1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Suspension Problems

I'VE HAVE THIS 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, THE STRUT MOUNT HOUSING IS RUSTED SO BAD I'M AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT ANYMORE. THE METAL IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THERE IS ONE RUSTED RING THAT HOLDS THE STRUT TO THE BODY. IT STARTED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO WITH A SMALL RUST HOLE ON BOTH SIDE. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST RUST FROM THE BAD WINTERS WE GET IN THE MIDWEST. WHEN MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED (15-20MPH) THE VAN FEELS LIKE YOUR ON A PITTED DIRT TRAIL AND NOTHING BUT SIDE TO SIDE SHAKING. THIS HAS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. I SEE THESE VANS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM!

NHTSA ID

10568422

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

STRUT TOWER ASSEMBLY CORROSION (STRUTS ASSEMBLY COULD COLLAPSE) I AM PROUD OWNER OF DODGE VEHICLES FOR MANY YEARS AND DRIVE A 98 GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A STRUT REPAIR THE MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPLACE THE STRUTS AS HE FOUND THE CORROSION AND SAID ITS A SAFETY ISSUE.TO MY SURPRISE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES WHO OWN A SIMILAR MODEL MINIVAN. I WANT THE SAFETY AUTHORITIES TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY. ALL THE VEHICLES WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR GOD FORBIDDEN LOOSES THEIR LOVED ONE IN AN ACCIDENT. CAME TO KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE IN THESE MINIVANS AND SURPRISE THE INSPITE OF KNOWING THE ISSUE THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL ???. I AM A FAMILY PERSON AND CANNOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR IN THESE TROUBLE TIME AND REQUEST THE AUTHORITIES TAKE THIS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND GET A RECALL OUT. HOPEFULLY THIS MAY SAVE SOMEONE. I THINK HAVE DONE MY JOB AND IT IS YOUR TURN NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449324

Incident

Feb 25, 2012

Mileage

195,612 mi

STRUT TOWER HOUSING ON DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD IS SEVERELY RUSTED. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAS TO GO TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 4 OTHER CUSTOMERS COME IN WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME PLACE ON THE SAME MODEL OF VEHICLE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. THIS CAUSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS HOUSING IS WHAT HOLDS THE STRUT IN PLACE ON THE VEHICLE. IF THE WEAKENED STRUCTURE FAILS, THE PRESSURE OF THE STRUT WILL CAUSE THE STRUT TO FLY OFF AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH GREAT FORCE. THIS WILL NOT ONLY CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO FAIL, BUT THE VELOCITY OF THE STRUT ITSELF WOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN. DODGE HAS ENACTED RECALLS FOR THE SAME SITUATION ON EARLIER MODELS OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE RECALLS WERE ENACTED AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE INTO SAFE OPERATING CONDITION IS $2000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410961

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE STRUT TOWER IS DEFECTIVE AND FAILS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE INJURY THIS HAPPENS ON ALL NEW (1995 AND NEWER) BODY STYLE MINIVANS MADE BY CHRYSLER/DODGE AND DRIVEN IN CLIMATE WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS IN THE WINTER. THE STRUT TOWER REQUIRES PATCHES WELDED TO REINFORCE THE CORRODED AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336656

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

SUSPENSIONS MOUNTS ARE RUSTED ALL THE WAY AND MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE AND HITS HARD AND MAKES NOISES WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. WATER RUNNING IN MY FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN RUNNING THE HEATER. THIS IS WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295429

Incident

May 7, 2009

Mileage

123,000 mi

THE STRUT TOWER CAPS ARE RUSTING OUT. THIS CAN PROCEED TO A POINT OF THE STRUTS COLLAPSING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED. SEE EXAMPLE SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING ON MY VEHICLE AT HTTP://WWW.LUMUC.COM/FRONTSTRUTTOWER/. CHRYSLER HAS A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS. THIS STRUCTURAL PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284046

