1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. FIRST THERE IS A SERIOUS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT WHEEL/TIRES. I HAVE REPLACED 8 TIRES (IN 30000 MILES!), BOTH FRONT AXLES, ALL THREE MOTOR MOUNTS, AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, AS WELL AS HAVING THREE ALIGNMENT CHECKS. THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FRONT WIPERS WERE, FOR A TIME, COMING ON ANY TIME THEY FELT LIKE IT; THIS WAS REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH ON 09/21/01. SINCE THEN, THE REAR WIPER WILL OCCASIONALLY COME ON FOR ONE SWIPE WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE - ANNOYING, BUT NOT AN IMMEDIATE HAZARD. BUT TODAY, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING AT ALL. THEY WILL ONLY WORK IF I PUT THE WIPERS ON INTERVAL - IN WHICH CASE THEY DO NOTHING FOR A TIME, THEN MAKE TWO TO FOUR SWIPES, THEN WAIT A...

ROCKER ARM PEDISTAL SHEARED OFF CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. MULTIPLE REPAIR CENTERS BELIEVE CAUSE IS DESIGN FLAW OF CYLINDER HEAD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE FAILED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ENGINE'S MAIN COMPUTER WOULD NOT FIRE THE #2 AND #5 SPARK PLUGS, RESULTING IN FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 OTHER MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER FAILURES SINCE VEHICLE OWNERSHIP.*AK

VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS INTERMITTENT. MR THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE WIPERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THEY WORKED FINE. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT AS WELL. SCC *JB

DODGE '96 MINIVAN STALLING PROBLEM WHILE IN OPERATION. START UP TIME 5-10 MINUTES LATER (VERY DANGEROUS). TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR; PROBLEM ESCALATED TO FULL REPLACEMENT. NOT SATISFIED WITH REPLACEMENT -"BUMPS" ON SECOND AND THIRD GEARS UP AND DOWN. THESE HAVE BEEN COSTLY REPAIRS. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT NO MATTER WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED - FULL FUEL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. RPS RACED TO 15K. REPLACED CAM SENSOR, HARNESS, HOSES ETC. *NLM

THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO PULL OVER ABRUPTLY.*JB

THE METER READ LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS, THE VAN RAN OUT OF GAS, THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN TO DRIVE WHEN SOON AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A MISFIRED CYLINDER, THE FUEL FUEL PUMP WAS BURIED INSIDE THE GAS TANK, AND WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL DROPPED BELOW THE FUEL PUMP, THE PUMP HEATED UP AND SUCKED IN AIR INSTEAD OF THE GASOLINE. *SCC *JB

SUPPORT FOR ROCKER ARM BROKE OFF AT 82,890 MILES. FROM REVIEW OF THE NHTSA RECORDS, THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. AS THIS IS PART OF THE HEAD CASTING, I WOULD EXPECT IT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. TS

THE PISTON RING IN THE ENGINE HAD EXCESSIVELY WORN. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN AND THERE WAS NO POWER. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER REPLACED A BAD ISC MOTOR TO REMEDY STALLING PROBLEM. FAULTY CRANKSENSOR AND CAM SENSOR CAUSED A NO START CONDITION. VEHICLE SHAKES AND RUNS ROUGH, DEALER REPLACED POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. *JB

THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND HAS CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE GASKETS ARE NOW BAD AND LEAKING OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER (MOSER DODGE) THAT THIS IS AFFECT AND A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS 3.0 ENGINE. THIS ALSO CREATES A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. HOWEVER DODGE SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO WITH ME TO REPAIR THIS OR SHARE THIS COST. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF DODGE AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE.*AK

ENGINE COOLANT BEGAN TO LEAK AT FWD CYLINDER HEAD TO BLOCK AFTER CLIMING A STEEP HILL AND PARKING AT SHOPPING MALL. JUST LOOKED UNDER VAN SEEN COOLANT, WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND VAN IS AT SHOP FOR HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT.*AK

ENGINE COOLANT BEGAN TO LEAK AT FWD CYLINDER HEAD TO BLOCK AFTER CLIMING A STEEP HILL AND PARKING AT SHOPPING MALL. JUST LOOKED UNDER VAN SEEN COOLANT, WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND VAN IS AT SHOP FOR HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT.*AK

