1998 Dodge Grand Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WITHOUT WARNING, THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHED OUT OF PLACE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELTS AND THE PULLEYS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND RECALL TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/30/17*LJ UPDATED 09/25/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S MUFFLER BECAME LOUDER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MUFFLER, FUEL TANK, AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,563.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD REFUSE TO TURN. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT BUT AFTER A MONTH THE BELT FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOUR TIMES. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A TENSIONER TO HOLD THE SERPENTINE BELT IN PLACE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BELT TENSIONER AND IDLER PULLEY WAS REPLACED ON 03/04/12 UPDATED 03/30/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE TENSIONER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE MONTH LATER AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE BELT BACK IN PLACE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES AND ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWENTY OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CONSISTENT PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF OF THE PULLEYS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN WET WEATHER, INCLUDING RAIN AND SNOW/SLUSH, ESPECIALLY WHEN A PUDDLE IS GONE THROUGH BY THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ON TWO OF THESE OCCASIONS, I WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN THE BELT CAME OFF, LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR WHICH WAS STOPPED ACROSS FROM ME. THE BELT COMING OFF ALSO CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THIS ISSUE CAUSES A LOSS OF CONTROL AND WILL LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH. CHRYSLER CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.. THERE IS AN UPDATED BELT/PULLEY KIT WHICH HAS A DOUBLE-SIDED-GROOVED BELT AND PULLEY WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BUT THE COST TO THE CONSUMER IS APPROX $400-500 SINCE CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON WET ROADS ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AS I DO, WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55-65MPH OR TURNING A CORNER AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE OTHER CARS ARE STOPPED. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED MY VAN AUGUST 21 2009 IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THE SALESPERSON SAID IT WAS FROM THE BULBS BEING BURNT OUT. I WENT TO AUTOZONE THAT DAY TO GET THE BULBS REPLACED, AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. AUTOZONE TOLD ME IT WAS THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH THAT HAD WENT BAD AND WAS CAUSING MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK. I WENT TO GOODYEAR A FEW DAYS LATER TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD HOLD OR WORK FOR A WHILE. SINCE THEN IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES IF I TURNED THE DEFROSTER ON IT WOULD KICK ON, BUT NOW IT WILL TURN ON FOR MAYBE ONE TURN AND TURN OFF RIGHT AND WHEN I GO TO USE IT AGAIN, IT'LL TURN ON THEN CUT OFF AND WONT TURN BACK ON. ALSO MY SLIDING PASSENGER DOORS, THE CHILD LOCK IS STUCK AND NOONE CAN OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO GET OUT OR THE PASSENGER HAS TO GET OUT TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE DOOR HANDLES ARE HARD TO OPEN ON THE OUTSIDE. EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD LOCK WILL SAY ITS NOT ON, YOU CAN NOT STILL OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN. ALSO I HAVE SOME PANS UNDER MY ENGINE THAT LEAKING FLUIDS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, ITS THE OIL PAN, COOLANT PAN, AND I HAVE METAL SHAVINGS IN SOME OF MY FLUIDS. THIS WAS ALSO LIKE THIS WHEN I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE. *TR