1997 Dodge Caravan suspension problems

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

THE STRUT TOWER ON THE 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, THAT HAS ONLY 85,500 MILES RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. DODGE ADMITTED TO A DESIGN FLAW FOR THE PREMATURE RUSTING STRUT TOWERS. A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FROM CHRYSLER DATED OCTOBER '02 EXPLICITLY STATED THAT ALL '1996 TO 19'99 CHRYSLER VANS PLYMOUTH, DODGE, AND CHRYSLER, HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT TOWERS. ALL OF THEM WILL EVENTUALLY RUST FROM THE BOTTOM UP. AS I STATED, THE STRUT TOWERS WERE DEFECTIVE IN THERE DESIGN. CHRYSLER HAS A WARRANTY PART NUMBER 05086513AA BUT REFUSES TO FIX A KNOWN DANGEROUS DEFECT, BECAUSE THE VAN IS OVER THE 7 YEAR, 100,000 MILE, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST WARRANTY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS VAN HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR ALMOST ALL MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND YEARLY STATE OF MAINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, AND THIS ISSUE WAS NEVER MENTIONED. CLEARLY, WHEN THE RUSTED STRUT TOWER GIVES, THE STRUT WILL COME UP THROUGH THE HOOD. AT THAT POINT, LIVES WILL BE IN DANGER, AS THE PROBABILITY OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS INEVITABLE. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS MY FORMAL COMPLAINT. WILL CHRYSLER LIVE UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR THIS KNOW DEFECT FOR THOSE OF US OUT OF THE WARRANTY TIMELINE.

NHTSA complaint #10196573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

SUMMARY: CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKLOG: WIDES-SPREAD OCCURRENCE OF THIS DEFECT INDICATES THE NEED FOR RECALL ON THESE PARTS. DETAILS: OUR DODGE CARAVAN IS IN NEED OF NEW CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, HOWEVER THERE IS A NATIONAL BACKLOG FOR THESE PARTS AND THEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 4-8 WEEKS OR LONGER. WE BELIEVE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT IS A NEEDED AND FAIR WAY TO HANDLE THIS, AS THIS DEFECT IS OBVIOUSLY SO WIDE-SPREAD AS TO BE UNMANAGEABLE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER DIRECTLY AND THEY HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. VIN: VB482644, MILEAGE: 82,000.

NHTSA complaint #10161721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER IN BOTH OF MY CHRYSLER MINIVANS 97 CARAVAN & 96 TC ARE RUSTING EXCESSIVELY. MY 97 CARAVAN LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BREAK THROUGH SOON. MY MECHANIC CLAIMS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY CHRYSLER MINIVAN'S. THE REPAIRS COST MORE THAN THE VAN IS WORTH.

NHTSA complaint #10153885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING A STATE INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED CORROSION ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHICH DETERMINED THE STRUT TOWER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS AWAITING THE REPLACEMENT PART.

NHTSA complaint #10153403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

1997 DODGE CARAVAN TWO FRONT STRUT TOWERS ARE IN A DEFECTIVE STATE.*MR

NHTSA complaint #10117341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

THIS IS RELATED TO COMPLAINT 10090457. MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN HAS EXCESSIVE RUST AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVER-SIDE STRUT CAP. LARGE CHIPS OF RUSTED METAL CAN EASILY BE REMOVED WITH A SCREW DRIVER.*AK I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RISK IN CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN LATE 1996, AND HAVE KEPT IT IN MINNESOTA SINCE. THE REST OF THE BODY HAS EVIDENCE OF EARLY RUST THAT, IN A COUPLE YEARS, WILL BE UGLY, BUT LOOKS OK NOW AND IS TYPICAL FOR AN 8-YR OLD CAR IN MINNESOTA. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, WHICH DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM AS COSMETIC, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO PROVIDED A REPAIR KIT. THE KIT USES EPOXY TO GLUE ON A REPLACEMENT CAP, SO THAT SUGGESTS THE PROBLEM REALLY IS COSMETIC. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THE BODY-SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE KIT IS OUT OF STOCK. IS IT SAFE?

NHTSA complaint #10102871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

STRUT TOWERS RUSTED THRU GREAT LOOKING VAN ON OUT SIDE I HAVE SEEN MORE OF THESE .THE LOCAL WELDIG SHOP DOES THESE JOBS VREY OFTEN FOR 1200 BUCKS!

NHTSA complaint #10098162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP. WON'T REIMBURSE FOR REPLACEMENT OF CLOCKSPRING BECAUSE REPAIR WASN'T DONE FROM A DAIMLER CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. (NAR)

NHTSA complaint #10059890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

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.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

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.

SUSPENSION

SHOCK TOWER WAS DECAYING.*AK CONSUMER WATCH TOWER STRUT RUST TO THE POINT WHERE THE METAL WAS RIPPING APART. DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED PART IS STILL ON VEHICLE AND AVAILABLE TO LOOK AT. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10042003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10019880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CONSUMER STATES FRONT SUSPENSION WAS MISALIGNED AND FRONT SWAY BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #564629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

WHILE DRIVING IN DRIVEWAY THE SWAY BAR IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION SNAPPED, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #561567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

WHILE USING AIR CONDITIONER IT STOPPED WITHOUT A WARNING OF ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK A/C WAS REPLACED ON WARRANTY. THE STRUTS WERE LEAKING. THE FUEL SENSOR SYSTEM FAILED PREMATURELY AND WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #881048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY WHEN BREAKING, AND POPPING NOISES. HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION AT 37,100 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AT 54,354 MILES. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM JOINTS AT 59,421 MILES. TIRES: TIRES LOOSE AIR PRESSURE AND GO FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON INTERMITANTLY, RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES. TIRE BURST WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF A THIRD TIRE. DOOR LOCKS: INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR POWER LOCK. WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH POWER CONTROL. RADIO TAPE DECK: TAPE PLAYER ACTIVATED WITHOUT TAPE IN THE DECK. UNABLE TO STOP TAPE PLAYER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )

NHTSA complaint #726588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN HARD, VEHICLE SHIMMIED VERY HARD WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAD TO FIX THE STABLIZAR BAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #866294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

RATTLES NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT END.

NHTSA complaint #535332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE PULLS TO EITHER SIDE CAUSE UINKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #830822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.