Alternator belt came off, all power to vehicle was lost.
1997 Dodge Caravan electrical complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 94, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1997 dodge caravan 3.3 liter v6 with 93000 miles. Started vehicle and the starter mechanism locked onto the flywheel or failed to disengage, making a screeching noise. Turned ignition off and engine shut down but starter kept cycling engine. Removed keys from ignition and van was still attempting start by turning the engine over and over. Strong smell of burning electrical components as the starter continued to cycle engine, unabated, with keys out of ignition. Hood was popped and battery cables were disconnected shutting the starter off. The starter cranked the engine, nonstop, without keys in ignition, for approximately 10 minutes. The only way to stop this was to disconnect the battery. Upon immediate inspection of the starter it was found to be red hot. The cables/wires coming out of the starter were red hot and smell of burning plastic filled the air. The starter was removed and found to be original equipment ( with chrysler corporation logo intact). The starter was found to be locked in the extended position and would not retract. A new starter was purchased and installed due to the original being inoperable. Old starter was turned in to pep boys in raynham, ma for core refund. There is no doubt that if the battery was not disconnected, the starter would have continued to start the engine until it eventually(starter)overheated enough to ignite the wires and start an engine fire.
Dt: consumer complained about electrical problems. Instrument panel did not work. The instrument cluster was digital. Buttons for air conditioner and rear defroster flashed constantly. Consumer took vehicle to garage, and they recommended dodge dealer. Also, windshield wipers came on their own. Vehicle did not have to be on running for windshield wipers to come on. They came on about every two weeks. Also, traveling interior lights came on. Consumer stopped lights from coming on by putting tape on door. Consumer believed these were different issues. He replaced fan control module last year, and that did not help.*ak consumer added that pounding on the dashboard made the dash light illuminate.
Dt: air bag light stayed on/the cruise control switch didn't work, and the horn malfunctioned. Noticed these failures on june 1, 2005. Have not contacted the dealer. Had checked the fuses, they were still good.
The consumer requested reimbursement for recall repairs. The consumer was denied because the repairs were not done the dealer. *nm the A/C was inoperative, the cruise control was inoperative and the ses light. Recall# 04v480000. *sc
The cruise control stopped working. Then the air bag light came on. I later realized that the horn doesn't work. I reported this to the dealer service dept. At a nys inspection visit. The vehicle passed inspection.*ak I have had several incidents where I needed to use the horn, and was unable to. This is a serious safety defect.
Hi my name is [xxx] and I purchased a 1997 dodge caravan for $3,600 and traded in my car which was worth $400 at least that's what the dealer man said. I brought back the caravan the next day to the dealership because I was told they were going to fix some minor problems, including the horn that was not functioning at all . They spent the whole day with the van and didn't do anything to it, then they said to bring it back the next day and told me that the horn was going to get ordered and that it was going to take a while because the part that they needed couldn't be sent via mail because it was considered to be explosive so when I decided to ask for my money back since it had a 30 day warranty they told me that they were going to fix it as soon as possible. I went to pick up my van and when I saw it they put it a different horn and told me that it would pass inspection and that they would replace the part that the van needed if I was willing to pay half on it. In conclusion to this the piece that they need is the clock spring which cost about $ 400 to $ 900 and they said that it was safe to drive the van with the horn that they put in instead of putting a new clock spring. They didn't tell me that once the clock springs breaks down the airbag , cruise control. And the radio wouldn't function properly. I don't think that I should pay for something that I think that they should've taken care of before selling that vehicle. Please help me with this matter I will appreciate if you can help me. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Problems with transmission on 1997 dodge caravan.*mr ignition tumble was replaced, fan assembly.
We have had to replace 4 batteries in 6 years. These include batteries by three different manufacturers. Initially, the batteries were covered by the 3yr/36k mile warranty, and we were told the batteries were defective. Obviously, there is an electrical problem with the van. In each case, the batteries went suddenly dead (would not hold any charge at all) long before they should have.
Vehicle caught on fire inside of the engine compartment without prior warning while sitting at an intersection.
