1998 Dodge VAN

24 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Aug 8, 2017Failure Aug 8, 2017Portland, ORTires

   ON AUG. 8, 2017 I WAS DRIVING A LEVEL 2 LANE SECLUDED ASPHALT ROAD IN MY 1998 DODGE CAMPER VAN. THE VAN IS DODGE 3500 EXTENDED MODEL, MODIFIED BY SPORTSMOBILE INTO A CAMPER VAN IN 1999. AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50 MPH SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED AND PIECE OF TIRE BEGAN TO FLY OFF. THE TIRES HAS BEEN RECENTLY ROTATED AND PRESSURE ADJUSTED TO ABOUT 80 PSI BY LES SCHWAB TIRES. WE HAD BEEN ON A ROAD TRIP SO I CHECKED TIRE INFLATION ABOUT EVERY DAY. THE TIRE TREAD HAD DISINTEGRATED AND PART OF IT HAD FLOWN OFF BUT THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED (AND STILL IS). ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE TREAD IS GONE. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND REPLACE THE TIRE. HOWEVER UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING AND ESPECIALLY IF THE TIRE HAD BEEN IN FRONT I BELIEVE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND THE VAN WOULD LIKELY ROLLED.

   NHTSA complaint 11013803
2. Filed Apr 5, 2006Failure Apr 1, 200670,000 milesMorgan Hill, CALatch

   DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS; HOWEVER THERE IS NO OVER RIDE FOR THE LOCKS. THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN ALERTED.

   NHTSA complaint 10154662
3. Filed Sep 12, 2005Failure Sep 3, 200595,000 milesSpringfield, VTAutomatic transmission

   1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN; RATTLING SOUND FROM ENGINE AREA FOR A FEW WEEKS, INTERMITTENT. SOUNDED FINE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, USED, IN JULY. TOTALLY LOST THE TRANSMISSION OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND, STRANDING MY HUSBAND AND I AND OUR 6-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ALMOST 2 HOURS FROM HOME. NOW HAVE TO INVEST NEARLY $2,000 TO REBUILD THIS TRANSMISSION. *NM

   NHTSA complaint 10136247
4. Filed Aug 12, 2005Failure Jul 11, 200489,000 milesDetroit, MIElectrical system

   1-AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON 2-CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING 3-HORN STOPPED WORKING. *NM

   NHTSA complaint 10132603
5. Filed May 6, 2005Failure Sep 3, 200289,000 milesPineville, MOElectrical system

   POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURE - TRAPPED PASSENGER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. EXITING THE VEHICLE REQUIRED CRAWLING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE, AND EXITING VIA ANOTHER DOOR WITH A STILL FUNCTIONAL LOCKING MECHANISM. DEALER HAD TO REMOVE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL AND DESTROY THE ACTUATOR MOTOR, AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT APPROXIMATELY $250.00 PARTS & LABOR. OLD ACTUATOR WAS RETAINED BY FLETCHER CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ROGERS, AR.

   NHTSA complaint 10120074
6. Filed May 6, 2005Failure May 3, 2005128,865 milesBentonville, ARElectrical system

   POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURES - TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OPERATING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS NO EFFECT, NOR CAN THE LOCKING ROD BE RAISED MANUALLY; DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BY THE DOOR HANDLE OR TURNING THE KEY LOCKING/UNLOCKING MECHANISM. DEALER HAS TO REMOVE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, DESTROY THE ACTUATOR MOTOR, AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT APPROXIMATELY $200.00 PARTS & LABOR. OLD ACTUATOR WAS RETAINED BY FLETCHER CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ROGERS, AR.

   NHTSA complaint 10120068
7. Filed May 6, 2005Failure Apr 26, 2005128,800 milesBentonville, ARElectrical system

   POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURES - TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OPERATING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS NO EFFECT, NOR CAN THE LOCKING ROD BE RAISED MANUALLY; DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BY THE DOOR HANDLE OR TURNING THE KEY LOCKING/UNLOCKING MECHANISM. DEALER HAS TO REMOVE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, DESTROY THE ACTUATOR MOTOR, AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT APPROXIMATELY $200.00 PARTS & LABOR. OLD ACTUATOR WAS RETAINED BY FLETCHER CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALERSHIP IN ROGERS, AR.

   NHTSA complaint 10120065
8. Filed Feb 9, 2005Failure Sep 12, 2004Apple Valley, CAAir bags

   I STARTED THE VAN THAT MORNING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. I WAS NOT AWARE AT THAT TIME THAT MY HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE ALSO AFFECTED. I FOUND THAT THE HORN DIDN'T WORK WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I ALMOST HIT IT. AFTER THAT I CHECKED THE FUSES AND RELAYS BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I EVEN TOOK THE HORNS OFF THE VAN AND WIRED THEM UP DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY. ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FINE UNTIL THE PRODUCT FAILED. NOW THAT DODGE FIXED THE CLOCKSPRING THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS OFF, I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK ? THE HORN WORKS BUT IT'S NOT AS LOUD AS IT USED TO BE, AND OF COURSE THE CRUISE CONTROL DON'T. THE CRUISE LIGHT FLASHES OR STAYS ON FOR A SHORT TIME AND I HOPE IT DON'T SHORT OUT AND CAUSE A ELECTRICAL FIRE OR THE CRUISE SYSTEM TURNS ON AND I CAN'T TURN IT OFF? I CALLED TO TAKE THE VAN BACK THE NEXT DAY AFTER I HAD SAT AT THE DODGE DEALER FOR A COUPLE HOURS THE NIGHT BEFORE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED, AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AN $80.00 CHARGE UNLESS IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAUSED. I TOLD THE PERSON THAT IT HAD BEEN WORKING FINE UNTIL THERE PRODUCT FAILED,AND I DIDN'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY. REGARDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T TAKE THE VAN BACK. I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $80.0 O GIVE AWAY. OH AND A STRANGE COINCIDENCE, THE ESTIMATE FOR THE CLOCKSPRING IS $80.00 WITHOUT A RECALL NOTICE, IF YOUR VEHICLE IS ON THE LIST. I WAS SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT BUYING A NEW DODGE TRUCK BUT AFTER THIS I MIGHT JUST GO WITH TOYOTA. I NEVER GOT TO SEE THE PART THAT FAILED. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10110163
9. Filed Jan 13, 2005Failure Jan 11, 2005Folsom, CAManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

   MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A SMOKY ODOR IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VAN A YEAR AGO. AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL ENGINE GASKETS AND PRESSURE-WASHING THE ENGINE BLOCK TO RULE OUT BURNING OIL, THE SMELL CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. FINALLY, MIDAS DISCOVERED A CRACKED CROSSOVER PIPE WAS ALLOWING ENGINE EXHAUST TO ESCAPE AND ENTER INTERIOR OF THE CAB. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PART HAS BEEN ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER WITH DODGE FOR OVER 3 MONTHS AND OVER 1,000 OF THESE PARTS ARE ON ORDER ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO MIDAS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GRAND CARAVANS AND LONG DELAYS DUE TO NATIONAL BACKORDERS IS TYPICAL FOR THIS PART. THE DANGER IS THAT LARGE AMOUNTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE ENTERS THE VEHICLE. MY SON HAS BEEN COMPLAINING OF HEADACHES WHILE RIDING IN THE VAN. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF WAITING, WE FINALLY WORKED OUT WITH MIDAS A CUSTOM RETROFIT OF ANOTHER MANUFACTURERS CROSSOVER PIPE AND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED. THE DODGE PART NUMBER IS 4694374. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE CARBON MONOXIDE KILLS SOMEONE WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING. *NM

   NHTSA complaint 10106244
10. Filed Dec 9, 200390,000 milesMunster, INService brakes, Hoses, Lines/piping, And fittings

    WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY BRAKES FAILED. DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE DUE TO A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10050315
11. Filed Apr 10, 2003Failure Jan 1, 190157,081 milesSarasota, FLSensor/control module

    NAR 04/10/2003 THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DONE ON AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER HAS INCLUDING RECEIPTS OF THE AMOUNT PAID FOR REPAIRS BUT DODGE HAS REFUSED TO MAKE PAYMENTS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *CB

    NHTSA complaint 10015656
12. Filed Jul 1, 2002Failure Mar 3, 2000Corning, NYArm, Wheel bearing

    LEFT FRONT BEARING FAILED AT 36,000, AGAIN AT 52,000. RIGHT FAILED AT 63,000, BOTH AT 65,000. RIGHT FAILED AGAIN AT 69,100. BOTH BEARINGS AND SPINDLES REPLACED. RIGHT FAILED AGAIN AT 69,146.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 763678
13. Filed Jan 23, 2002Failure Jan 11, 2002Loudon, TNValve

    B3500 MODEL VEHICLE - VALVE STEM IS SEPARATING FROM RUBBER AND METAL, CAUSING TIRES TO DEFLATE FASTER. VALVE STEM IS MANUFACTURED BY SCHRADER PART # TR-600HP. YEAR OF VEHICLE 1998.*AK *TT

    NHTSA complaint 8002652
14. Filed Jan 17, 2002Bridgeville, PACruise control

    WHILE MAKING A TURN INTO DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE STALLED, DEALER STATED THE AUTOMATIC IDLE SPEED MOTOR THAT REGULATES THE IDLE OF THE MOTOR WAS CARBONED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. *SLC

    NHTSA complaint 564001
15. Filed Jan 1, 2001Failure Dec 1, 2000Washington, MIFront

    LOW SPEED WOBBLE - TSB 22-02-99. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 738582
16. Filed May 22, 2000SAN Ramon, CAFuel system, Tank assembly

    FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. ALSO, DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWO OTHER FAULTY FUEL TANKS WHICH LEAKED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 862317
17. Filed May 19, 2000Failure May 18, 2000Greensboro, NCService brakes, Disc

    AS OF THIS DATE, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT 8,000 MILES, REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND BRAKE PADS. THE SECOND INCIDENT, I HAD THE VEHICLE BACK IN 4 MONTHS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS DATE, 05-18-00, I AGAIN HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY JUST TURNED 20,000 MILES. I FEEL THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE PARTS OR IN THE MANUFACTORING OF THE PARTS. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 722901
18. Filed May 18, 2000Failure Apr 10, 2000Grapeland, TXFuel system, Tank assembly

    FUEL LEAKAGES HAVE OCCURRED ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON EACH OCCASION, PROBLEMS WERE "FIXED" BUT LEAKAGES SUBSEQENTLY OCCURRED.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 722852
19. Filed Sep 8, 1999Miami, FLMotor

    WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL QUIT WORKING DURING OPERATION, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY . DEALER HAS REPLACED MOTOR TWICE, BUT DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 847201
20. Filed Sep 8, 1999Failure Apr 1, 1998Camarillo, CAInterior lighting

    INTERIOR LIGHTS.

    NHTSA complaint 609797