1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher Problems

MY 1997 DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE HABIT OF TURNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON BY THEMSELVES ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. WHILE THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED TO WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM, I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT OTHER CARAVAN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING WITH MUCH EXPENSE TAKEN TO FIX AT NO AVAIL. I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT A FAULTY WIPER SYSTEM AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MFG. TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IF THIS IS INDEED AS RAMPANT A COMPLAINT AS IT SEEMS TO BE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS BEEN A HEADACHE SINCE I GOT IT. RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT I HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET MY DASHBOARD FIXED BECAUSE ALL MY GAUGES QUIT COMPLETELY. NOW MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THEY ARE OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES OR UNLOCK THE DOORS OR OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE IT PUT ON A TESTER AND THEY CANT FIND WHY ITS ON. THE REAR END RATTLES PRETTY BAD ALSO AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO PICK UP AND GO.*AK

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON OUR 1997 DODGE CARAVAN WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME WORSE OVER TIME. THE LOCAL DEALER BELIEVES THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $200. THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND AN ANNOYANCE AND I BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD COVER THE COST TO REPAIR IT.*AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *TS

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED ON THEIR OWN, WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS USE.*JB *TS

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER STATEEDS PROBLEM IS REALLY NOTICABLE WHEN TURNING CORNERS. *JB MUTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED. *TT

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY COME ON WITH OUT TURNING ON THE SWITCH. *MR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES. NO APPARENT RHYME OR REASON. NO PATTERN.*AK

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON WITHOUT MY INTERVENTION. SOMETIMES THIS SCARES ME SO BAD, MY HEART JUST STARTS TO RACE. I FEAR THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES IT MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WISH DODGE WOULD PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS ITEM SINCE I SAW IT MENTIONED FREQUENTLY ON YOUR WEBSITE BY OTHER DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OWNERS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CLOCK SPRING BECAME INOPERABLE, FORCING AIR BAG TO DISENGAGE, AND HORN TO BECOME INOPERABLE ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN USED AT HIGH SPEED COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON WHEN NOT SELECTED, AND IS VERY DISTRACTING, AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHICH ALSO OWN CARAVAN/VOYAGER HAVE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I THINK DODGE NEEDS TO REDISGN THE SWITCH, AND RECALL ALL THE EFFECTED VEHICLES AND HAVE IT CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. ALSO AS FAR AS THE FRONT BRAKES, I HAVE HAD THE FRONT BRAKE SHOES REPLACED AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I HAVEN'T REPLACED THAT MANY BRAKES TOGETHER ON ALL THE OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED. I THINK THE FRONT DISC BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED AND CANNOT MEET THE WEIGHT OF THE VAN. DODGE ALSO NEEDS TO REDISN THE FRONT BRAKE SYS AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.*AK

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. THE HORN AND SPEED CONTROL ARE ALSO INOPERABLE WHICH OCCURRED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE OCCASIONALLY EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ALSO MOVE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ARE ACTIVATED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIR BAG, HORN AND SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS ARE CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY IS THE POSSIBLE CULPRIT.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TURNING ON WHEN LEFT SIGNAL SWITCHED ON; NOW COME ON OFTEN FOR NO REASON, AND NEED TO BE MANUALLY SHUT OFF; AND WHERE EVER THE BLADES ARE WHEN SWITCHED OFF IS WHERE THEY STAY. VERY DISTRACTING AND HUGE ANNOYANCE. INTERMEDIATE FEATURE NO LONGER WORKS. *AK

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE WE'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SPONTANEOUSLY ACTIVATE, MAKE TWO OR THREE PASSES ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, THEN RETURN TO THE STOWED POSITION AND STOP. SOMETIMES THE ACTIVATION IS NOTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE, ACTIVATING THE TURN SIGNALS, OR DURING THE PROCESS OF STEERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH A TURN. SOMETIMES IT OCCURS WHILE JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD...I SUPPOSE THIS QUIRK IS DUE TO RUBBING WIRING, ETC. IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND MY WIFE AND I ARE ACCUSTOMED TO IT BY NOW. IT OCCURS TO ME THOUGH THAT THIS WIPER ACTIVATION COULD EASILY DISTRACT A DRIVER AT A CRITICAL MOMENT AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MISHAP. EMAIL IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT US OR TRY THE HOME PHONE NUMBER AFTER THAT...WE CHECK THE ANSWERING MACHINE FREQUENTLY. THANKS, CLAY RIALES. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND WITHOUT MANUALLY TURNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK *SLC