Incident

Sep 15, 2009

Mileage

230,000 mi

FRONT STRUT CONE ON PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTED, LEAVING A 3 X 3 INCH GAP BESIDES THE STRUT MOUNT. HAD AN ESTIMATE DONE FOR REPAIR WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1.3K INCLUDING LABOR ON ONE SIDE. CAR RUNS GREAT AT 157.7K MILES, RECENTLY HAD TO BUY A NEW GAS PUMP, WATER PUMP, ABS SENSOR, AND BRAKE CALIPER ON DRIVERS SIDE. ALL LEADING UP TO 1.2K IN REPAIRS INCLUDING LABOR. CHRYSLER/DODGE SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AS THIS CAN BE A POTENTIAL RISK ON THE ROAD, SPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY COMMUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284016

Incident

Sep 15, 2009

Mileage

157,025 mi

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STRUT TOWERS RUST PROBLEM. THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER IS ABOUT 60% RUSTED OUT. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE RUST CAN'T HOLD THE STRUT MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. FAILURE COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL, AND PASSENGER INJURY OR DEATHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263183

Incident

Jan 19, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR TIRE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER MOUNT WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,000. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,000.

NHTSA ID

10259376

Incident

Feb 14, 2009

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING THE TIRES, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,015. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/24/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10259095

Incident

Feb 14, 2009

Mileage

120,015 mi

I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE I COULD REPORT AN ISSUE HERE. I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE HAS 185K MILES AND RUNS AWESOME, THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS ALMOST DISINTEGRATED., THE PASSENGER SIDE IIS STILL SOLID AS A ROCK. COME TO FIND OUT, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR ABOUT 6 MODEL YEARS. MY QUESTION IS WHY HAS CHRYSLER NOT MADE AND ATTEMPT TO ASSIST OWNERS WITH THIS FIX. THE CAUSE IS A DUMB ONE AND HAS BEEN ADDRESSED ON 2003 AND NEWER MODELS. THE COST TO FIX ONE SIDE IS ABOUT $400 FOR ONE SIDE AND NEARLY $650 FOR BOTH SIDES. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON SOMEONELSES MISTAKE. METAL ON METAL WILL NOT REMAIN SOLID FOR EVER, MYSELF AS A CHEF KNOWS THIS. WHEN I ASKED AROUND FOR ESTIMATES,. EVERY SINGLE PLACE KNEW THE ISSUE AND THEY ALL KNEW WHAT YEAR MY CAR WAS AND THEY COULD TELL ME HOW SEVERE THE TOWERS WERE BEFORE THEY EVEN LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD!!!!CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IF CHRYSLER HAS MADE AN ATTEMPT TO ASSIST PAYING FOR THIS BLATANT MISTAKE THEY MADE IN MANUFACTURING? *TR

NHTSA ID

10247800

Incident

Mar 11, 2008

Mileage

152,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT SHEET METAL RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238998

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

98,000 mi

I HAVE A 98 GRAND CARAVAN WHEN I BOUGHT IT THE BACK HATCH WOULD NOT OPEN THEN I NOTICED A LOUD HUMMING IN THE TIRES WHEN I BOUGHT IT HAD THE BEARING REPLACED FIXED THAT PROBLEM THEN WHEN CHECKING OIL NOTICED STRUT TOWERS RUSTED DRIVER SIDE ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCH TOTAL SEPARATION PASSENGER ABOUT 3 INCH,NEXT MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS MY CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN QUIT WORKING,NOW MY INSTRUMENT PANEL DON'T WORK ALL OF IT DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MILES OR HOW MUCH GAS NOR HOW FAST IM GOING HAVE NOT HAD NOTHING FIXED TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF DODGE WILL SOME ONE HAVE TO DIE FROM THE STRUT TOWERS BEFORE THEY RECALL THEM? ALSO WHEN I PUT GAS IN I HAVE TO OPEN WINDOWS A REALLY STRONG SMELL OF GAS FILLS THE VAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226592

Incident

Apr 18, 2008

RUSTED OUT SHOCK TOWERS. SHOCK COMING OUT OF TOWER AND UP TO BOTTOM OF WIPER COWL. SCARED TO DRIVE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BUT LEFT SIDE IS THE WORST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222665

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER ON DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE IS SERIOUSLY DETERIORATING. RUST IS PENETRATING INNER AND OUTER PORTIONS OF TOWER CAUSING SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT STABILITY AND INTEGRITY OF VEHICLE SUSPENSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218238

