1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Interior & seats Problems

1. WIPERS TURNS ON AUTOMATICALLY - USUALLY WHEN A TURN SIGNAL IS ON. 2. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON FREQUENTLY WITH P1698 CODE AND NO OTHER PENDING CODE. PRESENT INTERVAL AT AN AVERAGE OF A WEEK. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THIS INCIDENT IS VERY COMMON AS DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL CHATROOMS. INCIDENT USUALLY STARTS WITH ABS LIGHT ON THEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIES, FOLLOWED BY AIRBAG LIGHT THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. AT INCIDENT, POWER DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK. AT INCIDENT, SOMETIMES ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AFTER S SHORT DRIVE THEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL WORK. 3.REAR INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN LIT EVEN WHEN DASH SWITCH IS OFF AND NO DOOR AJAR. SOMETIMES A SINGLE INTERIOR LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN STARTING ENGINE AND REMAIN LIT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155928

Incident

Nov 20, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TAKING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE HYDRAULIC LIFT SNAPPED. THE REAR HATCH DOOR CAME DOWN AND HIT THE CONTACT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10150454

Incident

Feb 16, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT: 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1996. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO FIXED THE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE THE LIGHT TO AIRBAGS STAYED ON. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON OCCASIONALLY. WHEN SEEING THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THE CONSUMER COULD LOOK AT THIS AS A WARNING, BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS GOING OR HOW MUCH GAS THERE WAS IN THE GAS TANK. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IN 2003, AND THEY CHANGED THE CLOCK SPRING. ALSO, THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. FIRST, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF, NOW ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT NOTHING WAS WORKING ON DASHBOARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140224

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

THIS IS ON A '97 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 3.8 LITER. 1) ORIGINALLY THE BRAKES WERE TERRIBLE, (HARD FOOT PRESSURE WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.). AFTER 30KMILES, I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC. IN HIS EXPERIENCE, THE DEALER EQUIPPED FRONT DISC "PISTONS MADE OF PHEOLIC MATERIAL" WOULD OFTEN 'STICK'.. AFTER REPLACING W/ "STEEL" PISTONS THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. 2) THE PROBLEMATIC 'CLOCK-SPRING' FAILED RIGHT BEFORE I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE! BUT, AFTER 30K MORE MILES, IT FAILED AGAIN... THIS TIME THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FREE. OF COURSE THE "LEGALLY REQUIRED HORN" IS ALSO NO-FUNCTIONING. 3) THE POWER LOCKS FIGHT ME WHEN OPENING WITH A KEY. ON REMOVING SAID KEY, THEY THEN 'RELOCK' BEFORE I CAN OPEN THE DOOR. I MUST OPEN THE DOOR WITH KEY TURNED IN THE LOOK. (SAFETY, NO, INCONVENIENT YES.) HOWEVER, NOW THE POWER LOCKS "SOMETIMES UNLOCK THEMSELVES" WHEN LEFT IN A LOCKED POSITION, OR WHEN DRIVING. 4) THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN, THOUGH IT COMES ON WHEN THE NEEDED, "SHUTS OFF" WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. SHOULDN'T' IT "STAY ON" TILL THE RADIATOR COOLS A BIT?? 5) THE "ENGINE STALLED" AND HESITATED/MISFIRED?. NUMEROUS TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.. FINALLY AN INDEPENDENT "REPLACED CAM SENSOR". THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR "IMPORTANT SERVICES". SINCERELY, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10129044

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

THE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT NEARLY EVERY MONTH. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SWAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON FREEWAY OR WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKES. THE EGR VALVE KEEPS GOING OUT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA ID

10128830

Incident

Feb 24, 2005

Mileage

152,000 mi

DRIVER SEATBACK FAILURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER CLIMBED INTO THE DRIVER SEAT, AND THE SEAT BACK SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ONTO THE CHILD PASSENGER SEATED BEHIND THE DRIVER, CAUSING SLIGHT SUPERFICIAL INJURY. EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE SEAT BACK SUFFERED METAL SHEER AND SPOT WELD FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE SEAT BACK FAILURE, AND HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENT, NOR HAD THE SEAT EVER BEEN REPLACED. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S SEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064180

Incident

Mar 28, 2004

Mileage

72,768 mi

WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN 1997 DODGE CARAVAN AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, FRONT SEAT RECLINER ASSEMBLY WENT BACK, THROWING DRIVER TO BACK, CAUSING HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062043

Incident

Sep 26, 2003

Mileage

136,000 mi

THE DASH LIGHTS FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10008706

WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON A FUEL RAIL PROBLEM. ON 10/08/02 MY WIFE TOOK OUR VAN IN FOR THE APPOINTMENT AT SAVANNAH DODGE FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN SHE PICKED IT UP THEY TOLD HER THEY NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY HAD DIAGNOSED IT AS A CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. THEY TOLD HER IT WOULD BE $181 TO REPAIR IT. WE TOLD THEM WE WOULDN'T DO IT THEN. ON NOVEMBER 5 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A LEFT FRONTAL COLLISION AND ONLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN OUR CAR. THAT IS NOT THE POINT OF MY COMPLAINT. TODAY WE RECEIVED A HAND WRITTEN POSTCARD FROM THE DEALER SAYING OUR CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FACTORY RECALL CLOCKSPRING B24. I THOUGHT THIS WAS QUITE UNUSUAL THAT THE NOTICE CAME FROM THE DEALER AND NOT CHRYSLER. I JUST DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IN AUGUST 2001 TSB 08-010-01 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND THERE'S QUITE A CONSUMER CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM OR NOT AND WHETHER IT WARRANTS A SAFETY RECALL. SO WHAT'S SUDDENLY CHANGED? IS IT REALLY A RECALL OR IS THE DEALER JUST TRYING TO DRUM UP BUSINESS? THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICE. I HAVE SAVED THE POSTCARD IN CASE YOU'D LIKE IT. DT

NHTSA ID

770394

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

762851

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN, CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION. HINGE ON DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE AND INJURY TO TO DRIVER. REAR AND FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID

8005800

Incident

Mar 16, 2002

THE MOUNTING BOLT ATTACHING THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONING PULLEY HAD BROKEN ALLOWING THE BELT TO ENLODGE NEAR AN ENGINE MOUNT. *JG

NHTSA ID

564352

THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY (WITHOUT PICTURES) TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. I AM FORWARDING A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT I ENLISTED WITH CENTURY/GRACO CHILDRENS PRODUCTS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN IN THAT THERE IS NO WAY POSSIBLE THAT ANY OF THE CAR SEATS IN THIS CATAGORY COULD BE ANY MORE FUNCTIONAL OR LESS DANGEROUS THAN THE ONE I HAVE. THE REASON IS THAT ALL THE CAR SEATS HAVE THE SAME PLASTIC USED FOR THE BASES. HERE IS THE ATTACHED MEMO: I HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN WHICH WAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. THE CAR SEAT BASE IN REFERENCE TO THE CAR SEAT MODEL STATED ABOVE HAS A SERIOUS STRUCTURAL DEFECT. WHEN OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP WAS INSTALLING OUR CAR SEAT IN OUR NEW VEHICLE THE BASE WOULD NOT ANGLE PROPERLY. WHEN THE BASE WAS EXAMINED BY THE INSPECTOR, SHE DISCOVERED THE PLASTIC ON THE BASE WAS SEVERLY BENT IN TWO PLACES COMPRIMISING ITS SAFETY AS WELL AS ITS COMFORT FOR THE CHILD. THE AREA IN QUESTION IS THE PIECE THAT ELEVATES THE FRONT OF THE CAR SEAT (IN THIS CASE THE PIECE IN QUESTION IS DARK BLUE). IN ADDITION TO THIS PIECE, THE WHITE PLASTIC PIECES WHICH STAND OUT FROM THE SIDE IN THE AREA OR CHANNEL IN WHICH THE "BLUE" PIECE SLIDES IN AND OUT OF IS BENT ON EACH SIDE. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN IN THAT THIS CANNOT BE THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE THAT IS THIS WAY. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT WOULD PERIODICALLY LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THERE BASE TO CHECK THIS OUT? THIS IS A MAJOR AND VERY SERIOUS CONCERN. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO REPLACING MY BASE FOR ME. I HAVE THE ABILITY, IF YOU NEED ME TOO TO SEND DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE AREA IN QUESTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID

757897

THE LIFT GATE BOLT BROKE OFF ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. THE GATE CRASHED DOWN ON THE BACK OF MY NECK AND BACK. THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED MY FIVE YEAR OLD IF HE WERE THERE. IT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS MATTER. TWO OTHER PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO PLEASE REPORT IT. I THINK THE 91-93 MODELS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE NOT AS SERIOUS AS THIS. I HOPE NO ONE HAS TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THE GATE IS SO HEAVY. I CAN NOT LIFT IT TO USE IT. THE BOLT IS STILL BROKE OFF INSIDE THE PANEL. THE DEALER SAID THE LABOR WOULD BE AROUND $175.00, AS THE PANEL MUST BE REMOVED. THE PART IS A REMAN PART. COST $21.00 #G0004532.I AM VERY UPSET THAT A FAMILY VEHICLE IS THIS UNSAFE, AND THE COMPANY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I DON'T CARE IF THERE WERE ONLY THREE REPORTED CASES. THAT'S THREE TOO MANY.

NHTSA ID

754312

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL, PREVENTING CONSUMER FROM READING SPEED/FUEL LEVELS AND WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT "BODY CONTROL MODULE" COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THIS PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CIRCUIT BOARD.*JB

NHTSA ID

898562

Incident

Oct 5, 2001

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT, CONSUMER TURNED OFF ENGINE, BUT IT KEPT ON RUNNING, CONSUMER CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4650-711. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900658

Incident

Jul 11, 2001

WHILE STOPPING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER FROM BEHIND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. THEN, CONSUMER RAN INTO A FENCE. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE AND HUNG DRIVER BY LEFT ARM. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, FELL BACK, AND HIT CHILD IN CAR SEAT IN THE HEAD, THE MIDDLE SEAT WHERE TWO TODDLERS WERE, ALSO BROKE AND FLIPPED BACKWARD, CONSUMER WAS INJURED, ALSO STATED HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

888271

Incident

Mar 20, 2001

BEGINNING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD BE INTERMITTANTLY ILLUMINATED. WHEN IT WAS ON, THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN IT WAS OFF, THE SYSTEMS SEEMED TO WORK FINE. NOW, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS OFF ALL OF THE TIME AND ALL OF THE SYSTEMS ARE FAILING TO WORK. ADDITIONALLY, ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE FIRST IN SEPTEMBER 2000 AND MOST RECENTLY APRIL 2001, WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL ON THE DASH OPERATES. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND START AGAIN, THEN IT WORKS. WINDOWS, AIRCONDITIONING, RADIO, HEAT, ETC.*AK

NHTSA ID

744163

Incident

Apr 3, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH. ALSO, THE HORN IS INOPERABLE AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN A CLOCK SPRING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

873663

MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED. THREE SEATS TWISTED FROM THE FORCE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK(MY SEAT) SNAPPED BACKWARDS CAUSING MY 5 YR. OLD DAUGHTER (WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND ME) TO STRIKE HER FACE, HEAD AND JAW CAUSING INJURY. THE SEAT IS A POWER SEAT AND ALLTHOUGH IT SNAPPED BACKWARDS AND BENT, IT COULD STILL BE OPERATED TO MOVE IT BACK UP INTO DRIVING POSITION. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE SUFFERED A FATAL HEAD INJURY FROM THE IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE FRONT SEAT BACK FAILURE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

728401

Incident

Aug 13, 2000

LOCKS ON THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK.THE KEY CONSTANTLY TURNED, AROUND AND THE DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY EITHER. *AK

NHTSA ID

847470

Incident

Sep 10, 1998

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS ON ITS OWN. INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED A DOZEN OR MORE TIMES. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VECHICLE IS SAFETY DEFECT, AND OWNERS HAS CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

834280

Incident

Jan 10, 1997

ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND REMAIN ON FOR SECONDS TO NEARLY AN HOUR. DURING THIS PERIOD, DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS AND POWER LOCKS BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE'S ALSO A STRAINING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER TESTED VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

541674

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND INTERIOR LIGHT SYSTEM FAIL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH.

NHTSA ID

540564

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

HAD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HAD PLACED THE CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. CLOSED THE SLIDING DOOR AND ALL THE DOORS WERE IN THE LOCKED POSITION, LOCKING THE CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER ADMITTED TO THE CARAVANS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

827120

Incident

Aug 21, 1998