1997 caravan dash gauges do not function properly, engine died. *ts ***nar*** the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times but they were unable to determine the problem.
1997 Dodge Caravan engine complaints
Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 121, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Dt*: the contact stated after being parked for 15 minutes the vehicle caught fire under the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle has not yet been seen by a mechanic to determine where the fire started or the extent of the damage.
Serpentine belt keeps coming off after hitting a puddle or body of water. This problem started, after having work done to my 1997 dodge caravan. A automotive shop replace the original serpentine belt due to being damage (broken). The vehicle has been return to automotive shop five time, since the original serpentine belt was replace, each incident my dodge caravan hit a puddle of water, just the correct way in which causing the serpentine belt to come off after the serpentine belt come off the check engine light and the battery check engine light comes on then the power steering locks up in which the car is out of control. Daimler chrysler corporation and the united states government knows their is a problem with the serpentine belt configuration, but chosen not to due the right thing.
Dt: transmission: contact states vehicle had 28,000 miles when transmission went out. The transmission was rebuilt, and again at 50,000 the transmission went out, the transmission was again rebuilt. At about 70,000 the transmission failed again. Transmission service mechanic stated that these vans needed to be equipped with another cooling system. The transmission was rebuilt and another cooling system installed.*ak engine: contact states the oil warning light comes on even when the vehicle is full of oil. Three different mechanic shops said there is not enough oil pressure to keep oil on the bearings.
Serpentine belt comes off dodge grand caravan whenever there is inclement weather -ie, rain , snow, slush, making it almost impossible to drive this vehicle. My specific concern is that - this defect- may cause an extremely serious accident on some super highway because steering becomes almost impossible. I think the potential for many deaths is there if this problem - which appears quite frequently on chrysler product minivans is not corrected. It is my opiunion that there should be a recall on all the minivans which have similar configurations as the 1997 3.3 series engines.
Consumer was having the same problem with vehicle that she had one year ago, but had it repaired via recall notice. Vehicle did not want to start in the morning. Consumer could not afford to pay for it, and dealer would not repair it again. It was repaired one year ago.
While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer was not able to restart vehicle. Had the vehicle to towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed consumer that the problem could not be duplicated.
I bought this van new in 1997 just after buying the van there was ticking noise coming from the engine I feel it is the lifters but dealership says no it was the fuel purge valve. The noise countinues to get worse and I am sure the noise is the lifters when I change the oil to 10w-30 the noise goes away. The oxygen sensor was replaced at approx 50k miles. The van has recently been in the shop for the transmission two or three time since november 2003 aprox. 90,000 miles on it. The transmission was hanging up in second gear when dodge retuned to me the transmission shuttered while driving. Vehicle is now in the shop for the transmission again it is leaking from the output shaft seals and while in park when starting the vehicle the van jerks foward like the trasmission is still engaged. This all happens while in park. Sometimes when the vehicle is shifted from drive to park if the accelorator is pressed the vehicle jumps / jerks foward this seems to be a safety issue as my wife and I have three children that sometimes walk in front of the van to get in when we go off as a family. My check engine light came on just hours before I returned to the dealer for transmission service and it is the egr valve failure that caused the ckeck engine light to come on. The dealership tried to put the transmission off as that but I am also a mechanic the egr valve has nothing to do with the transmissionacting as if it is engage although it is acually in park.this is not good practice to lie about a serious problem with the vehicle. Also the transmission leak was caused from the first removal of the transmission and chrysler warranty department said the leak would not be covered this is also very digusting when you remove an axle the seal should be replaced before you reinstall the transmission. The dealer is still trying to find out what is wrong with my transmission. The water pump has failed and also the cooling fan relay failed for the engine cooling system.
A banging noise was heard either from the transmission or engine when shifting gears. The noise occured while driving or idling. Dealership wasn't providing any assistance. Dealership indicated that the noise could not be corrected.
While driving over water puddles consumer noticed the serpentine belt froze, causing steering wheel to lock up. *ak the power steering had become inoperative, the gears would slip when shifted, the water pump leaked, the belt tensioner fell apart, the consumer would lose the steering when driving through a puddle of water,the A/C did not blow cool air due to a leaking evaporator, and the belt tensioner would stick and make noises when driving through water. *sc
Consumer was injured when her vehicle slid into a ditch after the serpentine belt and other parts fell to the ground. *ph
We bought this van one year ago and so far we had to replace both oxygen sensor, speed sensor, head gasket, water pump, the transmission is slipping, doors lock and unlock whenever they want not just the 16 MPH thing, ball joints are clunking, the cd player quit and then soon after fm radio only am works.
I have talked with other owners of this same model vehile and they had the same complaints .I think the maker of this vehicle should do a recall and prorate a dollar scale on these mini vans. For I trust the vechicles that follwed have to be more reliable. This vehicle would stall with me driving and is currently parked in my front yard undrivible
While driving at any speed, the vehicle intermittently stalled out without any warning. The engine was clunky. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on several occasions.
Problems with transmission on 1997 dodge caravan.*mr ignition tumble was replaced, fan assembly.
Warning lights malfunctioned, causing brake lights to flash intermittently, and air bag sensor to stays on. *ak the brake light flashed, the engine light and air bag light illuminated and the horn was inoperative. The air bag and horn problem may be the result of a clockspring failure. *ph
The tension pulley sheared it's bolt and caused the pulley to fall off while driving. Causing the power steering to go out and nearly losing control of the car. The bolt size was suprisingly small for a part that handles that much tension. My fear is that it will happen again while my kids are in it and at a higher speed.
There has been 5 replacement torque converters since purchase. Vehicle shuts down due to the defect in the torque converter. *mr this problem had happened several times while traveling on the highway, every year the consumer had to have the transmission rebuilt, also the brakes. The transmission overhauled twice, there was an oil pan leak, the engine light stayed on, and the AC needed a new condenser.
Prior to the recall notification, the consumer had paid for the repairs regarding the clock spring, the consumer requested reimbursement. In addition, the dealer replaced engine oil filter. *ak. Also the gas filler door had to be replaced. *jb
The serpentine belt popped off, which resulted in loss of power steering and function of the alternator, which caused the vehicle to stall.
The serpentine belt was replaced several times.
While driving or stopping vehicle , the service lights will suddenly come on. This is a result of the serpentine belt coming off. This has happened twice. The dealership has replaced the belt. Ph
While driving vehicle started overheating. The driver had vehicle towed, who indicated that this was caused by the way the head gasket was designed. The head gasket was replaced, but the problem recurred twice. Ts
Consumer called complaining about having problems with the vehicle head gasket leaking oil. Dealer has inspected the vehicle and could not duplicate or correct the problem . Ph
While driving at any speed engine light comes on. Then, consumer can hear water in engine. This can result in a fire. Dealer notified.
On the same van they found it need rewiring of the o2 sensor 200+ dollar repair. Other problems they have fixed on the van since we purchased the van in march of this year have totaled over 1200 dollars now they have found the clockspring and this rewiring problem
While traveling on highway vehicle stalls and then shutdown. Dealership is aware of problem.
While driving at 60mph, speedometer kept moving between 20mph and 90mph, without driver decreasing or increasing in speed. Oil light started flickering along with engine check light, then the vehicle started jerking.*ak. Consumer stated there was a shortage of transmission fluid and engine oil, the serpentine belt was frayed on one side eventually coming off idle pully, losing steering ability, chrysler was aware of the transmission and speedometer and fixed the problem as a goodwill gesture.
Mopar belt tensioner part 4536154 has been replaced 4 times, counting oe part. The tensioner fails between 25,000 and 30,000 miles destroying the belt. The last dodge dealer mechanic to replace the part stated that this is a common problem and that it persists with mopar replacement parts.
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.
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