Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| 23097 A | 12/05/1997 | 6089389 | Test | 02/01/2000 | |
| 220298 | 04/24/1998 | 600750 | *during low speed vehicle experiences side to side oscillation/wobble while driving between 10-45mph. *ak | 06/05/1998 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||||
| 0200401 | 07/06/2001 | 620914 | Experiencing a squawk / creak / groan sound from front suspension while driving over rough / bumpy roads. *tt | 09/04/2001 | |
| 260995 | 11/01/1995 | 46506 | This tsb contains revised service and/or diagnostic manual pages. publication # 81-370-6106. | 04/25/1996 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||||
| 020997A | 10/24/1997 | 02-09-97 | 6088761 | Concerns with thumping noise at rear of vehicle during cold operation. *nlm | 01/06/2000 |
| 020998 | 08/28/1998 | 602195 | Rattle noise from rear of the vehicle when driving over road bumps. *ak | 11/12/1999 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 11/01/2007 | 90000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1996 dodge caravan. the contact stated that the shocks underneath the driver's side of the vehicle were going straight through the metal, which holds the wheel in place. the failure causes the vehicle to hesitate at times. while driving over small bumps in the road at 15 mph, the vehicle suddenly veered to the opposite side of the road. the contact has taken the vehicle to the dealer a few times, but they stated that there was only a kit used to seal the shocks in place; however, it is a temporary remedy and the failure would most likely recur. there is currently not a permanent repair for this defect. the failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 115,000. | |||
| 10/06/2004 | 80525 | 1 | 08/03/1999 |
| Vehicle was taken to dealer for an oil change when it was noticed that the cross member on the vehicle was so rusty that it was starting to break off.*ak *nm | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 103000 | ||
| Left front strut mtg tower rusted through by the time the rust was seen the metal in the strut tower had failed chrysler refused to do anything stating it was over 3 year 36,000 mile for manifacturers deffect repair yet this is known as a common problem and can cause loss of control if it fails on the highway. | |||
| 07/15/2002 | 0 | ||
| I took ownership of my used 1996 dodge grand caravan in 2000, and since then have replaced minor mechanical failures such as the starter, water pump, serpentine belt, tires (twice), wiper blades, bulbs, brakes (twice) as well as the rotors. at present i am dealing with the following problems: peeling paint, wipers engaging and not going off even though they are not turned on, hard jerks every now and again (possibly from transmission), and the breakage of a stabilizer bar bushing in the front suspension. | |||
| 11/13/2003 | 70000 | 1 | 06/01/1996 |
| While driving, the consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. consumer took the vehicle to the gas station and the mechanic informed the consumer that the lower ball joints were worn out. *ak the front axle broke while driving, the sway bar bushings were replaced as well as the rear shocks. *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| Driver's side front strut tower is rusted.*mr the strut tower was rusted to the point where it was about to fail. daimler chrysler refused to repair the vehicle free of charge. *jb *nm | |||
| 103000 | 1 | ||
| The strut shock tower that supported the suspension system rusted through from the inside out. at the time that rust was noticeable the tower had already failed. this could have caused the front end to drop while driving. the manufacturer was aware of this problem and supplied a repair kit under the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. *ak *nlm | |||
| 09/02/2002 | |||
| Strut tower has rusted out and was about to fall off. strut tower holds the front end of vehicle. contacted dealer. *ak | |||
| 09/06/2002 | |||
| Vehicle was brought in for a flat tire repair. passenger's side strut tower has rusted and spring was starting to come through. this may have caused front end to collaspe onto the wheels. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2002 | |||
| Front suspension has a part that secures suspension to vehicle. rust builds up that is putting holes in vehicle in that area. contacted dealer. *ak | |||
| 08/08/2001 | 2 | 11/04/1996 | |
| There are rusted out holes in left strut rod support tower which may cause vehicle to collapse to ground, dealer replaced left strut tower, also experiencing similar failure in the right front tower. *ak *tt | |||
| 11/13/2001 | |||
| Right front strut has corroded. vehicle has been inspected by an independent mechanic. pease provide additional information. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1996 | |||
| Bad shimmy from 32-42 mph had the tires rotated, rebalanced and aligned alignment shop said the problem was with dodge, and that a recall had taken place earlier, i couldn't find that particular recall | |||
| 08/07/2000 | 0 | ||
| Consumer was traveling about 70mph on highway and without prior warning lost power steering/ all belt driven accessories/ water pump pulley flew off,and vehicle started to vibrate. *ak | |||
