1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Interior & seats Problems

SLIDING DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FAILURE, ONE LOCK BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE RESTRICTING ALL INGRESS OR EGRESS FROM THAT DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208966

Incident

Jan 10, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

SERPENTINE BELT OR TENSIONER CLIP HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED 4 TIMES (TOWED EVERY TIME) ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING; TURN THE KEY AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START GOING, TURN THE KEY OFF AND THE WIPERS "KEEP" GOING, TAKE THE KEY TOTALLY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE WIPERS GO AND THE "DINGING" ALARM THAT TELLS YOU THE LIGHTS ARE ON OR THE KEY IS IN, STARTS.(I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THE CAR WAS POSSESSED) OR TURN THE KEY AND "NOTHING" COMES ON EXCEPT THE ENGINE. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 5 TIMES AT LEAST - IT'S USUALLY BETTER W/ A NEW BATTERY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW MOTOR AND ASSEMBLY REPLACED ON DRIVERS SIDE TWICE AND 5 TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MOST RECENT WAS 4/04, WHICH WAS REPLACED 7/04 AGAIN. THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDE DO NOT LOCK, IF YOU PUSH THE BUTTON DOWN, YOU CAN'T GET IT BACK UP. THE REAR HATCH IS DAMAGED FROM CLOSING THE DOOR, LOOKS LIKE I WAS HIT IN THE REAR, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR MONTHS IN FALL '03, NO MECHANIC COULD SAY WHY. WANTED TO GET THE A/C CHARGED BUT IT WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. DEALER COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SAID THE A/C UNIT WAS TOTALLY MELTED. HAD IT REPLACED AND THEN THE COMPUTER RESET. REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 100000, THE "PLANTATARY GEARS" WERE CRACKED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN IN 7/04, FAILED EMISIONS, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, LIGHT STILL ON, TACK STICKS AND CAR WON'T ACCELERATE AT TIMES - I CAN PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T GO?? FEELS LIKE IT'S CHOKING, NO POWER. HAVE A 3.8L, SHOULD HAVE POWER. THERE IS NO PANEL/DOOR FOR PASS. AIRBAG TO COME OUT. IF I EVER GOT IN AN ACCIDENT, WHAT WOULD IT DO...JUST BUST THROUGH MY DASH? OVER TIME, THE DASH ON THAT SIDE HAS GOTTEN SOFT AND MUSHY, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT? MY DAD BOUGHT THE SAME YEAR CARAVAN I DID, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE GRAND CARAVAN LE AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE 3.8L AND HE HASN'T HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM...I GUESS I GOT ALL OF THEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082978

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

500 mi

BODY MODULE FOR 96 GRAND CARAVAN PART # 04686930 FAILED. *AK THIS MODULE CONTROLS BODY ELEMENTS: POWER WINDOWS, POWER LOCKS, A/C, INTERIOR FEATURES, INSTRUMENTS (ODOMETER SPECIFICALLY) AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASE TO OPERATE UPON FAILURE OF THIS MODULE. THIS CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME, AT ANY PLACE (PARKED OR DRIVING) UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITIONS (SUNSHINE OR HURRICANE). I SEE THIS AS A CRITICAL DESIGN FLAW. FUNCTIONALITY OF A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT, WINDSHIELD WIPERS,IS TIED TO A PART THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED EASILY. ACCODING TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, THE PART IS NOT PRODUCED ANY MORE, IT IS NOT STOCKED. THE ORDER WILL NOT BE FILLED. THE PART IS NOT READILY REPAIRABLE. THE MODULE MUST BE PROGRAMMED WITH VEHICLE INFORMATION (FEATURES, ODOMETER READINGS) SO THE PART IS NOT STOCKED BY DEALERS OR DISTRIBUTORS. CUSTOMERS MUST WAIT FOR OLD PART TO COME IN AND BE RECONDITIONED. DAIMLERCHRYSLER CANNOT DELIVER PARTS TO BE PROGRAMMED AND RESTORE FUNCTIONALITY AND SAFETY TO VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10037465

