1997 Dodge Grand Caravan window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTS, THE VEHICLE MAKES AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, IT OPERATES NORMALLY. THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND WILL START BACK UP, BUT IT IS UNRELIABLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV AND HAVE TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE REVVING TO STOP. IF THERE IS A POWER FLUCTUATION, THE REAR WIPERS WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. THE HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK, BUT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE PARKING LIGHT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. HE REPLACED THE BULB, BUT IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AND THERE IS A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY IS RUSTING AND ROTTING. THE ROCKER PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS RUSTED COMPLETELY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,766. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08.

NHTSA complaint #10237378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE HABIT OF TURNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON BY THEMSELVES ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. WHILE THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED TO WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM, I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT OTHER CARAVAN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH MUCH EXPENSE TAKEN TO FIX AT NO AVAIL. I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT A FAULTY WIPER SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MFG. TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IF THIS IS INDEED AS RAMPANT A COMPLAINT AS IT SEEMS TO BE.

NHTSA complaint #10174501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT NEARLY EVERY MONTH. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SWAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON FREEWAY OR WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKES. THE EGR VALVE KEEPS GOING OUT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10128830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10094260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10091453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS BEEN A HEADACHE SINCE I GOT IT. RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET MY DASHBOARD FIXED BECAUSE ALL MY GAUGES QUIT COMPLETELY. NOW MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THEY ARE OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES OR UNLOCK THE DOORS OR OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE IT PUT ON A TESTER AND THEY CANT FIND WHY ITS ON. THE REAR END RATTLES PRETTY BAD ALSO AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO PICK UP AND GO.

NHTSA complaint #10078643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10068640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY COMES ON WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS ON. THE WIPERS CAME ON WHILE I WAS TURNING - CHANGING LANES AND PARTIALLY BLINDING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. I ALMOST CRASHED WHILE MAKING THE TURN AND IN THE SAME TIME TRYING TO TURN OFF THE WIPER. SINCE THE WIPERS WENT ON WHEN THE WINDSHIELD IS DRY, IT CAUSES THE WIPERS TO STREAK LOUDLY AND SCRATCH THE GLASS. ALSO, THE WIPERS CROSSED EACH OTHER AND CAUSE IT TO SUDDENLY BACK AGAINST THE GLASS. LUCKILY, THE WIPERS DIDN'T SMASH THE WINDSHIELD. HAVING THE WIPERS TURN ON A DRY WINDSHIELD GLASS WHILE TURNING IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE WERE LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN AND I WEREN'T HURT BY THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10066419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

REPORTED PROBLEM TO DODGE CORP. SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT WIPERS COMING ON BY THEMSELVES. WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE NO RECALL, NO REMEDY. ON THIS ISSUE, MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS AND THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE HANDLED BY A RECALL. SECONDLY, AND MOST RECENTLY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS FAILED. DODGE REPRESENTS THAT TIME/MILEAGE PRECLUDES REPAIR AT THEIR COST. REAR WING VENT WINDOW QUIT WORKING APPROX. A WEEK AGO (MAR. 2004). VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART ELECTRONICALLY. MILEAGE/WARRANTY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. DEFECTS ARE DEFECTS. RECALL REQUESTED. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10063839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR 1997 DODGE CARAVAN WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE OVER TIME. THE LOCAL DEALER BELIEVES THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $200. THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND AN ANNOYANCE AND I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD COVER THE COST TO REPAIR IT.

NHTSA complaint #10029111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10029799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS.

