1988 DODGE CARAVAN Recalls, Complaints & Safety

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNT BUT A YEAR LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED BUT THIS TIME WHEN THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE IT ALSO DAMAGED THE OIL PAN. *AK *NM

SAFETY CONCERN OF CABLES FOR SPARE TIRES.*AK *JB

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 82 DEGREES, WITH ALL WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, CARGO DOOR SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK.*JB

FRONT DOORS ARE SEPARATING FROM HINGES. THIS IS CAUSING DOORS TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DOORS WILL EITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK UPON BEING CLOSED. OWNER KNEW OF PROBLEM PRIOR TO PURCHASING. MECHANIC INDICATED VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Crash

WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT GAS STARTED TO POUR OUT OF VEHICLE ONTO GROUND. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS DANGEROUS IN HOT VEHICLE AND COULD EASILY START A FIRE.*AK THE RUBBER CAP ON GASOLINE TUBING FAILED, CAUSING RAPID FUEL FLOW ON GROUND UNDER VEHICLE.*JB

I BELEVE THE (FRONT SWAY BAR ) SHOULD NEVER BREAK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK

HIGH PRESSURE HOSES BEGAN TO LEAK CAUSING RAPID PUMP FAILURE REPAIRED ONCE FAILED AGAIN.*ET

PCV VALVE FAILS WEEKLY.*ET

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM/SENSORS FAILED.*ET

FRONT SUSPENSION WHEEL BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING MODERATE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 AND BECOMES SEVERE ABOVE 74 MPH. *ET

AIR CONDITIONING H BLOCK VALVE AND COMPRESSOR FAILED. *ET

FRONT SUSPENSION WHEEL BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING MODERATE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 AND BECOMES SEVERE ABOVE 74 MPH. *ET

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD IN CENTER WAS COMPLETELY GONE, SHATTERING LENS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT. SECONDS PRIOR TO INCIDENT, CONSUMER HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION, BUT TIRE DIDN'T BLOWOUT. P205/70R14 WITH 20,000 MILES, AFTER MARKET. *AK

THE FIRST CAR PAINT WAS RECALLED AND SECOND PAINT JOB WAS DONE WRONG. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

THE CAP OVER THEN END OF THE 5/16 INCH DIAMETER TUBE FOR DRAINING THE FUEL TANK DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TUBE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE RUBBER ON THE CAP WAS CRACKED AND MUSHY. THIS NOT ONLY ALLOWED THE FUEL TO LEAK OUT, BUT ALSO ALLOWED WATER TO RUST THE FUEL LINE THAT WAS UNDER THE DRAIN CAP. OTHER RUBBER COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. THEREFORE, I SUSPECT THAT THIS DRAIN CAP IS MANUFACTURED FROM INFERIOR RUBBER. THE DEALER SAID THE MANUFACURER DOES NOT HAVE THIS CAP IN THEIR PARTS SYSTEM SO I HAD TO BE CREATIVE IN BLOCKING THE DRAIN PIPE. I HAVE RETAINED THE OLD CAP IF YOU WOULD DESIRE TO INSPECT IT. ACCORDING TO THE SHOP MANUAL THAT I PURCHASED, ALL 1988 CHRYSLER CARS HAVE A SIMILAR DRAIN CAP ON THE FUEL TANK. THE LEAK FROM THE DRAIN TUBE WAS BIG ENOUGH TO LEAVE A 10 INCH WIDE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. MY CONCERNS ARE NOT ONLY WITH FIRE SAFETY, BUT ALSO WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. YOU MAY WANT TO FORWARD THIS CONCERN WITH YOUR FRIENDS IN THE EPA. THANK YOU. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1988 DODGE CARAVAN ARE BECOMMING OPAQUE. I ONLY SEE A GLOW ON THE ROAD AHEAD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY A DELERSHIP PARTS PERSON THE CAUSE IS WATER CONDENSING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT'S LENSE, AND LEAVING A CALCIUM DEPOSIT WHEN THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON, CAUSING EVAPORATORATION OF THE MOISTURE. NOT ALL CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE RESULT OF A POORLY DESIGNED LENSE UNIT. OTHER HEADLIGHT LENSE UNITS DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO POOR ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD AHEAD. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY HEAD LIGHT UNITS REPLACED BY DODGE AT THEIR COST.

THE PAINT ON THE TOP AND THE HOOD OF THE VAN HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE CHRYSLER COMPANY A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM- TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE AALSO NOTICED A NUMBER OF OTHER V

DUE TO HARMONIC IMBALANCE OF ENGINE, AIR CONDITIONER AND ALTERNATOR FAIL

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. YH

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. YH

FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED. YH

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. YH

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED. YH

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING. WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO CHECK THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT IN FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

Fire

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, NORMAL ROAD CONDITION, WHEN THE CABLE WHICH HOLDS SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE LIFTED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PUT OUT PROPER LIGHTING BECAUSE WATER HAS GOTTEN INTO THE AREA. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. OWNER REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS AND DRAINED OUT MOST OF THE WATER, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAIN VERY HAZY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

ENGINE CAM BOLT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR/LOCKUP OF THE CAMSHAFT.

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING/ STEERING PUMP/WATER PUMP/ MOTOR MOUNTS AND ENGINE VALVES. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE SHAKES AT 60 MPH. IN ADDITION, ABS BRAKES FAILED/REPLACED. *AK

POWER WINDOW GEAR FAILS CONTINUALLY.

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RELEASE.

LEFT ENGINE MOUNT IS SEPERATING FROM BODY STRUCTURE; APPEARS NOT TO BE WELDED TO THE BODY.

WHILE STOPPED EXPERIENCED SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILURE; WHEN SPARE TIRE CABLE RUSTED THOUGH, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO DROP ONTO ROADWAY. *AK

UPON TURNING THE IGNITION THERE IS A ELECTRICAL SHORT BLOWING THE FUSE, RESULTING IN THE BRAKE LIGHT NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED.

POWER STEERING FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED SEPENTINE BELT/RACK AND PINION STEERING/WATER PUMP. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE STALLS WHEN EXITING HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING 55-60 MPH; REAR HATCH OFTEN FALLS DOWN AND SHIFTING DIFFICULTY WHEN PARKED ON INCLINE. *AK

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES OF VEHICLE WERE MADE FROM PLASTIC. AFTER SOMETIME IN THE SUN THE LENSES FADED TO A YELLOW COLOR, NOT ALLOWING ENOUGH LIGHT FOR SAFE VISIBILITY, CONSUMER HAS PURCHASED NEW HOLOGEN BULBS FOR VEHICLE, NEW BULBS DON'T WORK. YELLOW FILM WILL NOT DISAPPEAR. *AK

FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVNG VEHICLE AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE INNER CV JOINT BUSTED OPEN AND MADE OPERATION OF VEHICLE COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE. THE ENTIRE LEFT FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES DURING A 6 MONTH PERIOD IN MAR OF 96/JUN OF 96 AND TWICE IN AUG OF 96. AT SAME TIME OF AXLE REPLACEMENT A MOTOR MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO. *AK

HEADLIGHT LENSES MADE OF PLASTIC AFTER DARK, THE LIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD FOR CONSUMER TO SEE OR DRIVE SAFELY. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM WITH NEW HOLOGEN BULBS, STILL NOT ENOUGH LIGHT TO DRIVE SAFELY. *AK