Incident

Aug 22, 2003

Mileage

109,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER'S SIDE MANUAL SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. CONSUMER'S ADVISE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH DOOR THAT HAVE PROGRESSED TO IT NOT WORKING AT ALL. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF CHILDREN IS DOOR NEEDED TO BE OPENED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10004417

Incident

Jan 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED COMPUTER PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE BEING DRIVEN. NLM

NHTSA ID

567054

MY HUSBAND WOULD BE DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. EVERYTHING ON THE DASH WENT OUT. ABOUT 2 TO 3 SECONDS LATER IT CAME BACK ON BUT BARELY WORKING. THE CAR BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US. WHEN THE CAR RE-STARTED THE DASH LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING AND THE INSTRUMENTS WERE NOT READING RIGHT. ONTOP OF THAT WE COULD NOT TURN THE AIR OR RADIO OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE IT MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. PRIOR TO THIS IT HAPPEN TO MY HUSBAND TWICE ON THE SAME DAY. IN MARCH WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ON TOP OF OTHER ISSUES. WE ONLY HAD THIS MINI VAN FOR A YEAR AND WE ALREADY HAD TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONER 2X , FUEL PUMP BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING, THE FIRST TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROMBEM AND SAID IT WAS AN OVERFILL OF GAS, SECOND TIME THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. ALSO OUT OF POCKET FOR BRAKES, AND ROTOR. WE WERE HOPING FOR SOME KIND OF EXCHANGE FOR THIS. DURING THE YEAR WE HAD THIS MINI VAN THE DEALERSHIP CHANGE HANDS AGAIN. NOW THE CURRENT OWNER IS GETTING COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE A VEHICLE FROM THERE LAST YEAR, PER OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE SALES MANAGER. THEY HAD TO RE-RUN OUR CREDIT AND TAKE ALL OUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ALL OVER AGAIN. NEXT MORNING I WAS TOLD THAT THE BANK /LENDER WANTS $2500.00 UPFRONT AS GOOD FAITH, BECAUSE WE STILL OWE ON THE VEHICLE. LIKE I SAID EARLIER THE CAR IS FINACE FOR 5 YEARS. ALSO THE PART THAT IS NEEDED COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $385 TO 209 APPROX. AND LABOR $300.00 OR SO. SO WE WOULD BE PAYING CLOSE TO $685 OR MORE. ALSO THIS PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY NOR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL COMPONET. IF ANYONE CAN HELP PLEASE, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET RID IF IT OR SOMEHOW GET IT FIX.*AK

NHTSA ID

761884

Incident

Apr 4, 2002

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLES ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, CONSUMER WAS GETTING GAS, AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF DASH. CONSUMER DROVE CAR TO A MECHANIC. NLM *YH

NHTSA ID

8007792

Incident

Apr 16, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

759041

CONSUMER STATES THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT OPERATE AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED, CONSUMER HAD TO TURN IGINITION OFF THEN ON AGAIN, IT COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING AND DEALER MADE REPAIRS, HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *TT

NHTSA ID

564597

Incident

Sep 19, 2001

DEFECT CLOCKSPRING LEADS TO AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, AND PROPELY MAILFUNCTION. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BURNING IN THE SWITCH CONTACTS AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH TWO SMALL KIDS SITTING IN THEIR BABY SEATS. ONE OF THE KIDS, 3 YEARS OLD MANGED TO KNOCK ON THE WINDOW FOR GETTING HELP. THE FIRE STOPPED WITHOUT MAKING ADDITIONAL DAMAGES AND NOBODY WERE INJURED. THE FUSES DID NOT BLOW.*AK

NHTSA ID

758751

Incident

May 8, 2001

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ALL KINDS OF TROUBLES WITH THE RADIO SINCE I BOUGHT IT,,,, NO BIG DEAL,,, UNTILL TODAY WHEN COMING HOME FROM MY PARENTS SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID

754389

CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING. NOTICED FLAMES INSIDE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