Incident

Mar 23, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - CORROSION IN DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER RESULTED IN A CRACKED STRUT TOWER AND INSECURE STRUT MOUNT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205597

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

110,000 mi

MY CAR FAILED ITS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE STRUT TOWERS. WHEN INFORMED I ASKED THE SHOP IF THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 23-044-02 ISSUED IN OCT OF 2002 WHICH AFFECTED MY MINIVAN WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF STATING THAT MINVANS BUILT BETWEEN 1996-2000 HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND NEED TO BE IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED. I WENT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF 1300 DOLLARS AND THAT SINCE NO RECALL HAD EVER BEEN ISSUED THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD ISSUED THE BULLETIN. IF THE REPAIR ISN'T MADE THE CAR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS THE PA STATE INSPECTION AS THE INSPECTOR HAS DEEMED THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. I HAVE LOOKED AT YOUR DATA BASE AND SEEN MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF THIS COMPLAINT REGISTERED AS WELL AS ON MULTIPLE CAR BOARDS DISCUSSING THIS AND NHTSA'S REFUSAL TO ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN PHYSICAL INJURY AND IN MY CASE HAS LEAD TO AN UNSAFE CAR THAT CANT BE DRIVEN IN PA. I AM PART OF THE SAE CORROSION COUNCIL LOOKING INTO CORROSION PRACTICES IN THE HEAVY TRUCKING INDUSTRY AND I KNOW THAT IF THIS HAPPENED IN THE HEAVY TRUCKING INDUSTRY THERE WOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL. WHY HASN'T THIS HAPPENED HERE WHEN THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT THAT AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES? *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10205056

Incident

Oct 4, 2007

Mileage

129,000 mi

1. NORMAL DRIVING 2. RUSTING DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER 3. HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET, BUT HAVE BEEN QUOTED $600 - $1000 *JB

NHTSA ID

10197286

Incident

Jul 23, 2007

STRUT TOWERS FAILING DUE TO CORROSION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172081

Incident

Oct 27, 2006

Mileage

170,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELS ROUGH AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TOP OF THE MACPHERSON STRUT TOWERS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED THE STRUTS.

NHTSA ID

10163529

Incident

Jul 17, 2006

Mileage

100,800 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE STRUT TOWERS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A SERVICE BULLETIN, DESCRIBING HOW TO TREAT THE RUSTED PARTS. UPDATED 8/30/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10163490

Incident

Jul 21, 2006

Mileage

119,000 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

LOWER BALL JOINT OF DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FAILED WHILE TRAVELING IN STRAIGHT LINE ON EXPRESSWAY. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE TO STEERING, DRIVE TRAIN AND BODY. FAILURE OCCURRED 450 MILES FROM HOME. DECIDED NOT TO REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PARTS AVAILABILITY AND COST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134446

Incident

Aug 21, 2005

Mileage

133,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RACK AND PINION STEERING AND OTHER PROBLEMS. CONSUMER DROVE OVER A ROUGH POTHOLE WITH A METAL FLATBED ON TOP AT A LOW SPEED. WHILE DRIVING AT A STREET AT 25 MPH CONSUMER MADE A RIGHT TURN AND THERE WAS POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE NOISE WAS EVIDENT ONLY WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FRONT ALIGNMENT , BUT THAT WAS ALL. HOWEVER, INSURANCE COMPANY NOTED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING /FRONT ALIGNMENT/ RADIATOR, AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ON AND IT SMOKED AFTER DRIVING A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY. VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECENT FRONT END ALIGNMENT BUT NO OTHER REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10130602

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

25,000 mi

A BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE STRUT TOWERS WERE SO SERIOUSLY RUSTED AS TO PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. HE RECOMMENDED EITHER REPLACING THE VEHICLE OR REPAIRING THE DAMAGE IMMEDIATELY, AS ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS FOR US TO HIT A POTHOLE AND HAVE THE SUSPENSION FAIL COMPLETELY EASILY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (#23-044-02) REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF THIS DEFECT IN YOUR DATABASE, CHRYSLER ARE UNWILLING TO REIMBURSE ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116682

Incident

Apr 9, 2005

Mileage

158,822 mi