Consumer states that the horn sometimes sounds unexpectedly for long periods of time. Cause unknown.
Consumer states that horn comes on by itself for long periods of time. Cause unknown.
Clock spring replacement / consumer requested reimbursement for repairs. *mr the vehicle was traded to consumer with the airbag light on. Upon diagnosing the problem, the air bag clock spring was broken. *ts. Also the right axle output shaft leaked oil, and the engine light illuminated on the dash board, the dealer replaced the spark plugs.
Clockspring failed, causing horn/air bag and cruise control to malfunction.
Fuel tank, been a problem since we bought it, every time we go to bring the vechicle in for them, then could not find an answer after about the 4th time we brought it in, we said this is to much and we brought it in more then 3 times for the same problem, and we should get repaired free, I belive by lemon law?, well nutthing yet 3 years and running, with several several problems, should all be a recall cause that tomany problems, such as on alldata.com and read about the 97 dodge caravan 3.3l, my lord ever problem on that sheet I have, realy getting on my nerves...
Air bag light always on no horn to work wipers come on at any time by themselves. Dt
Air bag light stays on and cruise and horn quit working at the same time. This is just like my brothers van his is 97 dodge sport identical situation with his this tells me that their is a design issue in the column . Dt
No summary. Dt
Consumer states horn does not blow and air bag light has illuminated. Please provide any further information. Mr
Ea-01007 consumer states the airbag light illumniates continuously which means the air bag has a malfunction. The problem has effected the horn not to alert others. The dealer is aware of the problem. Please provide more information. Mr
The airbag lightilluminated. Horn no longer is operative. The dealership is aware of the problem.
The steering wheel clockspring failure results in the simultaneous failure of the airbag system, horn, and cruise control.
Horn will intermittently work. Contacted dealer, and the dealer stated that problem could possibly be becaused by a clock spring defect.*ak jlg
The air bag indicator light came on and stayed on and now the cruise control and horn do not work. I have researched this problem and it seems that this is a very common problem. It is stated that the "clock spring" is the part in question, this seems to have been a safety issue at one time (the federal safety agency# 98v046) for a different model , why is it not a safety recall item now? It is my understanding the the air bag will not perform with this particular part defective, which would lead me to believe that this could cause serious damages or worse yet "death ". If we get a reduction in our insurance premiums for purchasing restraint systems such as this , it should be upon the manufacturer to stand behind the product.
Airbag, horn, and cruise control all failed at the same time. Cause is the clockspring module behind the steering wheel. This is a safefy hazzard and chrysler should pay the repair. This is a common problem on this mini van.
I noticed my airbag light staying on and the horn not working. I called a dealer and was told that it was probably a clockspring. She said they go out regularly. It evidently affects the airbag, horn and other components. Not long after mine went out, my mothers started doing the same thing. She also has a 1997 model dodge, but hers is a grand caravan. I then went to my mechanic to ask him if he could fix it and he said he had just had someone else come in with the same problem. It seems to me that this is very unsafe.
Instrument panel is electrical and light appeared on and off on dashboard intermittently. Dealership is aware of problem.
Ea 01 007/air bag clockspring, air bag light remain on while driving and horn is inoperative. Dealer contacted. *ak. The engine blew at 73000 miles according to the technician and advisor at the dodge dealership.
First the air bag light went on and did not go off. Then the horn stopped working. Then the cruise control did not come on. I took the van to the local dodge dealer and the diagnosis is that clock spring in the steering wheel needs to be replaced. In the current condition the air bag will not deploy on the driver side in the event of an accident. The estimated cost is ~ $300.00. I have scheduled the work for next week. I called chrysler and was told that since there is not a recall for this they will not participate in the repair cost. This is a safety issue if the air bag will not deploy. Per articles on the internet chrysler has replaces over 124,000 clock springs, on their own admission!
Dodge caravan safety issue with the air bag. The air bag light stays on, the horn does not function and the cruise control does not work. My mechanic and the dealer both found this to be a defective clock spring in the steering wheel.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1997 Dodge Caravan?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history