1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Suspension Problems

Your gas line is decaying and the suspension strut mounts are rusting away, creating serious safety risks. A corroded brake line may leak slowly at first, but can suddenly rupture under pressure—leaving you with complete brake failure. If the strut mount rusts severely, it can fail at high speeds or over bumps, causing the strut to come through the hood and potentially causing loss of braking and steering control. These issues require inspection and replacement of the affected fuel lines, brake lines, and strut mounts.

Your fuel line and suspension strut mounts may be corroding due to rust, which can cause serious safety problems. A corroded brake line can slowly leak fluid, and if you just keep refilling the reservoir without addressing the underlying rust, the line may suddenly rupture completely, leaving you with no braking power. Similarly, severely rusted strut mounts can fail without warning—especially at highway speeds over bumps—potentially causing the strut to break through the hood and the wheel to move uncontrollably, which could result in total loss of brakes or steering. Addressing these issues typically involves inspecting and replacing corroded fuel and brake lines, and treating or replacing rusted strut mounts with protective coating or undercoating to prevent further rust damage.

Your serpentine belt can slip off when driving in rain or through water puddles, causing you to lose power steering and experience battery drain and overheating. This creates a serious safety hazard—if you need to turn when the belt slips, you may lose control of the vehicle and hit a curb, pedestrian, or another car. The belt replacement is complex and often requires towing for repair.

UPON TURNING LEFT, THE LEFT FRONT STRUT SHEARED FROM LOWER CONTROL ARM. (BALL JOINT FAILURE) THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY REMAINED ATTACHED AT THE UPPER MOUNT OF THE STRUT, BUT TURNED AND PUSHED SIDEWAYS AGAINST THE BODYWORK, PULLING THE AXLE OUT OF THE TRANS AND DESTROYING THE CV JOINT. THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO YEARS EARLIER (ABOUT 20K MILES AGO). THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STRUT HAD A FAILURE UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR RESULTS. THE STRUT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN. *TR

THE STRUT TOWER ON THE 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, THAT HAS 99,500 MILES RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. DODGE ADMITTED TO A DESIGN FLAW FOR THE PREMATURE RUSTING STRUT TOWERS. A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FROM CHRYSLER DATED OCTOBER '02 EXPLICITLY STATED THAT ALL '1996 TO 19'99 CHRYSLER VANS PLYMOUTH, DODGE, AND CHRYSLER, HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT TOWERS. ALL OF THEM WILL EVENTUALLY RUST FROM THE BOTTOM UP. AS I STATED, THE STRUT TOWERS WERE DEFECTIVE IN THERE DESIGN. CLEARLY, WHEN THE RUSTED STRUT TOWER GIVES, THE STRUT WILL COME UP THROUGH THE HOOD. AT THAT POINT, LIVES WILL BE IN DANGER, AS THE PROBABILITY OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS INEVITABLE. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS MY FORMAL COMPLAINT. WILL CHRYSLER LIVE UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR THIS KNOW DEFECT FOR THOSE OF US OUT OF THE WARRANTY TIMELINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTS, THE VEHICLE MAKES AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, IT OPERATES NORMALLY. THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND WILL START BACK UP, BUT IT IS UNRELIABLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV AND HAVE TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE REVVING TO STOP. IF THERE IS A POWER FLUCTUATION, THE REAR WIPERS WILL TURN ON AND OFF AT RANDOM. THE HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK, BUT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE PARKING LIGHT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. HE REPLACED THE BULB, BUT IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AND THERE IS A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY IS RUSTING AND ROTTING. THE ROCKER PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS RUSTED COMPLETELY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,766. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/11/08.*JB

MAKE : DODGE MODEL : CARAVAN YEAR : 1998 MANUFACTURER : DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION SERVICE BULLETIN NUM : 2304402 DATE OF BULLETIN: OCT 14, 2002 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10000317 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY SUMMARY: COSMETIC CORROSION OR PERFORATION AT UPPER STRUT TOWER/S USUALLY BETWEEN THE STRUT AND UPPER LOAD PATH BEAM INNER PANEL (INNER FENDER). *TT *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTO SHOP FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC ALERTED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT A POSSIBILITY OF A LEFT SPRING SUPPORT MAY BECOME FRACTURED DUE TO HEAVY CORROSION. THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE OWNER THAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. BOTH FRONT STRUT TOWERS WERE RUSTED AND WORN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

THE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR OUT NEARLY EVERY MONTH. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SWAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON FREEWAY OR WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A LEAKAGE IN THE BRAKES. THE EGR VALVE KEEPS GOING OUT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.

OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STRUTS MULTIPLE TIMES. WE HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE STRUT MOUNT HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE STRUT MOUNT PLATE HAS BECOME OVAL AND NOT ROUND AND THEREFORE IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER GOING OVER LARGER BUMPS....WHAT DO WE DO NOW? I AM A MECHANIC AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO BY ANOTHER AUTO REPAIR. WE ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING SINCE BASICALLY WHEN WE BOUGHT IT ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO AND WOULD LIIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OTHER 97 GRAND CARAVANS. PLEASE HELP. WE HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND CAN NOT BE WITHOUT A VAN. THANKS.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCK SPRINGS WHICH IT AFFECTS HER CRUISE CONTROL THE AIR BAG AND HORN CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE KNOWS THAT A RECALL MAY COME OUT SOON AND JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE HER VEHICLE IS INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A OFICCIAL RECALL YET. TS

CLOCKSPRING FAILURE $250 REPAIR POSSIBLE RECALL. DT

STRUT TOWER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. STRUTS WILL ONLY LAST ANOTHER YEAR DUE TO RUST. CONTACTED DEALER , AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANTHING. *AK

LOWER STRUT MOUNTING BOLT SNAPPED CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVABLE. *SLC

THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. DODGE FIXED THE VEHICLE ONCE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSY. THEY SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM AND DID REPAIRS ON THE REAR AXLE, ASSY. AND BEARING, TRANSMISSION AND OTHER MAJOR PARTS. *AK

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN REVERSE POSITION AND SURGEING WHILE DRIVING. ALSO VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT BADLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM, BUT IS GOING TO REPLACE THE TIRES. MICHELIN STATED THAT IT NOT THE TIRES, BUT THE VEHICLE ITSELF. *AK PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHEN DRIVING OVER 20 MPH UP UNTIL 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR SERVICE SINCE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE. DEALER THINKS THE TIRES ARE CAUSING THE VIBRATION. *AK

BEARING FAILED.

VEHICLE MISALIGNED.