1991 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS VERY HARD, AND CAUSES FLUID TO COME OUT OF THE PUMP ONTO THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002317 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD, SENDING FLUID OUT OF PUMP TO THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002338 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ABS ILLUMINATES ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE IS SOME BRAKING POWER. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002531 at NHTSA ↗

FUEL RAIL LEAKS ONTO SUPER-HEATED EXHAUST MANIFOLD - EXTREME FIRE/EXPLOSION DANGER. THIS IS PRECISELY THE SAME PROBLEM AS IN OFICIAL RECALL OF SLIGHTLY LATER (1996 -...) DODGE/CHRYSLER MINIVANS. MANY OTHER IDENTICALLY REGISTERED COMPLAINTS AT NHTSA FOR SAME YEAR MODEL AS MINE. BELIEVE THIS TO BE A CHRYSLER DESIGN/SAFETY DEFECT. OUTRAGEOUS REPAIR COST FOR CONSUMER TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF CHRYSLER SAFETY/DESIGN FLAW. OPINION: CHRYSLER IS NEGLIGENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003178 at NHTSA ↗

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007208 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN BOTH A 1991 AND A 1995 DODGE CARAVAN... THE 1991 HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, INCLUDING A BACK HATCH THAT WON'T STAY UP BECAUSE THE AREA OF THE FRAME THAT THE SHOCK LATCHES INTO IS BROKEN DUE TO A STRESS CRACK.. THIS MAKES IT REALLY HARD TRYING TO GET THINGS IN AND OUT WHEN YOU HAVE A BABY.. THE DRIVER SEAT ALSO FALLS BACKWARDS AND DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK, WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE... BOTH THESE VEHICLES ARE WHITE IN COLOR AND THE PAINT IS PEELING IN THE SAME EXACT SPOTS ON BOTH VANS. IT'S ACROSS THE HOOD AND ACROSS THE TOP. …

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010969 at NHTSA ↗

LOST MY BRAKES FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS, DUE TO EVASIVE ACTION I MISSED HITTING A CAR BUT COULD NOT STOP FROM HITTING THE CURB AND SCRAPE A STREET POLE, BROKE AN AXLE AND SUSPENSION PARTS ALL ON THANKSGIVING. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 183,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016907 at NHTSA ↗

THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL 96 V 099 000 BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WOULD NOT LET THEM REPAIR THE ABS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020021 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1991-03-11 (March 11, 1991)

INCORRECT TURN SIGNAL FLASHER INHIBITS INDICATION OF SIGNAL LAMP OUTAGE.

Consequence: INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT INFORM DRIVERTHAT A LAMP WAS OUT, OR WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF INTENT TO TURN, CREATING A RISKOF ACCIDENT; VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108.

Remedy: REPLACE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER WITH PROPER FLASHER.

Reported: 1991-11-01 (November 1, 1991)

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE HOSE MAY LEAK OR DETACH AT ITS CRIMPED END FITTING RESULTING IN THE DISCHARGE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID.

Consequence: FLUID DISCHARGE EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE LOSS OF BOTH THEANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND HYDRAULIC ASSIST FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM, RESULTING ININCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF BRAKE LOCKUP AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE WITH A HOSE OF DIFFERENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

Reported: 1992-03-10 (March 10, 1992)

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HIGH PRESSURE PUMP MAY BE POROUS WHICH WILL RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Consequence: FLUID LEAKAGE EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE LOSS OF BOTH THEANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND HYDRAULIC ASSIST FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM, RESULTING ININCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF BRAKE LOCKUP AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE ABS HIGH PRESSURE PUMP AND HIGH PRESSURE HOSE IF THE LAST SIX DIGITS OF THE BAR CODE LABEL ON THE PUMP ARE BETWEEN 052300 AND 059262.

Reported: 1996-06-13 (June 13, 1996)

THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON SEAL WEAR CAUSING PUMP-MOTOR DETERIORATION.

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ABS FUNCTION COULD BE LOST AND REDUCED POWER ASSIST WOULD BE EXPERIENCED DURING VEHICLE BRAKING INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES IF NECESSARY. ALSO THE WARRANTY ON ALL ABS COMPONENTS WILL BE EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES (EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY AND THE PUMP-MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL HAVE A LIFETIME COVERAGE). OWNERS WILL ALSO BE REIMBURSED FOR PREVIOUS ABS COMPONENT REPAIR COSTS.

Reported: 1996-11-18 (November 18, 1996)

THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.

Consequence: IF THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS IN THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT AREA. ANY STEERING WHEELS SHOWING CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE EVENT CRACKING OCCURS.

Reported: 1997-09-09 (September 9, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI-VANS. COVERS ON THE SOLID STALK MOUNTED SEAT BELT BUCKLES CAN BECOME DISLODGED CAUSING THE RELEASE BUTTON TO STICK INSIDE THE COVER. THE BUCKLE WOULD THEN BE ONLY PARTIALLY LATCHED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COVER RETAINING CLIP TO THE STALK MOUNTED BUCKLE COVER TO PREVENT DISLOCATION OF THE BUCKLE COVER.

Reported: 1997-09-09 (September 9, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI-VANS. THE CENTER REAR SEAT, RIGHT OUTBOARD SIDE, SAFETY BELT ANCHOR HOOK CAN BECOME UNATTACHED FROM THE BODY ANCHOR POSITION.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ANCHOR HOOK RETAINING CLIP WITH A REVISED PROFILE CLIP AND A COVER PLATE.

Reported: 1999-07-16 (July 16, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. THE LEFT HAND WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT DRIVE ARM WAS NOT MECHANICALLY STAKED TO THE PIVOT SHAFT.

Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE DRIVE ARM TO DISENGAGE FROM THE SHAFT LEADING TO A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT HAND SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1999-09-02 (September 2, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE STRUT TO THE BODY AND THE REAR LIFTGATE CAN ACCUMULATE FATIGUE DAMAGE IF THREE FACTORS COMBINE. IF THE BOLT IS LOOSE, THE GAS STRUT IS OVER-PRESSURIZED, AND THE FREQUENCY OF OPENING AND CLOSING CYCLES IS HIGHER THAN FOR THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER, THE BOLT CAN FAIL.

Consequence: PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR IF THE BOLTS BREAK ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL SUDDENLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR LOOSE FASTENERS, IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE, THE STRUT (AND INTEGRAL BOLTS) WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE BOLT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF TORQUE, THE BOLT WILL BE REMOVED, LARGER WASHERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING WASHER AND THE BOLT WILL BE REINSTALLED AND HAND TIGHTENED TO THE TARGET TORQUED.