1999 Dodge Caravan body problems

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MAIN DRIVE BELT WOULD DETACH FROM THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT BUMPER WOULD SUDDENLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE AND FALL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10660871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE REPLACING REAR BRAKE DRUMS IN MY GARAGE, IT BECAME NECESSARY TO JACK THE VEHICLE TO RAISE THE REAR LEFT SIDE AND REMOVE THE REAR LEFT WHEEL. I BROKE THE LUG NUTS LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE GROUND, THEN, USING THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE, I FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO POSITION THE JACK IN THE RECOMMENDED LOCATION TOWARD THE LEFT REAR AT THE IDENTIFIED JACKING LOCATION. I RAISED THE VEHICLE JUST ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. AS I WAS SPINNING THE LUG NUTS OFF, THE CAR FELL OFF THE JACK. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE RUST HAD COMPROMISED THE STRUCTURAL METAL AT THE JACKING LOCATION AND THE WEIGHT, WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING RAISED, CRUSHED THE WEAKENED STEEL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT TOO CLOSE AND WAS NOT CAUGHT UNDER THE WHEEL OR OTHER BODY PART. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR, AT THE RECOMMENDED JACKING LOCATION, HAD BEEN SEVERELY COMPROMISED BY RUST. THE EXTENT OF THE RUST DAMAGE WAS NOT OBVIOUS UNTIL THE CAR FELL OFF THE JACK. AT THAT POINT THE PAINT WHICH HAD BEEN HIDING THE DAMAGE HAD FALLEN OFF AS THE STRUCTURAL STEEL UNDER IT COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR. THERE IS ALSO A RUBBER PAD THAT CONTRIBUTED TO CONCEALMENT OF THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE SINCE IT COVERED MOST OF THE DAMAGED AREA SURROUNDING THE STUD USED TO PROPERLY LOCATE THE TOP OF THE JACK. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE INJURY TO ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN CHRYSLER'S OWNER'S MANUAL.

NHTSA complaint #10524685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

DURING AN INSPECTION OF OUR VAN IT WAS NOTED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER IS RUSTING THROUGH. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE ON LINE I NOTICED MANY CASES WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO GET THIS CONDITION REPAIRED. ALSO I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF WARNING BEFORE THIS CONDITION FAILS RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10487221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

THE LEFT HAND STRUT TOWER ON MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN HAS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH AND I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. LOCAL DODGE DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL AND THAT IT'S ONLY A COMESTIC PROBLEM. THEY WANT $2200 TO REPAIR WHICH IS MORE THAN VALUE OF VEHICLE. EVERYTHING I HAVE READ INDICATES THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD CAUSE A CRASH IF DRIVING WHEN THE STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY FAILS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS WELL KNOWN AND DOCEMENTED SAFETY PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #10456668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

STRUT TOWER CORROSION.

NHTSA complaint #10386470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1999 DODGE CARAVAN, SHOCK TOWER RUST, THIS IS NOT JUST COSMETIC RUST, THIS IS SERIOUS STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WHERE THE SUSPENSION CAN FAIL BY BREAKING UP THROUGH THE SHOCK TOWER AND COLLAPSE THE FROM END OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DEFECT BY CHRYSLER AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE TWO DODGE CARAVANS AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME SHOCK TOWER RUST PROBLEMS. EVEN THE DODGE DEALERS KEEP MANY REPAIR KITS IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE LARGE DEMAND. AS THE DODGE CARVANS GET OLDER, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF FAILURES AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. THE VEHICLES ARE ONLY 10 YEARS OLD, AND HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IS JUST WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #10346473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1999 DODGE CARAVAN. STRUT TOWERS RUSTED OUT NOT ONLY THE CAP BUT THE WHOLE TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IF THIS SHOULD FAIL IT COULD BE DISASTROUS. I JUST NOTICED THIS A WEEK OR SO AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10343872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LIFT GATE HANDLE RUSTED CAUSING THE REAR DOOR NOT TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144,000. UPDATED 10/27/10.

