1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Body & Structure Problems

EVENTS INCLUDE NORMAL USE OF VEHICLE. THE FAILURE IS THE STRUT TOWERS ON A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAVE RUST THROUGH CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE, STRUT COULD BREAK THROUGH THE HOUSING. DODGE HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK LIFTGATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL APART. THE HATCHBACK PUSHED A PORTION OF THE SUPPORT BRACKET INTO THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED INTERIOR DAMAGE. THE ARM OF THE LIFTGATE SNAPPED AND FELL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. SHE CHECKED THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE TO FIND OUT IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V079000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE). SHE DISCOVERED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 218,523 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 217,000.

THE STRUT TOWER THAT HOLDS THE UPPER PART OF BOTH FRONT STRUTS WAS RUST OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, THE FRONT STRUT COULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THE STRUT TOWER. CHANCES ARE THIS WOULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (BECAUSE THE FORCES ON THE STRUT TOWERS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST THEN). THIS COULD VERY PROBABLY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT. I FEAR THAT MOST CARAVAN OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE IN NOVEMBER 2004.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE HOOD BECAME ATTACH FROM THE PANEL. AND FLEW IN THE WINDOW THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

WHEN IT RAINS IT LEAKS INSIDE OF VEHICLE. HAD TO REMOVE CARPET BECAUSE OF ODOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HINGE FAILED. *JG

LIFTGATE BOLT BROKE OFF RIGHT HAND SIDE WHILE BEING CLOSED. TOOK TODEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NO RECALLS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRABLE.*AK

PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S DOOR WELDS THAT HOLD THE HINGES ARE BREAKING. REPLACED THEM ONCE, CURRENTLY BROKEN AGAIN. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, VIN 1B4-GP54R6VB-209333. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER LOCKS. I HAVE THE REPAIR RECORD FROM ONE REAR DOOR LOCK THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 21586 MILES, NOV 17, 1997. THE DEALER DESCRIBED: "LT SLIDING DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPERATE, 11R/I DOOR PAD, R/R LOCK ACTUATOR" THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DESCRIBED: "4675782MOTOR". I RECALL THE OTHER REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED IN JUNE 1997: SO BOTH WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE RIGHT DOOR HAS FAILED AGAIN, FIRST OBSERVED MARCH 16, 1999, MILEAGE 46402.

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND INTERIOR LIGHT SYSTEM FAIL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH.

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR COMES OPEN WHEN LOCKED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

RATTLE IN DOOR.

WHEN DRIVING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DOOR TO UNLOCK, TOOK TO DEALER, REPLACED THE SENSOR ON TWO OCCASIONS . *AK