1996 Dodge Grand Caravan electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. 1. THE WINDSHIELD AND REAR WIPERS WILL GO ON AN OFF WHEN THEY WANT TOO. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON YOU CAN'T TURN THEM OFF. THE BACK ONE WILL COME ON SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR. 2. THE HORN ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING. 3. WHEN MY VAN HIT AROUND 80,00 MILES THE AIR COND. STOPPED WORKING AND DOESN'T GET COLD. TOOK IT TO A PLACE TO CHECK AND THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH DODGE. AND THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND 1,500.00 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10238559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND ALSO STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURES GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE AND OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIRING IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A FUSE BOX REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10152043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MOTHERBOARD HAS STOPPED WORKING AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IT FAILED A THIRD TIME A WEEK AGO; LAST TIME THE MOTHERBOARD WAS REPLACED WAS OCT 2003. WHEN MOTHERBOARD FAILS, ALL DISPLAY ITEMS CEASE TO WORK - NO SPEED INDICATOR, NO FUEL GAUGE, NO TEMP GAUGE, NO MILEAGE. THIS IS A $700 REPAIR AND SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. HAVE NOT REPLACED PART A THIRD TIME, AM CONSIDERING REPLACING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10107850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SHUT DOWN, AND LOST ALL POWER. SAME THING OCCURRED 1 MONTH LATER. I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH 4 CHILDREN ABOARD. MECHANIC HAS CHANGED 2 RELAY SWITCHES. DO NOT KNOW IF AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10093341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH SEVERAL ELECTICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT RESET. ALL OF THE FANS FOR THE HEATER AND A/C DOESN'T WORK. THE REAR WIPER IS CONTINUOUSLY WORKING. WE HAVE HAD THE VAN TO THE MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES(TOO MANY TO COUNT) AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE COMPANY REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10074889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE MILEAGE AROUND 128,000 MILES. STARTING IN APRIL , WE SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD . WE TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AT THAT TIME USING THE DIAGNOSTICS. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON STEADILY AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN AT THAT TIME EITHER . THE *CODE* THEY FOUND SAID *OXYGEN SENSOR* BUT THEY RESET IT . FOUR DAYS LATER, WE WERE HEADING BACK TO CHARLESTON (100 MILES) AND HAD MADE IT AROUND 40 MILES ON INTERSTATE GOING AROUND 65-70 MILES AN HOUR WHEN, WITHOUT NOTICE, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER . WE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAIT UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD TOW US BACK TO LEXINGTON ... THE VAN WAS TAKEN AGAIN TO NASCO WHERE THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRING SO THEY CHANGED ALL THAT OUT TO THE TUNE OF $400.00 PLUS THE $80.00 FOR TOWING... THEN....TWO DAYS LATER THE VAN WAS DRIVING AGAIN TO CHARLESTON ON INTERSTATE AND AT ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SPOT --IT CUT OFF AGAIN !! THE VAN HAD TO GET TOWED YET AGAIN TO ORANGEBURG ( CLOSER TO WHERE IT CUT OFF ) AND THE MECHANICS THERE COULD FIND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN !!! IN TOWN, THE VAN DOES FINE ...BUT WHEN YOU ARE ON INTERSTATE AND GOING A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME ...AND IT CUTS OFF ---SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE VAN !! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AT SUCH A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THEN LOSING POWER ..AND MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS !! LAST WEEKEND , MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VAN ON THE INTERSTATE AGAIN TO TRY IT OUT AND SURE ENOUGH AROUND 50 MILES OUT IT CUT OFF YET AGAIN WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON .I NOTICE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE GRAND CARAVANS AND THINK IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED.

NHTSA complaint #10074713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOING 65 TO 70 MPH, THE CAR LOSES RPM'S, BACKFIRES, JERKS, LOSES SPEED. I AM UNABLE TO GIVE IT GAS. I HAVE TO PULL OFF INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND IT SLOWS TO A STOP AND STALLS. I CANNOT START IT BACK, HOWEVER IF I SET FOR A FEW MINUTES, OPEN AND SLAM THE HOOD, IT WILL START BACK. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CODE THAT WAS FOUND SAID THAT A MISFIRE WAS FOUND IN CYLINDER 6. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE FIXING THAT PROBLEM, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TRY TO FIX MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS BUT NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP CAN TELL ME FOR SURE WHAT IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS IS AMAZING TO ME, BECAUSE I CAN FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND NOT ONLY WITH 1996 GRAND CARAVANS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN STALLING AT SUCH HIGH RATES OF SPEED. IF SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE RECALLED AND FOUND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FOR SURE WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE AND I LOVE THIS VAN (LESS THIS MAJOR PROBLEM). PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10062547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HAD THE 1696 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS , ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I THINK. THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, GEAR SELECTOR, WATER COOLANT GAUGE, FUEL GAUGE STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN I SHUT CAR OFF THE GEAR SELECTOR AND ODOMETER STAYS ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH THE CAR OFF AND LIGHTS OFF , OR ON.. ALSO THE TACHOMETER FREEZES UP ON A CERTAIN RPM . DEPENDING WHAT THE RPM WAS WHEN EVERYTHING STOPED WORKING RIGHT.. WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY BUT 99.9% OF THE TIME THEY WONT SHUT OFF EVEN IF I SELECT IT TO SHUT OFF , THEY KEEP GOING AND GOING EVEN ON DRY DAYS AND NO RAIN .TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND THEY CANT FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND THEY CHARGE ME 60 TO 90 DOLLARS JUST TO TEST IT AND THEY NEVER COME UP WITH A SOLUTION UNLESS THEY DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES SO THE COMPUTER OR SOMETHING RESETS, BUT THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS AND ALSO BEFORE THIS HAPPENS THE CAR RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE OR SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT A STOP . THE DRIVER SEAT BUCKLE SOMETIMES DONT UNLATCH, I HAVE TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO UNLATCH THEM, SOMETIMES I DONT EVEN WEAR A SEAT BELT CAUSE I AM SCARED THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY THAT I WONT BE ABLE TO. THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT SEEMS LOOSE , EVERYTHIME I COME TO A STOP OR I TAKE OFF A CLUCKING SOUND COMES FROM THE MIDDLE ROW SEATS, I CHECKED IT AND IT SEEMED LIKE ITS ALL LOCKED IN BUT I DONT TRUST IT.. I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE A CHRYSLER PRODUCT EVER AGAIN EVEN IF IT IS GIVEN TO ME FOR FREE OR EVEN GIVE IT TO MY WORST ENEMY.. THANK YOU .. JZ.

