13 of the
761 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the
tires — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
129,000 miles.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TWO FRONT TIRES SUDDENLY LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE SEVERAL FEET. THE VEHICLE MADE A CLANKING SOUND AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, THE TWO FRONT TIRES UNLOCKED AND ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 266,000.
NHTSA complaint #10237202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 129,000 milesKanuela, HI
TIRES:VALVE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN X RADIAL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE VALVE STEM AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS CRACKED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY OTHER FAILURES SINCE THAT TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
NHTSA complaint #10196836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 136,806 milesChico, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE BLOWOUT ON HIGHWAY 505. THE TREAD CAME OFF THE BACK LEFT TIRE OF MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WE PULLED OVER AND GOT AAA TO COME. THERE IS $1967.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WHICH INCLUDES DAMAGE TO FENDER, GAS COVER AND CAP, AND PAINT DAMAGE. JB
NHTSA complaint #10180591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,000 milesRochester, NY1 injured
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
FLAT TIRE REQUIRING NEED FOR USE OF COMPACT SPARE TIRE. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SPARE TIRE REMOVAL DO NOT SHOW A RELEASE MECHANISM THAT IS CRITICAL FOR LOWERING OF THE SPARE TIRE. THE RELEASE MECHANISM IS REQUIRED TO LOWER A NYLON FIXTURE THAT SECURES THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE THE INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT MENTION THE RELEASE MECHANISM, AND THE RELEASE MECHANISM WAS NOT VISIBLE, I HAD TO CUT THE NYLON FIXTURE (SUGGESTED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A DODGE DEALERSHIP I CONTACTED), WHICH THEN CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL DOWN. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT IF SOMEONE HAD THEIR HEAD UNDERNEATH THE SPARE TIRE WHEN IT DROPPED DOWN, THEY COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE NYLON FIXTURE IS NOW RUINED. THE ORIGINAL DESIGN IS POOR AND THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE CLEARLY LACKING IN THE USE OF THE RELEASE MECHANISM.
NHTSA complaint #10135689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Geneva, NY
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
DT: CONSUMER HAS A DODGE CARAVAN. HAD A FLAT TIRE, AND THE SPARE WOULDN'T COME OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK, AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WERE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. HAD TO VEHICLE TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE SPARE TIRE OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE SERVICE OF REMOVING THE SPARE TIRE. WHEN HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY ALSO TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #10126919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raytown, MO
TIRES
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE. VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE, AND CONTACT USED THE SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES IT DONE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IT BROKE SOME OF THE GEARS IN THE TRANSFER CASE, AND POTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VISCOUS COUPLINGS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS GOING TO CONTACT HIM. HOWEVER CURRENTLY THEY WERE TELLING HIM THAT THE CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE WARRANTY WAS NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE SPARE TIRE WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF USED ON THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10126272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,105 milesGlendale, AZ
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED TREAD SEPARATION ON 3 OF THE TIRES, WHICH WERE ONLY 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS OLD. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10011807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Naples, FL
TIRES
TWO ORIGINAL GOODYEAR TIRES SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH. MR
NHTSA complaint #767774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
TIRES
TIRE IS BEING FED SENT TO YOKOHAMA IN FULLERTON CA 8/3/01 FOR THEIR ENGINEERS TO EXAMINE FOR DEFECTS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: CCKWCA5317 TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)
NHTSA complaint #749677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gray Court, SC
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
GOODYEAR, CONQUEST TIRES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P215-65-R15, DOT # IS M6VFHKDR128. THERE WAS TREAD SEPERATION ON 3 OF 4 TIRES, TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 50 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM, ONLY REAR RIGHT TIRE DID NOT SEPARATE, CONTACTED GOODYEAR DEALER, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR ALL 3 NEW TIRES.*AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #878805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.