1993 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

The contact owns a 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to slow the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed, the brake pedal required excessive effort to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake actuator piston assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 96V099000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 132,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. DICK HANNAH CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A BRAKE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 222,400. *JS

FAULTY TRANSMISSION, TRANS FAILS TO SHIFT AND FAILS TO GO INTO GEAR

I BOUGHT THE VAN A YEAR AGO IN AUGUST WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS I HAD ALREADY BROUGHT IT AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE TOWER ON THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR BROKE AND I HAD TO GET ANOTHER MOTOR PUT IN. I HAVE OTHER MINOR BUT THE MAJOR PROBLEM NOW IS THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR AGAIN AND THE ABS BRAKES. I'M LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE ON THE TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. IN SEARCH FOR THE PARTS AT A REASONABLE PRICE WHICH IS USELESS, ONE OF THE GUYS I WAS TALKING E-MAILED ME THE RECALLS ON THAT VAN AND TOLD ME TO LOOK INTO IT SO HERE I AM. HEIDI BERGERON HELP! PLEASE I WAS ALSO TOLD ABOUT A MECHANIC THAT ALSO LOOKED AT THE VAN THAT A SPEED SENSOR IS OUT AND HE CLAIMS I NEED A NEW MOTOR PLUG WHICH ALL THEY SELL IS THE FULL WIRING HARNESS WHICH IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN THAT. I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM IT'S ORIGINAL OWNER IN JULY OF 2002. *NLM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT PULL OUT. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS WERE VERY LOOSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE MAY BE THE SWITCH THAT IS USED TO DETERMINE IF THE DOOR IS AJAR. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS, AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE DEALER AS WELL AS A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE ABS FAILING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 96V099000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE ANTILOCK SERVICE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - THE SEAT BELTS, AIR BAG AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

PAINT PEELING. *JB

CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER DOOR DOESN'T WORK. *TT

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER, SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF. *JB

TRANSMISSION DELAYS GOING INTO DRIVE AND IT GOES INTO (LIMP MODE) MANY TIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR, IT WILL ONLY STAY IN SECOND GEAR. IF IT DOES SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR YOU MAY BE DRIVING ALONG AND IT WILL ALL OF THE SUDDEN SHIFT DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR HARSHLY.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND GRAND CARAVAN THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER REFUSES TO HELP.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS, AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE DEALER AS WELL AS A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE ABS FAILING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 96V099000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE ANTILOCK SERVICE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - THE SEAT BELTS, AIR BAG AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

V6 3.3 L ENGINE I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO WITH 77000 MILES ON IT AND SHORTLY THEREFATER THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NOTED: ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE EVEN AFTER SHIFTING TO "D". IT WOULD WORK AFTER GETTING WARMED UP. FREQUENT JERKS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER BRAKING AND RESUMING ACCELERATION SHARP CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE FRONT WHEN STARTING TO MOVE. (MOUNTS?)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS, AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE DEALER AS WELL AS A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE ABS FAILING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 96V099000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE ANTILOCK SERVICE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - THE SEAT BELTS, AIR BAG AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD ON ITS ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V213000. ON 2/12/05, THE LIFTGATE BOLTS ON MY 1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FAILED SUDDENLY. THE DODGE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, I WAS CHARGED $201.18 FOR THE REPAIR. I THINK THAT THE DAIMERCHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD HONOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AS STIPULATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE.*AK

POWER DRIVER'S SEAT STRUCTURAL FAILURE. SEAT BACK HAS BECOME LOOSE FROM SEAT BASE AND WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH UPON PRESSURE ON THE ARM REST AND DURING BREAKING AND ACCELLERATION. ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STILL WORK. DEALER CLAIMS PARTS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FRO REPAIR, REFERED ME TO JUNK YARD.

CONSUMER WOULD BE SMELLING A LOT OF SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. DID NOT STOP, BUT CONTINUED TOWARDS HOME. UPON ARRIVAL, AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE, LIFTED HOOD AND NOTICED FAN MOTOR WAS BURNED OUT. WIRES CONNECTING FAN HAD BURNED/ LOCKED DOWN, AND CAUSED COMPRESSOR TO SHUTDOWN. *AK

HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 86 VAN, MORE WITH THE 93 VAN AND EXPECTING MORE WITH MY 98 VAN I MUST BE NUTS TO HAVE PURCHASED THE 98 VAN. THE ABS BRAKES IN 1993 VAN FAILED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE I RAN THE LIGHT, A FEW DAYS LATER THEY CAME BACK ON OUT OF NOWHERE. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE DRIVING A CAR THAT I CAN NOT TRUST THE BRAKES.*AK

THE CAR HAD A STRONG ODOR OF GAS AFTER I STARTED IT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW GAS ALL OVER THE VALVE COVERS AND IT WAS COMING FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE. I WAS VERY LUCKY IT DIDN'T START A FIRE AND BURN MY HOUSE DOWN SINCE THERE WAS FUEL ALL OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND WIRING. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER TO ORDER A NEW PART. THIS SEAMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN HAVE DEADLY RESULTS. *TR

I PURCHASED A 93 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN 8/05. ON 8/29 I HAD TO EVACUATE KATRINA (BILOXI,MS) TO NC. I PARKED THE VAN AND WENT TO WORK ON NORWEIGAN CRUISELINE IN HAWAII. I RETURNED TO NC LAST WEEK. UPON STARTING THE VAN TODAY, GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT ONTO THE MANIFOLD FROM THE FUEL RAIL O RING. I CALLED DODGE ABOUT A RECALL AND WAS TOLD IF IT WAS A 1996 THEY WOULD FIX IT, BUT EVEN WITH THE THREAT OF A ENGINE FIRE IF DRIVEN, THEY WOULDNT HELP ME. I AM WAITING (LIKE MANY OTHERS) FOR FEMA $ AND NOW HAVE NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM, THEREFORE WHY I AM SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS OVER THIS????? *NM

V6 3.3 L ENGINE I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO WITH 77000 MILES ON IT AND SHORTLY THEREFATER THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NOTED: ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE EVEN AFTER SHIFTING TO "D". IT WOULD WORK AFTER GETTING WARMED UP. FREQUENT JERKS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER BRAKING AND RESUMING ACCELERATION SHARP CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE FRONT WHEN STARTING TO MOVE. (MOUNTS?)

