1996 Dodge Grand Caravan airbag problems

AIR BAGS

THE VAN WILL START THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF. IT DOES THIS MORE WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. IF YOU LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS IN THE SHADE IT WILL START AND GET YOU TO YOUR NEXT DESTINATION. IF THE WEATHER IS TOO HOT IT WON'T START UNTIL THE WEATHER CHANGES TO COOLER. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER, TWO COMPUTERS, GOT THE CIRCUIT BOARD COLD SOLDERED. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE REST. IT STILL HAS THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON. THERE IS A WEB SITE TOPIX.COM THAT HAS A FORUM JUST FOR THIS PROBLEM. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT COMPLETELY. SOME ONE SOME WHERE HAS GOT TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE CLOCK SPRING IS UNDER RECALL. ONCE YOU GET THE RECALL DONE AFTER A FEW YEARS THE SPRING BREAKS AGAIN AND THEY DON'T FIX IT AGAIN. SO I NO LONGER HAVE A HORN OR AIRBAGS THAT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10233766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

- 96 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN W/3.8 V6 AND 41TE 4SPD TRANSMISION - 2 TRANSMISSION FAILURES - 1ST WENT TO ABOUT 125000, THEN KEPT HITTING THE "LIMP HOME MODE" - 2ND HAS "TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP" PROBLEM, SHOPS SAY REBUILD AGAIN, AFTER ONLY 38000 MILES. - FAN RELAY WENT OUT BEFORE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR OUT OF POCKET. - HAD CLOCK SPRING REPLACED AFTER COMPONENT FAILURE RELATING TO IT (HORN, CRUISE ETC) - UNION CITY GA DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE FUEL RETURN LINE ISSUE, BOTCHED IT UP AND CAUSED MAJOR LEAK WHEN REFUELING. THEY RE-FIXED IT AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING.

NHTSA complaint #10110774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

SERPENTINE BELT OR TENSIONER CLIP HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED 4 TIMES (TOWED EVERY TIME) ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING; TURN THE KEY AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START GOING, TURN THE KEY OFF AND THE WIPERS "KEEP" GOING, TAKE THE KEY TOTALLY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE WIPERS GO AND THE "DINGING" ALARM THAT TELLS YOU THE LIGHTS ARE ON OR THE KEY IS IN, STARTS.(I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THE CAR WAS POSSESSED) OR TURN THE KEY AND "NOTHING" COMES ON EXCEPT THE ENGINE. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 5 TIMES AT LEAST - IT'S USUALLY BETTER W/ A NEW BATTERY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW MOTOR AND ASSEMBLY REPLACED ON DRIVERS SIDE TWICE AND 5 TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MOST RECENT WAS 4/04, WHICH WAS REPLACED 7/04 AGAIN. THE SIDE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH SIDE DO NOT LOCK, IF YOU PUSH THE BUTTON DOWN, YOU CAN'T GET IT BACK UP. THE REAR HATCH IS DAMAGED FROM CLOSING THE DOOR, LOOKS LIKE I WAS HIT IN THE REAR, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR MONTHS IN FALL '03, NO MECHANIC COULD SAY WHY. WANTED TO GET THE A/C CHARGED BUT IT WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. DEALER COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SAID THE A/C UNIT WAS TOTALLY MELTED. HAD IT REPLACED AND THEN THE COMPUTER RESET. REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 100000, THE "PLANTATARY GEARS" WERE CRACKED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN IN 7/04, FAILED EMISIONS, REPLACED O2 SENSOR, LIGHT STILL ON, TACK STICKS AND CAR WON'T ACCELERATE AT TIMES - I CAN PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR AND IT WON'T GO?? FEELS LIKE IT'S CHOKING, NO POWER. HAVE A 3.8L, SHOULD HAVE POWER. THERE IS NO PANEL/DOOR FOR PASS. AIRBAG TO COME OUT. IF I EVER GOT IN AN ACCIDENT, WHAT WOULD IT DO...JUST BUST THROUGH MY DASH? OVER TIME, THE DASH ON THAT SIDE HAS GOTTEN SOFT AND MUSHY, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT? MY DAD BOUGHT THE SAME YEAR CARAVAN I DID, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE GRAND CARAVAN LE AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE 3.8L AND HE HASN'T HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM...I GUESS I GOT ALL OF THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10082978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. ALSO, HORN DIDN'T NOT WORK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10065374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

"AIR BAG" LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED (KNOWN PROBLEM), THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL ACTIVATE UPON PUSHING THE BUTTON, BUT THE CANCEL BUTTON WHEN PUSHED DOES NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL...THE DEACTIVATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE APPLIED. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON WET ROADS, USING CRUISE CONTROL, AND HAVING TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL VIA THE BRAKES....CAN BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE...THANKS!! - STEVE DOWLING.

NHTSA complaint #10058700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS GONE OUT. I HAVE 3 OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FIX IF SO MANY OTHER SAME YEAR VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I EVEN FOUND A WEBSITE WITH MANY OTHERS LISTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM KUWAIT IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND WHEN I BEGAN DRIVING MY VAN AGAIN THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN TAKE TO A DEALER NEAR ME TO HAVE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE?