NHTSA complaint #10336792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

BOTH STRUT TOWER CAPS RUSTED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10318799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE SHOCK TOWERS RUSTING AWAY. FAILURE OCCURS IN MOST OF THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLE IS RENDERED UNSAFE AND COULD CAUSE BODILY HARM TO OCCUPANTS IF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #10312357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE STRUT MOUNTS. HE FEELS THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS WILL DETACH SOON AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 155,000. UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF UPDATED 06/09/09.

NHTSA complaint #10272594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE STRUT TO BURST THROUGH INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. A AUTO BODY REPAIR MAN SAID THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS STRUCTURAL AND SAFETY ISSUE. IN RESEARCHING A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS OF DODGE CARAVAN, TOWN AND COUNTRY, AND PLYMOUTH VOYAGER MODELS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS DANGEROUS ENGINEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10266145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

FRONT TWO (2) RUSTED STRUT TOWERS.

NHTSA complaint #10264222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

RUSTING STRUT TOWERS CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10258457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

CORRODED STRUT TOWER ON DRIVER'S SIDE 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1998-1999 MODEL YEARS. BULLETIN 23-044-02 DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM AS "COSMETIC." MECHANIC SAYS REPAIR (USING CHRYSLER REPAIR KIT) SHOULD RUN $350-450 USD. IF CHRYSLER IS AND HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS "SAFETY RELATED" ISSUE FOR SO LONG, WHY ARE THEY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM FOR THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #10234013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN IN WHICH THE STRUT HOUSING IS RUSTING OUT. I INQUIRED ABOUT IT SOME TIME AGO BUT DODGE DID NOT HAVE A FIX. THIS PROBLEM IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE . IT IS NOW AT THE POINT WHERE IT WILL PUNCH THROUGH AND CAUSE THE CAR TO CRASH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10221206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER HAS RUST, WHICH EVENTUALLY COULD RESULT IN SUSPENSION-STRUT FAILURE AND LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. PICTURES AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10217053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH THE LOCAL MEIJER'S PARKING LOT WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE. THIS WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE A CATACLYSMIC EVENT BUT THIS TIME THE STRUT TOWER COLLAPSED ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO HIT THE INNER FENDER. I WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 10 MPH SO THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT IF THIS WERE TO HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DEATH WOULD BE GUARANTEED. THERE IS NO REASON FOR ANY VEHICLE LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD TO HAVE THE DEGREE OF STRUCTURAL RUST THAT THIS VAN HAS. I HAVE SINCE SEEN MANY MORE VANS WITH THE SAME STRUCTURAL ISSUES AS MINE.

NHTSA complaint #10206721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

CORROSION ON TOP OF STRUT TOWERS CAUSING STRESS CRACKS.

NHTSA complaint #10168557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR LEAKAGE UNDER THE MOTOR. HOWEVER, HE FOUND THAT THE HOUSING WAS BROKEN. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10108552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSIDE HEADLINER FELL DOWN ONTO THE CONSUMER. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10103166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE LEFT STRUT BODY HAS A CRACK AND FRAME WAS RUSTED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10079282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE SLIDING DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING, IT SEEMS TO OPEN WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10010305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATES THAT ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE AND IT IDLES ERRATICALLY, VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE TRAVELLING 60 MPH, ON ONE OCCASION, DEALER FOUND THAT A PISTON HAD FAILED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. BRAKES SQUEALED, DEALER CLEANED AND SANDED PADS AND ROTORS. VEHICLE SHOOK AT SPEEDS ABOVE 70 MPH, DEALER BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES. CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG ODORS THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR INOPERABLE. ALTERNATOR BELT CAME APART. ACCELERATOR RATTLES. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES DECELERATION. CARPET BUCKLES. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #872946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FRAME IS BENT/ REAR AXLE IS OFF BY 30 DEGREE, AND TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, REAR TAILGATE WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #850720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CUSTOMER REBATE CHANGED TO 1000 DOLLARS IN THE MIDDLE OF A 750 DOLLAR REBATE PROGRAM, TO EXPIRE 1/4/99 I WROTE TO ASK FOR THE ADDITIONAL 250DOLLARCHANGED ON 11/24/98. SO FAR NO RESPONSE

NHTSA complaint #701784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.