This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving van speed would not accelerate over 35mph, I pulled over to find wires burning it was the fuel injector harness and the surrounding areas of that location.
While driving the vehicle, the instrument panel shuts off without warning and for no known reason. Dodge told us that it was a short in the wiring in the dash that caused the computer to shut down. The technicians insisted that the problem would be impossible to find, especially since it could not be replicated on demand. This has continued to happen periodically, most recently in January 2014, when the computer went out, shutting down the instrument panel and the wheels on the passenger side of the vehicle. The driver's side continued forward, which pushed the vehicle into a curb, flattening two tires and damaging those respective rims. Although no one was injured, had there been a vehicle next to the van, as opposed to a high curb, the defect in the vehicles wiring and computer would have caused a collision. There is never any warning prior to the electrical and instrument panel going out. There is no known trigger that causes this problem. It is not triggered by going over a bump, driving at any particular speed, stopping or accelerating. I wanted to report this, because a witness (who happened to be a police officer) to the most recent incident advised us that this is a known and common issue in Dodge Caravan built in the late 1990S/early 2000S.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the entire instrument cluster failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that the wiring harness was rusted and would need replacing. In addition, the front strut tower assembly was also found to be completely rusted. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle could not be aligned and was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000 and the current mileage was unknown.
My parents van. A couple of days before this happened I tried to start it and all it did was click. I tried to start it again and it started right up. I turned it back off and tried to start it again, same thing happened. All it did was click. I then tried to start it again and it started right up. We drove to town with no further issues that day. The next day it started right up. We drove about eighty miles to my sisters house. When we came out to leave in the evening. I started the van and it started right up, but it was making a rattling noise that I could just barely hear over the engine noise. I turned the van off, but something was still running. The starter was still engaged with the engine and running. I turned the key back on and the engine started again. I turned the engine off again and the same thing happened. The starter stayed running. I attempted to drive two hundred yards to my sisters garage to get pliers. I realized I probably did not have enough time to get to her garage before the starter burnt up. I ran in the house leaving the van running. By the time I got back to the van and got the hood open the starter was starting to smoke and make a real bad winning noise. My wife got a fire extinguisher. I pulled the negative battery cable. By the time that I got the cable off the starter was already burnt up and starting to catch fire. Their was so much smoke. I have know doubt that if I had not gotten the battery cable disconnected when I did that the van would have gone up in flames. The other bad thing was that it was sitting next to my sisters house and that would have gone up in flames with it. I am just glad that it did not happen when my seventy five year old parents were driving it, because I believe that the van would have defiantly caught fire and they would not have known what to do fast enough. This year make and model needs to be recalled before someone gets killed. Thanks.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. While the vehicle was parked and the engine was being warmed up, the passenger side air bag deployed without warning or an impact. Since then, the heater and power windows have stopped functioning. The cause of the failure has not been determined. The current and failure mileages were 150,000. Updated 10/06/09. Updated 10/08/09
- Newell, SD, USA
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Our belts sips off during wet weather"five times we replaced the "S" belt and the tensioners, waterpump, overheating our 2nd yr of owership.now the 3rd yr of transmissions leaking, the ABS light came on while driving at 35mph w/children in car, starting to brake causing to slow way down in traffic and made a chime sound, the horn went off and it got hot fast causing the car to shut down. Thank god there was room to get over. All the lights were flickering all over the dashboard. The car just leaks everywhere, water, oil, trans. Something needs to be done about these cars. I cant even get mine smog because I have to keep unplugging my battery because now we have a short in the electrical system somewhere. I brought a lemon.....oh yeah! I called the dealer, they cant replace the cruise control unless the ABS light stays on. I hope I don't die cause the airbags wont work because I have a electrical shortage. 2 batteries were replaced, alternator too. The clockspring wont work for my car only the cruise control so said the dealer. I would feel bad selling this car to a family, cause what if they were killed. I couldn't deal with that. The day that happened was on my daughter 16th birthday. I had to stop everywhere all day to put water in the radiator just to keep it cool enough not to ruin her day. I hate hot days, I fear the rainy days, I cant see at night cause my headlights on the left side burned out and the covers has a glass over them.
Vehicle experienced an electrical defect. While raining interior lights failed. Also, there was a brake problem. While traveling 30-35 mph brakes were applied, pedal went straight to the floor, and vehicle hit another vehicle in front. Insurance co. Had vehicle towed so that they could inspect the defect.
The vehicle experienced the same defect with the clock spring as stated in recall number 02V 293 000 but the model year and vehicle identification number were not included. An electrical short started and was replaced per mechanic. The horn stopped working due to the air bag. The consumer was informed the same part malfunctioned in the 1996, 97, and 98 Dodge Caravan's.
Seal around windshield is leaking, causing electrical shorts in vehicle. Dealer cannot remedy the problem. The water drops onto the computer control and causes all instruments to work irradically on the dash board. Consumer feels the main controls should be shielded from windshield leaks. Also, the headlights and tail lights went out.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kissimmee, FL, USA