NHTSA complaint #10052359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL CLOCKSPRING REPAIR ON DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *MR THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCED CLOCK SPRING FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT AND RECEIVED IT BUT THE CONSUMER ALSO WANTS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR OTHER EXPENSES. *TS *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10046281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

1996 GRAND CARAVAN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO RECALL NOTICE . FUEL RAIL AND AIR BAGS. AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY, TECHNICIAN REPLACED CLOCKSPRING BUT AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO BE ON. IT WAS THAT THE SAID AIR BAG MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. APPARENTLY, THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. AIR BAG MODULE REPLACEMENT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $400.00. THIS SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED BY RECALL, AS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10041806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE'S AIR BAG FAILED ON 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN.*MR IN APRIL 2001 THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG ALONG WITH THE CLOCKSPRING. THE CONSUMER PAID $842.92 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. IN JANUARY 2001 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER $152. WHICH THEY DEEMED WAS ENOUGH TO COVER THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTESTED THE AMOUNT OF THE REIMBURSEMENT BUT HAS NOT HEARD FROM THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE MATTER. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10042158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CHRYSLER'S IMPROPER ACTION ON AIR BAG RECALL #02V293000 . WHEN SYMPTOMS APPEARED 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS RECALL, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH THE CLOCK SPRING AND AIR BAG, BASED ON CHRYSLER'S BEST SERVICE INFORMATION. AT THE TIME I COMPLAINED TO A REGIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATING THAT AIR BAGS RARELY GO BAD AND ONLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER ACTIVATION. HE AGREED BY COMPENSATING HALF OF THE TOTAL REPAIR COST. LO AND BEHOLD THIS RECALL SHOWS UP IDENTIFYING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I SUBMITTED THE PROPER PAPERWORK TO CHRYSLER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECALL AND THEY DENIED THE AIR BAG PORTION OF MY REPAIR STATING IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I FEEL TOTAL CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE ENTIRE REPAIR AS THIS WAS THEIR ORIGINAL SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I FELT MY HANDS WERE TIED AT THE TIME OF REPAIR BECAUSE I WANTED THE SAFETY OF HAVING THE AIR BAG FOR MY FAMILY AND WAS ACTUALLY AFRAID OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT. YOU SHOULD DIRECT CHRYSLER TO PROVIDE FULL REMEDY QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM. DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO SHIRK THIS OBLIGATION.

NHTSA complaint #10028349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (NOTIFICATION # B24). THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED AND CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10021521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 85000 MILES BACK IN 1999. RECENTLY MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE HORN STOPPED WORKING (BUT WOULD SOMETIMES SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS), THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THIS WAS OVER A FEW 2-3 MONTH PERIOD THIS PAST SUMMER. I ASKED A MECHANIC ABOUT IT, HE SAID IT WAS A RECALL ITEM FROM DODGE. I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN, AND THEY SAID "THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SPRING" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY CHARGED ME ABOUT 200.00 TO REPLACE THE PART. YESTERDAY I HEARD ON THE RADIO IT IS A RECALL, SO I WANT TO HEAR IT FROM YOU. IS IT A RECALL? IF IT IS, SHOULD THE DEALERSHIP REFUND MY MONEY THAT WAS SPENT REPLACING THE PART. I THINK THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM/DEFECT ALL ALONG! THANKS, LOUIS.--- DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----769734.

NHTSA complaint #10008551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON CONSTANTLY INDICATING CLOCK SPRING FAILURE ACCORDING TO DEALER. WANTS TO BE PAID FOR FIXING THIS DEFECTIVE PART. SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770792***

NHTSA complaint #10006665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED (DIAGNOSED BY DEALER). THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON FAILURE. REQUEST THAT THIS MATTER BE LOOKED INTO AS THE COST OF REPAIR IS SOMEWHAT HIGH AT $88.06 FOR THE PART AND 136.80 FOR LABOR. I THINK THAT THIS ITEM IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. * SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****750168

NHTSA complaint #10006451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON AND STAYING ON. ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AFTER WORKING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A MONTH. THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THIS WAS RECALLED ON MANY 1996 BUT NOT OUR SERIES. *PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770848

NHTSA complaint #10006817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO RECALL# 02V293000. THE CONSUMER FILED FOR A REFUND WITH CHRYSLER WHICH HE HASN'T RECEIVED. *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10015966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

RE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V293000. CONSUMER STATES HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERTAIVE, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING PER RECALL 02V293000. CONSUMER STATED CHRYSLER HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS WHICH WERE PAID AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TT *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10009778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR NO REASON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS ON. TS

NHTSA complaint #10004360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCK SPRING. TS

NHTSA complaint #10004202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT ON ELECTRICAL FAILURE INTERMITTENT MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO DISCUSS RECALL. DT

NHTSA complaint #770099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DT

NHTSA complaint #768645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #567884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES AND AND STAYS ON AND THE HORN IS INOPERTIVE. DEALER CONTACTED HAD THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA complaint #8021691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

MR

NHTSA complaint #768493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.