1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Powertrain (other) Problems

WHILE DRIVING THE RAIN I WENT THROUGH A MIDSIZE PUDDLE DUE TO STORM DRAINS BEING BLOCKED I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR STOPPED AND STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I WAS THANKFULLY DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT 25 MPH WITH OUT ALOT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY. BECAUSE OF GOING THROUGH THE PUDDLE THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. WHEN THE BELT SLIPPED OFF IT BENT THE SUSPENSION AND SPRING THAT HOLD THE BELT TIGHT. THE BELT IS FAIRLY NEW AND THE CAR HAD RECENTLY BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND CHECKED OVER. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE BELT TO COME OFF. CAN I NOT DRIVE MY CAR IN THE RAIN? IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50MPH OR THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SNOWY OR ICY I MAY NOT BE HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253038

Incident

Dec 27, 2008

Mileage

106,258 mi

BESIDES ALL THE 1998 RECALLS ON THIS VAN, I FOUND A PINHOLE LEAK IN THE HEAD ITSELF. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A GASKET LEAK BUT ITS NOT. WHEN IT RAN OUT OF WATER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT TELL ME IT WAS HOT BUT INSTEAD REGISTERED COLD. ON TOP OF THE FRONT SPEAKERS GOES OFF AND ON AND THE REAR SPEAKERS DO IT ON OCCASION. STEREO GETS REALLY HOT TO THE TOUCH. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE DOING STRANGE THINGS LIKE NOT KICKING DOWN WHEN STOPPED AND THEN LUNGING WHILE STOPPED OR ACCELERATING WHEN STOPPED. I THINK THIS WHOLE VAN SHOULD BE ON RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142325

Incident

May 1, 2002

Mileage

71,652 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE DIFFERENTIAL CAME APART,RESULTING IN VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DRIVER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. ALSO, THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BROKE APART. *AK

NHTSA ID

10113691

Incident

Mar 4, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

DIFFERENTIAL PIN CAME OUT, HIT TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND BROKE A HOLE IN IT. COSTING ME OVER $1700 TO REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP COMMENTED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS IN CHRYSLER PRODUCTS OTHER TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064204

Incident

Mar 23, 2004

Mileage

83,500 mi

THE CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD TRANSMISSION. WE LIKE THE CARAVAN AS A PACKAGE, BUT QUALITY IS LACKING AND PROBLEMATIC. THE MOST CRITICAL PROBLEM IS BODY RUST THROUGH. THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOCK MOUNT TOWER IS RUSTED THROUGH AND CHRYSLER OWNER RELATIONS REFUSING TO FIX IT. NEVER MIND THAT THE DEALERS SAY THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT AND CHRYSLER USED TO FIX IT BUT RECENTLY STOPPED PAYING FOR (PERHAPS DUE TO FINANCIAL AND MARKET CONDITIONS).

NHTSA ID

10070507

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE VAN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS LAST WEEK.IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER REVERSE OR AFTER STOPPING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN IS BROKEN AND WILL TAKE ANYWHERE FROM $1700 TO $2300 TO REPAIR. I AM TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO COVER THE COST OF THIS AS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10069767

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

78,027 mi

TRANSMISSION IN 1998 GRAND CARAVAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, I HAVE A BROKEN DIFFERENTIAL PIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030883

Incident

Aug 5, 2003

Mileage

78,027 mi

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

759036

THE DRIVESHAFT SPLIT IN HALF ..THE METAL TWISTED APART...IF I WAS GOING AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED SOMEONE ELSE WOULD BE WIRTING YOU..*AK

NHTSA ID

756251

Incident

Dec 31, 2001

SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING SPEEDOMETER TO DROP TO ZERO, AND TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT - "NEUTRAL" ONLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

746277

Incident

May 25, 2001

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IS THAT THE TRANSMISSIO HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE FOR THE SECURITY AND SO THAT I WOULD NOT BE INCONVENIENCED WITH MAJOR REPAIRS. THAT THEORY WAS THROWN OUT THE WINDOW WITH THIS PROBLEM. DIFFERENTIAL PIN WAS WORN IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM AND GAVE ME THE CHOICE OF REBUILDING OR REPLACING TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS A LITTLE ALARMED WHEN I WAS TOLD HOW LONG I WOULD BE WITHOUT THE VAHICLE BECAUSE THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMSISSION ARE NOT UNCOMMON. I FURHTER BELIEVE MY THEORY TO BE TRUE BECAUSE WHENEVER I MENTION IT TO PEOPLE THEY ARE NOT SURPRISED AND BASICALLY TELL ME THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME TO CARAVANS. SO, $2091.25 POORER, I AM WRITING THIS IN HOPES THAT THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN TO OTHER OWNERS OF DODGE CARAVANS. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE OF ABSOLUTELY NO HELP WHEN IT CAME TO RECTIFYING THIS PROBLEM. THEREFORE, YOU HAVE A LETTER FROM ONE EXTREMELY UNHAPPY AND IRATE DODGE CARAVAN OWNER (ALTHOUGH NOT FOR LONG, BECAUSE I AM LOOKING TO TRADE).*AK

NHTSA ID

741197

Incident

Feb 10, 2001