1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Wipers & Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE/ES. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH, THE SUN VISOR FELL FROM OVER THE CONTACTS HEAD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND HAD TO BE TOWED OUT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. SHE ADVISED THE SUN VISOR WAS DESIGNED TO SIT TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

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

WHILE DRIVING FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY COMES ON WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS ON. THE WIPERS CAME ON WHILE I WAS TURNING - CHANGING LANES AND PARTIALLY BLINDING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. I ALMOST CRASHED WHILE MAKING THE TURN AND IN THE SAME TIME TRYING TO TURN OFF THE WIPER. SINCE THE WIPERS WENT ON WHEN THE WINDSHIELD IS DRY, IT CAUSES THE WIPERS TO STREAK LOUDLY AND SCRATCH THE GLASS. ALSO, THE WIPERS CROSSED EACH OTHER AND CAUSE IT TO SUDDENLY BACK AGAINST THE GLASS. LUCKILY, THE WIPERS DIDN'T SMASH THE WINDSHIELD. HAVING THE WIPERS TURN ON A DRY WINDSHIELD GLASS WHILE TURNING IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE WERE LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN AND I WEREN'T HURT BY THIS INCIDENT. *JB

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

CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*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, WIPERS COME ON AND OFF ON THERE OWN. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WON'T GO OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

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

INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL NOT CYCLE CONSISTANTLY. THEY MIGHT SWEEP 3 TIMES QUICKLY AND THEN WILL CYCLE NORMALLY, THEN MAY STOP CYCLING FOR 4-6 CYCLES. WIPERS WILL SOMETIMES ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN. INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL SOMETIMES BEGIN TO CYCLE AND CONTINUE CYCLING EVEN AFTER THE SWITCH HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION IN DESPERATION. WE LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NW AND HAVE TO DRIVE IN RAIN CONSTANTLY. NOT HAVING RELIABLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR TO A DEALER TWICE AND HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. PER THE DEALER, THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE BOTH TIMES. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE SWITCH REPLACED THE SECOND TIME, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN BUT BY THE TIME WE TURNED AROUND AND GOT BACK TO THE DEALER, IT WAS WORKING FINE SO THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS.

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

VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM MAGICALLY TURN THEMSELVES ON INFREQUENTLY BUT CONSISTENTLY, ALSO IN INTERMITENT MODE, THE WIPERS OFTEN SWIPE TWO TO FOUR TIMES BEFORE FINISHING A SINGLE CYCLE, DEALER REPLACED WIPER MOTOR. *JG

CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELDS WEATHER STRIPPING FLAPS. *JG

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

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE AT CONSUMERS COST, HOWEVER WIPERS CONTINUE TO COME ON WHILE MAKING TURNS, IN COLD WEATHER, AND OCCASIONALLY IN THE SUMMER FOR NO REASON, POSSIBLE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE AT CONSUMERS COST, HOWEVER WIPERS CONTINUE TO COME ON WHILE MAKING TURNS, IN COLD WEATHER, AND OCCASIONALLY IN THE SUMMER FOR NO REASON, POSSIBLE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. *SLC

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 COME ON INVOLUNTARILY WHEN VHEICLE MAKES TURNS OR HITS BUMPS. DEFECTIVE WINDSHSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACE IN 2000. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE DISTRACTING WHEN THEY ARE NOT NEEDED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON ATLEAST 3 TIMES IN THE DISTANCE OF 1 MILE. PROBLEM HAS EXISITED SINCE 1999 BUT HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE. SEEMS TO BE SENSITIVE TO VIBRATION ON THE TURN SIGNAL. PROBLEM HAS OCCURED WITH VEHICLE IDLING IN DRIVEWAY. *AK

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

LOWER LEFT QUADRANT OF WINDSHIELD DOES NOT ADEQUATELY DEFROST CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. YH

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

DEFROST MAKING LOUD NOISE, AFTER HAVING CAR 5HRS DEALER CALLED TO REPORT NO PROBLEM. ADVISED TO TURN FAN ON. *AK

STARTED SMELLING AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. CONTACTED DEALER ,THEY DEODORIZED IT, STILL CONTINUED TO SMELL THE ODOR. THEN THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR ASSEMBLY. THEY FOUND MILDEW GROWING ON THE EVAPORATOR. *AK

WIPERS ACTIVATE WHILE SWITCH IS OFF. PROBLEM COMMONLY OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, BUT HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN GOING OVER A CURB OR BUMP.

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.

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

WINDSHIELD SEAL/GROMMET FAILED. MJS

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

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

WINDSHILED WIPER MOTOR SWITCH FAILED. NLM

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED DUE TO SHORT. YH

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.

PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW FAILED.

CONCERNED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF WINDSHIELD WHICH CAN CAUSE REFLECTION, RESULTING IN DISTRACTION AND UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.