1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Other / unspecified Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALARM WOULD REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN SHE MANUALLY TURNED IT OFF. THE FAILURE PREVENTED HER FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERIES IN THE REMOTE. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE EQUIPMENT INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10239156

Incident

Sep 21, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

FLAT TIRE REQUIRING NEED FOR USE OF COMPACT SPARE TIRE. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SPARE TIRE REMOVAL DO NOT SHOW A RELEASE MECHANISM THAT IS CRITICAL FOR LOWERING OF THE SPARE TIRE. THE RELEASE MECHANISM IS REQUIRED TO LOWER A NYLON FIXTURE THAT SECURES THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE THE INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT MENTION THE RELEASE MECHANISM, AND THE RELEASE MECHANISM WAS NOT VISIBLE, I HAD TO CUT THE NYLON FIXTURE (SUGGESTED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A DODGE DEALERSHIP I CONTACTED), WHICH THEN CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL DOWN. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT IF SOMEONE HAD THEIR HEAD UNDERNEATH THE SPARE TIRE WHEN IT DROPPED DOWN, THEY COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE NYLON FIXTURE IS NOW RUINED. THE ORIGINAL DESIGN IS POOR AND THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE CLEARLY LACKING IN THE USE OF THE RELEASE MECHANISM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10135689

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

87,000 mi

WE HAVE REPLACED OUR STRUTS 2 TIMES ALREADY IN THE 4 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, AND THEY ARE GETTING READY TO FAIL AGAIN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109810

Incident

Feb 3, 2003

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED IN JUNE 2003, ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE BELT AND TENSIONER. THE TENDENCY FOR THE BELT TO SLIP OFF AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH COULD EASILY LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR BY A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10057034

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

Mileage

59,900 mi

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2001. AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT, WHICH BROKE AS SOON AS I TURNED A CORNER,(WE WERE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP, MAROONE TOYOTA IN WESTON, FL SOULD SEE NOTHING WRONG) WE THEN HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AS OUR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE) WITHIN THE NEXT 2 YEARS OF HAVING THIS CAR, WE HAVE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT 4 ADDIOTNAL TIMES, WE HAVE HAD THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVER DOOR BREAK AND WE CANNOT GET THAT WINDOW DOWN, WE HAVE THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM (WHICH I JUST NOTED IS A RECALL ISSUE THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE), WE HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED THE A/C BREAKING DOWN, WICH LOOKS IN TURN THAT THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PULLEY OR SYSTEM IT IS ATTCHED TO ( A COIL PROBLEM). WE HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND I MUST ADMIT THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED WITH A USED VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT COMPLICATIONS WITH THIS VEHICLE - I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED THEVEHICLE AND COUNT MY BLESSINGS, I'M AFRAID THE NEXT TIME SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE - IT MAY COST US OURLIVES. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CONTACT ME AND TELL ME MY OPTIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037530

Incident

Oct 15, 2000

WHILE TAKING THE TIRE OFF THE VEHICLE FOR BRAKE REPAIRS, LUGS: NUTS BROKE ON EACH OF FRONT TIRES. THE REPLACEMENTS THAT CONSUME RGOT FROM THE DEALER WERE DIFFERENT THEN THE ONES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

846684

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

DRIVER SIDE VISOR MALFUNCTIONING. *YC

NHTSA ID

606788

Incident

Jul 1, 1998

FRONT WHEEL SHEARED OFF AND FELL OFF VEHICLE WHILE GOING AT 65 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID

523956

Incident

Sep 27, 1997