Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 07/25/2004 | 1 | ||
| The cup holder in some vehicles is located directly adjacent to the dashboard. when the vehicle stops, beverage splashes onto the dash, in this case into a computer board in the dash through slots in the dash for the heater controls. the result is total failure of the front and rear window defroster, windshield washer and wipers, front and rear heaters, and air conditioning. the lack of ability to clear the front and rear glass constitutes a safety hazard. this particular vehicle is a 1996 dodge grand caravan se vin 2b4gp44r1tr779538. possibly several brands of vehicle have this engineering design problem. the response that i got from chrysler when i asked about replacement parts is that the warranty is for three years, and after that tough. their e-mail response is attached. at a minimum, replacement parts should be available for a reasonable time after production stops, and this vehicle is still in production. since it is a design error, i feel that this field failure should be corrected without charge. if that is not possible, then i should be allowed to purchase and install this $20 computer board myself. it requires removal of four screws. --->snip<--- your vehicle was provided with a warranty against defects for a period of 3 years or 36,000 miles. your concerns, particularly in view of the expense and inconvenience involved in this issue, are understandable. however, your request for consideration in this matter must be declined. *nm | |||
| 12/05/2002 | 6400 | 1 | 10/09/1996 |
| On 12/5/2002, my husband & i were sitting at a red light in our 1996 dodge grand caravan when we were rear-ended by a ford taurus. being lower to the ground than the caravan, the taurus hit the dealer installed tow bar causing the frame to buckle above both axles & minimal damage to the body of the van. the case for recovery of medical bills & wages lost is now coming up & we found out that they are claiming that we were hit between 8-10 mph. i talked with someone in your legal department & she told me to see if chrysler could give me info on the strength of that frame & if not, to file a complaint. we heard back from chrysler this morning & they said that they couldn't help us. *nm | |||
| 06/15/2003 | 170000 | ||
| We took our 1996 grand caravan in for recalls that dodge sent us. they called my wife back and told her it was condemnable and unsafe to drive, because the strut tower was very badly rusted. by the time i had the chance to call them, because i was at work, the person she talked to had left, however i did talk to another person acquainted with the vehicle. he said because of the mileage and that i wasn't the original owner dodge wouldn't do anything for us. he also said it would cost $2000.00 per side to fix and the van wasn't worth it. i said this is a serious thing and it should be fixed by chrysler because they obviously used inferior materials on that part of the van. he said that they would not fix it, and the weather where we live had something to do with it. i said so i am just out of a vehicle to drive?, and he said you can drive it but it's not safe. now the other man told my wife that if she hit a hole or went over rr tracks it could come completely through and she would lose total control of the vehicle. the auto body man we took it to said that the part should have been galvanized when they made it and this wouldn't be happening. another thing i would like to note is that our 1994 caravan did not have this problem and it had over 270,000 miles on it. also this 1996 does not have rust anywhere else. someone is going to get hurt or killed if they don't recall these and fix them. they recalled a clock spring for the airbag, and they didn't ask the mileage of our vehicle, and they performed all the other recalls on it that day so they could get there money, but they won?t do anything about a suspension component that is life threatening. i would like also to add that your car doesn't need to have an airbag to be safe or run, but it does need a suspension. this is not an only case, we have another 1996 grand caravan that looks like rust is bubbling under the paint at that same spot, so it is a very easy thing to not see. | |||
| 1 | |||
| The body structure which held the strut to the front suspension was badly rusted. the consumer was told if he drove over a railroad track, the strut could go completely through the body structure it's connected to and he could loose control of the vehicle. ph *jb | |||
| 08/28/1996 | 1 | 02/01/1996 | |
| The cowl was loose. nlm | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 06/28/2009 | 120000 | 1 | |
| 96 grand caravan strut mount rust couldn't pass inspection and they said my kids could have died if i had a accident. this should be a major recall. the government involves in every aspect of our lives to keep our children safe until it makes corporation pay money to fix a known problem let see what you guys do with this. sorry im upset just seems extremely dangerous and as i read on the internet tons of people with this problem and chrysler knows about it caused i called the to and said if i had a issue to write to you guys but most likely nothing will be done. that is a quote from a chrysler customer service rep. *tr | |||
| 06/30/2008 | 114328 | 1 | |
