1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Exterior lighting Problems

WHEN I PURCHASED MY VAN AUGUST 21 2009 IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THE SALESPERSON SAID IT WAS FROM THE BULBS BEING BURNT OUT. I WENT TO AUTOZONE THAT DAY TO GET THE BULBS REPLACED, AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. AUTOZONE TOLD ME IT WAS THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH THAT HAD WENT BAD AND WAS CAUSING MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK. I WENT TO GOODYEAR A FEW DAYS LATER TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD HOLD OR WORK FOR A WHILE. SINCE THEN IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES IF I TURNED THE DEFROSTER ON IT WOULD KICK ON, BUT NOW IT WILL TURN ON FOR MAYBE ONE TURN AND TURN OFF RIGHT AND WHEN I GO TO USE IT AGAIN, IT'LL TURN ON THEN CUT OFF AND WONT TURN BACK ON. ALSO MY SLIDING PASSENGER DOORS, THE CHILD LOCK IS STUCK AND NOONE CAN OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO GET OUT OR THE PASSENGER HAS TO GET OUT TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE DOOR HANDLES ARE HARD TO OPEN ON THE OUTSIDE. EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD LOCK WILL SAY ITS NOT ON, YOU CAN NOT STILL OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN. ALSO I HAVE SOME PANS UNDER MY ENGINE THAT LEAKING FLUIDS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, ITS THE OIL PAN, COOLANT PAN, AND I HAVE METAL SHAVINGS IN SOME OF MY FLUIDS. THIS WAS ALSO LIKE THIS WHEN I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288771

Incident

Aug 21, 2009

Mileage

117,587 mi

STRUT TOWER CORROSION-DRIVER SIDE-RUST AND METAL BREAKING UP-1998 GRAND CARAVAN-PURCHASED NEW-HAS 83,500 MILES- HAVE HAD BELT PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES-ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMIT FAILURE -RUSTED OUT POWER STEERING MECH. TOTALLY REPLACED-MANY BRAKE JOBS-AND ALSO HEADLIGHT INTERIOR SWITCH SEEMS TO FAIL AT TIMES. I NEED TO MAKE A DECISSION TO BUY A NEW VAN WITH "HAND CONTROLS" OR HAVE THIS VAN "HAND CONTROLS" INSTALLED. ME THINKS I NEED TO BUY A NEW VAN AND BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER MANUFACTOR. AS IT SEEMS LIKE CHRYSLER/DODGE IS NOT STEPPING UP TO ALL THESE FAILURES THAT ARE SEEN BY TOO MANY OTHER VAN OWNERS;OF THIS 1998 MODEL CARAVAN. SAW ON LINE A NEW REPAIR FOR THE STRUT RUSTING CALLED ""FUSOR #112B/MOPAR 05083855AA. CAN BE USED TO FIX THIS PROBLEMTHE TSB #23-044-02 THRU A COMPANY CALLED LORD CORP. LISTED UNDER THEIR OEM BULLETINS AND REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS USING FUSOR ADHESIVES. THINK I MAY USE THIS ON MINE. HOPE OTHERS CAN USE THIS ALSO. THANKS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163402

Incident

Jul 25, 2006

CRAZED, FOGGED HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURES BOTH SIDES; FACTORY DEFECT DUE TO LACK OF DURABILITY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143700

Incident

Nov 26, 2005

Mileage

43,000 mi

REFERENCE DEFECT INVESTIGATION EA05009: I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE ON MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO WORK. A LOCAL MECHANIC (NOT DEALER) TRACED THE PROBLEM TO A SINGLE BROKEN CONDUCTOR IN ONE OF THE WIRING HARNESSES, AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. CAN AND WILL THIS INVESTIGATION BE EXPANDED TO COVER EARLIER MODEL YEARS? THANK YOU. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROXIMATE.

NHTSA ID

10124552

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION. THEY FLICKERED ON AND OFF WHILE ENGAGED. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PART BEING ON BACK ORDER. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE VEHICLES. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10117199

Incident

Feb 25, 2005

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND CLOUDED. THE CONSUMER'S VISIBILITY BECOMES IMPAIRED . *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10103594

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

95,850 mi

THE HEADLIGHT LENS DEVELOPED A CLOUDY DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT OR ON A DARK ROAD. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, COSTING $200.00 EACH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10097697

Incident

Oct 26, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE OPAQUE (GREY) WHICH AFFECTED THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONTO THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED DURING OTHER TRIPS TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10055783

Incident

Jul 23, 2002

Mileage

54,000 mi

OUR 1998 DODGE CARAVAN AND MANY OTHERS HAVE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHTS (HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY). THE PLASTIC DETERIORATES IN THE SUN AND SALT AIR WHICH CAUSES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT GIVEN OFF DRIVING AT NIGHT TO BE MUCH REDUCED. DODGE DEALER SAID BUY NEW ONES AT ALMOST $300 APIECE. I SAY IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM - CARS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 5 YEARS AND THE PRODUCT IS POOR QUALITY. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047024

Incident

Aug 30, 2003

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES THEY WILL MOMENTARILY LOCK UP, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL GET VERY DIM. ALSO A NOISE WAS COMING FROM DASHBOARD AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003088

Incident

Oct 7, 2001

I HAVE TWO RECENT PROBLEMS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. 1) THE TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT CANCEL ANY LONGER AFTER MAKING A TURN AND 2) THE IGNITION SWITCH IS STUCK IN THE OFF POSITION, WHICH IMMOBOLIZES THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

742782

DASH BOARD INDICATORS DESIGNED TOO SMALL TO SEE. YH

NHTSA ID

608522