Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||||
| 98771 | 05/01/1998 | 601474 | The radiator fan relay may not turn on the radiator cooling fans, causing engine to overheat. *ak | 08/05/1998 | |
| 183397 | 12/31/1997 | 600488 | Subject regarding improper cooling fan relay actuation. *yc | 05/18/1998 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 0900801 | 11/02/2001 | 632197 | Subject regarding camshaft / bearing service. *tt | 07/11/2002 | |
| 180200 | 02/04/2000 | 609989 | Concerns with the pcv valve freezing under extremely cold conditions. *tt | 04/12/2000 | |
| 180100 | 02/04/2000 | 609988 | Subject regarding misdiagnosed leak detection pump systems with diagnostic trouble codes p1494, p0442 p0455, or p0456. *tt | 04/12/2000 | |
| 090798 | 12/11/1998 | 603107 | Subject regarding oil seepage at cam position sensor / misinterpreted head gasket leak. *yc | 11/17/1999 | |
| 090598 | 11/06/1998 | 602898 | A new multi-layer steel ( mls ) head gasket has been developed and is being implemented into production vehicles. *yc | 01/20/1999 | |
| 9830 | 06/01/1998 | 601763 | Subject on labor operation time change for domestic 2.ol dohc and 2.4l head gasket replacement. *yc | 08/24/1998 | |
| 1812098 | 03/20/1998 | 600903 | Subject on tip-in sags/hesitations or rough idle after a hot soak restart. *yc | 06/11/1998 | |
| 090198 | 04/10/1998 | 600804 | Some vehicles may experience a condition where the valve train makes a tapping noise. *yc | 06/09/1998 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| 090997 | 12/19/1997 | 6088858 | Information on gasket surface preparation on aluminum engine components. *nlm | 01/10/2000 | |
| 180599 | 02/26/1999 | 604102 | Concerns with sags / hesitation / stumble / start & stall, a/c bump improvements, addition of leak detection pump (ldp) monitor test. *tt | 04/13/1999 | |
| 090198 REV B | 11/13/1998 | 602588 | Vehicle experiencing a ticking noise while at idle from engine. *yc | 01/05/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||||
| 070299 | 06/04/1999 | 606159 | Concerns with serpentine belt slipping off idler pulley. *tt | 08/11/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||||
| 795 | 02/01/1999 | 604819 | Emissions recall -- vehicle emission control information (veci) label replacement. *tt | 05/14/1999 | |
| 250298 | 10/23/1998 | 602881 | Subject regarding i/m ( inspection maintenance ) testing - obd ii carb readiness monitor information. *yc | 01/20/1999 | |
| 110398 | 03/20/1998 | 600887 | Information on removal of the exhaust drone. *yc | 06/10/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 01/14/2010 | 470000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. while driving 30 mph the serpentine belt broke. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled and could have caused a crash to occur due to inclement weather after the failure occurred. the serpentine belt was replaced three times. the contact stated there were numerous complaints regarding the serpentine belt and the manufacturer should issue a recall. the failure mileage was 470,000. | |||
| 01/14/2010 | 470000 | ||
| Tl. the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. the contact while driving 30 mph the serpentine belt come off while driving in the snow causing the vehicle to lose all power. the contact stated this can cause a crash. the contact has had the serpentine belt replaced three times. the contact stated there are numerous complaints regarding the serpentine belt and the manufacturer should issue a recall. the failure mileage was 470,000. jo | |||
| 01/24/2008 | |||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. the contact stated that while driving in wet conditions the serpentine belt would detach itself from underneath the vehicle. once this occurs the power steering would fail and became difficult to maneuver. the vehicle was inspected and repaired by the contact. the manufacturer was contacted and informed him of the fix. the failure mileage was unknown. tb | |||
| 10/11/2009 | 10600 | 1 | |
| I bought a 1998 dodge caravan from falls church motors falls church va after a couple of months of driving i started to notice and feel a wobble in the front left drivers front tire a few months later i had a flat while the van was parked it took me and two other men to loosen the lugs on the tire to get of the tire the jack while the van in the air bent and the van fell to the side i pulled one of the men away from the van as i saw it falling toward us we got another jack and got the van back up in the air and put the donut on i than a short time later got on the highway and the donut flew off the van if it were in traffic it could have killed me and other on the highway a couple of month later the timing belt broke and the water pump i thought the van was still under warrant of the extended warranty from falls church motors i later found out it was not they i thought fixed the timing belt it has been running rough ever since the van now while running the motor turns off while any sharp turn to the left or right they said to me in the recent past after i thought they fixed it . it's not going to run like new i feel this dealer ship did sell me a defective van and unsafe parts on the vehicles and some other vehicles they are selling maybe endangering other peoples life i met one man at a gas station he said he had a transmission problem right away and it slipping after he bought it. *tr | |||
| 02/10/2010 | 250000 | 1 | |
| The serpentine belt popped off my 1998 dodge caravan, it is 02/10/10 -- the day of the blizzard. this happened before on the day of the blizzard in december. this leads to an immediate loss of power steering during the worst possible driving conditions. when i tried to find out what had happened in december, two mechanics at the dodge dealership both immediately knew what had happened. they said it happens all the time when ice or snow gets up under the car. i believe this is a very dangerous manufacturer's defect. loss of critical steering capability during the worst possible driving conditions. *tr | |||
