04/1997 - windshield wipers randomly turn on and off. Interior lights also go on and off randomly. Dealer said, "couldn't determine cause." 01/1999 - cruise control and horn stopped working. Air bag light constantly on. Mechanic said, "due to air bag problems"
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan acceleration complaints
Page 5 of 5: complaints 101 to 124 of 124, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Air bag disabled drivers side, horn disabled, cruise control disabled.
Clock spring in steering wheel needed to be replaced again (est $250). This is the second time within 18 months. This switch controls cruise control, horn, and air bag functions. When it fails, those functions don't work. Particularly the air bag and horn are major safety issues. The front wipers would activate for no reason (startling driver) - repaired at owners expense by dealer. Door locks have always acted spooky. Immedialtley locking after unlocking with fob or with key. Dealer found door drivers door switch shorted. Repaired at owners expense (est $160). Local dealer notified of all problems - have not contact manufaturer directly.
Vehicle experiencing a malfunction within clock spring. Also, air bag/ horn and criuse control failed to operate properly. Dealer /manufacture. Notified, and informed consumer that part was not covered under recall, and any repairs would be at consumer's expense.
Coolant gauge, tach,and speedometer all flatline at same time and return intermittently, air bag warning light stays on and horn and cruise control stopped working at same time. Drivers side sliding door lock works when it wants to. Windshield wipers work when they want to when it is cold outside. No fuel leaks until recall repair made then leak developed when tank filled ( dealer fixed). Radio does not switch from am to fm unless button pushed 3 or 4 times. Just one big electrical lemon.
Drivers air bag, horn and speed control shorted out and inoperable
Air bag light now stays on. Cruise control no longer works as does horn. Will need to replace the clock spring in the steering wheel.
Air bag module failed causing the air bag light to illuminate. Nlm
Why is the airbag warning light on the dashboard permanently on when the original bags have never been used since the van has never been in an accident? And why other systems like the horn and the cruise control are also inoperable or deffective. Why would chrysler engineer these three systems related to safety features be electronically connected together since they all seem to have failed simultaneously. Is this a ploy to get money out of customers???
Air bag sensor light stayed on, causing horn and cruise control to become inoperable. Dealer suggested a defective clock spring inside the steering wheel column. Cost for repaired around $200, this is a safety hazard for the horn and passive restraint airbag. These components should be in working order at all the time. Since it's defective parts there should be some kind of goodwill toward the repairs of these items. It seems like everything gone wrong when the warrenty ran out. Should there should be a recall out for these defective parts? I've had noticed there are 3 complaints oid # already out for this van. Any support will be grateful!!
While driving airbag light stayed illuminated, resulting in loss of horn and speed control. Vehicle is being repaired by the dealer .
While driving with cruise control activated at about 75 MPH, cruise control cable got stuck, causing the vehicle to suddenly acclerate. Occupant had to ride the brakes for about 4 miles, and vehicle slowed down to 45 MPH. Driver had to put vehicle in park position in order to stop. This may have resulted in a crash. Please provide further information.
Vehicle was experiencing ongoing / intermittent problem with air bag senosr light coming on. Condsumer believed this problem causes horn and cruise control failure as well. Dealer notifed, and repaired / replaced air bag module and clock spring. Would like the federal safety agency to provide additional information on this matter.
Ongoing / intermittent problem with sudden acceleration; sometimes the problem would occur after shifting gear into drive or during idle stopping. Vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on 6 occasions, and manufacturer sent out an investigator , both was unable to find anything wrong. ( cruise control was not engage) seeking help from the federal safety agency in this matter.
Soon after purchase airbag light would intermittenly come on, however, my husband had an accident in november of 98 and they did not deploy and have remained on all the time. Also, our horn and cruise quit working and still does not. We don't know if it was because of accident or body repair. We have been attempting to get our car ins. Co. To do something but to date they still haven't.
While attempting to slow down, I released my foot from the gas pedal. The RPM's stay the same. I tapped the gas pedal, the RPM's increased. I place the transmission into neutral and steered to the shoulder. The RPM's continue to increase to almost full throttle. I shut the engine off. Vehicle was towed to corigliano dodge service where a representative (joe mcdonald)made an immediate assessment that the throttle linkage cable was binding and defective. Mr. Mcdonald has indicated no troubles of this kind have been reported in the past, and no associated tsb's have been issued for mechanics to be aware of. My entire family was in the van when this happened. We're lucky to be alive. The part has been replaced and the van is currently operating normally. I want this reported to chrysler. I want an official tsb established for mechanics to be aware of this problem. I want official confirmation from chrysler that they will one, pay for the repair ($60.16), two, launch a full investigation as to why this part failed, and three, offer me and my family some kind of conciliatory assurance that this will not happen again. Thank you, dan inzalaco
The cruise control was set for 7omph when the brakes were applied and released, the vehicle accelerated back up to 70mph. The engine had to be turned off in order to get cruise control off.
Intermittently when driving the engine stalls out with no indication , resulting in the loss of vehicle control. The delaer has replaced the idle speed motor. Owner has contacted the manufacturer. *
The engine accelerated the speed of the car without the gas pedal being applied. Driver lost control of vehicle. Took vehicle to dealer. Dealer indicated that throttle cable was broke.
Cruise control failure.
Parked vehicle, shifted to park, shut off engine, removed key from ignition, vehicle rolled backwards, wheel ran over leg of driver, crashed into street sign, cause unkown, not checked by dealer.
Driving about 5 MPH driver tried to make a right hand turn, vehicle continued straight ahead and never turned back to original position.
When cruise control is engaged and the van is going uphill , the engine will race out of control.
When brakes are applied, rubbing noise occurs, followed by difficulty stopping vehicle.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history