1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND FLUID WAS LEAKING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10691638

Incident

Feb 20, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT FEAR OF FRONT END COLLAPSE IS MOUNTING. THE STRUT TOWERS LOOK SEVERELY RUSTED EVEN THOUGH OLDER AND NEWER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL DO NOT DEMONSTRATE THIS POTENTIAL FAILURE. IT SEEMS THAT IF THIS FAILS THAT THE STRUT WOULD PUSH THROUGH THE TOWER CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO MOVE UP AND BACK RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, SUDDEN SWERVE, AND POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10472513

Incident

Aug 26, 2012

Mileage

156,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND TOLD THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,852.

NHTSA ID

10459460

Incident

May 20, 2012

Mileage

97,852 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A KIT THAT COULD BE INSTALLED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10410655

Incident

Jul 6, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

96 GRAND CARAVAN STRUT MOUNT RUST COULDN'T PASS INSPECTION AND THEY SAID MY KIDS COULD HAVE DIED IF I HAD A ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL. THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVES IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE UNTIL IT MAKES CORPORATION PAY MONEY TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM LET SEE WHAT YOU GUYS DO WITH THIS. SORRY IM UPSET JUST SEEMS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND AS I READ ON THE INTERNET TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT IT CAUSED I CALLED THE TO AND SAID IF I HAD A ISSUE TO WRITE TO YOU GUYS BUT MOST LIKELY NOTHING WILL BE DONE. THAT IS A QUOTE FROM A CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275319

Incident

Jun 28, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

FRONT STRUT TOWERS RUSTED THROUGH. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE YET, BUT IF IT COMPLETELY RUSTS, I'M SURE AN ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE NOTHING WILL BE SUPPORTING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258712

Incident

Feb 4, 2009

Mileage

155,200 mi

STRUT TOWER, DRIVER'S SIDE IS EXTREMELY RUSTED - A HARD BUMP WILL CERTAINLY PUSH THE SUSPENSION SPRING ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE TOP CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238043

Incident

Aug 13, 2008

Mileage

154,000 mi

1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CORROSION PERFORATION CONDITION AT THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WILL COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. MAKING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED IF THEY DON'T RECALL THESE AND FIX THEM. APPARENTLY CHRYSLER WANTS TO BE NAMED AFTER SOMEONE ELSE ONCE SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND THEN THEY SUE CHRYSLER AND WIN FOR CHRYSLER BEING CARELESS AND CHEAP WHEN BUILDING A VEHICLE. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1200 TO FIX MY DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE RUST MY KIDS RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I DIDN'T BUILD IT I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO DID SHOULD RECALL IT AND FIX IT FOR US, MINIVANS ARE KID VEHICLES WE DON'T BUY THEM JUST TO RIDE AND LOOK COOL IN THEM THEY TRANSPORT PRECIOUS CARGO OUR KIDS I HAVE THREE AND IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO THEM BECAUSE OF A BAD COMPANY MAKING CHEAP STUFF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER TO ME FOR IT. I BOUGHT THE MINIVAN THINKING DODGE WAS A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY AND GOOD COMPANY BUT I AM NOW HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT IT WITH THIS HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232744

Incident

Jun 30, 2008

Mileage

114,328 mi

SHOCK TOWER ON DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE IS RUSTING THROUGH. IF RUSTS THROUGH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS,WOULD MAKE RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE FALL AND SEND SHOCK THROUGH HOOD POSSIBLY CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENTALLY DODGE DEALER IN MY TOWN THEY SAID THERE WAS TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT CAME IN SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL BUT NO RECALL. CHRYSLER DEALER TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS TEN YEARS OLD AND I LIVE IN A SALT STATE SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IF IT WERE ONE VEHICLE OK BUT I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN AND IF THERE WERE THREE THAT'S TO MANY. AND ALSO ITS NOT SOMETHING YOU NOTICE EASILY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158773

Incident

Sep 8, 2005

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST ON BOTH STRUT MOUNTS. THE RUST WAS FIRST NOTICED FOUR YEARS AGO. THE CONTACT ORIGINALLY SUSPECTED THE RUST WAS SURFACE RUST HOWEVER, IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED A REMEDY HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 04/11/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151391

Incident

Feb 28, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT END WILL COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. *AK DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. MAKING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. *BF

NHTSA ID

10115874

Incident

Mar 23, 2005

Mileage

137,000 mi

TOOK MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN IN FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR. SHOP WOULD NOT REPAIR AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO RUSTING OUT OF STRUT MOUNT TOWER. HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108471

Incident

Jan 28, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD RIDE ROUGHLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A BULGE WAS LOCATED IN THE HOUSING STRUTS AREA, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095148