| 09/29/2007 | 148000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. after parking and exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed flames rising from under the hood. while inside the passenger compartment, the driver felt heat underneath her feet. the vehicle was towed to a garage and labeled as destroyed. the fuel pump and radiator were previously replaced. the vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer. the purchase date was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 148,000. | |||
| 04/01/2007 | 151000 | 20 | 04/01/2000 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. while driving 25 mph in rainy conditions, the serpentine belt detached from the vehicle. this failure occurred more than 20 times. the mechanic has been unable to duplicate the failure. the vin was unknown. the current mileage is 153,242 and failure mileage was 151,000. | |||
| 03/06/2005 | 135000 | 4 | 11/01/2000 |
| Dt: air conditioning light is blinking; engine check and air bag light is on, nothing on the dash (speedometer etc) does not work. door locks do not work; it's like it all went out at once.*ak | |||
| 09/17/2004 | 1 | ||
| Experience lost of engine power and steering. bolts broken and replace gaskets. lost steering while driving. *bf the front end appeared to be much lower than usual and the belt was hanging below the chassis. *sc | |||
| 06/21/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving,the thermostat light flashed on the dashboard and remained on. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the junction box needed to be replaced and rewired. *ak | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 45000 | ||
| My a/c stopped working right after my 3 year 36 mile warranty ran out. dealer said it was the evaporator coil. costs me $400. right now my a/c just quit. my van has 58,000 miles on it. i go through belts like crazy. my mechanic can't figure it out. and other mechanics say it's an epidemic with caravans. please help. | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 65000 | ||
| Transmission not properly shifting in 2 nd gears. air conditioning stills blows semi-warm air. sway bars replaced. | |||
| 01/19/2004 | 1 | ||
| I have a 1998 dodge grand caravan with just under 71,000 miles on it. we first noticed some anti freeze on the ground and could see it leaking thinking it was a hose or something. i went under to take a look and it was leaking from the engine block. i brought it in to have it checked out and it turns out the headgasket sprung a leak. i gave them the go ahead to fix it. he took it apart and said their was a 2 inch piece missing from the gasket. i couldn't believe it. it cost me $1000+ to have it repaired .what a piece of crap.*ak | |||
| 11/28/2002 | |||
| Consumer states that while driving and without warning the head gasket blew causing coolant fluid to leak. dealer notified. ts | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 09/19/2003 | 6400 | 1 | |
| While driving at various speeds and without warning head gasket blew, causing anti freeze to leak. had notified the dealership, but the problem had not been resolved. *ak | |||
| 07/03/2003 | 63000 | 3 | 07/02/2003 |
| On my way home from the dealership i heard a noise in the front end when i arrived home i called a mechanic the next day. he looked at my van on that monday to find the stabilizer bar broke and zippity strip to the strut which was also bad. the dealer let me drive 180 miles with my son in the vehicle, and the front end was like this. the following week i was driving down the road and white smoke started to come from the vents so i returned to the mechanic and paid $105.00 to have freon with dye ran through my system to find the evaporator was bad and needed replaced, which would cost at least $860.00. then at 36 days of ownership and only 64000 miles the constant velocity joint is bad and a new transaxle is going to have to be put in this week. i have called the dealership where it was purchased and all they can say is were sorry we got the vehicle in 2 days prior to my purchase and was never inspected, there money was more important than me and my son. i then called the daimler chrysler corporation where they were rude and said there is no recalls on your vehicle theres nothing we can do for you. i know from some research there has been a big problem with the evaporators on chrysler products. please help me i do not know what else to do. this is the van i will be driving my two sons to school in, i starting to wonder how safe we will be. *ak | |||
| 04/08/2002 | 48415 | 09/01/2001 | |
| Failed head gasket with only 56,000 miles on engine | |||
| 12/28/2001 | 02/01/1998 | ||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||
| 09/06/2004 | 92661 | 2 | 03/10/1998 |
| The engine appeared to continue running one day after a short run to the grocery store. i went to my mechanic and he diagnosed the problem as my radiator fan. further, he found the item was a recall problem and suggested i take the van to the dealer. i did the following day, they researched and stated it was not a recall item although my mechanic had given me the memo indicating it was on recall. in order to avoid hurting the engine, i authorized the dealer to make the repair with plans to file a complaint for reimbursement at a later date.*ak | |||
| 08/18/2004 | 73500 | 2 | |
| The consumer stated that the radiator fan did not work which caused the vehicle to overheat. the consumer had the fan relay replaced by an aftermarket repair shop. this vehicle's year, make, and model is currently being recalled for this defect, however the vehicle identification number was not included. *jb *nm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/12/2003 | 1 | ||
| I have a 1998 caravan that the trans cooler failed and filled the engine with transmission fluid, and the transmission with coolant, not able to drive vehicle. *ak | |||
| 01/07/2003 | 98400 | 11/20/1997 | |
| Radiator failed mixing coolant and trasmission fluid leading to transmission failure | |||
| 09/12/2002 | 1 | 12/16/2001 | |
| The radiator fan relay is inoperative, a recall has been issued on this vehicle make and model however this vehicle is not include due to vin. *ak *yh | |||
| 06/02/2000 | 08/21/1997 | ||
| While driving vehicle came to a complete stop/died due to coolant and transmission fluid mixing together in radiator, and causing transmission failure. consumer has contacted dealer, transmission specialist has replaced transmission and radiator. *ak *ml | |||
| 10/11/1997 | 2 | 05/10/1998 | |
| Vehicle was parked in the garage, there was fuel leaking from the top of the gas tank which caused a fire. consumer doesn't want the vehicle back due to the fact that there was fuel coming from the radiator. the fire department came out and they couldn't determine what caused the fire. dealer doesn't know what caused the fire either. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 01/24/2010 | 121000 | 1 | |
| Defective engine intake manifold bolt broken inside housing. 1998 dodge caravan se, 121000 miles. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2006 | 88000 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated the check engine light illuminated. the vehicle has been to the dealership multiple times, but the dealership is unable to determine a problem. | |||
| 12/01/2000 | 1 | 03/01/1999 | |
| Dt: the consumer is having problems with his serpentine belt. he states that the belt keeps coming off of the pulleys causing his van to over heat and loose steering. *tt | |||
| 08/10/2004 | 77000 | 2 | |
| Consumer stated half of the engine had to be replaced because the vehicle failed the emission test. as a result, oil burned excessively. *aki | |||
| 06/29/2004 | 48300 | 1 | 09/11/1998 |
| We smelled coolant, and brought our van to a mechanic. he told us we had a blown head gasket. he said our engine was faulty. we had 48,300 miles on the engine. the head gasket was repaired, don't know if our mechanic kept the old gasket. *ak | |||
| 02/24/2004 | 80000 | 2 | |
| Transmission failed at 80,000 miles. also, engine head gasket was replaced two months ago.*ak | |||
| 01/01/1999 | 42000 | 6 | 08/26/1998 |
| Six different cases of mechanical problems the vehicle experienced. problems with head gasket, the transmission twice and three times on the flywheel. *la the mechanic found that the bolts on the flywheel and the torque converter were loose. *sc the consumer was informed that the vehicle was known to have problems with the crankshaft, which causes the flywheel to break off, the consumer was told the crankshaft was out of round, which caused the problem. *jb | |||
| 09/08/2003 | 35000 | 1 | 08/19/2002 |
| Purchased a used dodge caravan on 8-19-02 with 28,000 miles showing on the meter. it now has 35,000 miles on it and the head gasket is leaking oil down the back of the engine and on to the ground. dealer says they will not repair it unless i pay for it. seems like a very costly repair on a van with this few miles on it. this will be the last chrysler product i will purchase. *la | |||
| 09/01/2003 | 1 | ||
| While driving at 45 mph cruise control sensor light blinked, then engine stalled. *ak | |||
| 06/03/2003 | 72000 | 1 | 07/07/2002 |
| While passing a tractor trailer on rt 422 west of pottstown without warning my rmp's shot up and i lost power. my check engine light came on. i pulled off the shoulder of the highway. the transmission was slipping and not shifting correctly. i was able to get my caravan to quigley motors which is the local dodge dealership. the diagnosis was 3rd gear was totally destroyed and they found alot of metal fragments in the pan. it's going to cost me $2500. to fix it. the chrysler corporation needs to acknowledge that there is a well documented problem with this transmission and should rectify the situation. it is my first chrysler vehicle and it will probably will be my last. the service that i received at quigley motors was horrendous. my van was there an entire week before they could get it in to give me a repair estimate. 5 star service??? i don't think so!*ak | |||
| 05/09/2003 | 69023 | 0 | 08/04/1998 |
| Engine head gasket leaking coolant. *nlm | |||
| 11/26/2002 | 3700 | 1 | 04/01/1998 |
| The air conditioner compressor which was broke and rubbed against the serpentine belt caused the vehicle to catch on fire, also the head gaskets failed. *ts *jb | |||
| 01/24/2003 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Rear main seal leaked, which caused vehicle to use 3 quarts of oil per week. mr...*ak | |||
| 03/11/2003 | 137000 | 07/27/2000 | |
| I purchased my vehicle in 2000. two months later my transmission went. 16 months after that my motor went. i had to let my vehicle sit for nine months not being able to drive it and yet still making payments on it before i could afford to replace to the motor. so 3 weeks ago i had the motor replaced and now my transmission has gone again. supposedly it was replaced with a factory rebuilt transmission the first time around. this seriously upsets me that the transmission has gone again. i still owe 2 and 1/2 years of payments on this vehicle and i am back to i cannot drive it again because i cannot afford to get it fixed. i was told of some factory problem with the transmissions and i wondered if this could be the reason that my vehicle is out of commission again. for the amount of money this used vehicle is costing me i would have been better off to buy a new one. the vehicle is a 1998 dodge caravan. *nlm | |||
