1998 DODGE CARAVAN Electrical System Problems

AIRBAG LIGHT ON NO TURN SIGNALS AND NO REVERSE LIGHTS DUE TO FAILED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V139000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. ..UPDATED 05/20/15 *BF UPDATED 11/19/15*JS

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN 2012, WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, I HAD TO PUT MY VEHICLE INTO GEAR IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP. EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH OR LESS, I WAS ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE. THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT NOR ANY DAMAGE, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT TO REPORT. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO TOWBIN DODGE IN HENDERSON, NV THAT WEEKEND I BELIEVE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DEFECT HAD BEEN FIXED. HOWEVER, THE HORN, AIRBAG LIGHT AND ABS STILL DO NOT WORK. MY VIN #[XXX], MY QUESTION IS THIS. IF THE RECALL PROBLEM IS STILL DEFECTIVE EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN REPAIRED, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE LOS ANGELES CBS AFFILIATE STATION AIRED A STORY ABOUT CHRYSLER VEHICLES YEAR 2007 TO 2012 THAT WERE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR A POTENTIAL RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY TIPM, ALSO KNOWN AS A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. VEHICLE OWNERS REPORT INSTRUMENT PANEL PROBLEMS, GAUGES NOT WORKING, AIRBAG NOT WORKING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE, AND SO ON. I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH MANY OF THESE SAME PROBLEMS/SYMPTOMS. I SPENT $212 ON INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS FEES. PEP BOYS TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND IT WOULD TAKE A PROHIBITIVELY HIGH PRICE TO REPLACE. MY VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THE ONES DESCRIBED ABOVE: FUEL GAUGE NOT CONSISTENTLY SHOWING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK; THE AIRBAG AND HORN NOT WORKING; THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY OPERATE WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON; THE POWER DOOR LOCKS DO...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERABLE THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOUR TIMES TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ

I HAVE A 98 DODGE CARAVAN IT HAS NO DASH LIGHTS PARKING LIGHTS OR HORN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE. *TR

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF QUICKLY LIKE A FLICKER. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS IN AUG AND SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT FIVE TIMES. TWO TIMES THE CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START FOR A FEW MINUTES. *TR

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLAT LINES IN OTHER WORDS SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE ALL DROP TO ZERO. IT MIGHT RETURN AT ANY TIME MOST OFTEN AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL KEEPS GOING DEAD, NO GAUGE READINGS AT ALL. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAS,TEMP, SPEEDOMETER,MILEAGE AND GEAR LIGHTS DON'T WORK, THEY JUST GO OUT. SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR SPEED IS WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WE HAVE CHECKED ALL THE CONNECTIONS. I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT OWN CARAVANS AND OTHER MODELS THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH NO NOTICE AT ALL. I LOVE MY CARAVAN WHAT I DON'T LOVE IS ALL THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH IT. YEAH, IT MIGHT BE 10 YEARS OLD BUT I HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR 5 MONTHS AND IF I HAD KNOWN THAT THESE THINGS WERE KNOWN TO HAPPEN TO THE CARAVANS...

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN THAT THE GAUGES DO NOT REGISTER OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, THE LIGHTS, HORN, TURN SIGNALS AND ACCESSORIES STILL WORK, ON THE CAUTION PANEL THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, THE DODGE DEALER(OZARK, ALABAMA) HAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER, AND ELECTRICAL BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD IT WORKS FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS THEN GO DEAD AGAIN. *NM

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATE THAT 1998 DODGE CARAVAN WAS HAVING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH STARTING AND STOPPING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM EITHER. THE VEHICLE ONLY DID THIS WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START IT. THIS HAPPENED EVERY DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR OR FIVE TIMES. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. SERPENTINE BELT FAILED FIVE TIMES. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS WELL AS THE CHARGING OF THE BATTERY. THIS ONLY HAPPENED IN WET OR RAINY CONDITIONS. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD AGAIN REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT, BUT IT WOULD FAIL AGAIN IN WET CONDITIONS OR RAINY WEATHER. THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE. THE LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SERPENTINE BELT. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY WAS REPORTED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT ALSO. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MILEAGE AND THE GASOLINE INDICATORS WERE NOT WORKING SO ONE CANNOT SEE IF VEHICLE IS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE OF THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

DODGE CARAVAN 1998, PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DOOR FIRE IN VAN. *BF *JB

MY CASE IS ABOUT WHAT THE CALL THE " CLOCKSPRING" I AM VERY CONCERN ABOUT THIS, I THINK DODGE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS LIVES COULD BE LOST. BECAUSE OF THIS.......

CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE LOWER THAN THE RIGHT AND THE BRAKES WEAR DOWN ONLY ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE, VEHICLE SKIDDED WHEN BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER WAS ADVISED FRONT CALIPER, ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY VEHICLE WAS SKIDDING, CONSUMER IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE ROTOR, CALIPER AND BRAKE ONLY ON FRONT SIDE EVERY 8000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DELEARSHIP THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY SIX MONTHS. *JB KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION, DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE CYLINDER AND IT BROKE, DEALER REPLACED. TAPE DRAGGED IN THE TAPE PLAYER, DEALER REPLACED. AT TIMES WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS NO RADIO, LIGHTS, OR HORN, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS....

TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES.