111 of the
857 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the
airbag system — 13% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
91,000 miles.
I PURCHASED MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN 2009, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH ON CHECKING WITH MY MECHANIC SAID MY ABS SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AS IS ALL OTHER INSTRUMENT RELATED READINGS. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PANEL CAME BACK ON AND WORKED FOR AWHILE THAN SHUT OFF AGAIN. SOMEONE SAID HIT THE PANEL FACE AND THE GAUGES SHOULD COME BACK ON. I DID AND IT DID. FOR AWHILE. OVER TIME THE GAUGE FAILURE INTERVAL GREW SHORTER AND SHORTER, AND HITTING THE PANEL FINALLY FAILED TO RETURN THE USE OF THE GAUGES. TO REPLACE THIS GAUGE CLUSTER IS AN $800.00 PLUS REPAIR IN A SHOP WITH A REBUILD PANEL COSTING OVER $200.00 BY ITSELF. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT A DEALER WILL CHARGE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE GAUGE FAILURE CULPRIT IS COLD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CLASS OF VEHICLE. THIS DEFICIENCY CAN EASILY BE AVOIDED BY BETTER QUALITY CONTROL FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10614903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 220,000 milesOxford, WICrash1 killed
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE STOPPED AND PREPARING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, DESTROYING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 03/23/11
NHTSA complaint #10382621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,500 milesRochester, NY
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. HE CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V293000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,500. UPDATED 05/27/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/28/09.
NHTSA complaint #10267227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesWestfield, MA
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT HE DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED BECAUSE THE DODGE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10227559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesChardon, OH
AIR BAGS
NO AIRBAG, NO HORN.
NHTSA complaint #10143388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Probo, UT
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1996. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO FIXED THE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE THE LIGHT TO AIRBAGS STAYED ON. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON OCCASIONALLY. WHEN SEEING THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THE CONSUMER COULD LOOK AT THIS AS A WARNING, BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS GOING OR HOW MUCH GAS THERE WAS IN THE GAS TANK. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IN 2003, AND THEY CHANGED THE CLOCK SPRING. ALSO, THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. FIRST, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF, NOW ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT NOTHING WAS WORKING ON DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10140224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,000 milesInverness, MSCrashFire2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DEEMED TOTALED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF TWO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ONE FOR THE FUEL RAIL AND ONE FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS CONFLICTING INFORMATION ON THE LETTER SENT TO CONSUMER. THIS HAPPENED ON JANUARY 17, 2005 . *AK
NHTSA complaint #10130453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 189,000 milesPinole, CA1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH ,AND WHILE CROSSING THE RAILROAD TRACKS, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IT CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10105364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 111,793 milesColorado Springs, CO
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #10099556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,353 milesBeaverton, ORCrash3 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10092514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesGreensboro, FL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR A CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. HOWEVER, PARTS ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. *AK THE CRUISE WAS INOPERATIVE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. RECALL#02V293000 AND RECALL#96V215000. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10073619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,000 milesLynnfield, MA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN OUR '97 DODGE CARAVAN HAS STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. INDICATIONS ARE THAT IT IS DUE TO AN INTERMITTENT CLOCKSPRING WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, MEANING THAT THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. IT APPEARS THIS CLOCKSPRING FAILURE MODE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER TO FIX IT (AROUND $200).
NHTSA complaint #10062690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wentzville, MO
AIR BAGS
HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.
NHTSA complaint #10056441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesMilford, CT
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A CLOCK SPRING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10055583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesHoliday, FL
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, BUT DISCOVERED THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, IT TOOK THE VEHICLE OVER 100 YARDS TO STOP. *AK THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.
NHTSA complaint #10053908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,000 milesMyrtle Beach, SCCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CROSSED OVER THE MEDIAN. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER'S ANKLE WAS SHATTERED AND RECEIVED CONTUSIONS TO THE CHEST.
NHTSA complaint #10053358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beardstown, ILCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE HIT A DEER WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH. UPON IMPACT WITH THE DEER, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE CORRECT VIN NUMBER UPON RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10047784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,122 milesEL Paso, TX
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN, AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TENSIONER ASSEMBLY FAILED, HORN WAS INOPERABLE, AND THE WATER PUMP LEAKED. AS CORRECTIONS, ALL DEFECTIVE COMPONETS WERE REPLACED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10029509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland, MI
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10021852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,550 milesHighland, MI1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON 04-26-2003 MY FAMILY AND I WERE LEAVING THE DETROIT METRO AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE. WE HAD JUST LEFT OUR PARKING SPOT WHEN WE PASSED OVER WHAT I ASSUMED WAS A SPEED BUMP GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH HEADING TOWARD THE TICKET BOOTH WHICH WAS JUST AHEAD. AS WE PASSED THIS SPEED BUMP OUR AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THE AIR BAGS GOING OFF AS THEY DID. WE HAVE INFORMED OUR DEALERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM, AS WE FEEL THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FAULTY, AND THEY ALSO AGREED AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX] AT THE M-59 DODGE DEALER WHO SAID THAT WE WOULD BE CONTACTED AND THE MATTER INVESTIGATED. I SPOKE TO A [XXX]. , WITH THE CHRYSLER INVESTIGATIONS DEPT WHO STATED TO ME THAT THEY DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM IMPACT WITH A SPEED BUMP AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. WE FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND AT THE LEAST HAVE THE CAR FIXED, AS OUR DASH BOARD IS ALL TORE APART AT THIS TIME, MAKING THE CAR VIRTUALLY UNDRIVABLE. WE HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AS THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN A WORSE SITUATION IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PASSED A BUMP OR HIT A POT HOLE AND THESE BAGS HAD DEPLOYED,CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT/FATALITY. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, VIN # [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10017108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 480,026 milesFort Worth, TX
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
SIMILAR, OR MAYBE IDENTICAL CLOCK SPRING MODULE, UNDER NHTSA RECALL 1531(DAIMLER/CHRYSLER RECALL #982) JUNE 18, 2001. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768015
NHTSA complaint #10007434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,456 milesBasking Ridge, NJ
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WAS TOLD THAT HORN NEEDED FUSE. DISCOVERED LATER THAT CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. WEB RESEARCH POINTS TO FAILED CLOCK SPRING MECHANISM. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*767682
NHTSA complaint #10006965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,500 milesMission Viejo, CA
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MANUFACTURER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*742726
NHTSA complaint #10007037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Novato, CA
AIR BAGS
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL IN REFERENCE TO THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. THE AIR BAG WAS IN FACT FAULTY AND THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. MR SCC
NHTSA complaint #10011702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesPuyallup, WA
AIR BAGS
WINSHIELD WIPERS AND HORN FAILED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesVero Beach, FL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10014563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, NY
AIR BAGS
PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE SHOES, NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHICH CAUSED HORN TO BE INOPERATIVE.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10009271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westland, MI
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON HORN WOULDN'T WORK CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK DEALER KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. DT
NHTSA complaint #769415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flower Round, TX
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING. HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8020211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hudson, IL
AIR BAGS
I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SAFETY PROBLEM AND HAVING TO PAY NEARLY $300 FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN UNDER REVIEW IS VERY UNSATISFYING. HOPE A CONCLUSION WILL BE REACHED ON THIS ISSUE.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #767407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.