1998 Dodge Caravan

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2002· SEAT BELTS

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SEAT BELTS BECAME UNBUCKLED WITHOUT NOTICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

• 12/29/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NOTED FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER PERFORMED COOLING SYTEM PRESSURE TEST. DIAGNOSED REAR HEAD GASKET AS FAULTY. *AK

• 12/29/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WENT TO APPLY FOR THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP THREE TIMES.CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS DUE TO PADS BEING BURNED UP. WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES.

• 12/28/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/27/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOSS OF OIL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP STATED HEAD GASKET SEAL WAS LEAKING OIL SEVERELY. *SLC

• 12/27/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/26/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  98 DODGE CARAVAN, PURCHASED FROM DEALERSHIP: SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START. I WAS INFORMED BY AN OLDER MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON TO ALL DODGES WITH SECURITY SYSTEMS BUILT SINCE 91. IF THIS IS SO COMMON WHY HAVE THEY NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THE SOURCE? I TOOK MY VAN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SOME MINOR BODYWORK, WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, IT WOULD NOT START. THEY TORE IT APART FOR TWO DAYS AND BASICALLY SAID, "GOSH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG." I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED (15 MINUTES TO 5 HOURS) ABOUT 15 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IN MY JOB I TRANSPORT DISABLED CLIENTS SO THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *NM

• 12/26/2000· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER CHECKED IT OUT. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. *YH

• 12/24/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PRESSURE SENSORS IN TURBOR BOOST FAILED. *TT

• 12/23/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TIMING BELT SNAPPED OFF FOUR TIMES FROM 1999 -2002, REPLACED 3 TIMES AT DESERT DODGE IN LAS VEGAS ONCE WITH ALL PULLEYS REPLACED AND ONE TIME AT SPITZER DODGE IN MAYFIELD HTS, OHIO 2 WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NEITHER DODGE WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.*AK

• 12/22/1998· STEERINGCrash

  WHILE PARKING STEERING SPINDLE BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK.ET.

• 12/20/2005· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BECOME INTERMITTENT AND GETTING WORSE TO THE POINT OF NOT COMING ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON FOR A HALF HOUR. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE PANEL LIGHTS SUCH AS FOR THE AC UNIT ETC BEGAN TO BLINK AT A CONSTANT RATE AND THEN THEY STEADY OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES. HAVE GONE TO TWO DODGE DEALERSHIPS. FIRST ONE HAD ME PAY FOR AND REPLACE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SECOND DEALER SAID I HAVE TO ORDER A $500 BODY CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER PLUS LABOR AND IT MAY NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT IS A NON-REFUNDABLE EXPENSE EVEN IF THEY CANNOT FIX THE WIPERS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE WIPERS WORKING AND I FEEL IRRESPONSIBLE THAT A COMPUTER IS NECESSARY FOR THE WIPERS TO WORK. THE NTSB SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER DODGE TO FIX THIS SITUATION AT DODGE'S EXPENSE SINCE IT IS AN OBVIOUS SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *JB

• 12/20/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO OPERATE . HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER; THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

• 12/20/2002· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE APPLYING THE GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND WILL NOT MOVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

• 12/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

• 12/19/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  UNCONTROL RANDOM RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE STOPPING. WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE IF TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WITH IGNITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/17/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH WATER. LOSING THE BELT CAUSES DANGEROUS STEERING CHANGES AND STOPS THE WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HAD A NEAR MISS HEAD ON CRASH PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON MY CAR AND TWO FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME MODEL CARAVAN HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS---------770765. *AK *NLM

• 12/16/2004· SUSPENSION

  LEFT STRUT TOWER RUSTED ALMOST THROUGH. MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPLACE STRUT. CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR REPAIR ALTERNATIVE.*AK

• 12/12/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHEN DRIVING THROUGH DEEP SNOW. BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. *AK *YH

• 12/11/2002· AIR BAGS

  IN APRIL ON 2002 MY AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A CLOCKSPRING FOR IT, I DECLINED TO HAVE IT REPAIR AS IT WAS NOT A COVERED ITEM. IN JUNE 2002 MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, AFTER BRINGING IT IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN I WAS TOLD IN WAS THE CLOCKSPRING, AGAIN I DECLINED REPAIR AS IT WASN'T COVERED. IN SEPT2002 MY HORN WENT AGAIN I WAS TIOLD THAT IT WAS THE CLOCKSPRING. STILL NOT COVERED BUT NOW I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. THE PART WAS BACK ODERED DURING THIS TIME A SAFTEY RECALL WAS ISSUSED AND CHRYSLER SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS. ON 12-10-2002 I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE CLOCKSPRING WELL NOW MY HORN AND CRUISE WORK BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. NOW I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEED A NEW AIR BAG AGAIN NOT COVERED ITEMED, I DECLINED REPAIR. I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THE AIR BAG AND THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE ARE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY.

