My 1996 dodge grand caravan has a left front strut tower that is cracked around the top where the spring sits. There isn't a spot of rust or structural damage on this vehicle except that strut tower. From my discussion with a chrysler body shop manager, it appears that they had a problem with these strut towers. I think this is a safety risk because if one of these lets go at highway speed, it will immediately impact steering and driveability potentially leading to a crash. I know my way around a car so I was able to spot this problem and recognize the potential danger. I think with most drivers this problem will go unrecognized and that is why I am writing you today. Please get the word out. I called chryster and registered a complaint, but I don't expect them to inform anyone.
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan body complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 59, newest first, as owners wrote them.
When consumer was filling up the gasoline tank, the driver side door would not open. Please furnish additional information.
Intermittently when left turn signal is activated windshield wipers come on. Dealer has inspected and repaired vehicle, however problem has reoccurred. *ak the vehicle would not start due to battery failure. The sliding door does not shut properly. Passenger door does not lock due to door lock motor failure. Drivers window makes noise due to regulator failure.
Transmission would no longer shift from first to second gear. Had to be replaced at 72000 miles.*ak the hinges on the door were replaced and the front rotor was turned.
Service agent determined/confirmed anti-freeze coolant leak into the passenger side carpet and door sill area. The leak made an offensive odor, fermenting the carpet, and the residual smell/antifreeze fumes appears unhealthy to breath in. The leak was detected by visible substantial wetness of the carpet area about the sill area. Carpet became slightly discolored/stained by the anti-freeze leak. The actual location of the leak could not be detected without the complete disassembly of the rear interior trim. A quote of over $230 in materials and $430 in labor was given to repair the leaking core. This is an exorbitant amount of cost, and offers a potential unhealthy situation if left unrepaired. The owner cannot foresee expenditure of such magnitude of costs, and must try to seek a less expensive remedy. Note, the service agent would not disconnect/short circuit the heater core lines to disconnect/remove this heater core from service; hence an impasse remains. The owner will be forced to do same to eliminate the persistent leak.
Battery cracked and leaked acid into wiring cover and air cleaner housing causing vehicle not to start, battery was replaced and began to leak again approximately four months later, seven months later the battery had to be boosted to start vehicle, again dealer replaced the battery, battery was replaced a fourth time along with a faulty starter.
Slider door locks failure-left does not lock even manually; right will not unlock except manually. A/c compressor failed - always smelled antifreeze until failure. Dodge will do nothing to help defray major cost. Wipers come on/off whenever they want especially when cold. Can put into drive/reverse w/o braking. Numerous other misc problems-brakes, transmission, front end.
The right strut tower top rusted, the left side has rusted as well. Nlm
Automatic door locks failed.
The windshield has a stress crack. Nlm
Airbag light is on, dealer found clock spring assembly needed to be replaced. *ak consumer states that he had to make 3 different trips to the dealer due to the first 2 trips did not resolve the problem. Brakes failed. Collapsing gas tank. Door locks inoperable.
Have had lock replaced (3) times left side, (2) times right side, contacted chrysler, they refuse to pay for replacement for (6) time, said quote(" at some time the customer is responsible for repairs for the vehicle") when is the manufacture responsible for faulty parts? 5 times broken is defective design
Windshield wipers come on by themselves, engine stalls when braking, sliding power door locks replaced 4x.
Electric door locks on passenger side do not work locks properly when button is pressed. Takes several times to release door lock.
Slider door locks have failed 8 times since purchased, first several times under warranty, now they charge me $25 for replacement.
Complete transmission overhaul and TCM replacement, vehicle would not shift out of first gear.
Part breaks off at shoulder. It is obvious that the part was cracked in the heat treating process when it was made based on the discoloration in the area where the crack was located. Failure of the part , which is sudden, dissables the power steering and the water pump. Engine failure will follow.
Windshield wipers still engage by themselves originally repaired 05/99. Transmission went out at30904 miles. Airbag light came on and horn stopped working had to replace click spring. Car stall while driving said it needed tune-up. When using AC or driving in rain and making a turn steering gets stiff and cannot control. Interior lights flash dealer could not duplicate. Power door locks lock and unlock by themselves. Had to replace axle due to it being bent when new transmission was put in. Had to get new tires because axle threw off balance. Keep replacing batteries. Drove car for 10 minutes and fan came on and stayed on after car was turned off.
Automatic lock motor doesn't shut off right away when opened from keyless remote or during autolock when driving, struts are leaking oil at less than 50000 miles, windshield wipers lock up during cold weather, transmission slips out of gear during cold weather, front brakes vibrate and chatter: pads and rotors have been replaced twice in the last 6 months, grinding noise from steering column, whinning noise during accelleration. Are there any recalls regarding these issues. The car is falling apart after 4 years.
We have had the power door locks on the rear sliding doors repaired four times. The locks just buzz and go out and we are unable to lock that particular door. We have been on several trips when this has happened and therefore we have to leave the vehicle unlocked. We have had the front end lined up at least four times. The tires were worn uneven when we purchased it, we rotated tires and had to rotate them back. We recently in february purchased new tires and then had to have it realigned. It still pulled to the right and wanders. We have taken it in for realignment again twice since. Still have the same problem.
Power locks malfunctioned. Passenger was not able to exit or enter. Only way out of vehicle was through the window. Dealer said it was a design defect. It has been repaired, but only temporatily. No remedy was found.
When driving down the road hit a pothole door came unlatched and popped open. When hitting the automatic door lock, it did not lock the sliding door. Also, did not unlock automatically. Only way to unlock the door was by reaching over and manually unlocking the door.
I have had several problems, the automatic door locks have had to be replaced, even though in the 3 year time framed I paid for the new ones, there is a knocking sound that the mechanic couldn't find anything wrong although he could hear the sound, and now the car won't start and after several days of trying they can't figure it out. I obviously want the car fixed, but I would also like to know if other owners are experiencing these problems.
This car has gone to the dealer so many times and not been fixed. After my warrantee expired I took the van to a trusted mechanic and at a great cost to me is the van being repaired. The dealer never once acknowledge or fixed any problems that the independant car mechanic was able to find easily.
All major repairs done on this van have been done through dodge dealerships. This vehicle has had more work done on it in it's first three years than any other car I ever owned, even more than my volvo. The repairs, whether under warranty or not causes an extreme inconvenience to the owner. (ie: taking off work, transporting young children, doing without a vehicle, paying for unwarrantied repairs. There are several things wrong with this vehicle that we have not repaired because they do not threaten the safety of the occupants, such as; windshield wipers inadvertantly turn on by themselves, automatic door locks do not work on driver sliding door or passenger door. Lights have to be turned off manually sometimes after starting vehicle. This has been a high maintenance vehicle. It surprises me I cannot find any complaints about this vehicle because asking around to those I notice has one, complain about similar type problems. Transmission being the most major complaint.
Power door lock actuators have been replaced 3 times on sliding doors - twice on right, once on left. Actuators fail and doors will not lock.
Door lock jammed, could not unlock by remote nor manually - dealer replaced lock motor.
Left and right side sliding doors do not latch properly, rattle and come off the tracks.
Transmission failed.
We have had multiple problems in most components of this vehicle including but not limited to both rear sliding doors, front and rear wipers, coolant leakage, engine fan & belt malfunctions, intermittent stalling, transmission failure and continuous malfunction, multiple parking brake malfunction and adjustment problems, multiple interior light malfunction, rear quad seat attachment problem, and other more cosmetic related problems with cracking door panel & poorly installed carpet & seat covers.
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