The front driver side strut tower rusted. Consumer was concerned that the front end will collapse while driving. *ak driver's side strut tower completely rusted away. Making vehicle unsafe to be on the road.
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan suspension complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 60, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Took my 1996 dodge caravan in for transmission repair. Shop would not repair and said the vehicle was inoperable due to rusting out of strut mount tower. Have not seen this on any other vehicle.
While driving vehicle would ride roughly. Consumer drove vehicle to the dealer, and mechanic determined that a bulge was located in the housing struts area, and needed to be replaced.
There are two major problems with my 1996 dodge grand caravan. First there is a serious vibration in the front wheel/tires. I have replaced 8 tires (in 30000 miles!), both front axles, all three motor mounts, and had the transmission overhauled, as well as having three alignment checks. The vibration is still there. The second problem involves the windshield wipers. The front wipers were, for a time, coming on any time they felt like it; this was remedied by replacing the multi function switch on 09/21/01. Since then, the rear wiper will occasionally come on for one swipe when I first start the vehicle - annoying, but not an immediate hazard. But today, my windshield wipers quit working at all. They will only work if I put the wipers on interval - in which case they do nothing for a time, then make two to four swipes, then wait a while, make one or two swipes, wait a while, etc. They will make one high speed swipe across the windshield if I press the washer button in. I spent $80 today so the dodge dealer could tell me this was caused by a body control module failure. This repair costs over $400...and researching a used part online, I learned that both the wheel shimmy problem and the windshield wiper problems are not unique to my car but are very common issues with the dodge caravan/chrysler town & country/plymouth voyager family. Losing your wipers, having them come on at random when they take a notion to, and a non-stop shimmy in the front are each, by themselves, serious safety issues warranting a recall. Collectively, they spell out a lack of concern that daimler chrysler has for the safety of those who drive their products. It is my understanding from my online research that chrysler was aware of the problem as long ago as 1998 but deliberately ignored its own information. It is apparent that the only way these safety issues are going to be addressed is if the federal government takes them to task.
I have a 1996 dodge grand caravan se that has 105,000 miles on it and the strut towers have rusted through. I have checked the internet and this is a common problem with the grand caravans. I would like to know if chrysler has to stand behind the repair of these as they have ignored the fact that this is a common problem.
While driving 35 MPH front end failed. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified,but did not resolve the problem.
The strut tower assembly was rusted on vehicle. *mr the consumer believes the quality of the material used is the problem.
The strut tower rusted . As a result the strut pushed through the hood, and the frame collapsed.
Front strut towers rusting through. Told by service 'vehicle not safe to drive'. Told to replace vehicle.
We took our 1996 grand caravan in for recalls that dodge sent us. They called my wife back and told her it was condemnable and unsafe to drive, because the strut tower was very badly rusted. By the time I had the chance to call them, because I was at work, the person she talked to had left, however I did talk to another person acquainted with the vehicle. He said because of the mileage and that I wasn't the original owner dodge wouldn't do anything for us. He also said it would cost $2000.00 per side to fix and the van wasn't worth it. I said this is a serious thing and it should be fixed by chrysler because they obviously used inferior materials on that part of the van. He said that they would not fix it, and the weather where we live had something to do with it. I said so I am just out of a vehicle to drive?, and he said you can drive it but it's not safe. Now the other man told my wife that if she hit a hole or went over rr tracks it could come completely through and she would lose total control of the vehicle. The auto body man we took it to said that the part should have been galvanized when they made it and this wouldn't be happening. Another thing I would like to note is that our 1994 caravan did not have this problem and it had over 270,000 miles on it. Also this 1996 does not have rust anywhere else. Someone is going to get hurt or killed if they don't recall these and fix them. They recalled a clock spring for the airbag, and they didn't ask the mileage of our vehicle, and they performed all the other recalls on it that day so they could get there money, but they won?t do anything about a suspension component that is life threatening. I would like also to add that your car doesn't need to have an airbag to be safe or run, but it does need a suspension. This is not an only case, we have another 1996 grand caravan that looks like rust is bubbling under the paint at that same spot, so it is a very easy thing to not see.
While getting having the vehicle serviced, the consumer noticed that the body strut mount tower had completely rusted out on the driver side. The consumer was told by a certified mechanic that after a few more miles the entire front suspension would collapse. *ak *scc
The shock towers, which held the shocks to the vehicle's body, rusted excessively. *kg *scc
The consumer stated the passenger strut tower housing rusted severely, there was no other rust on the vehicle. *ak
Consumer heard noise fom right side of vehicle. Technician indicated that strut tower needed to be replaced.
The consumer stated the left strut tower rusted through, which increased the risk of a front suspension drop.*ak *ts
Vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for an alignment. The mechanic stated that struts and spring tower are rusted, and recommended that consumer take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on 7/7/2003.
Car taken to dealership on two occasions for front end noise in the last 6 months. Dealership failed to properly diagnose problem. Upsold other service repair work as "needed" but not related to front end noise. Vehicle taken to outside service station for noise and told needed struts (previously done earlier in the year already) mechanic unable to perform repair due to rusting of both front strut towers. Vehicle brought back to dealer for further inquiry regarding rust of towers. Service manager acknowledged problem when I pointed it out. He had no explanation why his technicians failed to indentify on prior service visits. Chrysler contacted and willing to offer goodwill of 1/2 cost for body shop repairs. No loaner car provided. Waiting for adhesive needed to complete work, parts ordered 6/24/03, car left with dealership for 1 week. No repair done, no notification of delay. Car picked up unrepaired on 7/1/03 and forced to now drive an unsafe vehicle until such time they receive parts to do repairs. Unable to obtain whereabouts or shipping info on parts still needed as of 7/7/03. *ak consumer called on 7/21/2003 to say the vehicle has been fixed by the dealer.
Front right side struts are rusting out. This results in suspension and steering loss. Cause unknown.
Front struts are rusting through, resulting in windshield cracking. Dealer contacted. Please provide additional information. Ts...
Left front strut tower rusting through with danger of collapse and vehicle accident. Dt
The air bag light remained lit, the horn did not work, and the speed control did not operate. Keystone dodge charged me $267.31 to replace the clockspring assembly. This part has been recalled on chrysler mini vans. I want to be reimbursed for my personal expense to repair this essential safety equipment. Dt
Who can tell me if the car is safe to continue driving? Is there a hidden warranty? Dt
The strut tower did not fail at this time and no person was killed or injured, also no damage has occured. But I would like to report that the strut tower is rusting thru on the front right side of the mini van. If this should rust completly through while the mini van is moving at highway speeds, the driver could experience total loss of control and that could lead to serious injury and property damage including death of up to seven occupants of the minivan. What is chysler going to do to repair my minivan before a acident happens?
Right front shock absorber tower is rusting. If tower lets go, someone can be killed. Please provide any further information.
Air conditionercondenser/driver side window regulator/tie rod, transmission shift cable, and o2 sensor were replaced. Also, there was a noise coming from front of vehicle, and from the exhaust area. Engine check light appeared. In addition, serpentine belt and water pump were replaced. *jb.
Strut tower on passenger's front is rusted through, mileage at time was 96000.
Consumer heard a loud noise coming from front end of vehicle while driving.. While vehicle was being serviced technician noticed sway bar needed to be replaced. Please provide further information.
Front stablizer bar broke. Took vehicle in for service, and mechanic found stablizer bar broken. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated that was not possible for stablizer bar to break.
Body control has gone out three times. Windshild wipers would not work.
Automatic door locks failed.
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