10 of the 1,028 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Caravan are about the doors, latches and locks — 1% of everything reported for this model year.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WE BOUGHT THIS VAN ONE YEAR AGO AND SO FAR WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OXYGEN SENSOR, SPEED SENSOR, HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHENEVER THEY WANT NOT JUST THE 16 MPH THING, BALL JOINTS ARE CLUNKING, THE CD PLAYER QUIT AND THEN SOON AFTER FM RADIO ONLY AM WORKS.
NHTSA complaint #10056554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. AIR BAG LIGHT HAD BEEN ON SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DEALER WHICH ASKED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALER IT WAS TOO LATE. ON THE WAY BACK HOME SHE SMELLED SMOKE BUT KEPT DRIVING UNTIL SHE REACHED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SHE GOT THE HOSE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN, CALLED THE MECHANIC/DEALER. THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS.
NHTSA complaint #10038453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES ALL THE TIME, SOMETIMES THEY STOP AFTER A FEW SWIPES AND SOMETIMES I NEED TO TURN THE SWITCH ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN TO MAKE THEM STOP. SO FAR THEY HAVE WORKED WHEN I NEEDED THEM BUT IT MAY ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, IT IS VERY UNSAFE! (1999) AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON NEARLY ALL THE TIME NOW. (JUN 2003) SLIDING DOOR LOCK DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHEN USING THE POWER LOCKS.
NHTSA complaint #10023634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND DOOR LINK ACTUATOR WAS INOPERABLE DUE TO DOOR LATCH CONTROL ASSEMBLY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #561449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
SLIDING DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS--DOOR REMAINS LOCKED AND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, OR DOOR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK. JUST BEFORE FAILURE DOOR HAS PROBLEM LATCHING SUCCESSFULLY. AUTO DOOR LOCK MAKES BUZZING NOISE WHEN LOCKING IS ATTEMPTED. AFTER SECOND FAILURE, DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT IS COMMON TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF ROCKWELL ACTUATOR PART FOR THESE VEHICLES. WE'VE HAD 3 FAILURES OF DRIVERS SIDE AND 5 ON PASSENGER SIDE. LATEST WAS TODAY, 10/11/00. VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURES KEEP HAPPENING.
NHTSA complaint #734098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN SEVERAL TSB'S ON THE DOORS DEALER SAID IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #726118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DEAL SAID CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT I NOTICE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE LACTH MECHANISM BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT DOORS. THE RIGHT DOOR HAS ONE LATCH AND THE LEFT HAS TWO LATCHES.
NHTSA complaint #724264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
RIGHT FRONT DOOR LATCH FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
SLIDING DOOR FAILED, DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #824923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOCKS FAILED ON SLIDING DOORS.
NHTSA complaint #526888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.