPAIRED. AXLE BROKE AGAIN 3 MORE TIMES. ALSO, LEFT FRONT AXLE HAS BROKEN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

PEP BOYS FUTURA PLUS TOURING SE P215/70R/15WW. PART#WK14CPU754. PURCHASED SET OF 4 ON 4/28/2004 AT HAMPTON, VIRGINIA PEP BOYS. BELT SEPARATION AFTER 18,000 MILES. HALF THE WIDTH OF THE TIRE FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES CIRCUMFERENCE BULGED OUT APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH. HAPPENED WHILE SETTING IN DRIVEWAY. SERVICE ADVISOR AT DEALER WHERE PURCHASED INITIALLY DENIED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE, THEN SAID THAT IS WHAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD TO SAY BY MANAGEMENT. MANAGER THEN OFFERED TO PRORATE AND REPLACE WITH SAME TIRE, THAT HAS NOW BEEN REBADGED AS A DEFINITY TIRE, AT A PRICE THAT IT WAS ALREADY BEING SOLD AT IN SETS OF 4. APPARENTLY HE ASSUMED I WAS IGNORANT. NOW RUNNING ON SPARE AND GOING TO BUY A SET OF MICHELIN X ONES AT COSTCO SINCE MY EXPERIENCE SEEMS TO INDICATE THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS IT AND IS STONEWALLING. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE STRAPS AND CLAMPS SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING TIRE TO ROLL ONTO HIGHWAY. REPLACEMENTS MADE AT HALF COST. *AK *ML

1. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID BODY LOCKS TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE/2/1 RANGE. (THE TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, REVERSE OR PARK WITHOUT A GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE.) DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY RESETS THE CONTROLS AND ALLOWS THE GEARS TO BE CHANGED NORMALLY FOR A MONTH OR SO. 2. IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR STICKS IN THE OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO IDLE AT A HIGH RPM (1000 TO START WITH, MORE IF NOT REPLACED RIGHT AWAY). THIS MAKES STOPPING THE VEHICLE MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT. *AK

VEHICLE ISN'T GOING INTO GEAR PROPERLY. WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON GAS PEDAL VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD, AND THE GEARS SHIFT. THEN VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND VEHICLE WON'T MOVE SOMETIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVINGHEARD A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN . THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BROKEN. *AK

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS DOING 15-20 MPH. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THIS MATTER. *AK