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. FIRST THERE IS A SERIOUS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT WHEEL/TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED 8 TIRES (IN 30000 MILES!), BOTH FRONT AXLES, ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS, AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, AS WELL AS HAVING THREE ALIGNMENT CHECKS. THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FRONT WIPERS WERE, FOR A TIME, COMING ON ANY TIME THEY FELT LIKE IT; THIS WAS REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH ON 09/21/01. SINCE THEN, THE REAR WIPER WILL OCCASIONALLY COME ON FOR ONE SWIPE WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE - ANNOYING, BUT NOT AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD. BUT TODAY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING AT ALL. THEY WILL ONLY WORK IF I PUT THE WIPERS ON INTERVAL - IN WHICH CASE THEY DO NOTHING FOR A TIME, THEN MAKE TWO TO FOUR SWIPES, THEN WAIT A WHILE, MAKE ONE OR TWO SWIPES, WAIT A WHILE, ETC. THEY WILL MAKE ONE HIGH SPEED SWIPE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD IF I PRESS THE WASHER BUTTON IN. I SPENT $80 TODAY SO THE DODGE DEALER COULD TELL ME THIS WAS CAUSED BY A BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THIS REPAIR COSTS OVER $400...AND RESEARCHING A USED PART ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT BOTH THE WHEEL SHIMMY PROBLEM AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS ARE NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR BUT ARE VERY COMMON ISSUES WITH THE DODGE CARAVAN/CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY/PLYMOUTH VOYAGER FAMILY. LOSING YOUR WIPERS, HAVING THEM COME ON AT RANDOM WHEN THEY TAKE A NOTION TO, AND A NON-STOP SHIMMY IN THE FRONT ARE EACH, BY THEMSELVES, SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES WARRANTING A RECALL. COLLECTIVELY, THEY SPELL OUT A LACK OF CONCERN THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO DRIVE THEIR PRODUCTS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MY ONLINE RESEARCH THAT CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS LONG AGO AS 1998 BUT DELIBERATELY IGNORED ITS OWN INFORMATION. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE ONLY WAY THESE SAFETY ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED IS IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKES THEM TO TASK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088514

Incident

Aug 24, 2004

Mileage

92,000 mi

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE THAT HAS 105,000 MILES ON IT AND THE STRUT TOWERS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GRAND CARAVANS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF CHRYSLER HAS TO STAND BEHIND THE REPAIR OF THESE AS THEY HAVE IGNORED THE FACT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10086574

Incident

Jul 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH FRONT END FAILED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10084009

Incident

Jul 21, 2004

Mileage

125,258 mi

THE STRUT TOWER ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTED ON VEHICLE. *MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL USED IS THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10083412

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

THE STRUT TOWER RUSTED . AS A RESULT THE STRUT PUSHED THROUGH THE HOOD, AND THE FRAME COLLAPSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079471

Incident

Jun 17, 2004

Mileage

122,000 mi

FRONT STRUT TOWERS RUSTING THROUGH. TOLD BY SERVICE 'VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE'. TOLD TO REPLACE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10064452

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

Mileage

120,000 mi

WE TOOK OUR 1996 GRAND CARAVAN IN FOR RECALLS THAT DODGE SENT US. THEY CALLED MY WIFE BACK AND TOLD HER IT WAS CONDEMNABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE THE STRUT TOWER WAS VERY BADLY RUSTED. BY THE TIME I HAD THE CHANCE TO CALL THEM, BECAUSE I WAS AT WORK, THE PERSON SHE TALKED TO HAD LEFT, HOWEVER I DID TALK TO ANOTHER PERSON ACQUAINTED WITH THE VEHICLE. HE SAID BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND THAT I WASN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNER DODGE WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR US. HE ALSO SAID IT WOULD COST $2000.00 PER SIDE TO FIX AND THE VAN WASN'T WORTH IT. I SAID THIS IS A SERIOUS THING AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY CHRYSLER BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY USED INFERIOR MATERIALS ON THAT PART OF THE VAN. HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, AND THE WEATHER WHERE WE LIVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. I SAID SO I AM JUST OUT OF A VEHICLE TO DRIVE?, AND HE SAID YOU CAN DRIVE IT BUT IT'S NOT SAFE. NOW THE OTHER MAN TOLD MY WIFE THAT IF SHE HIT A HOLE OR WENT OVER RR TRACKS IT COULD COME COMPLETELY THROUGH AND SHE WOULD LOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE AUTO BODY MAN WE TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN GALVANIZED WHEN THEY MADE IT AND THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT OUR 1994 CARAVAN DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAD OVER 270,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO THIS 1996 DOES NOT HAVE RUST ANYWHERE ELSE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT OR KILLED IF THEY DON'T RECALL THESE AND FIX THEM. THEY RECALLED A CLOCK SPRING FOR THE AIRBAG, AND THEY DIDN'T ASK THE MILEAGE OF OUR VEHICLE, AND THEY PERFORMED ALL THE OTHER RECALLS ON IT THAT DAY SO THEY COULD GET THERE MONEY, BUT THEY WON?T DO ANYTHING ABOUT A SUSPENSION COMPONENT THAT IS LIFE THREATENING. I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO ADD THAT YOUR CAR DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE AN AIRBAG TO BE SAFE OR RUN, BUT IT DOES NEED A SUSPENSION. THIS IS NOT AN ONLY CASE, WE HAVE ANOTHER 1996 GRAND CARAVAN THAT LOOKS LIKE RUST IS BUBBLING UNDER THE PAINT AT THAT SAME SPOT, SO IT IS A VERY EASY THING TO NOT SEE.

NHTSA ID

10070238

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

170,000 mi

WHILE GETTING HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BODY STRUT MOUNT TOWER HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT AFTER A FEW MORE MILES THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD COLLAPSE. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10042378

Incident

Oct 3, 2003

Mileage

97,000 mi

THE SHOCK TOWERS, WHICH HELD THE SHOCKS TO THE VEHICLE'S BODY, RUSTED EXCESSIVELY. *KG *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012351

Incident

Mar 25, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER STRUT TOWER HOUSING RUSTED SEVERELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10026705

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

88,000 mi

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE FOM RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT STRUT TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10031889

THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT STRUT TOWER RUSTED THROUGH, WHICH INCREASED THE RISK OF A FRONT SUSPENSION DROP.*AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10024716

Incident

Jun 18, 2003