1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Visibility Problems

THERE ARE AT LEAST 4 RECALL ITEMS LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED? IF YES, WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10680587

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE AND OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CONTROL UNIT, HOWEVER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10401359

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

RECENTLY BOUGHT 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE FRONT WIPERS STOPPED WORKING MOST IMMEDIATELY. WE REPLACED THE SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT DID NOTHING. THEN WE REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. THAT SEEMED TO WORK BUT NOW THEY WON'T COME ON UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. THAT IS NOT SAFE AS THE RAIN DOES NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. IS SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD AND OTHER VANS HAVE RECALLS FOR THIS WHY NOT MINE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10285075

Incident

Jun 9, 2009

THE INTERMITTENT FEATURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST QUIT WORKING AS IT SHOULD. IT WOULD SOMETIMES WORK FOR A FEW WIPES, STOP WORKING FOR A WHILE, THEN SOMETIMES IT WOULD START WORKING FOR A FEW MORE WIPES. THE CONTROL MODULE ON THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT TWO BLOCKS OUT OF THE SHOP & JUST QUIT AGAIN. SO FAR I HAVE INVESTED OVER $1,000.00 TRYING TO GET THEM TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234308

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

87,240 mi

THE WIPER BLADES WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING. TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF YOU MUST TURN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OFF THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. IF YOU TURN ON THE WIPERS WHILE DRIVING THEY WILL NOT GO BACK OFF UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED ALSO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173183

Incident

Oct 8, 2006

Mileage

116,500 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

THE INTERMITTENT MODE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DOSE NOT WORK. THE WIPER CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE A TOTAL OF FIVE DAYS FOR THE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143632

Incident

Nov 24, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPPERS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING WHEN IN THE INTERMITANT MODE.HAD MODULE IN STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. STILL HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID

10133688

Incident

Jan 3, 2004

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BLADES TO STOP MOVING. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10073834

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF. SOMETIMES THE INTERMITTENT FUNCTION DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION AND ALSO A BIG HAZARD IN THE RAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053153

Incident

Jan 14, 2002

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OPERATE SPORADICALLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046543

Incident

Nov 7, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE SPORADICALLY ON THEIR OWN; IN ADDTION, THE GAS GAUGE GOES FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK AGAIN SPORADICALLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH POINTS TO A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS AS THE PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043099

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BEGAN TO SLIP AND STAY IN SECOND GEAR AROUND 50K MILES. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE COST OF REPAIR IS MORE THAN I COULD EVER AFFORD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS AND THERE IS NOT MUCH VARIATION IN PRICE. GENERALLY THE COST IS GOING TO BE FROM $16,000 TO $2,400. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR EITHER. I AM READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? THE DEALER SHOULD GLADLY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS SINCE THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO ABSORB THE COST THEMSELVES. THEY WILL RECALL SOMETHING SMALL LIKE BRAKES OR FAN BELT. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIP OFF TWICE WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. BOTH TIMES MY ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, BOTH FATALLY SERIOUS PROBEMS. WHAT IS THE DEAL? I DEMAND RELIEF! NO ONE IS GOING TO TRADE THIS PIECE OF JUNK WITH ME. WHAT IS THE DEALER WILLING TO DO?

NHTSA ID

10039529

Incident

May 8, 2003

Mileage

57,796 mi

ALL OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JG PH

NHTSA ID

10004549

MIRRORS NO LONGER STAY IN PLACE; PASSENGER SIDE FLOPS AROUND, DRIVER SIDE PULLS OUT AWAY FROM DRIVER. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $500. *AK

NHTSA ID

761363

Incident

Oct 31, 1999

THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG, CRUISE CONTROL & HORN STARTED APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. AT TIMES, THE HORN WILL WORK, BUT NOT OFTEN AND WITH NO REGULARITY. IN REGARD TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, I HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP ONCE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THE SUSPENSION TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ID

759821

I WAS WALKING ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR COMING AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WALKING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO ENTER THE CAR AND LEAVE ON AN ERRAND. WHEN I WALKED BY THE POWER MIRROR ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, MY LEFT ARM BUMPED THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY AND I HEARD A SNAP, LOOKED BACK AND SAW THE MIRROR WAS NO LONGER IN ITS PROPER POSITION. THE MIRROR HAD RELEASED AND ITS REFLECTIVE SURFACE WAS NOW FACING PERPENDICULAR TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR INSTEAD OF TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO REPOSITION THE MIRROR TO ITS PROPER PLACE BUT IT WOULD NOT SNAP INTO PLACE AND WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONERY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT IT WAS ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY. I WAS QUOTED ABOUT $300+ FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR OF THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY. THE MIRROR BROKE VERY EASILY AND THAT IS VERY DISTURBING...NOT TOO MENTION THAT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE USED A LOCKING, PLASTIC FASTENER TO SECURE THE MIRROR IN ITS PROPER POSITION AND PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS METHOD FOR THE TIME BEING. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN ENGINEERING OR STRUCTURAL FLAW AS IT REQUIRED ONLY A VERY MINOR BUMP BY SOFT TISSUE TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED BY THIS EVENT AND THE QUALITY FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

745971

Incident

May 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 05-4542-179. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900663

Incident

Sep 30, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED AND THEY CUT OFF. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED THEY COME ON AUTOMATICALLY, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

859042

INEFFECTIVE DESIGN OF MIRROR IS CAUSING A BLINDSPOT IN BOTH REARVIEW AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRRORS, RESULTING IN CONSUMER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE WITHIN 30 FEET BEHIND THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

834686

DEFECTIVE SIDEVIEW MIRROR SNAPPED OFF WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. YH

NHTSA ID

608926

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE EXTERIOR MIRRORS MALFUNCTIONS. YH

NHTSA ID

608704

Incident

Dec 21, 1998

FAN RELAY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

606749