Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 103 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 103, in the owner's own words
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK, THEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THEY WILL. I HAD THEM CHECKED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS A 500 DOLLAR BODY CONTROL MODULE. IT SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE, AND IN MY OPINION A DEFECT! *TR
FOR SOME TIME NOW MY WIPERS HAD A MIND OF THERE OWN. THEY WORKED WHEN EVER THEY WANTED. NO AS OF 11/29/10 MY WIPERS WILL NOT EVEN COME ON AT ALL. *TR
THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. 1. THE WINDSHIELD AND REAR WIPERS WILL GO ON AN OFF WHEN THEY WANT TOO. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON YOU CAN'T TURN THEM OFF. THE BACK ONE WILL COME ON SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR. 2. THE HORN ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING. 3. WHEN MY VAN HIT AROUND 80,00 MILES THE AIR COND. STOPPED WORKING AND DOESN'T GET COLD. TOOK IT TO A PLACE TO CHECK AND THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH DODGE. AND THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND 1,500.00 TO REPAIR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR TAILGATE GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/29/08
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED 4-5 TIMES. THE REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE UNKNOWN. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.
MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WIPERS GOES ON AND OFF AS THEY PLEASE. I WAS TOLD IT COULD EITHER WIPER MOTOR OR COMPUTER BRAIN BOX OR BOTH THAT COST UPWARDS OF $500. I DIDN'T REPAIR DUE TO COST. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL WHEN IT'S DISTRACTION ON THE WINDSHIELD AND A SAFETY PROBLEM. GM RECALLED THIER WIPER PROBLEMS ON THE CHEVY TRUCKS.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE MAKING THE ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER DIFFICULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER. *JB
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN QUIT WORKING. IT WILL NOT WORK ON ANY MODE. WHEN I PRESSED THE WIPER WASHER, IT SQUIRTED WATER AND THE WIPERS CYCLED ONCE. I TRIED IT AGAIN ONE TIME AND IT DID NOT WORK AT ALL. IT WORKED ONE TIME BUT IT CYCLED VERY FAST. ALSO, IT TURNS ON ANYTIME IT WANTS TO. IT IS SO UNRELIABLE THAT I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE CAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO RAIN.*AK
WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND OUT OF THE VENTS UNTIL THE CONSUMER SHUT OFF THE HEAT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
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
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
WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING REGARDLESS THE TIME OF USAGE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THEY EITHER QUIT WORKING, WORKED ONLY IN ONE SPEED OR ENGAGED BY THEMSELVES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, WHICH PROVIDED A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
OUR 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN'S FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONE DAY WENT ON, AND STAYED ON WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS ON {NO MATTER WHAT WE DID, NOTHING WOULD SHUT THE WIPERS OFF -- NO WAY -- NO HOW ! WE TRIED EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF.} I HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR DAYS/WEEKS WHILE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON AND COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF, AND NEARLY GOT IN TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I WAS SO DISTRACTED. THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE I WAITED FOR THE PROBLEM TO AUTOMATICALLY CEASE OF ITS OWN ACCORD, WHICH IT NEVER DID. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE WITH TIME. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT ON OF THEIR OWN ACCORD INTERMITTENTLY IN THE BEGINNING, THEN AFTER DAYS/WEEKS, WE COULD NOT SHUT THEM OFF AT ALL. I WAS FORCED TO BRING THE MINIVAN TO A CHRYSLER AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BCM (BODY CONTROLLER OR BODY CONTROL MODULE) AT A COST OF $574 AT OUR OWN EXPENSE. I HAVE ASKED CHRYSLER CORPORATE TWICE IF THEY WILL REIMBURSE US; BOTH TIMES THEY REFUSED. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT WAS NOT IN ANY WAY CAUSED BY US. CHRYSLER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF THIS DEFECT, AND DOING THE RIGHT THING BY REIMBURSING US THE $574. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A PERSON CAN NOT DRIVE WHILE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE PERMANENTLY ON WHILE IT IS NOT RAINING!
THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT RUNS THE CAR JUMPED OFF TRACK THE FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER WHEN IT WAS RAINING. I FIRST NOTICED MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT OVER HEATED. SO WHEN I GOT UNDER THE HOOD TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, IT WAS THE BELT IT WAS NOT BROKEN JUST OFF TRACK. HAD IT FIXED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 25, 2003 SOME 3-4 WEEKS LATER. AGAIN IT WAS RAINING. THE PERSON WHO FIXED IT THE 2ND TIME STATES THAT EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND IF I GET WATER IN MY UNDERCARRAIGE IT IS GOING TO POP OFF. THIS IS VERY DISCOURAGING, I AM THE SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR YOUNG GIRLS AND I SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VAN WHEN IT IS RAINING. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE SOME SENSE OUT OF THIS FOR ME.
UR 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN'S FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONE DAY WENT ON, AND STAYED ON WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS ON {NO MATTER WHAT WE DID, NOTHING WOULD SHUT THE WIPERS OFF -- NO WAY -- NO HOW ! WE TRIED EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF.}. I HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR DAYS/WEEKS WHILE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON AND COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF, AND NEARLY GOT IN TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I WAS SO DISTRACTED. THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE I WAITED FOR THE PROBLEM TO AUTOMATICALLY CEASE OF ITS OWN ACCORD, WHICH IT NEVER DID. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE WITH TIME. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT ON OF THEIR OWN ACCORD INTERMITTENTLY IN THE BEGINNING, THEN AFTER DAYS/WEEKS, WE COULD NOT SHUT THEM OFF AT ALL. I WAS FORCED TO BRING THE MINIVAN TO A CHRYSLER AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BCM (BODY CONTROLLER OR BODY CONTROL MODULE) AT A COST OF $574 AT OUR OWN EXPENSE. I HAVE ASKED CHRYSLER CORPORATE TWICE IF THEY WILL REIMBURSE US; BOTH TIMES THEY REFUSED. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT WAS NOT IN ANY WAY CAUSED BY US. CHRYSLER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF THIS DEFECT, AND DOING THE RIGHT THING BY REIMBURSING US THE $574. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A PERSON CAN NOT DRIVE WHILE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON WHILE IT IS NOT RAINING!*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE JUST FELL DOWN. FORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT BREAK, BUT IT DISTRACTED FROM DRIVING. DRIVER HAD TO HOLD WIDOW UP SO IT WOULD NOT FALL ON ANYONE IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD BY THAT HE COULD NOT REPAIR THE INDIVIDUAL WINDOW, BUT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE WINDOW ASSEMBLY, AND SUCH REPAIRS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PAY FOR IT. *AK
I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR) ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. THE WIPERS COME ON "MAGICALLY" WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR WIPER SOMETIMES COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR PROLONGED PERIODS, ESPECIALLY IF THE REAR DEFROSTER IS ON. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THREE TIMES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE DEALER NOW TELLS ME THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER OF THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED....A $700 REPAIR!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! I CAN NOT AFFORD $700 FOR THIS REPAIR, OR SHOULD I HAVE TO. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS LIKE THIS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE IS A FLAW IN DODGE'S DESIGN. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. I KNOW OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND SOMETIMES THEIR WIPERS JUST STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR SNOW. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ME....ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN A RAINSTORM! WHY HAVEN'T THESE VEHICLES BEEN RECALLED FOR THESE PROBLEMS? WILL IT TAKE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FATALITIES BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? IF DODGE DOES NOT DO SOMETHING TO FIX MY PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE, THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHYRSLER PRODUCT I WILL EVER OWN. PAUL BAZIL
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.
THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE. *AK
THE COMPUTER MODULE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *JB
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS INTERMITTENT. MR THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE WIPERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THEY WORKED FINE. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT AS WELL. SCC *JB
NAR 03-27-2003 MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS, AND THE TRANSMISSION DIED OUT. *CB
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