1996 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN HAS FAILED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. IT WAS REPLACED ONCE IN 1997 AT 7,000 MILES BY CHRYSLER. IT WAS RECONDITIONED IN 2000 AT 56,000 MILES BY CHRYSLER. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE AT 81,000 MILES IN DECEMBER OF 2002. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND REFUSES TO PERFORM ANY "GOOD WILL" REPAIRS.

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000066 at NHTSA ↗

HEIGHT SENSOR VALVE, REAR LEFT BRAKE (THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE INCIDENT WAS JANUARY 5, 2003, HOWEVER, THE INCIDENT DATE SEGMENT DID NOT PROVIDE THE YEAR 2003. ALSO, THE NUMBER OF FAILURES SECTION...ONCE FAILURE OCCURRED, IT CONTINUED) WENT TO MECHANIC TO FIND PROBLEM. THERE WAS ANOTHER 1996 VAN THERE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (QUITE COINCIDENTAL, WHICH PROMPTED THIS COMPLAINT). MECHANIC SAID THE HEIGHT SENSOR VALVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT, COULD ONLY BE DONE BY DEALER DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A DEALER PART ONLY AND THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 92,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000807 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001198 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S BACK SEAT WILL NOT LOCK EVEN WITH OCCUPANTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001780 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS HIGH BEAM LIGHTS THAT WORK IN VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001806 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE CLOCK SPRING WENT OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER HORN NOT TO WORK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001851 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S SLIDING DOORS DOESN'T SHUT ALL THE WAY, AND DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001869 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL VIBRATE THEN THERE'S A NOISE (PLACE UNKNOWN)AND VEHICLE WILL HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM WILL WORSEN WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE ABS BRAKES ARE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001948 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-09-13 (September 13, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2002-11-07 (November 7, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 1995-11-28 (November 28, 1995)

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE REAR BENCH SEATS TO THE SEAT RISERS MAY BE EMBRITTLED AND FRACTURE.

Consequence: IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, THE BOLT MAY FAIL AND CAN CAUSE THE SEAT TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE SEAT RISERS, WHICH INCREASES THE POTENTIALOF INJURY TO ITS OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BENCH SEAT TO RISER BOLTS.

Reported: 1995-12-08 (December 8, 1995)

THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE CAN ALLOW FUEL TO PASS INTO THE VAPOR CANISTER RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE WITH A FILLER TUBE THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL ROLLOVER VALVE. THE ASSOCIATED ROLLOVER VALVE VAPOR HOSES WILL BE REROUTED.

Reported: 1996-01-16 (January 16, 1996)

A STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE CAN BUILD UP ON THE UNGROUNDED METAL SECTION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A SPARK TO OCCUR WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY IGNITE THE FUEL VAPORS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND STRAP FOR THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.

Reported: 1996-01-11 (January 11, 1996)

IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED.

Consequence: INADEQUATE SEALING AND RETENTION OF THE PLUG CAN RESULT IN OIL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXPANSION PLUG AND RETAINING BRACKET OVER THE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG.

Reported: 1996-07-18 (July 18, 1996)

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MODULES TO THE SEAT FRAME CAN BREAK.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MODULE BOLTS.

Reported: 1998-08-06 (August 6, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING A CHILD FROM THE RESTRAINT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. IN ADDITION, AN INSTRUCTIONAL OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT CARD WILL BE PROVIDED.

Reported: 1999-08-09 (August 9, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK AT THE INTERFACE OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHMENT.

Consequence: IF A FUEL LEAK OCCURS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHING NUT WITH A NUT THAT INCLUDES TIGHTER DESIGN TOLERANCES. THE SEALING O-RING WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.