• 12/11/1998· SEATSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, IMPACT 30-35 MPH FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED TO THE RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/10/2018· AIR BAGSCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH NO PASSENGER WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD LACERATION ABOVE THE RIGHT EYE, A CONCUSSION, A BRUISED HEART AND LUNG, LEFT KNEE LACERATION, AND CHEST BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELTS. ALSO, BOTH WRISTS AND ELBOWS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

• 12/10/2003· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER PRESSED THE HORN THERE WAS NO SOUND. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN PART.*AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY THEN EVENTUALLY REMAINED ON WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. AT THE SAME TIME THE HORN ALSO FAILED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS SURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CLOCKSPRING BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS GOING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER TO RUN THE TEST. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS RECALL FOR THE 1996-2000 MINIVANS BUT NOT THE 1998'S. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES IT SHOULD BE RECALL AND BECAUSE SHE CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. *NM

• 12/10/2003· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 12/10/2002· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON BRAKE. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, INDICATOR NOT REALLY LOCKED IN DRIVE POSITION EVEN IF SHOWN IN DRIVE. THE MECHANIC HAS TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION (TWICE) BECAUSE OF DAMAGE DONE WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT PROPERLY. TS

• 12/09/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK

• 12/08/2003· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE CRITERIA WAS FOR ISSUING A RECALL. *SCC *JB

• 12/07/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PURCHASED A USED DODGE CARAVAN ON 8-19-02 WITH 28,000 MILES SHOWING ON THE METER. IT NOW HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT AND THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL DOWN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND ON TO THE GROUND. DEALER SAYS THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. SEEMS LIKE A VERY COSTLY REPAIR ON A VAN WITH THIS FEW MILES ON IT. THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHRYSLER PRODUCT I WILL PURCHASE. *LA

• 12/07/2003· AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 98 DODGE CARAVAN HAD A FAILED CLOCKSPRING, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL TO NOT FUNCTION. CHRYSLER HAS A RECALL ON A FAILED CLOCKSPRING FOR 96-98 DODGE CARAVANS, AND CLEARLY STATES ON ITS WEBSITE IT WILL REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR REPAIRS TO THE CLOCKSPRING. HOWEVER, WHEN I BROUGHT MINE IN FOR REPAIR, AND ON SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALLS AND LETTERS WRITTEN TO CHRYSLER, THEY INDICATE THAT MY BUILD DATE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THEY NEED TO EXPAND THE BUILD DATE TO LATER MONTHS IN 1998, AND CONSEQUENTLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CARS COVERED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCKSPRING DURING MY BUILD DATE. THIS WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO HAVE NON-FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND HORNS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MAY CAUSE LIVES TO BE LOST. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD ALSO REIMBURSE ME THE $284.20 I HAD TO PAY TO GET THE CLOCKSPRING REPAIRED, AS THEY INDICATE ON THEIR WEBSITE THEY WILL REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS WITH 98 CARAVANS FOR REPAIRS ON FAILED CLOCKSPRINGS. BY THEM NOT REIMBURSING ME, THEY ARE FALSELY ADVERTISING ON THEIR WEBSITE. *LA

• 12/07/2000· TIRES

  CONSUMER WAS CHECKING GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, P215/65R15, AND NOTICED TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE, GOODYEAR REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES, HOWEVER BOTH REAR TIRES CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR EVEN THOUGH THEY TOO SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

• 12/06/2002· VISIBILITY

  BROUGHT VEHICLE NEW IN AUG 98 AND THE HEATER CORE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY TO BLOW OUT. WOULD BE REPLACED HEATER CORE PART EVERY YEAR. MECHANIC CAN NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE HEATER CORE PROBLEM. TS

• 12/06/2001· AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, HORN HAS FAILED TO OPERATE DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

• 12/05/2005· POWER TRAIN

  WE WERE JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT (A COUPLE OF JERKS AND THEN NO ACCELERATION ABILITY). WE WERE ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI WHO ALMOST RAN INTO US WHEN WE SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY SLOWED AND HADN'T BRAKED AND HE COULDN'T MOVE TO ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE OF OTHER TRUCKS IN THAT LANE. OUR 98 GRAND CARAVAN HAS ONLY 79K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, (THOUGH I THINK THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED RATHER THAN REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1000 AND JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS PAST THE YEAR WARRANTY). NOW WE FIND THAT IT WILL BE $3000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE IT SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DODGE DEALER. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE (ONCE WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BATTERY). ALL WORK HAS BEEN OR IS BEING DONE BY THE DODGE DEALER. NOW I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. WHY ISN'T DODGE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF GOUGING THE PUBLIC (NOT TO MENTION PUTTING US IN DANGER)?*JB

• 12/04/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE SURPENTINE BELT FELL OFF THE MOTOR PLEASE FILL N ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

• 12/03/2017· AIR BAGS

  THE INDICATOR LAMP AIR BAG IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. I DRIVE A VEHICLE ALL THE TIME, AND MY TRIP 50% HIGHWAY AND 50% CITY.