NHTSA complaint #10056979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RE:DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE, L996 CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SUDDEN LACK OF POWER WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY, NARROWLY AVOIDING SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. IN RESEARCHING ON VARIOUS WEB SITES, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS AS WELL. THE DEALER HAS KEPT THE CAR TWICE SO THEY COULD 'DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM', THEY REPLACE ONE SENSOR OR ANOTHER. LAST REPLACEMENT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED BUT STILL DON'T TRUST THE CAR AND WON'T DRIVE ON FREEWAY OR FAR FROM HOME. NOW HAVE TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR, THE DEALER SAID IT'S PROBABLY THE CRANK SENSOR. THEY SAY SINCE I ONLY HAVE 33,000 MILES ON THE CAR, IT SHOULDN'T BE THE STARTER. ALSO, I HAVE HISTORY OF THE WIPERS TURNING ON AND OFF WHENEVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THEY ALSO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RHYTHM WHEN WORKING. THE WIPER SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE COMPUTER NEVER SHOWS AN ERROR CODE SO OBVIOUSLY, IT ISN'T WORKING EITHER. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL FLOAT AND SOMETIMES WILL SHOW 0 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I'M MOVING. THEY REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER SENSOR TWICE AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING. I HAVE SEEN ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS LISTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. THE DEALER ACTS LIKE I'M CRAZY AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SUDDEN LACK OF POWER, THE ENGINE JUST TURNS OFF, NO POWER STEERING EITHER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT... AS SOON AS I CAN AFFORD IT, I WILL BE REPLACING THIS VAN WITH A NON-DODGE VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10016547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSES VARIOUS ELECTRICAL INPUTS SUCH AS TURNING ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HONKING HORN, CAUSING THE ABS FAILURE LIGHT TO COME ON AND CAUSING ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO SHORT OUT INCLUDING ALL GAUGES AND EVEN CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10014349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DODGE '96 MINIVAN STALLING PROBLEM WHILE IN OPERATION. START UP TIME 5-10 MINUTES LATER (VERY DANGEROUS). TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR; PROBLEM ESCALATED TO FULL REPLACEMENT. NOT SATISFIED WITH REPLACEMENT -"BUMPS" ON SECOND AND THIRD GEARS UP AND DOWN. THESE HAVE BEEN COSTLY REPAIRS. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT NO MATTER WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED - FULL FUEL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. RPS RACED TO 15K. REPLACED CAM SENSOR, HARNESS, HOSES ETC. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10010188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE'S HORN IS NOT WORKING DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER WON'T REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #10003712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND HORN IS NO LONGER INOPERATIVE. MR

NHTSA complaint #767766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED ON THE DATE INDICATED. THE AIR-BAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL DURING THE FAILURE. I REPLACED THE UNIT WITH A NEW ONE. I INVESTIGATED WHY THE UNIT FAILED BY DISASSEMBLING IT. THE FLAT RIBBON CABLE IN THE UNIT FAILED FROM INADEQUATE STRAIN RELIEF AT THE POINT OF CONNECTION. ALL 5 CONDUCTORS WERE BROKEN DUE TO REPEATED HARD BENDING WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPPORT AT THE CONNECTION POINT.

NHTSA complaint #766848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THIS CAUSES THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND AIRBAG SYSTEM TO FAIL. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE HORN IS OUT. ONLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON. YOU DON'T KNOW THE HORN IS OUT UNTIL YOU NEED IT! I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY PERSONAL VAN AND ON MY COMPANY VAN. THEY WERE BOUGHT FROM DIFFERENT DEALERS AT DIFFERENT TIMES. IT IS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A SINGLE DRIVER CAN HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON TWO DIFFERENT CARS WITHOUT THERE BEING AN INHERENT DESIGN DEFECT IN THIS PART. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST THROUGH THE LOSS OF THE HORN OR AIRBAGS THAT DON'T WORK WHEN NEEDED. THE CONDUCTORS THAT FEED THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGE TO THE AIRBAG ARE OPEN DURING THIS CONTINUOUS FAULT AND THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #766849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND NOTED HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERABLE. RESEARCH INDICATES AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING FAILURE LOCATED IN STEERING WHEEL. INTEND TO REPORT TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #766550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS, THE COMING ON OF WIPERS BY THEMSELVES AND SHORTING OUT THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE STALLING WERE A FAULT OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #567132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING SAME TIME AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA complaint #766270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

HORN WILL NOT WORK, AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE STEERING COLUMN FUNCTION. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE CLOCK.

NHTSA complaint #765843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.