1997 Dodge Caravan: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Aug 24, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 209,000 miles · VA · fire

My wife park the van inside the garage, turn off the radio, engine and lights. She open the drivers door and see flames and smoke coming by the parking brake handler. And all the lights on the van were on. She remove the kids from the van and my son call 911.police and fire department came and extinguish the fire, remove the van from the garage and check it and found possible electrical malfunction .check the van today 8-24 2013 and found that the fire start at the head light switch. Dim switch ok and mirror switch ok. The fire damage the left side of the dashboard, windshield, sun visor and celling. I have this van since new, never have a problem before. And never see a problem like this.

Filed Jun 28, 2011 · Lights · 164,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge caravan. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH the headlights malfunctioned and the vehicle stalled. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic for a diagnostic test who confirmed that the body control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact did not have the body control module replaced. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the failure. The contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive at night. The failure mileage was 164,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2007 · Body · AZ

I have a 1997 dodge caravan se purchased new. Two years ago I noticed a spot on the roof, and another on the hood where the polycoat was beginning to peel. Within two years the car looked as if it had some kind of disease. I began to notice other caravans of similar age, and they had the same problem. I saw other makes of cars that were much older with original paint jobs and they weren't experiencing this problem. I am really disappointed with the paint job and poly coat on the dodge caravan. I feel for what we payed for, and with the problems we have experienced , such as the windshield wipers coming on by themselves, the service engine light coming on and going off, the interior light coming on or not when the door was opened, the warning bell not going off when the door was open, the emergency brake working or not working, the fogging of the plastic headlights - at least the paint job should have lasted!

Filed Nov 27, 2006 · Lights · 1,000 miles · VA

Headlight housing on 1997 dodge se grand caravan. The plastic lens of the headlight housing in which the headlight bulb is encased has discolored, thereby, obscuring the light generated by the headlight bulb. This has occurred on both the right and left headlight housings. I have surveyed other minivans of the same vintage and noticed they too were discolored. It concerned me so much that I purchased two new headlight housings from off the internet (not mopar). There is probably a safety factor with this defect.

Filed Apr 5, 2006 · Lights · 95,000 miles · MD

Headlights on 1997 dodge caravan have become clouded and are no longer safe to drive at night.

Filed Sep 21, 2005 · Lights · 47,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

1) defect result of normal use, no exceptional situation just normal every day use.related to two vehicles one 1996 caravan, another 1997 caravan. 2) exesive haze buildoff on headlights(plastic lens) I can contribute a loss of proper distance ilumination, for witch several atempts of diferent methods where tried to correct problem, resulting in pedestrian struct accident on dark night,my driving record had been ticket, accident clear for more than 30 years. 3) several polishing methods where attempted with different advertised products resulting in slight temporary improvements always resulting in lesser time recurrance of problem, can not afford to replace all 4 with new parts due to excesive cost $135.00 each, anly replaced one after accident and yes have parts if need to be submitted. Point in case, my work is and has been for the past 20 years related to plastics, specifically injection molding, for witch I know first hand the consecuences for a poorly design chemical content plastic in this case policarbonates with incorrect uv aditive content, witch is the cause for not only my particular brand of vehicle,year or model, this problem is with all plastic headlight,sure tghey save weigth, sure its easier to manufacture to the weirdest shapes, so much so tha know a days the seem to be part of either the hood or the fenders, so now their being exposed to direct sunlight from the top causing even prematurer conditions, (this is not a scratching related issue here this is sunlight related damage causing reduced night driving visibility reach (since when a body part is subject to normal wear and tear. Since astm d 1003-92 does mention otdoor exp. Test-haze and loss of surface luster of plastic mats, I failed to locate proper time limits of accepted failure to consider them to be, non acceptable. (glass does not carry this condition), like it was mentined before, this is not only related to chrysler this problem is with all makes,brands

Filed Jun 11, 2005 · Lights · 60,000 miles · NY

The headlights don't turn on all times unless the switch is wiggled and some times is goes out after they come on

Filed Jan 6, 2005 · Lights · 40,000 miles · FL

The headlights were made of plastic and have oxidized to the point that the consumer had to drive at night with the high beams on. *jb the consumer stated that the film was so bad that he could not see the bulb inside the cover.

Filed Apr 28, 2004 · Lights · 82,552 miles · OK

Headlights frosty or opaque, too dim to see with safely

Filed Sep 23, 2003 · Lights · 100,000 miles · PA

Headlight lens discolored- car had to have replacement to pass state inspection. Cost: $322 for one headlight assembly.

Filed Jul 21, 2003 · Lights · CA · crash · fire

At one time, before 1960, front turn signals were white, then they changed to amber and have remained so for 40 years. I would like to have it stated that front turn signalsshall only be amber in color.*ak rear turn signals, also at one time they were red then the manufacturers created the 3 color tail light red for stop and tail, amber for turn and white for back-up. Unfortunately many have combined the tail and brake in to a lower cost single lamp . I would like to see the return to the amber turn signal. With the huge market we have for vehicles we have the economic power to make an impact for change. Side marker lamps. When these were required they were separate lights. Now they are integrated into the tail lamps and have wrapped around the rear structure of the vehicle and in many cases are a now a single lamp that has tail, side marker and brakes as part of the dual filament bulb. So the issue is that when this lamp burns out we may have neither tail braking or side marker. Over the years these lamps have grown smaller and less visible again a cost or design issue and ultimately a safety issue. I would like to see a minimum number of square inches for each lamp and minimum candle power. And for braking a return to the 7x difference between tail lamp/running and braking illumination. If my suggestions should be enacted it might force the manufactures to redesign their lighting systems to create some uniformity that we almost had some years ago ( about 1989 ). Headlight: SUV headlamps are not aimed low enough. They create a hazard to oncoming cars and blind the drivers of vehicles closer to the ground. The newet lamps have reduced visabilty as they are recessed and do not show very much to the side. Many headlamps are now made from a plastic that des not remain clear. The amount of light transmitted is reduced and difused. I would like to see either a return to glass or a new plastic that remins clear. T

Filed Feb 1, 1999 · Body, Brakes · CA

High beam lights failed.