| 07/01/2002 | |||
| While traveling on the highway without prior warning. the surpentine belt fell off the motor please fill n additional information dealer is aware of the problem. ts | |||
| 10/07/2002 | |||
| Consumer states that when vehicle is parked overnight, the head gasket leaks fuel, consumer almost fell from the fuel spill. dealer contacted. ts | |||
| 03/01/2002 | |||
| When sitting in park or reverse can hear metal knocking. when turning on air conditioning noise is really loud. mechanic stated it was flywheel that causing the noise. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| Vehicle started leaking and burning oil. took to dealer and dealer indicated head gaskets were blown.*ak | |||
| 04/01/2002 | 2 | 06/22/1998 | |
| Engine head gasket blewout, causing vehicle to leak oil. *ak consumer states that the manifold was cracked and welded. *yd | |||
| 01/01/2002 | 1 | 09/01/1998 | |
| Head gasket leaking oil at 60k miles. manufacturer is aware of problem has service bulletin on head gasket leaks. oil leak causing pollution, environmental damage, may result in engine failure or fire. chrysler will not repair, estimates my cost $300 to fix. manufacturing defect. nlm | |||
| 03/04/2002 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Vehicle was leaking oil. took vehicle to mechanic, and mechanic indicated external cylinder gasket was gone. dealer contacted. *ak consumer stated that the van had numerous problems, power steering loss, back wheels on fire, complete brake failure and engine would seize and stop. *yh | |||
| 02/15/2002 | |||
| The engine is leaking oil from the engine due to a blown head gasket the dealership is aware of the problem. | |||
| 02/15/2002 | |||
| Head gasket is leaking oil from engine. dealership is aware of problem.*ak | |||
| 11/15/2001 | 1 | 03/01/2000 | |
| Vehicle experiences loss of oil. vehicle taken to an independent repair shop dealer/manufacturer have not been notified at this time. *ak independent repair shop stated head gasket seal was leaking oil severely. *slc | |||
| While driving camshaft bearing broke, causing vehicle to completely shutdown, cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak | |||
| While driving camshaft bearing broke, causing the vehicle to completely shut down. please give any further details.*ak | |||
| 06/01/2001 | 1 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Head gasket failure. vehicle well maintained, records available. unacceptable for major engine failure (head gasket) at relatively low milage. chrysler needs to recall as my independent mechanic reported that he has seen this problem with this type of engine many times although chrylser maintains that this is not a common problem. *ak | |||
| 04/08/2001 | 0 | ||
| While driving turned on heater, but there was no heat. then, opened front hood, and coolant was all over engine. took vehicle to dealer, and they said that head gasket was blown out.*ak | |||
| 06/19/2000 | 03/01/2000 | ||
| I am having alot of problems with my van over the past year i have put over 1500 worth of work into this van they made the engine too small for this size of a van. i continue to have problem with the engine and now the transmission is acting up. i have already replaced head gasket all the motor mounts timing belt it has been one thing after another and now my engine is making a rattling sound everytime i push the gas petal i don't know where else to complain. | |||
| 01/30/2001 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| Was told i needed head gasket replaced due to oil dripping. no prior problems have had regular service check up and oil changes i have called the manufacturer and was told there were no recalls as a result. i did find another complaint of similar situation on allpar.com . this seems too early for such a large repair. *ak | |||
| 01/23/2001 | 0 | ||
| Consumer had seen oil on ground coming from vehicle. had taken vehicle for repairs, and technician said that oil was coming around engine. head gasket was replaced once. *ak | |||
| 12/17/2000 | |||
| Engine coolant leak noted from front of vehicle. dealer performed cooling sytem pressure test. diagnosed rear head gasket as faulty. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2001 | |||
| While driving defective timing belt and idler arm broke which cause vehicle to stall unexpectedly, almost causing a crash. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 01/11/2001 | |||
| Defective engine head gasket caused engine leak. *ak | |||
| 06/10/2000 | 4 | 12/01/1997 | |
| This is the fourth time the serpentine belt has shreaded apart. the first time was at approximately 20,000 miles. when the belt goes there is, of course, no power steering (which seriously affects the handling, no power brakes (which affects the stopping) and the water pump dos not work (causing the van to overheat rather quickly). the dealership is not able to determine why this keeps happening. i am from canada so i was unable to enter my province (british columbia) and my postal code (v3g 1l5).*ak | |||
| 01/11/2000 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Engine head gasket failed, causing major oil leak. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 2 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Cylinder head gasket failed. yh | |||
| 07/16/1999 | 1 | 09/04/1998 | |
| Tensioner failed causing the belt to be thrown off engine pulleys. nlm | |||
| 10/24/1998 | |||
| While driving 35 mph, no prior warning the vehicle shut down as the consumer was coming off the highway and the camshaft went out. *ak | |||
| 04/07/1998 | 1 | 03/10/1998 | |
| Engine mounts weak. | |||
| 12/24/1997 | 2 | 10/15/1997 | |
| Camshaft sensor failed causing vehicle to stall. | |||
| 01/20/1998 | 3 | 10/30/1997 | |
