1998 Dodge Grand Caravan: windshield wiper failure

Filed May 17, 2011 · Visibility · 80,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the windshield wipers were inoperable and obstructed her view of the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced the control unit, however, the windshield wipers failed to operate. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The current mileage was 128,000 and the failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Mar 14, 2011 · Electrical · 148,000 miles · OH

On 3 occasions recently all the dashboard gauges stopped working while I was driving the vehicle. The gauges resumed either on their own after a few moments or after stopping and restarting the van. Dealer could not recreate the problem and the diagnostic code only said that communication had been lost. The technician claimed that he could not find similar issues in his database, but from this website I see there are many others who have experienced this problem. There does not appear to be sure-fire fix. The vehicle is drivable and lights and windshield wipers continue to work while the gauges malfunction. But, driving is difficult without the speedometer and the odometer and trip mileage are incorrect after the gauges come back to life --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I also had this problem on a 1998 dodge grand caravan 148,000 miles. It would also not start, acted like sentry system kicked in (non sentry system vehicle) finally it malfunctioned and stayed in malfunction mode and I got it to the dealer and they diagnosed it as "no communication between the modules on he ccd bus - circuit was found shorted together and with the cluster unplugged, bus communication was possible - short in the bus" the "board inst cluster p/c w/flex p/c ( part # 4874440) was replaced " $850 repair job but it has solved the problem.

Filed Feb 8, 2011 · Electrical · 144,000 miles · IL

On 3 occasions recently all the dashboard gauges stopped working while I was driving the vehicle. The gauges resumed either on their own after a few moments or after stopping and restarting the van. Dealer could not recreate the problem and the diagnostic code only said that communication had been lost. The technician claimed that he could not find similar issues in his database, but from this website I see there are many others who have experienced this problem. There does not appear to be sure-fire fix. The vehicle is drivable and lights and windshield wipers continue to work while the gauges malfunction. But, driving is difficult without the speedometer and the odometer and trip mileage are incorrect after the gauges come back to life.

Filed Sep 23, 2009 · Visibility · MO

Recently bought 1998 dodge grand caravan. The front wipers stopped working most immediately. We replaced the switch in the steering column and that did nothing. Then we replaced the wiper motor. That seemed to work but now they won't come on until the car has been on for a while. That is not safe as the rain does not wait until the car has been on for a while. Is such a safety hazard and other vans have recalls for this why not mine?

Filed Apr 16, 2009 · Electrical · OK

I only owned the van for about 2 weeks(it was used) and all my gauges went out. The first time I turned on the mirror button it came back on for a few days went out again. The second time it happened I turned on the wipers it came back on for about a day, then it went out completely. It seems alot of people have the same problems.

Filed Jul 14, 2008 · Visibility · 87,240 miles · PA

The intermittent feature of the windshield wipers just quit working as it should. It would sometimes work for a few wipes, stop working for a while, then sometimes it would start working for a few more wipes. The control module on the steering column has been replaced twice. It worked for about two blocks out of the shop & just quit again. So far I have invested over $1,000.00 trying to get them to work.

Filed Mar 29, 2008 · Suspension · WI

Rusted out shock towers. Shock coming out of tower and up to bottom of wiper cowl. Scared to drive both left and right but left side is the worst.

Filed Nov 11, 2006 · Visibility · 116,500 miles · OR

The wiper blades will turn on by themselves while driving. To get them to turn off you must turn the ignition system off then restart the vehicle. If you turn on the wipers while driving they will not go back off until the car has been turned off and restarted also.

Filed Jul 25, 2006 · Brakes, Lights · NY

Strut tower corrosion-driver side-rust and metal breaking up-1998 grand caravan-purchased new-has 83,500 miles- have had belt problems several times-also windshield wipers intermit failure -rusted out power steering mech. Totally replaced-many brake jobs-and also headlight interior switch seems to fail at times. I need to make a decission to buy a new van with "hand controls" or have this van "hand controls" installed. Me thinks I need to buy a new van and be looking at another manufactor. As it seems like chrysler/dodge is not stepping up to all these failures that are seen by too many other van owners;of this 1998 model caravan. Saw on line a new repair for the strut rusting called ""fusor #112b/mopar 05083855aa. Can be used to fix this problemthe tsb #23-044-02 thru a company called lord corp. Listed under their oem bulletins and repair recommendations using fusor adhesives. Think I may use this on mine. Hope others can use this also. Thanks.

Filed Nov 25, 2005 · Visibility · 70,000 miles · PA

The intermittent mode of the windshield wipers dose not work. The wiper control module has been replaced twice. The vehicle has been out of service a total of five days for the attempted repairs.

Filed May 18, 2004 · Visibility · MD

While using the windshield wipers, the wiper motor failed which caused the blades to stop moving. Please provide details.

Filed Jan 14, 2004 · Visibility · 60,000 miles · NC

Windshield wipers are uncontrollable. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they will not turn off. Sometimes the intermittent function doesn't work. This is a serious distraction and also a big hazard in the rain.