• 12/03/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN CONSUMER PUT KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO CRANK THE VEHICLE IT MADE A SQUEAKING/GRINDING NOISE. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE TURNED OFF AUTOMATICALLY ON ITS OWN AFTER SMOKE STOPPED BILLOWING. VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER.*AK

• 12/02/2004· STEERING,STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT

  I OWN A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN 3.3L AND LESS THAN 55,000 MILES, THE TENSIONER PULLEY WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE BOLT HOLDING THE TENSIONER IN PLACE WAS SHEARED IN HALF, THE BELT FELL OFF, AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP IMMEDIATELY. THANK GOD THIS HAPPEN IN THE SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AND NOT ON FREEWAY, THE VAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL! HAVE THE VAN TOWED TO C&M AUTO SERVICE, HAVE THE SERPENTINE BELT, THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER REPLACED AND RE-ALIGN THE TENSIONER. THE BELT/PULLEY DESIGN ON THIS VAN IS FLAWED AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! IN BRAZIL, CHRYSLER DID A RECALL BACK IN 2000 - DUE TO SEVERAL ISSUES RELATED TO BELT/PULLEY SYSTEM ON THE CARAVAN AND GRAND CARAVAN MODELS.*AK

• 12/02/2002· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PLANETARY GEARS FAILED. *TS *NLM

• 11/30/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  SERPINTINE FAN BELT JUMPS OFF PULLEYS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH 3-4 INCHES OF WATER REPLACED BELT DEALER STATED BELT TENSTIONER WAS FAULTY IN 2000 I REPLACED TENSTIONER NOV 2000 IN JUNE 2001 AND NOV2001 BELT JUMPED THE PULLEYS AGAIN EVEN WITH A NEW BELT AND TENSTIONER INSTALLED. *AK

• 11/29/2005· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  CONSUMER FENDER/BUMPER HANGS PULLING IT LOWER TO THE GROUND. *TS THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHEN BEING TOWED BY A TOW TRUCK. *JB

• 11/29/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I ONLY HAVE 35,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT HAS 135,000 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS ALREADY COST ME OVER $200 TO REPAIR BRAKES BECAUSE OF ROTORS, NOT BAD BRAKES. NOW I NEED $1000 HEAD GASKET WORK. STARTER ONLY SEEMS TO START WHEN IT WANTS TO. VERY TEMPORAMENTAL. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE THAT A 35,000 MILE CAR WOULD HAVE SO MUCH WRONG SO SOON. DT

• 11/27/2001· AIR BAGS

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/27/2000· STEERING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  SOME PART OF THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. EVIDENTLY, A BROKEN PIECE MOVED INTO SUCH A POSITION AS TO JAM THE STEERING SHAFT. THIS OCCURRED DURING A LEFT TURN AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION FROM A STOP. THE STEERING JAMMED IN A LEFT TURN POSITION GIVING THE FEELING TO THE DRIVER (MY WIFE) THAT STEERING CONTROL HAD BEEN LOST. GIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER EFFORT BROKE FREE THE JAM CONDITION ALLOWING US TO PROCEED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE WRITER'S COMMENT WAS TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL. MY ATTITUDE IS THAT IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE IF THE DRIVER PANICS, OR THE JAM CAN'T BE BROKEN, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF A REPAIR CAMPAIGN ON THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. OTHER THAN THAT INSTANCE, THIS VAN IS FINE IN EVERY RESPECT. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. *AK

• 11/25/2002· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER 50% OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR. TS *JB

• 11/24/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH VEHCILE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING, EVEN WITH FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, VEHCILE KEPT ACCELERATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT OPEN PORTION ON ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS EXPOSED. ONE OF THEM WERE IN A BIND WHICH CAUSED IT TO WEAR, AND WORN ACCELERATOR WON'T GO BACK DOWN, ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO UNHOOK EVERYTHING. THEN THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION.*AK THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHEICLE WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. *YH

• 11/23/2004· AIR BAGS

  THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING. HOWEVER, WHEN HE ARRIVED HE WAS TOLD THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DAY BEFORE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS IN STOCK. *NM

• 11/21/2003· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER STATES WHILE PREPARING TO PULL OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, BOTH OF HIS FRONT WHEELS COLLAPSED. HE STATES HE HAD HIS VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION AND REPAIRED. BUT HE DOESN'T THINK THERE IS A RECALL OF THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. *NLM

• 11/21/2001· TIRES

  TIRE BLEW OUT AT FREEWAY SPEED, TREAD WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, CAUSE UNCLEAR (POSSIBLY PUNCTURE). *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/65R15)

• 11/21/2001· PARKING BRAKE

  EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED, INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ENGAGED IT WOULD BACK ITSELF OFF OR DISENGAGE COMPLETELY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY BROKE AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

• 11/20/2002· STEERING

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS