The clockspring failure caused several components to stop functioning including the driver side airbag, horn and cruise control. I understand this is a fairly common problem among dodge vehicles and am upset that they first charge a sizable diagnostic fee only to determine that this common problem has occurred rather than offering a free part replacement which would render the diagnostic uncessary. The air bag and horn should be considered by dodge to be safety components and if this clockspring assembly is a commonly defective part, it should be replaced as part of a recall program.
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan electrical complaints
Page 3 of 8: complaints 41 to 70 of 197, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Air bag sensor light came on and stayed on all day, indicating a malfunction of air bags/ horn, and cruise control.
Airbag light illuminated; horn inoperative; cruize control inoperative. Dealer replaced the "clockspring" ($297). Turns out every '96 caravan owner I know has had this fail, and I didn't even know the horn wouldn't have worked if I'd needed it until the dealer pointed it out.
My husband would be driving and out of nowhere the vehicle shuts off. Everything on the dash went out. About 2 to 3 seconds later it came back on but barely working. The car behind us almost hit us. When the car re-started the dash lights were flickering and the instruments were not reading right. Ontop of that we could not turn the air or radio or anything else because it made the problem worse. Prior to this it happen to my husband twice on the same day. In march we took it to the dealership and told them the problem we have been having on top of other issues. We only had this mini van for a year and we already had to repair the air conditioner 2x , fuel pump because it was leaking, the first time they could not find the prombem and said it was an overfill of gas, second time they found the problem and fixed it. Also out of pocket for brakes, and rotor. We were hoping for some kind of exchange for this. During the year we had this mini van the dealership change hands again. Now the current owner is getting complaints from customers who purchase a vehicle from there last year, per our conversation with the sales manager. They had to re-run our credit and take all our personal information all over again. Next morning I was told that the bank /lender wants $2500.00 upfront as good faith, because we still owe on the vehicle. Like I said earlier the car is finace for 5 years. Also the part that is needed cost anywhere between $385 to 209 approx. And labor $300.00 or so. So we would be paying close to $685 or more. Also this part is not under warranty nor under extended warranty. I can not understand that since it is an electrical componet. If anyone can help please, we really would like to get rid if it or somehow get it fix.
Air bag light will come on and stay on after taking it to the dealer. Dealer noted that clock spring in the vehicle will have to be replaced. *ak horn would not operate.
Horn, cruise control, airbag have stopped working - clock spring problem???
Consumer states vehicles engine was turned off, consumer was getting gas, after entering the vehicle consumer smelled smoke, and saw smoke coming out of dash. Consumer drove car to a mechanic. Nlm
Clockspring problem -- "airbag" light on, no cruise control or horn failed.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Consumer states that instrument panel did not operate after vehicle was started, consumer had to turn iginition off then on again, it completely quit working and dealer made repairs, however vehicle was out of its warranty.
1996 dodge caravan has the very common dodge oil leak...airbag light on also..horn does not work.
Defect clockspring leads to airbag light is on, and propely mailfunction. The instrument panel started burning in the switch contacts and smoke came out of the dashboard. The car was parked with two small kids sitting in their baby seats. One of the kids, 3 years old manged to knock on the window for getting help. The fire stopped without making additional damages and nobody were injured. The fuses did not blow.
The airbag indicator has turned on and will not go out. No failure codes are repoted. The horn will not work and the cruise control will not work. The windshield wipers go on by themselves occasionally. The left door lock will unlock and lock quickly when the key is turned to open the door.
The clockspring acts as an electrical conduit for the driver's air bag, horn and cruise control. When it breaks one or more of these systems fails without warning. I feel that it is a very dangerous defect. I have never had a clockspring fail on any other car that I have owned, several of which have gone well beyond 100,000 miles.
The failure of the clockspring assembly resulted in the air bag light being illuminated, and I'm assuming that the drivers side bag was also inoperative. The horn and cruise control were definitely inoperative. I purchased a replacement clockspring ($75) and installed it myself (2 hours). The nature and frequency of this failure would seem to warrant a recall, in my opinion.
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
I have a grand caravan es purchased new in 1996. About two years ago the air bag, cruise control and the horn all quit at once. Being under extended warranty I returned the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the problem as a broken clock (sp.) spring located behind the air bag. This device apparently affects all three non-working systems, and was not a warranty item, $350 to fix. The dealer said it was a problem with dodge trucks and a recall "could be in the works" additionally, for some reason during cold weather my turn signals stop working, as the lever enters the stalk in the clock spring area I suspicion it is affecting them also.
Airbag light cam on, I no longer have working horn or cruise control.
While leaving home, consumer heard a poff, when looking under the hood, it was smoking in the engine compartment, the main harness is melted, there was no sign of a fire, claim 25-5394-275.
Consumer parked vehicle in parking lot, it caught on fire due to a wire in the wiring harness, claim 35-w700-085.
Airbag light , horn,and cruise doesn't work
Air bag light on the instrument panel illuminated, horn failed to operate, and cruise control was inoperable. Dealership has examined vehicle, and determined clockspring assembly was faulty, and had to replaced at the consumer's expense. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
The air back indicator light stays iluminated. Was informed by dealer that clock spring was failing and that this controls the horn, cruise control and airbag. Eventually this would fail completely and we would lose the proper function of these components (which in my mind is a safety hazard and should be recalled/fixed free of charge by chrylser.
Consumer smelled something electrical burning. Noticed flames inside dashboard. Consumer pulled over and shut car off. Consumer took vehicle to dealer.
Airbag light came on permanently on 10/10/01. Shortly thereafter, discovered both horn and cruise control inoperable. Remembered internet report about the federal safety agency stepping up probe of chrylser minivans for clockspring failure complaints (internet report from 3/2000). Mentioned report to dealer personnel when took vehicle in to dodge dealer for service. They indicated no formal recall on this part yet, but save receipt in event future recall required. Sending this information as further evidence to the federal safety agency that there is a problem with this part on these particular vehicles.
The aibbag light is on, the horn and the cruise control do not work.
Clock spring connector providing vehicle with horn, driver air bag, and cruise control have worn out prematurely leaving vehicle with no horn, drivers air bag, and cruise control.
Body control module failure occurred during a move from maryland to georgia, resulting in failure of windshield wipers during rainstorm. Arrived at dealer only 451 miles after expiration of 75k warranty. However, neither the dealer nor chrysler would assist in repair costs. Have submitted two lengthy voq's today as I am finally fed up with this chrysler product and the failure of chrysler and the federal safety agency to enact additional forced recalls of these vehicles. The transmission, fuel tank, body control module, clock spring (which resulted in inoperative airbags), and suspension parts all failed long before they should have. Additionally, a cursory search of both the federal safety agency and other web sites reveals that these parts have a high failure rate. Despite being replaced by a dealer only two years ago, the steering rack on my minivan is already failing again. I am extremely unimpressed with both the quality of this vehicle and the lack of support from chrysler in addressing repeated failures.
Airbag light came on, horn and cruise control stopped working. Clock spring assembly needs to be replaced.
Airbag light came on, horn and cruise control stopped working. Dealer replaced clock spring assembly.*ak
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