1998 Dodge Caravan equipment problems

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 DODGE CARAVAN VAN AT WESTSIDE DODGE 1672 CASSAT AVE JACKSONVILLE FL 32210 AND WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS SUPPOSE TO STAY LIT AND THE A/C LIGHTS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BLINKING. WHEN I FOUND THE OWNERS MANUAL THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VAN I READ THAT THE`AIRBAG LIGHT IS SUPPOSE TO GO OFF IN 8 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED AND I ALSO READ THAT WHEN THE A/C LIGHTS ARE FLASHING THE A/C NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. I ADVISED THE SALESMAN AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I DID THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME $119.00 TO CHECK THE AIRBAG AND $49.95 TO CHECK THE AIRCONDITIONING. I REFUSED TO SIGN ANY CONSENT AND TRIED TO SPEAK WITH THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER AND WAS TOLD "WE ONLY SELL JUNK CARS TO THE PUBLIC AS A COURTESY", AND THAN HE HUNG UP ON ME. I ALSO FOUND ANOTHER COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER CUSTOMER OF THIS DEALERSHIP WHO BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND HAD THE SAME EXACT AIR BAG PROBLEM AND TO THIS DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED, I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS NO AIR CONDITIONING.

NHTSA complaint #10273745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

A/C FAN BELT. I HAVE WENT THROUGH 3 FAN BELTS FOR THIS VAN AND MY PARTS DEALER TOLD ME TO FIND OUT IF ANY RECALLS FOR THE PULLEY WAS OUT THERE.

NHTSA complaint #10232238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. SERPENTINE BELT FAILED FIVE TIMES. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS WELL AS THE CHARGING OF THE BATTERY. THIS ONLY HAPPENED IN WET OR RAINY CONDITIONS. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD AGAIN REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT, BUT IT WOULD FAIL AGAIN IN WET CONDITIONS OR RAINY WEATHER. THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE. THE LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SERPENTINE BELT. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY WAS REPORTED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT ALSO. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06.

NHTSA complaint #10138130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

DT: AIR CONDITIONING LIGHT IS BLINKING; ENGINE CHECK AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, NOTHING ON THE DASH (SPEEDOMETER ETC) DOES NOT WORK. DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK; IT'S LIKE IT ALL WENT OUT AT ONCE.

NHTSA complaint #10120105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

I OWN A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN 3.3L AND LESS THAN 55,000 MILES, THE TENSIONER PULLEY WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE BOLT HOLDING THE TENSIONER IN PLACE WAS SHEARED IN HALF, THE BELT FELL OFF, AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP IMMEDIATELY. THANK GOD THIS HAPPEN IN THE SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AND NOT ON FREEWAY, THE VAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL! HAVE THE VAN TOWED TO C&M AUTO SERVICE, HAVE THE SERPENTINE BELT, THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER REPLACED AND RE-ALIGN THE TENSIONER. THE BELT/PULLEY DESIGN ON THIS VAN IS FLAWED AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! IN BRAZIL, CHRYSLER DID A RECALL BACK IN 2000 - DUE TO SEVERAL ISSUES RELATED TO BELT/PULLEY SYSTEM ON THE CARAVAN AND GRAND CARAVAN MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #10100917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR OPENED. ALSO, THE HANDICAP LIFT OPENED , AND FOLDED OUT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND CLOSED THE LIFT AND THE DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10098949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN WITH ONLY 66,332 MILES THE PROBLEM'S THAT HAVE COME UP IS FIRST THE TRANSMISSION HAD A INTERNAL PIN BUST WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL PARTS TO COME APART. THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSIONTO BREAK, IT HAD TO BE REBUILT ON 2-17-04 WITH 61995 MILES AT THE COST OF $1685.25. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAD A FAILURE WITH THE EVAPORATOR WHICH SEEMS TO BE VERY COMON ACCORDING TO SEVERAL SERVICE CENTERS THAT I HAVE CONTACTED OUTSIDE THE CHRYSLER COMPANY. WHICH SPITZER DODGE WANTED TO CHARGE $1100.00 TO REPAIR. I KNOW THE VEHICAL IS 6 YEARS OLD BUT WITH THE LOW MILAGE I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE UNCALLED FOR AND THOUGH IT SHOULD BE REPORTED.

