1999 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

1999 DODGE CARAVAN: STRONG FUEL ODERS ENTER CARGO/PASSENGER AREA OF VEHICLE - ODERS ALSO NOTICIBLE OUTSIDE OF VAN. FUMES ARE POTENTIAL FOR SPONTANIOUS COMBUSTION. ALSO, EXPOSURE TO GAS FUMES (DURING EXTENDED TRIPS AND OVER CUMULATIVE TIME) CAN BE HARMFUL TO MAJOR ORGAN COMPONENTS WITHIN THE HUMAN BODY - ESPECIALLY TO DEVELOPING INFANTS. A FORMER COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED USING ODI ID: 748730 SURROUNDING DATE: 09/06/2001. "COMPONENT: FUEL: FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: TANK SUMMARY: SMELL GASOLINE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK, A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000206 at NHTSA ↗

I NOTIFIED THE FIRST INCIDENT TO THE DEALER ABOUT ITS SPEED SENSOR, OVER THE PHONE, WHICH BLEW AWAY JUST AFTER THE TWO WEEKS OF BUYING THIS CAR FROM HIS SHOWROOM. LAST MONTH, THE BREAK WENT BAD AND WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, I HAD TO END UP REPLACING THE ROTOR AND COMPLETE BRAKE SET, PAYING AROUND $300 FROM MY POCKET, FROM A MIDAS IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE THIRD INCIDENT WAS MOST DANGEROUS, AND DON'T KNOW HOW I SAVED THE LIFE OF MY TWO LITTLE KIDS INCLUDING THE ONE WITH 11MONTHS INFANT BABY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BLEW AWAY WHIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,581 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000876 at NHTSA ↗

SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2001, FOLLOWING DEALER OIL CHANGE, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE EPISODES OF STRONG RAW FUEL FUMES, ESPECIALLY AFTER PUTTING ANY AMOUNT OF FUEL IN VAN. MANY WITNESSES DOCUMENT FUMES. I AM AFRAID OF FIRE RISK AND OF THE HEALTH RISKS OF FUMES. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND I HAVE ASTHMA, SO THIS IS A HARMFUL SITUATION. ANYTHING LEFT IN CAR SMELLS LIKE A GAS STATION. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. STARTED AT 20K MILES. NOW 30K. ALSO HAD CYLINDER #3 FUEL INJECTOR FAIL AT 27K. (AUTOMATI…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000989 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING INTERMITTENT STRONG GAS SMELL IN SIDE VEHICLE OR WHILE FUEL TANK IS FULL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001111 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS IN A T-BONE ACCIDENT AND THE REAR WHEEL FELL OFF UPON IMPACT. ON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THE REAR CASTING THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD CRACKED OVER TIME, WHICH CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO COME OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 49,888 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001295 at NHTSA ↗

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL NOT TO WORK. TS THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001414 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE HORN HAD COMPLETELY GONE OUT. PH SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002099 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM POP, CAUSING THE AXILE TO BRAKE. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002100 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: 2001-04-11 (April 11, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence: IF THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. 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: 2002-03-08 (March 8, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRIM WITH FOAM BLOCKERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 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: 2004-10-06 (October 6, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY BECOME DISABLED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

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 COVERED VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. FOR THOSE VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 70,000 MILES, DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL OFFER AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY UNDER WHICH IT WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING AT NO CHARGE IF IT FAILS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT FOR FLEET SALES ONLY. THE HEADLAMP MODULE DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE PARK LAMP AS "DRL" AS REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Remedy: ALL FLEET OWNERS/OPERATORS WILL BE MAILED NON-REMOVABLE DECALS WITH THE REQUIRED "DRL" LETTERS.