898552

Incident

Oct 25, 2001

BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A MOVE FROM MARYLAND TO GEORGIA, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING RAINSTORM. ARRIVED AT DEALER ONLY 451 MILES AFTER EXPIRATION OF 75K WARRANTY. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WOULD ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS. HAVE SUBMITTED TWO LENGTHY VOQ'S TODAY AS I AM FINALLY FED UP WITH THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT AND THE FAILURE OF CHRYSLER AND THE NHTSA TO ENACT ADDITIONAL FORCED RECALLS OF THESE VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION, FUEL TANK, BODY CONTROL MODULE, CLOCK SPRING (WHICH RESULTED IN INOPERATIVE AIRBAGS), AND SUSPENSION PARTS ALL FAILED LONG BEFORE THEY SHOULD HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, A CURSORY SEARCH OF BOTH NHTSA AND OTHER WEB SITES REVEALS THAT THESE PARTS HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE. DESPITE BEING REPLACED BY A DEALER ONLY TWO YEARS AGO, THE STEERING RACK ON MY MINIVAN IS ALREADY FAILING AGAIN. I AM EXTREMELY UNIMPRESSED WITH BOTH THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM CHRYSLER IN ADDRESSING REPEATED FAILURES.

NHTSA ID

752942

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE. BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. NO INJURY.*AK

NHTSA ID

895205

Incident

Aug 15, 2001

BATTERY CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID INTO WIRING COVER AND AIR CLEANER HOUSING CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND BEGAN TO LEAK AGAIN APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY HAD TO BE BOOSTED TO START VEHICLE, AGAIN DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BATTERY WAS REPLACED A FOURTH TIME ALONG WITH A FAULTY STARTER. *SLC

NHTSA ID

562605

Incident

Oct 7, 1997

CAN THIS CAUSE A FIRE ? IT MELTED THE RELAY . THEY HAD A TSB ON THIS LOTS OF PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

749796

Incident

Jul 28, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING LIGHTING ON THE DASH WILL GO OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST VEHICLE IS GOING. DELAER HAS REPLACED CONTROL PANEL MODULE, HOWEVER , PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

890806

I'VE READ ABOUT INVESTIGATION ON THE AIR CLOCK SPRINGS .... THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

745392

Incident

May 10, 2001

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOORS HAVE FROZEN IN UNLOCKED POSITION. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS WHEN TRANSPORTING HIS CHILDREN. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

885657

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOSLY, THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS, CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS, FRONT INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER COME ON WHEN THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED, COOLING FANS WILL NOT RUN EVEN WITH A/C ON, HOOD LATCH DOESN'T ALWAYS RELEASE THE HOOD. *AK

NHTSA ID

737969

Incident

Jan 10, 1998

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR THE 4TH TIME SINCE JULY 2000. AIRBAG LIGHT JUST BEE FIXED, NOW DOOR IS STUCK OPEN AND HAS TO BE CLOSED FROM INSIDE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. GET IT SORTED DODGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

737570

Incident

Dec 9, 2000

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AND TCM REPLACEMENT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. *SLC

NHTSA ID

555112

Incident

Jun 27, 1996

04/1997 - WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF. INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO GO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. DEALER SAID, "COULDN'T DETERMINE CAUSE." 01/1999 - CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN STOPPED WORKING. AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON. MECHANIC SAID, "DUE TO AIR BAG PROBLEMS"

NHTSA ID

725240

Incident

Apr 18, 1997

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL ENGAGE BY THEMSELVES ORIGINALLY REPAIRED 05/99. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT30904 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HORN STOPPED WORKING HAD TO REPLACE CLICK SPRING. CAR STALL WHILE DRIVING SAID IT NEEDED TUNE-UP. WHEN USING AC OR DRIVING IN RAIN AND MAKING A TURN STEERING GETS STIFF AND CANNOT CONTROL. INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. HAD TO REPLACE AXLE DUE TO IT BEING BENT WHEN NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN. HAD TO GET NEW TIRES BECAUSE AXLE THREW OFF BALANCE. KEEP REPLACING BATTERIES. DROVE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES AND FAN CAME ON AND STAYED ON AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

724988

Incident

May 17, 2000

WHILE PULLING DRIVER'S SEAT UP TO DRIVE AND ONCE VEHICLE IS IN ROUTE, SEAT SLIDES BACK,CAUSING POOR DRIVING. SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

862946