1996 DODGE CARAVAN Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. *AK *NM

ENGINE LOSES LOTS OF OIL AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH. ALSO SMELL BURNING SMELL WHEN ENGINE SHUTS OFF. RADIATOR LOSES COOLANT. DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE THINGS. ALSO OIL LIGHT ONLY COMES ON WHEN YOU TAKE A SHARP TURN. ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR, SINCE WE GOT IT. *AK

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLOCKSPRING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *MR THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE, THEN THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BEING BROKEN, OIL LEAKED DUE TO THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. RECALL#02V293000 *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH TWO PASSENGERS, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VENT NEAR THE REAR SLIDING DOOR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE CURB AND WAITED 2 MINUTES, THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE SMOKE. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND, BUT WHILE GETTING BACK INTO VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE SPEWING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEELS. CONSUMER BARELY REMOVED PASSENGERS FROM VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED. *AK FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *PH

THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE MOST RECENT WAS ON 7/14/2003. *AK

THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE COVER IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND THE TENSIONER BEARING HAD FALLEN APART. THE TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE SHIFT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS TO GET THE SHIFT UP. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS COLD, IT WOULD DELAY ENGAGING IN REVERSE FROM PARK. SCC *JB

VEHICLE OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AND WAS INFORMED THAT STRUT TOWER THE HOLDS ENGINE HAD RUSTED, AND COULD CAUSE ENGINE TO FALL.*AK *YH

THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING DUE TO MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP DOWN, DAMAGING THE CV JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE EVEN AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FIXED. *YH

LOSS OF OIL AND OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE KNOCKING DUE TO RIGHT HEAD ROCKER ARM RETAINER BEING BROKEN OFF HEAD, AND BENT ROCKER ARM/ SHAFT BENT.*AK WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS THREE TIMES. CONSUMER STATES THE CAST ROCKER ARM FAILURE WAS DUE TO FLAW IN DESIGN. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE. *YH

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CLAIMED THAT TO CORRECT PROBLEM THEY NEED TO ATTACH A BRASS TO STOP LEAKAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED SOME PROBLEM WITH TIMING BELT. TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAD FOUND A LEAKAGE OF OIL COMING FROM HEAD GASKET. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF LEAKAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL BEHIND VALVE COVER ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SMOKE AND FILLING THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED TO INSPECT THE GASKETS, SEALER WAS REPLACED 2 MONTHS AGO.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE COVER GASKET, HEAD GASKET AND REAR ENGINE SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.*JB

WHEN UNDERSIDE OF CAR WAS INSPECTED OIL LEAK NOTICED, MECHANIC THINKS IT IS FROM HEAD GASKET. REPAIR EST. $1,000. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. THIS CAUSED WHITE SMOKE TO APPEAR.*AK *JB

THE ENGINE" CHECK, LIGHT HAS COME ON AT LEAST FIVE (5) TIMES. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY A REPAIR SHOP VIA COMPUTER WITH THE DIAGNOSIS BEING "#5 CYLINDER IS MISSING". THE COMPUTER IS RESET AFTER A CYLINDER CHECK; HOWEVER, A FEW MILES LATER THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. *AK

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS WILLING TO FIX PROBLEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WON'T GO OUT, HORN DOESN'T WORK. DELAYED ACTION BECAUSE OF EXPENSE. OIL LEAK: IGNORED BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS USUAL VALVE COVER LEAK. NOW LOSES ABOUT A QUART OF OIL A DAY. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS HEAD GASKET. TOTAL COST TO BE ABOUT $1500.00. FAILURE DATES APPROXIMATE.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER CLAIMED THAT HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER WERE LEAKING. THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALLED IN 1993 AND 1994 IN RECALL 99V318000. *AK

CAM SEAL, CRANKCASE SEAL,TRANSMISSION SEAL AND AXLE SEAL WHERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE. NLM

TENSIONER PULLEY ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET AGAIN. PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SHAKING OF THE ENGINE, IT SHEARED OFF RIGHT AT THE BOLT. DEALER HAS NEVER EXPLAINED THE REASON, THEY JUST ORDERED THE PARTS.*AK

THE TIMING BELT FAILED BEFORE ITS TIME LUCKLY IT DID NOT STRAND MY WIFE ON A DARK STREET.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND DIES . VEHICLE WILL RESTART IMMEDIATELY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE TOLD US OF MANY FAILURES OF TRANSMISSIONS AND HEAD GASKETS, AND THEY SAY THAT DODGE IS PAYING HALF THE COST AS THEY DID WITH US TO AVOID A RECALL WHERE DODGE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL COST OF REPAIR. REC. *AK