NHTSA complaint #10088699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

5 BATTERIES SINCE PURCHASED NEW. THREE WERE NOTED AS HAVING LEAKED BATTERY ACID. IN MAY/JUNE 2003, THE WIRING HARNESSES (MAIN ONES) HAD BEEN EATEN BY BATTERY ACID CAUSING ALL SORTS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE HARNESSES ARE ROUTED UNDER THE BATTERY PAN. STUPID PLACEMENT. DEALER SPLICED WIRES TOGETHER TO GET IT RUNNING AT HIS COST, AT MY INSISTENCE. VAN CONTINUES TO START INCONSISTENTLY. HORN DOESN'T WORK SINCE DEALER SPLICED WIRES. TURN IGNITION KEY - CLICK, REPEAT 10-20 TIMES, STARTER WILL CATCH ON ONE. DESIGN DEFECT IS ROUTING OF HARNESSES AND LACK OF SHIELD TO PROTECT THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10070424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FAILED TWICE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. ALSO, SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED 6 TIMES. WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10046425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I'VE GONE THROUGH 5 BELTS IN THE PAST YEAR. MY A/C JUST WENT OUT AGAIN. I HAD THE EVAPORATER COIL REPLACED JUST AFTER MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY GAVE OUT 2 YEARS AGO. MY VAN ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT NEW IN OCT.97. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. I'VE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN A VEHICLE AS I DO IN MY VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10045269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES, THE AC UNIT NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED. THIS WOULD BE AROUND AUGUST OF 2001. WHILE OUT OF THE NORM WITH A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE, I CHALKED IT UP TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAD COOLANT ADDED AND WENT ON MY WAY. IN JULY OF 2002, THE AC AGAIN WAS NOT COOLING THE VEHICLE. MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS AROUND 60,000 AT THIS POINT. I SPOKE WITH AN EMPLOYEE OF THE THEN DAIMLER CHRYSLER (I BELIEVE THAT UNIT HAS BEEN SOLD TO BEHR CORPORATION) HVAC UNIT IN DAYTON, OH. HE ASKED ME TO HAVE THE EVAPORATOR UNIT CHECKED. A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE IS A MECHANIC; I HAD HIM DO THE WORK. HE PLACED DYE IN THE SYSTEM TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AND DYE WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING FROM THE AC DRAIN, POINTING TO THE IMPENDING FAILURE OF THE EVAPORATOR. I RELAYED THIS INFORMATION TO THE CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE AND HE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED THE EVAPORATOR THAT WAS CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. AT THAT TIME HE ASKED ME TO CONTACT MY DEALER TO SEE IF ANY SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALL NOTICES HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO CALLED TO VERIFY MY WARRANTY, ETC., TO COVER MY BASES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THAT I WAS INDEED OUT OF WARRANTY. I ALSO ASKED FOR AN APPROXIMATE PRICE TO REPLACE AN EVAPORATOR AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE THAT WAS APPROACHING $1000.00 I DID NOT REALLY GET AGITATED OVER THIS UNTIL THIS PAST JULY. FIGURING THAT THE ROUTINE OF RECHARGING THE UNIT FOR THE WARM MONTHS WAS A PRUDENT WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM, I WAS PREPARED TO SPEND ABOUT $25.00 FOR COOLANT AND GO ON MY MERRY WAY FOR THIS SUMMER. ONE SLIGHT PROBLEM. THE COMPRESSOR FAILED AT 66,000 MILES. AS I STATED BEFORE, I UNDERSTAND WARRANTIES AND I GET THE PROCESS. BUT FOR A TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE, RELATED ONLY TO NORMAL OPERATION, IN MY OPINION IS UNACCEPTABLE. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THAT THE EVAPORATOR ISSUE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN BOTH MY 1994 VEHICLE AND MY 1998.

NHTSA complaint #10039193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR IN VEHCLE AND ALL AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER THOUGHT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED EVAPARATOR SWITHCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8013002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSOR FROZEN.

NHTSA complaint #756640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE EVAPORATOR COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE A/C.

NHTSA complaint #785748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING . VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT AIR CONDITIONING EVAPARTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THIS WAS SECOND REPAIR ON AIR CONDITIONER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #894649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED FOR THE 4TH TIME WHILE DRIVING. HAD HEARD A FUNNY NOISE PRIOR TO NO STEERING. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FIRST 2 TIMES WAS AT 35MPH. 2ND 2 TIMES WAS WHILE STARTING VEHICLE. BEEN TO DEALER EACH TIME TO HAVE BELT REPLACED.*AK POWER STEERING, WATER PUM, ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #874186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE RECIRCULATING LIGHT AND THE A/C LIGHT ARE CONSTANTLY FLASHING.

NHTSA complaint #733457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO NOT COOL THE AIR. TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR (GEMINI) DEALER IN WADSWORTH, OH WHO CHARGED THE UNIT AND ADDED DYE TO PINPOINT THE COOLANT LOSS POINT. ON RETURN THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE EVAPORATOR WHICH BY INFERENCE FROM THEIR COMMENTS IS QUITE COMMON. COST WAS $742.00 PLUS THE PREVIOUS CHARGE OF $75.00. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOMETHING THIS COMMON IS A FAULT THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE MFG. NOTED A 94 COMPLAINT ON NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME THING WITH COSTS ALMOST IDENTICAL.

