Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STRUCTURE - BODY
233599REVA10/01/1999233599612160Subject on the child seat tether anchors. *mjs06/06/2000
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
23069302/01/199339541Revised sliding door center and lower track over-travel stops. *tw11/01/1995
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
23039702/14/199751942Difficult to clean light colored chalky residue from plastic body components that are molded in black. *tw07/17/1997

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
STRUCTURE
PE92027CHRYSLER GROUP LLC03/10/199206/03/1992R/HTCHBCK HYDR.CYLIN.FAILS
 There is no summary currently available
EA94005CHRYSLER GROUP LLC01/31/199410/25/1995LIFTGATE LATCHES95I001000
 Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.nhtsa analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form of static and dynamic crash testing, engineering evaluations, complaint and field analyses, and real world data analyses.a technical report discussing these analyses can be found in the engineering analysis technical report in the public viewing file.chrysler has advised nhtsa that it will conduct a campaign to replace the latches on all the subject vehicles.the chrysler campaign will consist of notification letters to all owners; free replacement of all latches with stronger, safer latches regardless of the age of the minivans; national advertising to promote customer awareness of the campaign; quarterly reports regarding campaign completion rates; as well as additional measures to ensure a high completion rate, above and beyond the actions that normally would be taken in a formal safety recall.these include follow up written and telephonic notifications to owners who do not bring their vehicles in for corrective action.nhtsa firmly believes that the crash performance of the latches on these minivans raises serious safety concerns, and that the campaign addresses these concerns.the chrysler corrective action will increase the strength of the liftgate latches and decrease the potential for inertial unlatching, thereby reducing the risk of crash-related openings of the liftgate and possible occupant ejection through the liftgate opening.owners of chrysler minivans will get a stronger, safer latch free of charge at the earliest possible time, without the need for further technical investigation and complex and time-consuming litigation with an uncertain outcome.based on the above, odi is closing this investigation.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STRUCTURE
06/01/1996
 Srtructure of rear hatch latch wouldn't open prior to recall. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY
01/01/2000140000101/01/1990
 I am the original owner of the vehicle. at 48,000 miles the transmission failed. it was replaced by the dealer, glenn e. thomas dodge in signal hill. thereafter, every 15,000 to 25,000 miles or so, the transmission has failed, probably 5 times now; the computer for the trans has failed twice, the motor computer failed 2 times, the power windows broke off their tracks, the sliding door jammed shut and wouldn't align. now the paint job on my white 1990 dodge grand caravan (with wood trim) is peeling off, mostly on the roof (where it is almost completely gone, down to the primer, rusting through to the roof metal) and on the hood and front quarter panels. the paint was not properly applied to the primer undercoat or the primer was not properly applied so as to adhere to the top color coat. i have seen many other caravan's of the same model with their paint completely or partially peeled off as i have driven around. it is a very obvious defect of the paint--there are no other vehicles out there with this kind of paint flaking and peeling problem to this extent. the plastic coating on the wood trim is all flaking and peeling off as well. it makes the car look shaggy! what a mess. this car really needs a paint job to be paid for by the manufacturer. i have paid out thousands of dollars for transmissions to be replaced. i am on a three-year warranty with dodge for the transmission and on my third transmission failure under that warranty! the overdrive unit is fully defective and the company will not undertake to fix it. the car will fail and the trans will just spin without engaging any forward gear or it will not shift into third or overdrive. the speed sensor unit is also defective and frequently needs to be replaced. what a mess of a transmission! i have it regularly serviced and i don't drive it hard or abuse the trans. help.
12/21/200212/11/2002
 Paint on 1990 dodge caravan is peeling off.
02/01/1995
 Frame flex in chassis due to cracks in the firewall. tt
01/10/1995
 Two stress line fractures in the fire wall on either side approx. 3in long. tt
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
11/27/19962
 The right hand side sliding door roller assembly came off the track when door was being open. door would just hang there. took to dealer & mechanic had repaired it once. now the problem still exists for the same reason. *ak
03/23/19953
 Sliding door track bent, allowing door to fall off. *dsh
04/26/19956
 Side power door lock failed, preventing driver/passenger's from exiting vehicle.