REAR MAIN SEAL, CAM PLUGS, VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED. ALL AT ONCE WITH NO WARNING. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER SHAFT SHEARED AS A RESULT OF NO LUBRICATION. INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTED IN A VERY CLOSE CALL. I BELIEVE THE NON-LUBRICATED SHAFT PERMITTED CORROSSION AND SUBSEQUENT SEIZURE AND SHEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY SHAFT. IT IS A DESIGN DEFICIENCY, IN MY OPINION OF COURSE.*AK

CONSUMER HAD TO PUT EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT ENGINE AND FOUND A HOLE, PIN SIZED NEAR CYLINDERS OF THE ENGINE WHICH IS WHERE ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING. MECHANIC STATED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE APPEARED TO BE IN MOLDING OF ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

TWO ISSUES TO DISCUSS. FIRST WINDSHIELD WIPERS APPEAR TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY ON INSTRUCTIONS WHEN ON INTERMITTMENT SETTING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR WHERE THEY WILL STOP. SECOND ISSUE IS THE TENSIONER AND WATER PUMP WITHIN THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM EACH TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM.

WAS DRIVING, AND WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN, WHEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP. HAD CHECKED VEHICLE & NOTICED PULLEY BELT HAD CAME OFF. TENSION BRACKET HAD FAILED (SERPENTINE BELT). ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

IDLE TENSION PULLEY BROKEN WHILE TRAVELING. TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CALLED THEM THE VALVE RETAINER SEALS. I HAVE HEARD REPEATEDLY THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 3.0 L ENGINES, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE PERSON THAT CHOSE TO PUT THESE ENGINES IN, KNOWING THEY WOULD HAVE THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD, TO PAY FOR IT. I WAS ASSURED THAT I WAS GETTING A GOOD VAN WHEN I BOUGHT IT USED AND IT HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I HAVE 3 KIDS TO WORRY ABOUT, I DON'T NEED TO FORK OUT $500 TO FIX A "COMMON PROBLEM". AND I ALSO HATE TO THINK THAT I'M POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT IMMENSLEY IN THE MEAN TIME.*AK

THE FUEL RAIL STARTED LEAKING AFTER REMOVAL; TRYING TO CHANGE VALVE COVER GASKETS & USING A CERTIFIED AUTO MECHANIC, HE VERIFIED THE PROPER INSTRUCTIONS FOR REMOVAL W/ THE MITCHELL'S SERVICE MANUAL & NOW THEY ARE LEAKING FUEL THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE; TALKED TO DODGE PARTS COUNTER & THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM & SAID THEY HAVE MODIFIED THE PART BUT WILL COST ME $160 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THEIR POORLY DESIGNED PART. NO RECALLS ARE LISTED AND NOW A SMALL JOB HAS TURNED INTO AN EXPENSIVE ONE. *AK

PEDESTAL HOLDING THE ROCKER ARM BROKE CAUSING ROCKER ARM SHAFT TO BREAK, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKEN THIS IS STILL A NEW VEHICLE AND THESE TWO ITEMS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THE ROCKER ARM AND PEDESTAL SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN I FILL THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT BROKE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS PROBLEMS ARE DAMAGES. I ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THAT. *AK

ROCKER ARM WITHIN THE ENGINE BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS VAN ONLY 7 MONTHS!!! WE HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE THAT HAS 97,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE TOOK A TRIP IN THE LAST WEEK TO CALIFORNIA TO SEE OUR DAUGHTER WHEN THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY PROBLEMS, WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN RENO, NEVADA - (3223 MILL ST, RENO, NV 89502 -- #(775)-323-3106). THEY SAID THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED REPLACING. AT A COST OF 300 DOLLARS, WE AGREED IN HOPES THAT THE LIGHT PROBLEM WOULD BE CURED EVEN THOUGH NOTHING SEEMED WRONG. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING, WE NOTICED THAT THE VAN WAS RUNNING TERRIBLY AND WOULD DIE WHEN STOPPED. FRUSTRATED THAT "NO" PROBLEM WITH OUR VAN PROGRESSED TO WORSE WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK...