NHTSA complaint #10009353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED ON THEIR OWN, WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS USE.*JB

NHTSA complaint #10009205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WHILE DRIVING, WIPERS COME ON AND OFF ON THERE OWN. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WON'T GO OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA complaint #10004042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER STATEEDS PROBLEM IS REALLY NOTICABLE WHEN TURNING CORNERS. *JB MUTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10003662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL NOT CYCLE CONSISTANTLY. THEY MIGHT SWEEP 3 TIMES QUICKLY AND THEN WILL CYCLE NORMALLY, THEN MAY STOP CYCLING FOR 4-6 CYCLES. WIPERS WILL SOMETIMES ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN. INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL SOMETIMES BEGIN TO CYCLE AND CONTINUE CYCLING EVEN AFTER THE SWITCH HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION IN DESPERATION. WE LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NW AND HAVE TO DRIVE IN RAIN CONSTANTLY. NOT HAVING RELIABLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR TO A DEALER TWICE AND HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. PER THE DEALER, THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE BOTH TIMES. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE SWITCH REPLACED THE SECOND TIME, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN BUT BY THE TIME WE TURNED AROUND AND GOT BACK TO THE DEALER, IT WAS WORKING FINE SO THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10000105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY COME ON WITH OUT TURNING ON THE SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #8020212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES. NO APPARENT RHYME OR REASON. NO PATTERN.

NHTSA complaint #762742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE AT CONSUMERS COST, HOWEVER WIPERS CONTINUE TO COME ON WHILE MAKING TURNS, IN COLD WEATHER, AND OCCASIONALLY IN THE SUMMER FOR NO REASON, POSSIBLE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #785813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM MAGICALLY TURN THEMSELVES ON INFREQUENTLY BUT CONSISTENTLY, ALSO IN INTERMITENT MODE, THE WIPERS OFTEN SWIPE TWO TO FOUR TIMES BEFORE FINISHING A SINGLE CYCLE, DEALER REPLACED WIPER MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #564352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELDS WEATHER STRIPPING FLAPS.

NHTSA complaint #564352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON WITHOUT MY INTERVENTION. SOMETIMES THIS SCARES ME SO BAD, MY HEART JUST STARTS TO RACE. I FEAR THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES IT MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WISH DODGE WOULD PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM SINCE I SAW IT MENTIONED FREQUENTLY ON YOUR WEBSITE BY OTHER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OWNERS.

NHTSA complaint #757824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING CLOCK SPRING BECAME INOPERABLE, FORCING AIR BAG TO DISENGAGE, AND HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN USED AT HIGH SPEED COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8003128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON WHEN NOT SELECTED, AND IS VERY DISTRACTING, AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHICH ALSO OWN CARAVAN/VOYAGER HAVE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO REDISGN THE SWITCH, AND RECALL ALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES AND HAVE IT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. ALSO AS FAR AS THE FRONT BRAKES, I HAVE HAD THE FRONT BRAKE SHOES REPLACED AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I HAVEN'T REPLACED THAT MANY BRAKES TOGETHER ON ALL THE OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED. I THINK THE FRONT DISC BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED AND CANNOT MEET THE WEIGHT OF THE VAN. DODGE ALSO NEEDS TO REDISN THE FRONT BRAKE SYS AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #757378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE AT CONSUMERS COST, HOWEVER WIPERS CONTINUE TO COME ON WHILE MAKING TURNS, IN COLD WEATHER, AND OCCASIONALLY IN THE SUMMER FOR NO REASON, POSSIBLE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #785813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HORN AND SPEED CONTROL ARE ALSO INOPERABLE WHICH OCCURRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE OCCASIONALLY EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ALSO MOVE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE ACTIVATED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIR BAG, HORN AND SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IS THE POSSIBLE CULPRIT.

NHTSA complaint #755249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HORN AND SPEED CONTROL ARE ALSO INOPERABLE WHICH OCCURRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE OCCASIONALLY EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ALSO MOVE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE ACTIVATED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIR BAG, HORN AND SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IS THE POSSIBLE CULPRIT.

NHTSA complaint #755249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INVOLUNTARILY WHEN VHEICLE MAKES TURNS OR HITS BUMPS. DEFECTIVE WINDSHSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACE IN 2000. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE DISTRACTING WHEN THEY ARE NOT NEEDED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #894902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.