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON RANDOMLY. ALWAYS STARTLES THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. ATTENTION IS DISTRACTED FOR A FEW SECONDS EVERY OCCURRENCE.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING WHEN MAKING A TURN OR WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE WIPERS ACTIVIATE WITHOUT INPUT FROM DRIVER CAUSING UNANTICIPATED DISTRACTION, DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. NLM

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH ALMOST EVERY LEFT TURN WHERE THE INDICATOR IS USED TO SIGNAL THE TURN. IN MOST CASES, THE WIPERS HAVE TO BE TURNED ON AND OFF BEFORE THEY WILL STOP. SITUATION IS DETERIORATING WITH TIME. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE WITHOUT USE OF SWITCH @ ANY CONDITION. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASES / WINDSHIELD WIPERS UNEXPECTEDLY CYCLE ONCE

WIPERS FREQUENTLY ACTIVATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS USED OR RETURNS AUTOMATICALLY FROM USE. OCCASIONAL ACTIVATION WITHOUT USE OF THE TURN SIGNALS HAS OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM. IT IS QUITE DISTRACTING AND HAZARDOUS.

NO SUMMARY

THE FRONT WIPERS COME ON FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES THEY JUST WIPE ONCE. OTHER TIMES THEY KEEP WIPING UNTIL WE TURN THE SWITCH "ON" AND THEN BACK TO "OFF." IT IS SURPRISING TO BE DRIVING AND HAVE THE WIPERS START WORKING.

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED DUE TO SHORT. YH

PHANTOM WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNS ITSELF ON, MAKES ONE SWIPE, TURNS OFF. FREQUENCY INCREASING. NOW YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF. HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHEILD WIPERS OPERATING WHILE IN AN OFF MODE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE DONE IF VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

SINCE MAY 1999, THE WIPERS HAVE BEEN SUDDENLY ACTIVATING WHILE NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO ACTIVATE THEM. THIS SHARPLY DIVERTS DRIVER ATTENTION FROM ROAD CONDITIONS TO WIPERS. IT HAPPENS EITHER SINGLY OR IN MULTIPLE SESSIONS DURING A DRIVE.

SINCE AUG 1998, THE WIPERS HAVE SUDDENLY ACTIVATED WHEN NOT TOUCHED. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER AND CONCENTRATION IS BROKEN/DIVERTED FROM DRIVING ACTIVITIES.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WHEN SWITCH IS OFF. RUNS UP AND DOWN 1 TIME, THEN CUTS OFF (NORMALLY). THIS IS HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IF I CUT THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART IT, IT USUALLY DOES IT AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE MAY BE MOVING OR PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT IT NEVER DOES IT TO THEM. IT'S QUITE STARTLING WHEN IT HAPPENS.

WIPERS LIFT OFF WINDSHIELD AT 70 MPH, CHRYSLER SAYS CANT FIX.

THE WIPERS ACTIVIATE WITHOUT INPUT FROM DRIVER CAUSING UNANTICIPATED DISTRACTION, DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. NLM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SELF ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE VERY LONG AND IN ANY HEADWIND, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH, THEY LIFT OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD. ONLY THE OUTER 2 INCHES STAY ON THE WINDSHIELD, THIS MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE RAIN IS NOT CLEARED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO CHRYSLER 3 TIMES, AND THEY SAY THEY CAND DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT INTERVENTION FROM DRIVER. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, IT COULD BE FRIGHTENING AND THUS CAUSE THE DRIVER TO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FATALITY. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING THE WIPERS CAME ON SUDDENLY AND MY WINDSHIELD BECAME SO SMEARED THAT I COULD NOT SEE THE ROADWAY CLEARLY. I'D LIKE TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN AND WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED BY DODGE BECAUSE I SUSPECT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. FURTHERMORE, I PLACED MY WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM OUT ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF OTHER CARAVAN OWNERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WITHIN A DAY, I HAD RECEIVED A RESPONSE AND WAS TOLD TO NOTIFY YOU.

WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF.

MIDDLE RIGHT BUCKET SEAT LIFT HANDLE IS TOO SMALL AND THE SPRING IS TOO HEAVY FOR AN ADULT TO OPERATE.