| Rocker arm gasket failure | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 11/11/2002 | 08/01/2098 | ||
| I only have 35,000 miles on this car and of course the warranty is expired. and all of a sudden, the car acts like it has 135,000 miles on it. this has already cost me over $200 to repair brakes because of rotors, not bad brakes. now i need $1000 head gasket work. starter only seems to start when it wants to. very temporamental. what is going on here that a 35,000 mile car would have so much wrong so soon. dt | |||
| 05/27/2002 | 1 | ||
| While in motion, consumer pulled into a road side rest area and discovered the engine compartment was on fire. *jg | |||
| 06/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, vehicle caught on fire in the engine compartment, claim 22-v563-088. *slc | |||
| 01/04/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, vehicle lost power and made a funny noise, vehicle stopped running and when consumer looked under the hood there were flames, by the time the fire department got to the vehicle, it was engulfed in flames, claim 08-5050-945. *slc | |||
| 06/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer was going to work when vehicle experienced fire in the engine compartment, claim 22-v563-088. *slc | |||
| 01/04/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle lost power and made a funny noise, then stalled completely, consumer looked under the hood and vehicle experienced fire in engine compartment, claim 08-5050-945. *slc | |||
| 06/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, vehicle caught on fire in the engine compartment, claim 22-v563-088. *slc | |||
| 01/04/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, vehicle lost power and made a funny noise, vehicle stopped running and when consumer looked under the hood there were flames, by the time the fire department got to the vehicle, it was engulfed in flames, claim 08-5050-945. *slc | |||
| 06/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer was going to work when vehicle experienced fire in the engine compartment, claim 22-v563-088. *slc | |||
| 01/04/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle lost power and made a funny noise, then stalled completely, consumer looked under the hood and vehicle experienced fire in engine compartment, claim 08-5050-945. *slc | |||
| 05/01/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| No summary listed for a bove vehicle. *ak | |||
| 08/13/2001 | 01/01/2001 | ||
| Have heard numerous complaints about this problem, my dealership said that they would give me a deal on the repairs through chrystler corp. sounds like chrystler knows that there is a problem. dealership was not upfront about any problems with the van. no safety defec tlisted. *ak | |||
| 06/19/2000 | 03/01/2000 | ||
| I am having alot of problems with my van over the past year i have put over 1500 worth of work into this van they made the engine too small for this size of a van. i continue to have problem with the engine and now the transmission is acting up. i have already replaced head gasket all the motor mounts timing belt it has been one thing after another and now my engine is making a rattling sound everytime i push the gas petal i don't know where else to complain. | |||
| 10/11/2000 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| On october 6, 2000 i was taking my son to school when i lost all ability to accelerate. i was going fast enough i was able to coast into the parking lot. my vehicle was towed to the dealership where we purchased it. they were not cooperative or friendly and were unable to diagnose my vehicle within the 3 day time frame they had promised. so on 10-09-2000 we had to have it towed to an independent garage to be diagnosed and fixed. the diagnosis was total transmission failure. we had to have them fix it b/c our dealer was going to be 3-5 weeks to fix it, and we had a rental car during this time. the cost was $1455.00, that we paid out of our pocket. during their investigation of our problems they also found an oil leak. my husband is very good with cars and has made several attempts to fix the problem, to no avail. on 3-9-2001 i had the car oil leak diagnosed by an independent garage. they said the head gasket was leaking oil and would have to be replaced. a cost of approximately $600.00 and down time of the vehicle being 2-3 days. as this is our main vehicle this presents a problem. we have been told by many people and garages that these 4 cylinder engines are widely known to have transmission and head gasket problems. one garage went so far as to tell us that chrysler knew they had these problems but just would not put out a recall. we have had the van for 23 months. nothing went wrong during the valid warranty time. when the transmission went out the vehicle was only over warranty by approximately 5000 miles. our dealer was not willing to work with us within the time frame they had originally given us, so we were forced to go somewhere else and pay out of our pocket for the repairs, as we could not afford a rental car for the 3-5 weeks the dealer was going to take to diagnose and repair the problem. we would like to see chrysler be forced to take responsibility for these problems.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2001 | |||
| Consumer heard a growling noise when taking foot of gas pedal. transmission blew a quarter size hole in it. also, losing oil*ak | |||
| 01/19/2001 | 1 | 06/11/1998 | |
| While driving could step on the brakes pedal and vehicle will start shaking without a notice of brakes working. *ak in low idle with brakes on, vehicle start shaking as if it would die (engine shut off). *yh | |||
| 12/01/2000 | 1 | 07/01/2000 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1998 | |||
| While driving vehicle stalls unexpectedly which may result in a crash. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 04/23/2000 | |||
