20 of the 745 complaints about the 1999 Dodge Caravan are about the lighting — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,000 miles.
20
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT ON ME NO MATTER WHERE I AM AT. MY FRONT SEATS WILL NOT MOVE BACK AND FORTH AT DUE TO THE HANDLE MECHANISM BREAKING. MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES DO NOT PUT OUT THE RIGHT BEAM OF LIGHT THE IT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE PROPERLY AT NIGHT. I NEED YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER PLEASE.
NHTSA complaint #10691924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO KNOWN REASON. DODGE TOLD US THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE DASH THAT CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHUT DOWN. THE TECHNICIANS INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED ON DEMAND. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY, MOST RECENTLY IN JANUARY 2014, WHEN THE COMPUTER WENT OUT, SHUTTING DOWN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE WHEELS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTINUED FORWARD, WHICH PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A CURB, FLATTENING TWO TIRES AND DAMAGING THOSE RESPECTIVE RIMS. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS INJURED, HAD THERE BEEN A VEHICLE NEXT TO THE VAN, AS OPPOSED TO A HIGH CURB, THE DEFECT IN THE VEHICLES WIRING AND COMPUTER WOULD HAVE CAUSED A COLLISION. THERE IS NEVER ANY WARNING PRIOR TO THE ELECTRICAL AND INSTRUMENT PANEL GOING OUT. THERE IS NO KNOWN TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. IT IS NOT TRIGGERED BY GOING OVER A BUMP, DRIVING AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED, STOPPING OR ACCELERATING. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS, BECAUSE A WITNESS (WHO HAPPENED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER) TO THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ADVISED US THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE IN DODGE CARAVANS BUILT IN THE LATE 1990S/EARLY 2000S.
NHTSA complaint #10567998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. ON APRIL 24, 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND THE TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE INCREASED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COOL. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE DEALER INSTRUCTED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN DRIVING CONDITION AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,929. UPDATED 07/07/08.*LJ THE FAN RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE HEADLIGHT HAD CONDENSATION ON THEINSIDE. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10230347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE HORN NO LONGER WORKED. ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,500.
NHTSA complaint #10214232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN HAS PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS COVERS. THE LEFT SIDE IS SO BAD IT HAS REDUCED THE OUT PUT BY HALF. I HAD A ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE RIGHT PLASTIC ON TO BE REPLACED. SO I BELIEVE ANY ONE WHO HAS NOT REPLACED THESE EXPENSIVE COVERS HAS LOST THERE OUT PUT OF THESE & NOT KNOW IT BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT COMPARE IT AGAINST A GOOD ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10141877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE LEVER AND BOLT BROKE OFF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT IS UNABLE TO RECLINE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK. ALSO, THIRD BRAKE LIGHT BULBS MALFUNCTIONED, BULD WAS REPLACED. *AK THE DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTER HANDLE BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10103621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PLASTIC COVER ON HEADLIGHTS DETERIORATED. THIS AFFECTED THE LIGHT BULB. THE DRIVER HAS DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD AT NIGHT.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10101338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10089828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE HEADLIGHTS LENS DEVELOPED A CLOUDY DISCOLORATION WHICH REDUCED THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATION. THIS RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PARTS WERE $260.00 PER HEADLIGHT. *AK THE REPORTS STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL CARAVANS. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10072144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS DEVELOPED AN OPAQUE COLOR THAT REDUCED THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10057654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME AND THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS TIME THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE FREE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANYMORE THAN REPLACE A SWITCH. AFTER 4 FAILURES, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. *PH DODGE APPROVED A NEW SWITCH AT NO COST AND HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO BUT A LOCAL DEALER INSTALLED AN OLD SWITCH IN 2000, 2001, AND 2002. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10047861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. WHILE RAINING INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. ALSO, THERE WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE TRAVELING 30-35 MPH BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. INSURANCE CO. HAD VEHICLE TOWED SO THAT THEY COULD INSPECT THE DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10044433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
SEAL AROUND WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK THE WATER DROPS ONTO THE COMPUTER CONTROL AND CAUSES ALL INSTRUMENTS TO WORK IRRADICALLY ON THE DASH BOARD. CONSUMER FEELS THE MAIN CONTROLS SHOULD BE SHIELDED FROM WINDSHIELD LEAKS. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #8013060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SEAL AROUND WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK THE WATER DROPS ONTO THE COMPUTER CONTROL AND CAUSES ALL INSTRUMENTS TO WORK IRRADICALLY ON THE DASH BOARD. CONSUMER FEELS THE MAIN CONTROLS SHOULD BE SHIELDED FROM WINDSHIELD LEAKS. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #8013060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE VEHICLES HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ENGAGED.
NHTSA complaint #562819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE VEHICLES HEAD LIGHTS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ENGAGED.
NHTSA complaint #562819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN. IT WAS INTERMITTENT. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, AND THEN THEY WOULD NOT COME ON. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT ADJUST. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HEADLIGHTS MIGHT GO OUT WHILE ON HIGHWAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #893263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS, AS DESIGNED AND AS CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT BY THE DEALER, ARE AIMED TOO LOW AND DO NOT COVER ENOUGH AREA IN FRONT OF VEHICLE FOR SAFE OPERATION. DRIVER HAS TO USE HIGH BEAMS IN LOCAL DRIVING, WITH CONSTANT NEED TO DIM FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHERE OTHER CARS CAN USE ONLY LOW BEAMS. IN COUNTRY, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN HIGH BEAMS DO NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH.
NHTSA complaint #716381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
UPPER BRAKE LIGHT ON NEW DODGE VEHICLES FLASHES WHEN ENGAGED. THIS IS THE ONLY MANUFACTURER I'VE NOTICED THAT OFFERS THIS, AND IT DOES DRAW MY EYE TO IT, BUT AS MORE OF A DISTRACTION THAN INFORMATION. I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS BANNED.
NHTSA complaint #716198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH, AFFECTING VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #839914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.