1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Driver assistance Problems

I PURCHASED MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN 2009, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH ON CHECKING WITH MY MECHANIC SAID MY ABS SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AS IS ALL OTHER INSTRUMENT RELATED READINGS. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PANEL CAME BACK ON AND WORKED FOR AWHILE THAN SHUT OFF AGAIN. SOMEONE SAID HIT THE PANEL FACE AND THE GAUGES SHOULD COME BACK ON. I DID AND IT DID. FOR AWHILE. OVER TIME THE GAUGE FAILURE INTERVAL GREW SHORTER AND SHORTER, AND HITTING THE PANEL FINALLY FAILED TO RETURN THE USE OF THE GAUGES. TO REPLACE THIS GAUGE CLUSTER IS AN $800.00 PLUS REPAIR IN A SHOP WITH A REBUILD PANEL COSTING OVER $200.00 BY ITSELF. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT A DEALER WILL CHARGE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE GAUGE FAILURE CULPRIT IS COLD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CLASS OF VEHICLE. THIS DEFICIENCY CAN EASILY BE AVOIDED BY BETTER QUALITY CONTROL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614903

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

Mileage

106,500 mi

AUGUST 12, 2004 RE: DANGEROUS RUNAWAY-VEHICLE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VIN [XXX] THIS IS TO DOCUMENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT OCCURRED ON JULY 22, 2004 WITH THE ABOVE VEHICLE. THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT HAD ABOUT 124,800 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE, [XXX], WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION ON I-40 FROM WILMINGTON TO CHAPEL HILL . SHE WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IS NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE SITUATION WAS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT ALTHOUGH IT IS LIKELY THAT SHE HAD ACCELERATED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE CAR WAS GOING OVER 90 MPH AND WOULDNT STOP ALTHOUGH SHE USED THE BRAKES WITH ALL HER FORCE. SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND BRAKED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER, WITH THE BRAKES SMOKING AND IN FLAME. IN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE ENGINE SPEED TOOK OFF AND SHE SHUT IT DOWN AND CALLED AAA FOR A TOW. THE AAA SERVICE STATION MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM THE THROTTLE. THE CABLE WAS STUCK FAST AND HAD KEPT THE THROTTLE OPEN. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY WIFE HAD BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VAN WITHOUT COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR RUNNING OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BRINGING IT TO A HALT. THE CABLE APPEARED TO HAVE A BROKEN STRAND THAT STUCK INTO THE OUTER SHEATH. IT IS ONLY ABOUT 20 INCHES LONG AND MAKES A 180 DEGREE U-TURN BETWEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM SERVO AND THE THROTTLE. THAT DESIGN PLACES MORE STRESS ON THE CABLE THAN IF IT WERE A STRAIGHT RUN. THE DEFECTIVE CABLE IS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. I AM AN MIT GRADUATE MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL OPERATIONS FOR CONSUMERS UNION AND I BELIEVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN BY NHTSA TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ME ANY REMEDY EXCEPT REPAIR AT MY OWN EXPENSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10086685

Incident

Jul 22, 2004

Mileage

124,800 mi

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10064565

Incident

Apr 4, 2003

Mileage

93,000 mi

HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056441

Incident

Dec 27, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VAN LUNGED FORWARD. THE ACTUAL CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE'S FRONT CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK THIS CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED A DEFECT PER MECHANIC(S). THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN THIS MAKE/MODEL FOR SOME TIME AND HAD MANY COMPLAINTS AND REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO HELP GIVEN BY THE DEALER. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10044294

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

Mileage

70,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD, AND HORN / CRUISE CONTROL OPERATE POORLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018417

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DIDN'T WORK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8018120

Incident

Sep 5, 2002

CLOCKSPRING "SPRUNG" 3 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE BUT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE HORN DIDN'T WORK, AIRBAG DIDN'T WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. OTHER INCIDENT IS ROUGH ENGINE DURING IDLE AND POWER SURGE IF GOING UP HILL*AK

NHTSA ID

766560

CLOCKSPRING UNIT FAILS TO PROVIDE POWER TO AIRBAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES IN STEERING WHEEL. THIS UNIT CAN FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT AND PREVENT AIRBAG FROM BEING DEPLOYED. DC HAS SOLD OVER 150,000 REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRINGS AT OVER $250 A PIECE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURES DEFECT. I WAS UNABLE TO BLOW MY HORN AT ANOTHER DRIVER TO GET HIS ATTENTION. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HOWEVER UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED AS I AM WITH NO HORN, NO CRUISE CONTROL CONTROLS, AND AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

765604

Incident

Aug 11, 2002

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON, AND CRUISE CONTROL WILL INTREMITTENTLY NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015980

Incident

Jul 12, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT ON , HORN & CRUISE CONTROL ARE NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID

765391

THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA ID

763611

Incident

Mar 21, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009229

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTION. DEALER REPLACED "CLOCK SPRING" ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR PROBLEM. AIRBAGS NOT WORKING IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

761487

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE STARTER MOTOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, THE FRONT WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN, THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR LOCK WILL NOT WORK FROM THE KEY CONTROL, THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY GO ON WHEN THE DIRECTIONAL IS ACTIVATED, ALL THE BELLS AND LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH THE DOORS LOCKING FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER STATES IT SEEMED LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

564974

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON/ HORN DOES NOT WORK, AN D CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

760006

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED, CRUISE CONTROL OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

8006275

Incident

Mar 23, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND HORN/ CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

8005992

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION, CLOCKSPRING, FOR THE AIR BAG FAILED. AIRBAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL INOP.

NHTSA ID

758035

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

CLOCK SPRING ASSY. FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT CAUSES AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON DISABLING AIR BAG, CRUISE. *AK

NHTSA ID

757758

Incident

Jan 5, 2002

WHILE DRIVING CLOCK SPRING BECAME INOPERABLE, FORCING AIR BAG TO DISENGAGE, AND HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN USED AT HIGH SPEED COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003128

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE HORN FAILS TO FUNCTION, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

8002538

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

HAVE DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. RESULTS IN LOSS OF HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING LIT AT ALL TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

756165

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HORN AND SPEED CONTROL ARE ALSO INOPERABLE WHICH OCCURRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE OCCASIONALLY EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ALSO MOVE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE ACTIVATED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIR BAG, HORN AND SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IS THE POSSIBLE CULPRIT.*AK

NHTSA ID

755249

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

CLOCK SPRING FAILED, DISABLING HORN, AIRBAG, AND CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $250 FOR THE REPAIR. SINCE THEN, TWO OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THEIR CLOCK SPRING FAIL, AND THEY HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (08-010-01) FOR THE REPAIR, BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR AT NO, OR A REDUCED, COST. AS THE HORN AND AIRBAG WERE DISABLED, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED AS A SAFETY ISSUE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

754015

Incident

Apr 1, 2001