| 05/12/1996 | 5 | 04/23/1996 | |
| When driving at speed between 20-35 mph the vehicle wobbles/shakes. consumer had tires rotated and balanced. the dealer can't find the problem. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 07/02/2011 | |||
| Strut tower corrosion 10090457 right / left strut tower rusted out on 96 dodge caravan. took van into repair shop to find out stearing issue they found a completely rusted out strut housing said its a known issue with vehicle and safty bullitien was issued since its a known problem. suspension/body - strut tower corrosion number: 23-044-02 group: body date: oct. 14, 2002 subject: ns strut tower corrosion | |||
| 06/29/2006 | 134000 | 2 | 02/03/2003 |
| I own an 1996 dodge grand caravan. the strut towers, especially the driver side, are rusting horribly and will need repair to avoid a catastrophic failure. if the rust gives way, the struts will go up through the tower which best case causes huge damage to the vehicle and worst case could result in a fatal traffic accident. reading around the internet, this is a common problem from 1996 through 2000 vans and repair kits are back ordered at dealerships around the nation. daimler/chrysler is fully aware of this problem and a recall should be issued as this is a huge safety issue for their customers. *nm | |||
| 06/04/2005 | 96000 | ||
| Strut tower rusting out almost caused crash. i read that this is common on 96-00 caravan why is this not covered. | |||
| 09/24/1997 | 1 | 07/01/1996 | |
| Vehicle can not be aligned due to manufacturer's defect. yh | |||
| 08/01/1996 | |||
| The vehicle experiences problems with the turn signals and windshield wipers coming on unexpectedly. also problems with steering column vibration, and odor that comes from the air conditioner. please provide further information. | |||
| 05/30/1996 | |||
| Front end experiences vibration. although vibration occurs on all types of road surfaces, it is more pronounced on uneven road. *ak | |||
| 06/27/1996 | 1 | 04/29/1996 | |
| Misalignment of vehicle. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| Air bag warning light illuminated/ horn and cruise control inoperable/ suspension control arm worn out, and windshield wiper pivots and arms worn out. *ak | |||
| Air bag warning light illuminated/ horn and cruise control inoperable/ suspension control arm wornout, and windshield wiper pivots and arms worn out. *ak | |||
| 10/09/2000 | |||
| While driving noticed steering was very shaky. problem started over a period of time & is steadily getting worse. took vehicle to dealer & mechanic noticed right front axle was bent. suspension from manufacturer was defective. ball joints were worn out due to lack of lubrication on the seals for rubber boot.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 07/07/2003 | 106562 | 5 | 03/01/1996 |
| Lower left ball joint failed without warning during low speed (2 mph) driving, causing the wheel to fall off, also destroying part of the sway bar and the left drive shaft. at highway speed, such a failure would have resulted in complete loss of control. the vehicle was in the dealership the prior day for routine maintenance and the dealership also performed state safety inspection four months prior. there was no evidence of ball joint wear or damage prior to the failure.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 07/07/2003 | 106562 | 5 | 03/01/1996 |
| Lower left ball joint failed without warning during low speed (2 mph) driving, causing the wheel to fall off, also destroying part of the sway bar and the left drive shaft. at highway speed, such a failure would have resulted in complete loss of control. the vehicle was in the dealership the prior day for routine maintenance and the dealership also performed state safety inspection four months prior. there was no evidence of ball joint wear or damage prior to the failure.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||
| 08/22/2007 | 50000 | 1000 | 08/22/2007 |
| Front strut mounts on every 96 thru 00 caravan, voyager, chrysler minivans that i've looked at,have serious rust problems, especially the left side, resulting in the strut itself breaking through and hitting the bottom of the hood, and resulting of loss of control of the vehicle when this happens. the repair cost to have this repaired is very costly,$300-1000 to make the vehicle safe to drive. i would like to see the nhtsa look into this problem on all 96 thru 00 mini-vans before somebody has a failure while driving with their family, and have a fatal accident. please cure this problem before and not after people are killed due to this structural front strut tower failure. *tr | |||
| 97000 | 1 | 06/01/2000 | |
| The driver's side front strut tower was deteriorating and detached from the frame of the vehicle. the dealer could not determine the cause of the problem. *ak *sc | |||
| 10/06/2003 | 103000 | 1 | 09/01/1995 |
| While getting service on my 1996 dodge grand caravan se vin/2b4gp44r9tr670549 rust was observed on the body strut mgt tower located in the left front of the vehicle this tower is a main part of the front suspension system. failure of this part of the vehicle due to rust out from the inside can cause the front suspension to collapse at normal driving speeds. *la | |||