| 1996 dodge grand caravan corrosion perforation condition at the top of the strut tower. the front driver side strut tower rusted. i am very concerned that the front end will collapse while driving. driver's side strut tower completely rusted away. making vehicle unsafe to be on the road. someone is going to get hurt or killed if they don't recall these and fix them. apparently chrysler wants to be named after someone else once someone gets killed and then they sue chrysler and win for chrysler being careless and cheap when building a vehicle. i am very upset because it is going to cost me $1200 to fix my driver side strut tower because of the massive rust my kids ride in this vehicle and i didn't build it i think the people who did should recall it and fix it for us, minivans are kid vehicles we don't buy them just to ride and look cool in them they transport precious cargo our kids i have three and if something were to happen to them because of a bad company making cheap stuff someone would have to answer to me for it. i bought the minivan thinking dodge was a responsible company and good company but i am now having second thoughts about it with this happening. *tr | |||
| 05/22/2003 | 76100 | 1 | 07/13/1995 |
| The strut mounts thoroughly rusted and separated from the body which then caused a driving hazard. several mechanics have stated that this has been a most common occurrence among the chrsyler/dodge mini-vans of 1996. chrysler will not extend good will or assistance even though the fault lies with them in its poor design that was soon after revamped. what is really distressing is that chrysler raised the cost of the strut mounts recently, which are dealer parts only, by about 84% as they realize more and more consumers need to make this expensive repair. *ak | |||
| 01/29/2002 | 1 | 06/01/1996 | |
| Service agent determined/confirmed anti-freeze coolant leak into the passenger side carpet and door sill area. the leak made an offensive odor, fermenting the carpet, and the residual smell/antifreeze fumes appears unhealthy to breath in. the leak was detected by visible substantial wetness of the carpet area about the sill area. carpet became slightly discolored/stained by the anti-freeze leak. the actual location of the leak could not be detected without the complete disassembly of the rear interior trim. a quote of over $230 in materials and $430 in labor was given to repair the leaking core. this is an exorbitant amount of cost, and offers a potential unhealthy situation if left unrepaired. the owner cannot foresee expenditure of such magnitude of costs, and must try to seek a less expensive remedy. note, the service agent would not disconnect/short circuit the heater core lines to disconnect/remove this heater core from service; hence an impasse remains. the owner will be forced to do same to eliminate the persistent leak.*ak | |||
| 07/15/2001 | 1 | ||
| The right strut tower top rusted, the left side has rusted as well. nlm | |||
| 08/07/2000 | 2 | 10/01/1995 | |
| Part breaks off at shoulder. it is obvious that the part was cracked in the heat treating process when it was made based on the discoloration in the area where the crack was located. failure of the part , which is sudden, dissables the power steering and the water pump. engine failure will follow. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 01/07/2003 | 1 | ||
| When consumer was filling up the gasoline tank, the driver side door would not open. please furnish additional information.*jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving the side rear doors rattle at all times, they have been adjusted but they continue to rattle. the interior drivers side door panel is falling apart. nlm | |||
| 10/06/1997 | 2 | 05/28/1996 | |
| Intermittently when left turn signal is activated windshield wipers come on. dealer has inspected and repaired vehicle, however problem has reoccurred. *ak the vehicle would not start due to battery failure. the sliding door does not shut properly. passenger door does not lock due to door lock motor failure. drivers window makes noise due to regulator failure. *yh | |||
| 03/10/1998 | 3 | 04/11/1996 | |
| Door locks lock and unlock while driving, dealer replaced body computer, right side sliding door lock would not unlock, dealer replaced the right side sliding door actuator, there was s a whirring noise again from the right side door when power locks are operated, dealer replaced sliding door lock actuator for the second time. *slc | |||
| 11/13/2000 | 1 | 04/11/1996 | |
| Right sliding door makes whirring noise while vehicle is traveling approximately 15 mph. *slc | |||
| 03/10/1998 | 3 | 04/11/1996 | |
| Door locks lock and unlock while driving, dealer replaced body computer, right side sliding door lock would not unlock, dealer replaced the right side sliding door actuator, there was s a whirring noise again from the right side door when power locks are operated, dealer replaced sliding door lock actuator for the second time. *slc | |||
| 10/01/2000 | 1 | ||
| Slider door locks failure-left does not lock even manually; right will not unlock except manually. a/c compressor failed - always smelled antifreeze until failure. dodge will do nothing to help defray major cost. wipers come on/off whenever they want especially when cold. can put into drive/reverse w/o braking. numerous other misc problems-brakes, transmission, front end.*ak | |||
| 06/01/2000 | 09/01/1996 | ||
| Electric door locks on passenger side do not work locks properly when button is pressed. takes several times to release door lock. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Automatic door locks failed. *slc | |||
| 08/28/1996 | 1 | 02/01/1996 | |
| The sliding doors were misaligned. nlm | |||
| 03/12/2001 | 3 | ||
| Airbag light is on, dealer found clock spring assembly needed to be replaced. *ak consumer states that he had to make 3 different trips to the dealer due to the first 2 trips did not resolve the problem. brakes failed. collapsing gas tank. door locks inoperable. *slc | |||
| 12/18/1997 | 5 | 08/01/1996 | |
| Have had lock replaced (3) times left side, (2) times right side, contacted chrysler, they refuse to pay for replacement for (6) time, said quote( at some time the customer is responsible for repairs for the vehicle) when is the manufacture responsible for faulty parts? 5 times broken is defective design | |||
| 02/01/2001 | 20 | 09/01/1996 | |
| Windshield wipers come on by themselves, engine stalls when braking, sliding power door locks replaced 4x. | |||
| 10/23/2000 | 8 | 07/01/1996 | |
| Slider door locks have failed 8 times since purchased, first several times under warranty, now they charge me $25 for replacement.*ak | |||
| 09/22/1999 | 1 | 09/25/1995 | |
| Left rear power door locks will only work if key is used. *slc | |||
| 03/29/1996 | 1 | 09/25/1995 | |
| Left sliding door sometimes won't open from inside or out. *slc | |||
| 05/17/2000 | 2 | 11/01/1995 | |
| Windshield wipers still engage by themselves originally repaired 05/99. transmission went out at30904 miles. airbag light came on and horn stopped working had to replace click spring. car stall while driving said it needed tune-up. when using ac or driving in rain and making a turn steering gets stiff and cannot control. interior lights flash dealer could not duplicate. power door locks lock and unlock by themselves. had to replace axle due to it being bent when new transmission was put in. had to get new tires because axle threw off balance. keep replacing batteries. drove car for 10 minutes and fan came on and stayed on after car was turned off. *ak | |||
| 12/14/1999 | 05/01/1996 | ||
| Automatic lock motor doesn't shut off right away when opened from keyless remote or during autolock when driving, struts are leaking oil at less than 50000 miles, windshield wipers lock up during cold weather, transmission slips out of gear during cold weather, front brakes vibrate and chatter: pads and rotors have been replaced twice in the last 6 months, grinding noise from steering column, whinning noise during accelleration. are there any recalls regarding these issues. the car is falling apart after 4 years. *ak | |||
| 02/12/1999 | 4 | 04/01/1998 | |
| We have had the power door locks on the rear sliding doors repaired four times. the locks just buzz and go out and we are unable to lock that particular door. we have been on several trips when this has happened and therefore we have to leave the vehicle unlocked. we have had the front end lined up at least four times. the tires were worn uneven when we purchased it, we rotated tires and had to rotate them back. we recently in february purchased new tires and then had to have it realigned. it still pulled to the right and wanders. we have taken it in for realignment again twice since. still have the same problem. *ak | |||
| 04/11/2000 | |||
| Power locks malfunctioned. passenger was not able to exit or enter. only way out of vehicle was through the window. dealer said it was a design defect. it has been repaired, but only temporatily. no remedy was found. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1996 | |||
| When driving down the road hit a pothole door came unlatched and popped open. when hitting the automatic door lock, it did not lock the sliding door. also, did not unlock automatically. only way to unlock the door was by reaching over and manually unlocking the door. *ak | |||
| 12/10/1999 | 08/01/1996 | ||
| I have had several problems, the automatic door locks have had to be replaced, even though in the 3 year time framed i paid for the new ones, there is a knocking sound that the mechanic couldn't find anything wrong although he could hear the sound, and now the car won't start and after several days of trying they can't figure it out. i obviously want the car fixed, but i would also like to know if other owners are experiencing these problems. *ak | |||
| 07/07/1996 | 15 | 07/01/1996 | |
| This car has gone to the dealer so many times and not been fixed. after my warrantee expired i took the van to a trusted mechanic and at a great cost to me is the van being repaired. the dealer never once acknowledge or fixed any problems that the independant car mechanic was able to find easily. | |||
| 06/04/1997 | 2 | 07/01/1996 | |
| All major repairs done on this van have been done through dodge dealerships. this vehicle has had more work done on it in it's first three years than any other car i ever owned, even more than my volvo. the repairs, whether under warranty or not causes an extreme inconvenience to the owner. (ie: taking off work, transporting young children, doing without a vehicle, paying for unwarrantied repairs. there are several things wrong with this vehicle that we have not repaired because they do not threaten the safety of the occupants, such as; windshield wipers inadvertantly turn on by themselves, automatic door locks do not work on driver sliding door or passenger door. lights have to be turned off manually sometimes after starting vehicle. this has been a high maintenance vehicle. it surprises me i cannot find any complaints about this vehicle because asking around to those i notice has one, complain about similar type problems. transmission being the most major complaint. | |||
| 08/01/1998 | 1 | 08/01/1997 | |
| Power door lock actuators have been replaced 3 times on sliding doors - twice on right, once on left. actuators fail and doors will not lock. | |||
| 04/19/1999 | 2 | 08/01/1996 | |
| Door lock jammed, could not unlock by remote nor manually - dealer replaced lock motor. *ak | |||
| 07/22/1996 | 8 | 09/01/1995 | |
| Left and right side sliding doors do not latch properly, rattle and come off the tracks. | |||
| 04/01/1998 | 2 | 08/01/1996 | |
| We have had multiple problems in most components of this vehicle including but not limited to both rear sliding doors, front and rear wipers, coolant leakage, engine fan & belt malfunctions, intermittent stalling, transmission failure and continuous malfunction, multiple parking brake malfunction and adjustment problems, multiple interior light malfunction, rear quad seat attachment problem, and other more cosmetic related problems with cracking door panel & poorly installed carpet & seat covers. | |||
| 09/19/1997 | 4 | 07/01/1996 | |
| The automatic door locks on both rear sliding doors have malfunctioned on at least four occasions. when the locks malfunction, it is impossible to open the door from the inside or the outside. the vehicle must be taken to the dealership in order to be able to open the door. on each occassion we have taken the vehicle back to have it repaired and it will fail again with months. we recently talked to friends who also had a similar vehicle and were having the exact problem. this is a serious threat to the safety to any person or child who cannot escape from this vehicle in an emergency like a vehicle fire. *ak | |||
| 1 | 09/16/1995 | ||
| Power door locks failed. | |||
| 09/01/1997 | 08/01/1996 | ||
| Power door solenoid valve on left side sliding door failures; original failed after 1 year and the replacement did not last 1 year. | |||
| 12/01/1996 | 2 | 01/01/1995 | |
| Right side sliding door lock mechanism failed. | |||
| 12/01/1996 | 2 | 01/01/1995 | |
| Left side sliding door opens while driving. | |||
| 12/01/1996 | 1 | 04/01/1996 | |
| Automatic door locks failed. | |||
| 02/06/1996 | 1 | 05/01/1995 | |
| Power door lock sensor failed. | |||
| 12/01/1996 | 1 | 01/08/1996 | |
| The automatic door lock failed to lock/ unlock the driver's side sliding door. | |||
| 07/22/1996 | 1 | 04/01/1996 | |
| Passenger's side cowl panel came loose. | |||
| 12/30/1996 | 1 | 05/05/1995 | |
| Problem with left side of door. | |||
| 01/01/1996 | 1 | 01/10/1996 | |
| Passenger's sliding door sticks. | |||
| 11/27/1996 | 1 | 11/01/1995 | |
| Sliding passenger doors hard to open. | |||
| 06/01/1996 | 1 | 12/01/1995 | |
| Sliding doors hard to open from inside. | |||
| 07/10/1996 | |||
| While trying to open the sliding door , the door sticks and will not let you open the door. *ak | |||
| 06/17/1996 | 1 | 10/27/1995 | |
| Malfunctioning side door locks. | |||
| Experiences intermittent failure when trying to close sliding door, door won't close.*ak | |||
| Somtimes the sliding door is hard to open and close, have had problem about a dozen times off and on . please describe . | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 02/24/2001 | 1 | 05/28/1996 | |
| Transmission would no longer shift from first to second gear. had to be replaced at 72000 miles.*ak the hinges on the door were replaced and the front rotor was turned. *yh | |||
| When vehicle is parked on incline sliding door will go off the hinges. problem has occurred with nose of vehicle in downward postion, or upward postion. cause unknown. *ak | |||
| 06/01/1996 | |||
| Removable seat has sharp edges, causing injuries when removed due to a design problem, in for repairs, door edge guard around the metal edges bolts are still coming out. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 07/01/2004 | 500 | 15 | 11/29/1995 |
| 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.*ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID | |||
| Built in child safty seat,the harness strips lockup and you can't get the child out unless you pull hard on the straps. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 08/13/2008 | 154000 | 1 | |
| Strut tower, driver's side is extremely rusted - a hard bump will certainly push the suspension spring assembly through the top causing loss of vehicle control. *tr | |||
| 05/29/2003 | 116552 | 04/10/1996 | |
| My 1996 dodge grand caravan has a left front strut tower that is cracked around the top where the spring sits. there isn't a spot of rust or structural damage on this vehicle except that strut tower. from my discussion with a chrysler body shop manager, it appears that they had a problem with these strut towers. i think this is a safety risk because if one of these lets go at highway speed, it will immediately impact steering and driveability potentially leading to a crash. i know my way around a car so i was able to spot this problem and recognize the potential danger. i think with most drivers this problem will go unrecognized and that is why i am writing you today. please get the word out. i called chryster and registered a complaint, but i don't expect them to inform anyone. | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS | |||
| 1 | 09/01/1995 | ||
| Weather stripping coming loose. | |||