The driver's horn does not work and hasn't since it was taken in to replace the clock spring assembly. This was done as per a recall issued by the federal safety agency and daimlerchrystler corporation relating to driver's airbag by the original owner. He also did not have the original paperwork on the van. I am the second owner and when I discovered the horn did not work. After researching and subscribing to the the federal safety agency recall alerts I determined that this may have been caused by the clock spring replacement. I was also told that the replacement clock spring could have been defective as well, because it was done so soon after the recall was issued. I took it to a local dealership where I live and they confirmed that there had been a recall issued and they were sorry, but they couldn't replace it again. They suggested that I take it back to the dealership where it was purchased. I explained to them that I was not the original owner and didn't know where it was purchased from originally. Even when I told them that I would pay the cost of the repair, they were not interested. I took it to a local mechanic and he didn't want to touch it because there was so much involved in the steering column that could go wrong and he didn't have the expertise to do it. The vehicle is not safe and hasn't been since before and after I purchased it. My concern is if the horn doesn't work'then how can I be sure the airbag does. I'm still driving this vehicle because I can't sell it to someone else in this condition. Is there no recourse if the vehicle as not repaired as per the federal safety agency's recall? This vehicle only has 91054 miles on it as of this date.
1998 Dodge Grand Caravan airbags problems
104 complaints (19% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 88,400. 23 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 104
- of this car's complaints
- 19%
- typical mileage
- 88,400
- crashes
- 23
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Frontal25
- Side/window3
- Frontal: sensor/control module3
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Dodge Grand Caravan airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags
- What is wrong
- On certain minivans, the driver's air bag may become disabled due to a failure of the clockspring, which is located in the hub of the steering wheel.
- Risk
- This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all covered vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. For those vehicles with more than 70,000 miles, daimlerchrysler will offer an extended lifetime warranty under which it will replace the clockspring at no charge if it fails. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on their vehicles. The recall began on october 12, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 04V480000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- On certain mini vans, the clockspring assembly may have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
- Risk
- This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of mileage. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on their vehicles. Owner notification began november 18, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 02V293000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Driver air bag clockspring failure
The driver air bag clockspring can develop an open-circuit condition resulting in nonfunctional driver-side frontal air bag, horn, cruise control (if equipped), and/or steering wheel radio control (if equipped).in its october 5, 2004 letter to the federal safety agency, daimlerchrysler stated that it will conduct a safety recall and replace the clockspring assembly on all my 1998.5-2000 daimlerchrysler minivans, built between march 1998 and august 2000, with 70,000 miles or less.it will also provide a lifetime warranty for this component on my 1998.5-2000 minivans, regardless of mileage.the details of the corrective action are described in daimlerchrysler's letter (see recall no. 04v‑480).the agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists with respect to those vehicles covered only by the lifetime warranty.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see page 2 for additional information.
EA04013
Driver air bag clockspring failure
Complaints report air bag warning light illuminates, and this may be accompanied with a non-functioning horn and/or cruise control (if equipped).this is indicative of an open-circuit clockspring failure (results in non-functioning driver's air bag), similar to the failure condition that was the subject of daimlerchrysler's recall of model year 1996-1998.5 minivans (recall no. 02v‑293).this recall query has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea04-013).
RQ04001
What 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 dodge grand caravan. While the contact's wife was driving 45 MPH, another vehicle traveling approximately 70 MPH struck the rear of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The front passenger seat (the contact's seat) separated from the seat track. The contact struck the side door and was thrown into the rear of the vehicle. The seat belt failed to restrain the contact and he was then struck by the seat. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and back. Three occupants in the other vehicle were also injured, as the front passenger's feet went through the windshield and two of the occupants suffered whiplash. Medical attention was required for all the injured occupants. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the contact's insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000. See also 11004763. *dsy ..updated 08/04/17 *bf updated 10/11/2017*js *js
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge grand caravan. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v373000 (air bags, electrical system) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I approached a red light hit the brakes. The car did not stop. I hit two cars and the median. The passenger air bag deployed nut not the driver side. I had major injuries including broken ankle, hand, ribs and breathing. I spent 3 months in the hospital.
There are at least 4 recall items listed for this vehicle. I have never been contacted by the manufacturer. Should I be concerned? If yes, what should I do?
1998 dodge grand caravan. Consumer writes in regards to unsatisfactory service on vehicle. *smd the consumer stated a few weeks ago, the air bag light illuminated, and the horn and cruise control stopped working, the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, along with a copy of the safety recall letter regarding problems with the clockspring. After an hour, the dealership informed the consumer the problem was with the electrical system, not the clockspring and that it would take more than two hours to troubleshoot the electrical problem, and there would be a charge to diagnose the problem, plus the repair charges. The consumer refused their offer. A few days later, the consumer took the vehicle to another establishment, where the mechanic's first reaction was the clockspring. An hour later, the clockspring was replaced and all of the lost functionalities were restored.
Upon the vehicles impact the air bag did not come out of the steering wheel which causing an injury to the driver.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. In addition, the brake line failed and was repaired by the dealer. The clockspring was also replaced according to a recall without the contact's consent. When the contact retrieved the vehicle, all of the electrical components were flashing on and off intermittently in the passenger compartment. The horn did not operate and there were other electrical issues with the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were less than 59,492. Updated 08/19/09 *bf updated 08/20/09.
The clock spring on my dodge caravan failed rendering the air bag, speed control and horn useless. It required $200 repair to replace the spring.
1998 dodge grand caravan with defective clockspring. Consumer stated that the recall stated if the problem wasn't acknowledged then, and did happen in the future to take it to get it fixed free. Consumer was told no about getting reimbursed for repair. Kb the consumer was denied reimbursement because the consumer took his vehicle to a private shop instead of the dealer.
Questions about the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan airbags
Does the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 104 complaints about the airbags of the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan, 19% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 88,400 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 04V480000, 02V293000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Dodge Grand Caravan have bad airbags?
The Dodge Grand Caravan model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (294 complaints), 1996 (211 complaints) and 2010 (144 complaints).
Other 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan problems
Engine 129Transmission 81Electrical 79Suspension 51Brakes 44Acceleration 27Body 27Fuel system 25Steering 23Visibility 22Seat belts 19Tires 14Lights 13Seats 13Locks 3Wheels 3
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