NHTSA complaint #731903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ON DATE 03-30-98 TOOK CAR IN STATING WHEN A/C IS ON SURGING AND HESITATING AND TICK TICKING IN ENGINE FOR A NEW CAR. THEN ON 04-13-98 TOOK CAR IN AGAIN A/C CYCLES AND A WHISHING SOUND IS VERY LOUD WHEN CYCLE GOES ON AND STILL SURGES AND HESITATES. THEY REPLACED GASKET ,EVAPERATOR COIL AND TUBE. AND H-VALVE SAYING THIS WAS A COMMON NOISE AND PUT PARTS ORINGS ETC,SAYING THIS MAY HELP OR NOT HELP. THEN ON 06-24-98 STILL SURGING AND HESITATING WHEN A/C IS ON BUT WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. WHICH WE DONT SEE HOW. THEN ON 12-07-98 TOOK CAR IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON THEY SAID NO PROBLEM BUT WE STILL FEEL IT IS.THEN WE GOT TIED OF TAKE IT AND WENT FOR AN AR

NHTSA complaint #709714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

I OWN A HANDICAP ADAPTED VAN WHICH I FEEL IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN..THIS VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS (AT LEAST) 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM..(WHEN FILED WITH GASOLINE, IT BUCKS, HESTITTAES AND STALLS OUT , LAST TIME ON TOP OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS(I WAS SCARED TO DEATH), EACH TIME MY VAN IS IN FOR REPAIRS AS WELLI HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AS I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY SPECIALLY ADAPTED VAN AND ASLO EACH TIME I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE VAN AND IT HAS TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS..I'M ALSO IN A JAMI CAN'T BE DRIVING A VAN THAT COULD BREAK UP ON ME(I CAN;T WALK..I CAN'T TAKE A CAB) MY VAN CAME BACK WITH A NEW FUELTANK AND FUEL LINE LAST THURSDAY AND TODAY RIDE-AWAY CORP HAD TO PICK IT UP AGAIN..FOR REPAIRS TO THE SPECIALLY ADAPTED"EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE, WHICH I'VE NOT HAD NOW SINCE LAST FRIDAY) AND ALSO SINCE THE "REPAIRED" VAN HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME THE KNEELER(SPECIAL SUSPENSION FLOOR) HAS BEEN "BOUNCING" WHEN THE RAMP IS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MAKING A "BARKING" SOUND..THIS VAN HAS ONLY (NOW) A LITTLE OVER 8 MILES ON IT, AND I FEEL THIS VAN IS VERY UNSAFE AND I'M VERY NERVOUS AND APPREHENSIVE EACH TIME ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN HAVE TO USE IT...I HAVE TRIED TO BE PATIENT AND HAVE TRIED "WORKING" WITH THE COMPANIES, BUT IT JUST APPEARS TO BE ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS VAN..ALSO I'D LIKE TO ADD ANOTHER POINT THAT I FEEL DESERVES SOME TIME..WHEN I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THIS VAN IN 2/98 RIDE_AWAY CORP IN EAST HARTFORD OR NEW HAMPSHIRE(THE HEADQUARTERS) WERE THE "MIDDLEMAN" SO TO SPEAK , IT WAS THRU THEM THAT THE VAN WAS PURCHASED..THE MONEY WAS PAID IMMEDIATELY CUZ BRAUN IN INDIANA WOULDN'T SEND THE VAN UNTIL THEY HAD THEIR MONEY..IT WAS "FAXED" TO THEM AND WE WERE EXPECTING THE VAN IN A MATTER OF AT THE MOST 10DAYS(AS IT HAD TO BE FLAT BEDDED TO CT) THE VAN DIDN'T ARRIVE UNTIL 6 WEEKS LATER(AFTER BRAUN CHRSLER HAD THEIR MONEY) WHY DID MY VAN HAVE TO SIT THERE UP IN WINAMAC INDIANA FOR AN EXTRA 6 WEEK..COULD IT BE THAT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM EVEN WAY BACK THEN?WH.

NHTSA complaint #708123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

RADIO MALFUCNTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #607739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

DESIGN/LOCATION OF INFORMATION CENTER INDICATORS (TURN SIGNALS, HIGH BEAM INICATORS ETC.) ARE NOT VISIBLE TO DRIVERS OF ALL HEIGHTS. CONSUMER IS 5'11 AND HAS TO REMOVE EYES FROM ROADWAY IN SEARCH OF INDICATORS.

NHTSA complaint #544769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

SERPENTINE/AC BELT LOOSE.

NHTSA complaint #543915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONSUMER HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH AIR CONDITIONER; WHEN A/C IS TURN ON IT FROSTED THE WINDSHIELD SO BADLY THAT IT TURNED WHITE. AFFECTED CONSUMER'S VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO FIND ANY THING WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #826456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.