1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Wipers & Visibility Problems
18 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Wipers & Visibility Recalls (1)
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
Fix: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
Owner Complaints (18)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE AND OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CONTROL UNIT, HOWEVER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
RECENTLY BOUGHT 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE FRONT WIPERS STOPPED WORKING MOST IMMEDIATELY. WE REPLACED THE SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT DID NOTHING. THEN WE REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. THAT SEEMED TO WORK BUT NOW THEY WON'T COME ON UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. THAT IS NOT SAFE AS THE RAIN DOES NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. IS SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD AND OTHER VANS HAVE RECALLS FOR THIS WHY NOT MINE? *TR
THE INTERMITTENT FEATURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST QUIT WORKING AS IT SHOULD. IT WOULD SOMETIMES WORK FOR A FEW WIPES, STOP WORKING FOR A WHILE, THEN SOMETIMES IT WOULD START WORKING FOR A FEW MORE WIPES. THE CONTROL MODULE ON THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT TWO BLOCKS OUT OF THE SHOP & JUST QUIT AGAIN. SO FAR I HAVE INVESTED OVER $1,000.00 TRYING TO GET THEM TO WORK. *TR
THE WIPER BLADES WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING. TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF YOU MUST TURN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OFF THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. IF YOU TURN ON THE WIPERS WHILE DRIVING THEY WILL NOT GO BACK OFF UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED ALSO. *JB
THE INTERMITTENT MODE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DOSE NOT WORK. THE WIPER CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE A TOTAL OF FIVE DAYS FOR THE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. *NM
WINDSHIELD WIPPERS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING WHEN IN THE INTERMITANT MODE.HAD MODULE IN STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. STILL HAPPENS.
WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BLADES TO STOP MOVING. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF. SOMETIMES THE INTERMITTENT FUNCTION DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION AND ALSO A BIG HAZARD IN THE RAIN. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OPERATE SPORADICALLY. *AK
MIRRORS NO LONGER STAY IN PLACE; PASSENGER SIDE FLOPS AROUND, DRIVER SIDE PULLS OUT AWAY FROM DRIVER. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $500. *AK
MIRRORS NO LONGER STAY IN PLACE; PASSENGER SIDE FLOPS AROUND, DRIVER SIDE PULLS OUT AWAY FROM DRIVER. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $500. *AK
I WAS WALKING ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR COMING AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WALKING TOWARD THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO ENTER THE CAR AND LEAVE ON AN ERRAND. WHEN I WALKED BY THE POWER MIRROR ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, MY LEFT ARM BUMPED THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY AND I HEARD A SNAP, LOOKED BACK AND SAW THE MIRROR WAS NO LONGER IN ITS PROPER POSITION. THE MIRROR HAD RELEASED AND ITS REFLECTIVE SURFACE WAS NOW FACING PERPENDICULAR TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR INSTEAD OF TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO REPOSITION THE MIRROR TO ITS PROPER PLACE BUT IT WOULD NOT SNAP INTO PLACE AND WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONERY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT IT WAS ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY. I WAS QUOTED ABOUT $300+ FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR OF THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY. THE MIRROR BROKE VERY EASILY AND THAT IS VERY DISTURBING...NOT TOO MENTION THAT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE USED A LOCKING, PLASTIC FASTENER TO SECURE THE MIRROR IN ITS PROPER POSITION AND PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS METHOD FOR THE TIME BEING. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN ENGINEERING OR STRUCTURAL FLAW AS IT REQUIRED ONLY A VERY MINOR BUMP BY SOFT TISSUE TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED BY THIS EVENT AND THE QUALITY FAILURE.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED AND THEY CUT OFF. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED THEY COME ON AUTOMATICALLY, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
INEFFECTIVE DESIGN OF MIRROR IS CAUSING A BLINDSPOT IN BOTH REARVIEW AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRRORS, RESULTING IN CONSUMER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE WITHIN 30 FEET BEHIND THE VEHICLE. *AK
FAN RELAY FAILED. YH
POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. *YC
DEFECTIVE SIDEVIEW MIRROR SNAPPED OFF WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. YH
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE EXTERIOR MIRRORS MALFUNCTIONS. YH