| While driving and without any warning a fire started underneath the engine compartment. will be taking vehicle to the dealer. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 04/03/2000 | 0 | ||
| While driving vehicle stalled without prior warning. the second time when vehicle was parked, it did not start. *ak | |||
| While driving vehicle caught on fire on passenger's side in the engine compartment, cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| 11/01/1998 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Engine oil seals failed. yh | |||
| 2 | |||
| Engine oil leak. mjs | |||
| 04/07/1998 | 1 | 03/10/1998 | |
| Vehicle surges and hesitates at highway speeds especially with a/c on. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||
| 12/25/2007 | 86500 | 5 | 07/03/1998 |
| Serpentine belt comes off of accessory pulleys, resulting in loss of power steering and other vehicle functions, possibly at any speed. wet weather is a constant contributing factor, although is not required for this defect to occur. *tr | |||
| 11/14/2007 | 130000 | 4 | |
| My daughter's van with 2 kids inside. (1) no cause. four failures of same parts. belt and related pulleys. dealer(s) can't repair properly. (numerous similar problems noted on the net.) (2)repeated serpentine belt failure - 98 dodge caravan, 3.0l engine. causes instant power steering loss, engine overheating and more. could easily lead to loss of control, injury or death. (3) parts replaces 4 times. not fixed, belts still squeal and will come off again.(just found out aftermarket goodyear and gates kits are available with redesigned pulleys and belt to address this problem. chrysler dealer mentioned nothing about them) if only some of what i have read is correct, this should be a safety-related recall. *tr | |||
| 05/16/2002 | 36351 | 8 | 11/01/1998 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. the contact has changed the vehicle's serpentine belt eight times. the belt has either detached, shredded, or become worn while driving 35 mph. the vehicle's pulleys and belt accessories have also been replaced. she believes that it is a design flaw due to the numerous repairs for the same failure. she also feels that the failure is a safety issue because once the belt detaches, the alternator begins to overheat and the power steering fails. the current mileage is 79,000 and failure mileage was 36,351. updated 06/08/07.*jb | |||
| 03/30/2007 | 5 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. the contact stated that the serpentine belt which controled the engine became detached on five different occasions. the belt failed when driving at 50 mph. the belt detached once during rainy conditions , and several times during favorable conditions. when the belt detached the contact lost control of the vehicle and the steering became inoperable. the current mileage was 117,811. *ak | |||
| 11/24/2006 | 880007 | 2 | 08/16/1998 |
| Subject: defective serpentine belt design i have a concern about a recent malfunctioning serpentine belt in my 1998 caravan. the belt has slipped off twice last month while driving in the rain. the first incident left me stranded off the side of the freeway waiting for a tow truck. the second incident occurred when backing out of a parking spot on damp payment (no standing water) while at a rest stop many miles from home. both incidents occurred on normal pavement and driving during rainy days, and without any warning. the van has the standard 3.0 liter v6 engine with 88k miles, but the serpentine belt installed was less than 1 year old. two sets of professional mechanics found the belt, the belt tensioner, and all related parts of the system in good working order (including the engine mounts). in summary, the system was well maintained and working as designed. the concern we have is the design of this system. the vehicle has been very reliable during the last eight years. but this particular problem is greatly distressing. not only is the range of the vehicle limited to a couple of miles with a strong battery, the loss of power assisted steering makes this both a safety and reliability issue. *nm | |||
| 01/25/2007 | 117000 | 8 | 07/01/2004 |
| Tl*- the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan, and had to replace the serpentine belt 8 times since 05/06. the last incident was on 01/25/07. while making a 10 mph turn the serpentine belt came loose causing the loss of the power steering and brakes. the contact towed vehicle to a local repair shop and they tightened the serpentine belt, but they couldn't find the cause of the serpentine belt coming loose. the contact took the vehicle to the dealership and they could't find a solution to the problem. the contact stated that it happened on all types of roads and weather conditions. *ak updated 2/27/2007 - *nm | |||
| 11/06/2006 | 60000 | 3 | 03/01/1998 |
| My 98 dodge caravan sport is having repeated problem with the serpentine belt and belt tensioner. from a quick search on the web it appears to be a common problem, that the belt would slip off when it gets wet. i have experienced this problem 3 times so far, twice in jan 2006 and another one just today (nov 06). i cannot trust the van anymore, i cannot tell when this problem is going to happen again and when it does, the van lost power steering and would overheat. lost of power steering can be extremely dangerous especially when trying on a freeway, and being easily overheat would leave me stranded at possibly isolated places. this is a problem that takes repeated fixing yet would not resolve. *nm | |||
| 02/04/2006 | 60000 | 1 | 04/01/1999 |
| Dt*: the contact stated in wet conditions, the serpentine belt fractured and slipped off. the serpentine belt was replaced 5 times over the past two years. the vehicle was driven to the local independent shop for inspection and repair. | |||