DEALERSHIP CHARGED CONSUMER FOR WORK PERFORMED ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT WAS NOT PART OF RECALL 00V305000. *AK CONSUMER STATED HE WAS CHARGED FOR TRHE DIANOSTICS, IN WHICH WAS NOT NECESSARY, ALSO THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED REPAIRS.*JB

TRANSMISSION DELAYS GOING INTO DRIVE AND IT GOES INTO (LIMP MODE) MANY TIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR, IT WILL ONLY STAY IN SECOND GEAR. IF IT DOES SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR YOU MAY BE DRIVING ALONG AND IT WILL ALL OF THE SUDDEN SHIFT DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR HARSHLY.THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND GRAND CARAVAN THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER REFUSES TO HELP.

V6 3.3 L ENGINE I BOUGHT IT 3 YEARS AGO WITH 77000 MILES ON IT AND SHORTLY THEREFATER THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NOTED: ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE EVEN AFTER SHIFTING TO "D". IT WOULD WORK AFTER GETTING WARMED UP. FREQUENT JERKS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AFTER BRAKING AND RESUMING ACCELERATION SHARP CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE FRONT WHEN STARTING TO MOVE. (MOUNTS?)

I BOUGHT THE VAN A YEAR AGO IN AUGUST WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS I HAD ALREADY BROUGHT IT AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE TOWER ON THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR BROKE AND I HAD TO GET ANOTHER MOTOR PUT IN. I HAVE OTHER MINOR BUT THE MAJOR PROBLEM NOW IS THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR AGAIN AND THE ABS BRAKES. I'M LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE ON THE TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. IN SEARCH FOR THE PARTS AT A REASONABLE PRICE WHICH IS USELESS, ONE OF THE GUYS I WAS TALKING E-MAILED ME THE RECALLS ON THAT VAN AND TOLD ME TO LOOK INTO IT SO HERE I AM. HEIDI BERGERON HELP! PLEASE I WAS ALSO TOLD ABOUT A MECHANIC THAT ALSO LOOKED AT THE VAN THAT A SPEED SENSOR IS OUT AND HE CLAIMS I NEED A NEW MOTOR PLUG WHICH ALL THEY SELL IS THE FULL WIRING HARNESS WHICH IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN THAT. I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM IT'S ORIGINAL OWNER IN JULY OF 2002. *NLM

HORN STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS INOPERABLE. *JG

CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER DOOR DOESN'T WORK. *TT

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING A COLLISION.

STRUTS RECALL 99V213000 DONE APRIL 2000. STRUT ROD FAILURE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE STILL OCCURRED. DOOR HIT ME ON THE HEAD BUT NO SERIOUS INJURY.*AK

SO FAR ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT I;VE HAD WITH THIS VAN HAVE BEEN UNDER RECALLS, AND I HOPE THIS ONE IS ALSO. MY VAN HAS STARTED TO "SING" A HIGH PITCH CONSTANT SOUND. I T SINGS WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR IDLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. THANKS, YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

LEFT AND RIGHT PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS HAVE TAKEN ON A YELLOW TINT THAT HAS REDUCED THE ILLUMINATION TO A POINT THAT IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. HAVE NOTICED OTHER DODGE VANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. A LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THESE HEADLIGHTS, AND THAT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. I FEEL THE MATERIAL USED IN THE HEADLIGHT LENS IS FAULTY. HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING A RELACEMENT IF THIS IS THE CASE? DT

HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE YELLOWING AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE MAUFACTURER SAYS THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE 1/8 INCH THICK METAL CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF ONTO THE HIGHWAY. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK

ON 5/23/01, I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS AT A STOP AND THE TIRE (L/FRONT) WENT FLAT. I TOOK IT BACK TO BIG O AND IT WAS REPLACED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT SEPERATED. I ASKED ABOUT THE FRONT/R TIRE WHICH WAS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. ON 6/16/01, THE FRONT/R TIRE SEPERATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. AGAIN, THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO BIGO AND IT WAS REPLACED FOR FREE STATING SEPERATION. MY COMPLAINT IS, WHEN THE FIRST TIRE SEPERATED AND I ASKED ABOUT THE OTHER TIRE, IT WASN'T REPLACED. THESE ARE THE ONLY BIG O TIRES ON MY VAN. THEY SEPARATED WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER, ONE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE SECOND TIRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FIRST. ARE THESE TIRES SAFE? BOTH WERE PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AND BOTH SEPERATED CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE TIRES. I AM NERVOUS DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES AND WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 0501 TIRESIZE: 205/70R15)

THE JACK THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY COLLAPSED WHILE IN USE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE STATIONERY BOLT WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK UPON INSPECTION IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE TREADS IN THE STATIONARY BOLT FAILED COMPLETELY. *TS *NLM

I HAVE A 1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE & 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. BOTH ARE DARK BLUE IN COLOR, AND BOTH VANS ARE LOSING THE PAINT FROM THE HOOD, AND TOP OF BOTH CARS, I HAVE FOUND, EVERY BLUE VAN I HAVE SEEN, HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM, HAS THEIR BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM! *PH