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH DUE TO A STUD PULLING LOOSE FROM THE ROCKER ARM SHAFT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. ENGINE ROCKER ARM BROKE OFF, AND DEALER HAD IT REPAIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION BROKE. TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD SEPARATED & CAUSED A HOLE IN THE HOUSING. THE PIN THEN FLEW OUT & CRACKED THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT TRANSMISSION & ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED BECAUSE OF ROCKER ARM SHAFT FAILURE. YH

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS ONGOING PROBLEMS ,THE BIGGEST OF WHICH WAS THE ENGINE HEAD FAILURE WHICH COST ME ABOUT A $1,000.00 THATS WITH DODGE PAYING AN ADDITONAL $800.00 FOR THE PARTS. NOW A YEAR LATER, MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. PLEASE HELP I PROMISE NOT TO BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN, I SWEAR. ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NAGGING, BUT TOLERABLE. BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH. *AK

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO KNOCK. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BOLT THAT SECURES THE ROCKER ARM TO THE ENGINE HEAD WERE NOT DRILLED DEEP ENOUGH TO ALLOW EVEN TENSION TO SECURE THE ROCKER ARM SHAFT PROPERLY CAUSING IT TO BREAK AND RESULTING IN VIOLENT VIBRATION. NLM

THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES DUE TO THE IDLER PULLEY BREAKING OFF. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED QUICKLY. DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE. NEEDS NEW IDLER PULLEY. *AK

WHEN THE TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED AND SNAPPED OFF OF THE ENGINE AT THE BLOCK MOUNT I WAS PROCEEDING IN A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET. LOSS OF THE PULLEY CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT NEARLY CAUSED A BAD CRASH.

REPLACEMENT OF AC COMPRESSOR & EVAPORATOR COST $1450; ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED FREE EVEN THOUGH WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED(SPENT $870 ON MAINT AND REPAIRS OF WHICH $300 WAS TO REPLACE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND RESISTOR PACK THAT WAS SAID TO CAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HEAD WAS ACTUALLY CASUING PROBLEM); FAN RELAY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; FIRESTONE SAID WATER PUMP FROZED AND CAUSED BELT TO BREAK ($300 REPAIR).

VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON & NO WARNING. SPEED WOULD NOT BE A FACTOR. HAS TAKEN TO DEALER & NO ERROR WOULD APPEAR ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. SO FAR, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT & ONLY HAPPENED TWICE SINCE. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEN LETTING OF THE ACCELERATOR AND GRADUALLY DECELERAING. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL INSTEAD OF IDLING. *AK

A DEFECT WITHIN EXHAUST VALVE DAMAGED THE HEAD GASKET. THE PART IS ON BACKORDER. *AK .

TENSION PULLEY/ POWER STEERING BELT FAILED.

TENSIONER PULLEY BENT, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. THE SECOND TIME THE PULLEY ACTUALLY BROKE OFF. BOTHE TIMES THE CAR LOST ALL CONTROLS, LUCKILY, BOTH TIMES I WAS DRIVEING ON A SMALL STRRET AND SLOW SPEED *AK

PIN THAT SECURES THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT FAILED.

1. THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WITH WIPERS. 1.THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON BY THEMSELVES. IT OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT SPEEDS, EVEN WHEN IN PARK. TO TURN THEM OFF I MUST TURN IT ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN. 2.WHEN FRONT WIPERS ARE PLACED IN THE HIGH POSITION THEY WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES LEAVING ME UNABLE TO SEE. TO MAKE THEM GO BACK ON I MUST TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THEY CHANGE A PART BUT DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. 2. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE BELT WILL FRAY AND JUST FALL APART LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO ACCELERATOR OR GENERATOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I TRAVEL WITH MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN ON RURAL HIGHWAYS AND DRIVING ON ONLY WHATEVER POWER IS IN THE BATTERY AND WITHOUT THE POWERSTEERING THE VAN...

HEARD A LOUD CLANKING/CLINKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE; NOISE OCCURRED AFTER HAVING A FREE OIL CHANGE DONE AT DEALER. HAD PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD & CHECKED OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL. IT WAS DRY. *AK

GASKET LEAK.