| 01/10/1999 | 30000 | 3 | 01/05/1999 |
| Dt: the consumer owns a 1998 dodge caravan. serpentine belt failed five times. when this occurred there was a loss of power steering as well as the charging of the battery. this only happened in wet or rainy conditions. the consumer took vehicle to a dealer, who said they could again replace the serpentine belt, but it would fail again in wet conditions or rainy weather. there was no guarantee. the last trip to the dealer resulted in the replacement of the serpentine belt. no accident or injury was reported. the consumer contacted the manufacturer and filed a complaint also. the local dealer said nothing could be done about. *ak updated 02/07/06. *jb | |||
| 05/01/2005 | 4 | 07/22/2004 | |
| Consumer states: have put on 3 serpentine belts, and is getting ready to put on 4th serpentine belt. had the vehicle less than a year. *ak | |||
| 07/01/2000 | 1 | 03/02/2000 | |
| Dt: the contact owned a 1998 dodge caravan. she stated that the timing belt kept coming off. dealer said they had numerous similar complaints, and they do have a tsb, but it has not been made a recall yet.*ak | |||
| 01/21/2005 | 72000 | 1 | 11/19/1997 |
| While my wife and daughter were driving, the timing belt on her 1998 dodge caravan (2.4 l)broke. the car immediately died in the middle of the street creating a very hazardous situation for my family. looking at the recommended maintenace on this car i noted that there is no recommended maintenance for the timing belt until 120,000 miles. thus, since the car only had 72,000 miles, this belt broke far earlier than it should have. i feel that this should not have occurred. since this can create a very hazardous/dangerous situation if it occurs on a busy street or on a freeway, dodge should determine whether this is becoming a common problem with this car and if so whether it should notify owners that the belt should be examined far earlier than at 120,000 miles or if the car should be recalled and the timing belt replaced.*ak | |||
| 10/19/2004 | 40000 | 5 | 05/01/1997 |
| The serpentine belt continued to break off. the owner has taken the vehicle to the dealer who continued to replace the belt. please provide further details. *jb *tc | |||
| 01/02/2004 | 55000 | 5 | |
| While driving at any speed in the rain, the serpentine belt slipped off. the belt disconnected from the pulley five times in the last five months. the consumer examined the pulley and found that it was smooth and did notr have a lip to hold the belt on. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 12/09/2003 | 1 | ||
| While driving 30 mph serpentine belt fell off. this caused the vehicle to shut down. consumer had the vehicle towed to dealer for analysis, and mechanic stated that this was an intermittent problem.*ak | |||
| 2 | 10/03/1997 | ||
| Air conditioner evaporator failed twice within a two year period. also, serpentine belt was replaced 6 times. when the serpentine belt failed vehicle had no power steering or power brakes. *ak | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 10 | 10/28/1997 | |
| I've gone through 5 belts in the past year. my a/c just went out again. i had the evaporater coil replaced just after my 3 year warranty gave out 2 years ago. my van only has 58,000 miles on it and i bought it new in oct.97. i will never buy a dodge again. i've never felt so unsafe in a vehicle as i do in my van. *la | |||
| 3000 | 4 | ||
| The vehicle stalled, which was caused by the serpentine belt falling off. the belt was replaced, however the problem recurred. *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states while traveling at highway speed vehicle suddenly started to make a weird noise. consumer pulled over, popped the hood, and noticed that one of the belts in the engine compartment had shredded. cause unknown. *ak | |||
| 07/14/2003 | 3 | ||
| Dealer has replaced 3 times the serpentine belt since 2001. consumer stated dealer mentioned it was normal. *ak | |||
| 100000 | 1 | ||
| Main belt keeps slipping off dealership serviced it several times. the belt finally broke in half whle driving.*ak | |||
| 06/06/2003 | 1 | ||
| While traveling on the highway and without prior warning vehicle shut down due to the serpentine belt falling off. *ak | |||
| 06/02/2003 | 1 | ||
| While traveling in inclement weather and passing through water vehicle will shut down and will not restart due to the serpentine belt falling off. *ak | |||
| 04/26/2003 | 113711 | 1 | 08/01/1997 |
| 1998 caravan 3.3l engine belt tensioner completely broke off of engine mount causing loss of use of all accessories driven by serpentine belt. no previous belt problems as noted by other owners. defective belt tensioner was found laying loose in the engine compartment. *nlm | |||
| 12/01/2000 | 45000 | 5 | |
| The serpentine belt slips off when you drive through water. losing the belt causes dangerous steering changes and stops the water pump and alternator. the most recent time this happened i almost lost control of the car and had a near miss head on crash problem has happened 5 times on my car and two friends who have the same model caravan have also had problems with it. dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis---------770765. *ak *nlm | |||
| 02/20/2003 | 35000 | 1 | |
| The serpentine belt became disconnected, which caused the vehicle to lose power steering. *jb | |||
| 01/21/2003 | |||
| Serpeintine belt last 6-9k mile. a dealer has replaced tensioner beltsa continues premature failures | |||
| 10/01/2002 | |||
| Consumer states that while driving all the vehicles dash lights suddenly illuminated. consumer states the steering wheel got really hard to turn. took to dealer and they stated that the serpentine belt had fallen off. please provide any further information. *mr | |||
| 07/15/2002 | |||
| When it rains serpentine belt fell off. consumer lost power brakes and steering. took vehicle to dealer, and they put in an idler pulley. next time it rained in it fell off again. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 01/29/2002 | |||
| Serpentine belt ripped, causing engine to cut off.*ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| During a routine maintenance, the serpentine belt tensioner was replaced by the dealer. since then the belt has come off the pulley twice due to the water getting on the pulley, causing the belt to slip. *yh | |||
| 11/13/2000 | 1 | 02/18/1998 | |
| While driving about 45mph all of the guages and lites came on and then immediately went off. noticed all of this when a left hand turn was made, resulting im no control. no warning lights came on. serpentine belt stretched but the belt tensioner was almost totally useless. | |||
| 12/11/2001 | 4 | 01/01/1999 | |
| Serpentine belt comes off when driving through deep snow. belt has been replaced 4 times. *ak *yh | |||
| 10/06/2000 | 3 | 07/01/1999 | |
| Serpintine fan belt jumps off pulleys when driving through 3-4 inches of water replaced belt dealer stated belt tenstioner was faulty in 2000 i replaced tenstioner nov 2000 in june 2001 and nov2001 belt jumped the pulleys again even with a new belt and tenstioner installed. *ak | |||
| 12/01/1998 | 8 | 08/01/1998 | |
| Consumer states left front side of vehicle appears to be lower than the right and the brakes wear down only on the front left side, vehicle skidded when brakes were being applied which caused an accident consumer was advised front caliper, rotor and brake pads were needed because they were worn, dealership advised consumer they could not explain why vehicle was skidding, consumer is having to replace the rotor, caliper and brake only on front side every 8000 miles, consumer was advised by delearship that this type of vehicle is known to have problems with the brakes and would probably have to be replaced every six months. *jb key would not turn in ignition, dealer attempted to remove cylinder and it broke, dealer replaced. tape dragged in the tape player, dealer replaced. at times when starting vehicle, there is no radio, lights, or horn, dealer could not find any problems. serpentine belt was replaced. slight fluid leak from transmission cooler line,consumer states transmission jerked. arm rest fastner backed off. left front brakes continue to wear and pull vehicle, brakes lock up causing vehicle to skid. *slc | |||
| 05/22/2001 | 0 | ||
| Engine warning light was on, and consumer saw something hanging from under the car, it was serpentine belt. then, there was no steering or braking.*ak | |||
| 5 | |||
| When driving serpentine belt would keep coming off. this happened whether it was wet or dry. went to dealership 3 times & was informed a flaw in design of belt. had belt replaced 5 times & had been shredded 5 times. *ak | |||
| Serpentine belt came off while driving during a rain storm, causing loss of power steering/brakes and lights. apparently, manufacturer sent out tsb which stated serpentine belt will slip off when it gets wet.please provide furtehr information.*ak | |||
| 4 | |||
| Serpentine belt failed for the 4th time while driving. had heard a funny noise prior to no steering. this caused a loss of steering control. first 2 times was at 35mph. 2nd 2 times was while starting vehicle. been to dealer each time to have belt replaced.*ak power steering, water pum, alternator and air conditioner failed. *yh | |||
| 1 | 05/10/1998 | ||
| Serpentine belt fell off 3 times due to snow and rain splashing upon the engine resulting in power steering to fail and engine over heated. *yh | |||
| 09/02/2000 | 1 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Serpentine belt came off during a 25 mph turn. belt then wrapped itself up in a/c pulley. loss of power steering and alternator ensued. i've had this vehicle in the shop now 3 times for alternator or belt problems - they were not aware of tsb affecting the serpentine belt. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1999 | 6 | ||
| Consumer had to replace surpentine belt. when she was driving serpentine belt came off, and vehicle lost power. dealership was aware of her problem. *ak the belt have to be replaced periodically. *yh | |||
| 04/30/1998 | |||
| Intermittently, while driving at 20-30 mph, the drive belt will come off. this has happened 4 times since the 30th of april. the van has been fixed under warranty 3 times for this problem. the driver has the van again for the fourth time for the same problem. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||
| 10/06/1998 | 1 | 07/12/1998 | |
| Oxygen sensor failed. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | |||
| 01/21/2001 | 2 | 11/01/2000 | |
| During january 2001 the transmission would completely shut off in mid traffic or at a turn then either stall or turn back on by itself. we had it into the dealership 3 times before engine check light came on and they could tell us what they say the problem was : the egr valve and some kind of transmission leak. they completed the work for several hundred dollars and now in october 2001 the transmission while driving started making revving (accelerating) noises then stalled with no warning, now it will not shift from first gear without stalling and another chrysler dealership says we need a whole new transmission for over two thousand dollars.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 11/22/1999 | 1 | ||
| A crack in exhaust manifold caused fumes to come into vehicle.*ak dealer could not duplicate concern. customer states vehicle jerks when in cruise. dealer found no problem. *tt | |||
| 02/07/2001 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Exhaust manifold has developed a hole in it on the right side. this causes exhaust gas to be ported out right in front of the passenger compartment.*ak | |||