| 148000 | 1 | ||
| During a routine maintenance check mechanic found that struts were popping through the strut tower. strut tower had to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states that right strut cap that holds the suspension has rusted out. cause is unknown. | |||
| 06/12/2003 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states that the vehicle's front struts are rusted. dealer notified.*ak the dealer stated that the vehicle should be condemned because of the severity of the rust. the rust was not easily detected because it was under paint. *nm | |||
| 09/06/2002 | |||
| Vehicle was brought in for a flat tire repair. passenger's side strut tower has rusted and spring was starting to come through. this may have caused front end to collaspe onto the wheels. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 08/05/2002 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle overheated. took vehicle to dealership for service, and was informed that strut tower the holds engine had rusted, and could cause engine to fall.*ak *yh | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 01/01/2003 | 100000 | 2 | |
| The shock struts on the passenger's side rusted. consumer took the vehicle to a body shop, and then contacted the dealer. however, the problem recurred. *ak | |||
| 06/05/2004 | 117000 | 1 | |
| Shock towers which lead to the springs of the vehicle rusted. *ak | |||
| 07/14/2002 | 04/01/2097 | ||
| Both right and left strutt towers had rusted amost completely through. if the van had not overheated, we wouldn't have known that we had a problem. we were told that we needed some parts replaced, but not the importance of these parts. we were lucky that the strutt towers didn't give way, and that we, or no one esle was hurt, when we went in for the repairs, we were told that we would not be allowed to take the vechile off the lot. | |||
| 08/18/2002 | |||
| Left front strut tower rusted through and caused loss of proper suspension on left side. manufacturer was notified. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 07/01/2002 | |||
| Consumer opened hood to check oil and notice that strut tower had rusted. if it rusted it could break, and front end could fall off.*ak | |||
| 01/27/1996 | |||
| Transmission/alternator/belts/power windows/shock absorbers/battery/coil/spark plugs and radio failed. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | |||
| 03/12/2002 | 1 | 11/01/2001 | |
| The top of the shock towers are showing an unusual amount of rust. the right side shock tower is the worst. it appears the shock is starting to push through the top of the shock tower. reported this to the dealer who contacted the district service rep. i have been told there is a service bulletin on its way in a month or two. but that was five months ago. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR | |||
| 07/07/2003 | 106562 | 5 | 03/01/1996 |
| Lower left ball joint failed without warning during low speed (2 mph) driving, causing the wheel to fall off, also destroying part of the sway bar and the left drive shaft. at highway speed, such a failure would have resulted in complete loss of control. the vehicle was in the dealership the prior day for routine maintenance and the dealership also performed state safety inspection four months prior. there was no evidence of ball joint wear or damage prior to the failure.*ak | |||
| 01/20/1998 | 1 | 08/18/1995 | |
| Noise from front end due to failed sway bar. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||
| 04/01/1996 | 30 | 04/26/1996 | |
| While driving entire electrical system malfunctioned, but vehicle continued to operate with no electric components working. dealer has been contacted replaced transmission, stabilizer sockets, brakes and battery, latches on doors, hatch replaced several times. ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 10/07/2003 | 1 | ||
| Front right wheel weld rusted prematurely. *ak | |||
| 10/15/2002 | 1 | ||
| The wheel bearing snapped, which caused the tire to wobble, and the vehicle was difficult to control.*jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 1 | |||
| Sway bar cracked in half. nlm | |||
| 0 | |||
| Thump in rear of vehicle upon aceleration. | |||
| 02/26/1996 | |||
| Rear suspension failure, the rear struts have broken | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 1 | 03/12/1996 | ||
| Shock absorbers failed, causing noise when driving. | |||
| When driving there is a noise in the rear suspension took to dealer two times first say it was the fuel tank took it back and say it was the rear shock . tt | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS | |||
| 06/11/2001 | 68126 | 1 | |
| Clockspring safety deficiency.*mr the consumer is requesting reimbursement for replacement of the clockspring purchased before recall was issued. *cb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | |||
| 10/20/2002 | |||
| Need to add this vehicle to recall and service by dealer need to recall every clock spring made. dt | |||
| 06/01/1995 | 1 | ||
| Rear springs insufficient for rated towing capacity of vehicle. *dh | |||