 Consumer went to shut the sliding door and the glass crack . tt
03/22/19952
 Side sliding door fell off 3 times while vehicle in motion. *tw
11/01/1994
 Side sliding fell off the rail. tt
04/10/1994
 Replaced all door locks, equipped with power door locks. tt
07/01/1994
 Side sliding door fell off completely, put it back on the track and replace a screw. tt
02/06/1995
 Side sliding door fell off. tt
07/02/1994
 The sliding door bolt came off . tt
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
02/28/200005/01/1995
 After driving and when letting passenger out of vehicle the side sliding door fell competely off, making it mpossible to drive without a sliding door . consumer took van to private mechanic to have it repaired at his own expense, fears that it may happen again. *ak *ml
05/08/1999
 While owner was shutting the sliding door , door came off the track and fell off onto the ground. the dealer is aware of the problem. the problem has not been corrected. please provide further details. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
08/15/1996107/01/1990
 Mechanism inside hatch loose due to retaining screws that secures it to body, fell out. *ak part was replaced with recall. *slc
07/06/1995
 Rear liftgate opened on it own, while driving on the hwy. tt
06/12/1995
 Rear liftgate has opened on several ocassion while driving. tt
 Rear hatch weakened due to screws backing out. please describe details. tt
01/10/1995
 Rear hatch/liftgate opens while driving after being hit on rear rightside. please describe details. tt
04/12/1995
 Rear hatch/liftgate opens while driving. please describe details. tt
01/15/1995
 Rear liftgate opened on its own while driving over railroad track; warning light did not come on; speed 20 mph. tt
04/10/1995
 Rear liftgate hatch door opens while driving. please describe details. tt
04/05/19943
 Tailgate has popped open at least 3 times and bags of food were ejected. tt
01/01/1995
 Rear hatchback came open while driving on the highway and contents were all over the road. tt
02/08/19954
 Rear liftgate pops open by itself while driving. tt
02/02/19941
 Have been driving down the road when tailgate opened on it's own. tt
 While driving, 20mph on two occasions, suddenly rear hatchback popped open. tt
03/06/1995
 Was struck in front of back tire on drivers side while driving hatch popped wide open. tt
03/06/199512
 Vehicles tail gate tends to open while driving on bumpy surfaces.cargo falling out. tt
 Rear hatch has opened completely (4) times. dealers tightened latch mechanism. owner describes popping/rattling sound. tt
02/25/1994
 After making u-turn rear hatch came open. please describe details. tt
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
03/01/2000
 The bolt that attaches the strut to the body of the liftgate pushed into the body of the van, causing the liftgate to drop down onto victim's head. manufacturer was notified about the problem. the problem has not been corrected. please provide any further information. *ak
04/30/1993101/01/1990
 Hatchback strut mount failed.
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE
07/01/1996110/01/1995
 Rear hatch lift strut failed, resulting in hatch striking passenger on the head.
112/29/1989
 Upper anchorage of liftgate strut at top ripped/cracked interior body at pivot; strut tore upper pivot loose and pushed it between inner frame and upper body. *ak
06/21/1996101/01/1995
 Rear hatch door hydraulic lift struts failing, allowing door to descend in instances pe92-027. *ak
 Experienced rear hydraulic cylinder strut failure, when tailgate descended without warning onto head. *ak
07/07/19957
 Premature wear of bolts holding liftgate struts. *ak
 Experienced rear hatchback hydraulic lift strut failure, when left side strut disengaged, falling on driver's head. tt
07/05/1995
 The strut that holds up the back liftgate broke and went through the roof of the van. please describe. tt
 The rear hatch when taking something out came down and hit consumer in the head had it fixed. tt
05/13/1995
 Rear liftgate left strut broke; hatch came down; struck owner in head; right side also very loose. tt
01/07/1995
 Hydraulic shock do not hold the liftgate in place. tt
01/15/19942
 Rear liftgate does not remain up when opened; falls down on owner's back. constant, worse when cold. tt
11/01/19931
 Rearrear hatch support/lifts failed, door would not stay open. tt
10/04/19901
 Rear hatch will not stay up due to defective hatch support rods. *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE
01/04/1995
 Rear lift gate open while riding on rough road, replace bolts. tt
02/25/1994
 After making u-turn rear hatch came open. please describe details. tt
STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID
07/03/1997110/11/1990
 Right lifter bracket came off at the weld point when closing liftgate.
 Owners have been waiting over 1 year for this recall to be completed.mfr 800-line is stating now that parts will be available till nov-dec 1996. 95i001003. *a
11/17/1995
 Consumer received recall ltr from chrysler 1195, contacted dealer same day but no parts available for repairs. tt
 Sliding door may not open from inside w/automatic door mechanism not locking allowing door to fly open. please describe details. tt
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
12/08/1995
 Paint coming off all over the van.
05/25/1991
 Paint is coming off the vehicle. *ak
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS
02/23/19951
 Stress cracks in fire wall. tt