DEFECT IN HEAD GASKET CAUSED OIL TO LEAK CAUSING THE AIR IDLE VALVE CONTROL,PCV,FUEL FILTER, HORMICA BALANCING BOARD, THROTTLE,WATER PUMP, THEROMSTAT, IIGNITION MODULE TO HAVE TO BE REPAIRED . TIMING BELT WAS RECALL DODGE DID NOT PUT IT ON RIGHT CAUSING TO HEAD GASKET TO LEAK. TIMING BELT COVERS WAS NEVER REPLACE WHEN IT WAS RECALLED.WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL TIMING BELT BROKEN WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT WHEN VEHICLE JERKED HARD IN DRIVER'S HAND. LOST CONTROL & HIT A CURB. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT TENSIONER WHEEL BROKE, AND SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. ALSO, MOUNTS TO SIDE OF MOTOR & SHAFT HAD BROKEN IN HALF. TENSIONER WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

DEFECTIVE TEMPERATURE RELAY FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND THE FAN MALFUNCTIONED. YH

DEFECTIVE ROCKER BRIDGE MOUNT CYLINDER HEAD BROKE, CAUSING A KNOCKING NOISE WHICH RESULTED INTO VERY SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

RECALL 96V006000/ENGINE: WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 40 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND OIL WAS SPILLING ON TOP OF ENGINE. VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIRR SHOP. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE COMMENCED TO RUN VERY POORLY, AND IT STARTED TO VIBRATE/HESITATE AND LOSE POWER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A DEFECTIVE ROCKER ARM, AND A SNAPPED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH BOLT TO ENGINE PULLEY/CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

WE NOTICED THAT OUR MINIVAN WAS LEAKING OIL ON THE GROUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. STATED THAT WE HAD A FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD GASKET REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. WE HEARD THAT OTHER CARS SUCH AS THE DODGE NEON AND MINIVANS FROM DODGE/CHRYSLER ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. REQUEST THAT NHTSA REVIEW THIS SITUATION AS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, IF NOT ALREADY INITIATED. THE COST FOR THIS JOB IS $900.00-1100.00. IF WE PERFORM THIS JOB AND THIS DEFECT BECOMES A RECALL SITUATION, CAN WE RECEIVE A REFUND FROM THE MANUFACTURER? THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE RESPOND TO US ASAP. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE CRACKED ,CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

A SHEARED BOLT ON MAIN PULLEY TO THE ENGINE, CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO BE STRIPPED AND INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

THERE IS AN OIL LEAKAGE COMING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET FROM WHICH THE OIL IS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE AND ROADS. *AK.

ROCKER PANEL ON THE BEAD HAD SNAPPED OFF. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE SHORT BOLTS WHICH HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS FROM THE CYLINDER POUNDING. HAD LOST POWER & HAD NO OVERHEATING HEATING. ALSO, HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK

THE ENGINE IS JUST THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM. WE WENT AHEAD AND BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS USUALLY NEVER USED. THIS TIME WE USED IT NUMEROUS TIMES. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS, THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE FUEL PUMP, THE ENGINE HEAD, THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS CURRENTLY DO NOT WORK. IT HAS JUST BEEN A REAL LEMON. WE JUST DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THIS TIME THE ENGINE BLEW AND THERE WAS NO CLUE THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES AND LAST NIGHT JUST BARELY MADE IT HOME.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING LOTS OF OIL, UP TO 3 QUARTS LOW. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. NO WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

INTERMITTENT OVERHEATING CAUSED BY FAULTY VALVE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT STATED HE HADN'T HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. FIXED AT OTHER LOCATION. COULD (AND ALMOST DID) CAUSE FIRE IN ENGINE. *AK

TENSIONER ROD BROKE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

ENGINE GALLEY PLUGS ARE LEAKING FUEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE,CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR VAN IN AUGUST OF 1997, WE HAVE HAD MANY REPAIRS AND VISITS TO THE DEALER. AS OF TODAY, THEY HAVE NOT FIXED OR DIAGNOSED THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR APPLYING MY BRAKES, A CRUNCHING SOUND OCCURS ,AND I CAN FEEL IT IN THE PEDAL. IT IS A FAIRLY LOUD SOUND AND THE VIBRATION IS DISTRACTING BECAUSE YOU LOSE YOUR BRAKE PEDAL FOR A PERIOD OF 1-2 SECONDS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS AND PLAN TO TAKE A DETAILED SURVEY ON THIS MATTER, BUT, NONE TO THIS POINT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM OR ANTILOCK BRAKE COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH IS UNDETECTABLE. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, AND NOT UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. THIS, ALSO, LEADS ME TO THE CONCLUSION THERE IS A MAJOR SAFTEY DEFECT HERE....

THE TENSIONER BELT DRIVE PULLEY BROKE A PIECE OF METAL FROM IT AND HIT VEHICLE BEHIND.

WHILE DRIVING UP THE DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CUTS OFF. HAD NO WARNING. ALSO, THE GAUGES ON DASHBOARD DO NOT WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD, ESPECIALLY, ODOMETER/FUEL AND PRESSURE GAUGES. IN ADDITION, BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE/SLIDING DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED PROPERLY WITH OR WITHOUT KEY. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEMS. *AK

ENGINE SEALS FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

ENGINE HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINING, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK, WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN EGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED,AND REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE DOES NOT MEET NHTSA RECALL # 96V-006 SPECIFICATIONS. *AK

DASHBOARD AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS EMIT SMOKE AND THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT BURNING.

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.