1994 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

TRANSAXLE ON 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO AXLES. THE AXLES HAD TO BE REPLACED, ONE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THEY ARE NOW FAILING AGAIN. THE FRONT END WOBBLES AND SHAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARSHLY, WITH A SLAM. THE TRANSMISSION HAS AN INTERNAL LEAK SO THAT WE HAVE TO CHECK THE FLUID CONSTANTLY, BUT NO FLUID IS DRAINING ONTO THE STREET. IT WILL COST US $2,500 TO REPAIR. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO IT HAD JUST HAD THE TRANSAXLE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003376 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VAN IN APRIL OF 2001 THE TRANSAXLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHEN COLD. THE VEHICLE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN WARMED UP BEFORE WE TEST DROVE IT. THE TRANSMISSION FILTER AND FLUID WERE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SEASON . THE FLUID AND FILTER WERE REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT COLD SEASON. THE FLUID AND FILTER WERE REPLACED AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT HELP. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR'S COLD SEASON JUST NOT GOING INTO REVERSE WHILE COLD, THEN IT Q…

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006629 at NHTSA ↗

I CAN'T KEEP IT RUNNING IN COLD WEATHER, NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED OF DRIVING.**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769757. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008570 at NHTSA ↗

GAS GAUGE SHOWS ERRATIC FUEL LEVEL - CAN END UP EMPTY BECAUSE OF FALSE READING SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V194 CHRYSLER CAMPAIGN NO. 755. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018571 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE CONSUMER CLOSED THE REAR HATCH THE HINGE ON THE UPPER RIGHT CAME OFF. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BOLT HAD BROKEN IN HALF AND ONE HALF OF THE BOLT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE DOOR WHILE OTHER HALF FELL TO THE GROUND. THE PRESSURIZED MECHANISM WAS LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION AND IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE DOOR THE CONSUMER HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PUNCTURE THE ROOF. *NLM *CB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020004 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *NLM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021629 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED ON 5/2001 A USED 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 93,000 MILES FROM CARMICHAEL AUTO EXCHANGE "AS IS". AFTER 1,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED. REPLACED @ $1875.60 WITH NEW MOPAR REBUILT AT 94,282. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR TRANS SERVICE ON 3/8/2002 AT 109,252 TO DEALER. INSTALLED TRANSMISSION COOLER ON 4/2002. NOW REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 7/7/2003 AT 150,325. THIS ADDED EXPENSE WILL COST $2600.00 AT MY EXPENSE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 150,310 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026060 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026794 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH 2-SPOKE LUXURY WHEELS MANUFACTURED JULY 1992 THROUGH JUNE 1993; OR EQUIPPED WITH 4-SPOKE SPORT WHEELS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1992 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1993. 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 CRACKS AND ANY WHEELS WITH CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE EVENT CRACKING OCCURS.

Reported: 1993-12-14 (December 14, 1993)

WHEELS WITH MISFORMED LUG NUT SEATS WERE INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS CAUSES REDUCED NUT TO WHEEL CONTACT AREA AND LIMITS THE WHEEL SELF-CENTERING CAPABILITY DURING INSTALLATION. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE RETENTION.

Consequence: LOSS OF LUG NUT TORQUE RETENTION MAY LEAD TO WHEEL LUGFAILURE WHICH MAY CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSPECT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY PLANT CODE; REPLACE WHEELS KNOWN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AND INSTALL NEW LUG NUTS.

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

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THE WIRING THAT INITIATES THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD ELECTRICALLY SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND. A SHORT CIRCUIT TO GROUND THAT EXISTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "ON" OR "START" POSITION CAN CAUSE THE AIR BAG(S) TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.

Consequence: INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN INJURE A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. ANY SHORT CIRCUITS IDENTIFIED IN EITHER THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INITIATOR WIRE CIRCUIT WILL BE REPAIRED.

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.