Steering column problems - replaced clock spring, replaced power steering lines.
Wipers coming on by themselves - replaced switch.
Replaced engine serpentine belt - tried adjusting first.
All gears highlighted on the indicator - no problem could be found.
Coolant leak - replaced pet cock valve.
Dead battery.
Replaced starter.
Replaced AC evaporator (47,000 miles), cost split with the dealer.
Transmission leak (50,000 miles).
Transmission leak (51,000 miles) - replaced transmission hose and clamps.
Water pump leaking - replaced pump and belt tensioner (51,499 miles).
This vehicle is great for room and comfort. We liked our 1993 Caravan so we moved up to the Grand Caravan in 1997. Sorry we did. This one has been a problem since we bought it! We've spent over $500.00 in two weeks on it. That's too big a price for comfort.
I have a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan at 50000 miles the PCV valve stuck causing almost every gasket to be blown out.
At 70000 miles we had the transmission rebuilt and it is starting to burn oil badly.
Our 1996 Caravan has had the same issues as you as follows:
Wipers coming on by themselves - replaced switch.
Replaced engine serpentine belt.
All gears highlighted on the indicator - no problem could be found.
Dead battery. (3 of them over 4 year period)
Replaced starter. - currently looks to be bad... hunting for where to short the starter to start the engine so I can get this thing repaired...
AC is currently out...
The ol' starter gave us a heck of a deal this holiday.. same problems as you guys.
Roy D. Mercer ain't happy.
Our 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan has been in to the dealer for repairs 15 times in 4 years/8 months with very similar (some identical) problems:
4/21/97 Interior lights not working
10/17/97 Brake recall (supposedly fixed)
Replaced door lock activator and plunger assembly
10/21/97 Brakes locked up. Had to be towed.
Removed master cylinder piston, cleaned out old fluid and re-lubed parts; reinstalled master cylinder and removed excess fluid.
7/20/98 Brakes shimmying;
Resurfaced front rotors and replaced front pads.
Replaced CD player.
Replaced under seat storage drawer.
3/18/99 Replaced sliding door latch and motor assembly.
Replaced rear brake shoes and resurfaced drums.
8/16/99 Replaced door latch and rods (again)
9/9/99 wouldn’t start; dash gauges worked randomly;
Door locks buzzed and wouldn’t work AGAIN
Replaced battery (said it was all due to low voltage)
4/7/00 Tire blow out; new tire and rim.
3/28/01 Van overheated and had to be towed
Replaced serpentine belt and tensioner (Belt was stripped and tensioner was binding) Replaced drain plug (stripped).
3/28/01 cont…
Replaced water pump (Bearing failed).
Replaced front brake pads and resurfaced rotors.
Resurfaced the rear drums and cleaned the shoes.
8/30/01 Replaced clockspring.
11/7/01 Replaced cooling fan relay.
Replaced multifunction switch because windshield wipers would go on for no apparent reason, although they couldn’t find any reason for this.
A/C works sporadically; they found no apparent reason.
1/02 Tire blowout.
4/17/02 Recall: Rail Fuel replaced.
7/03/02 Wouldn’t start / Replaced battery.
7/02 Tire blowout; same place as before (right front), although a different tire.
10/2/02 Wouldn’t start / Replaced starter.
12/3/02 Wouldn’t start / Replaced starter again.
At the present time, December 30, 2002, my brakes squeak, the dealer says they are “glazed” and need to be resurfaced. The van makes a squeaking noise when going over speed bumps, the dealer says the “control arms are worn and has soft struts”.
This report does not include routine oil changes, etc.
I just replaced the transmission in my 1997 grand caravan due to a fluid leak. I also have replaced the air conditioner, the thermostat, and now the fan motor relay is out. (It's leaked oil for 3 years, I just can't afford to fix it.) I have spent in excess of $3,000.00 in the last two years. I will not be buying another Dodge!
I have had to replace the serpentine belt on my 97 three times. Also replaced the pulley and tensioner twice.
I also have the wipers going on randomly, the clock spring replaced, etc. plus lots of minor annoying problems...
My wipers also go on by themselves, but the last time this happened, I was driving my 1997 Grand Caravan and it had a dirty windshield so I decided to turn on the windshield wiper fluid and because of this I slowed down before coming to the next intersection. At this intersection a taxi had ran a stop sign and surely if I had not slowed down I would have been crossing that intersection, to my calculation the taxi was going at least 40 mph and it would have crashed into the right side of my van. Has something strange like this happened to anyone else??
Our Dodge grand caravan has had many problems all these that are listed and... A little more... In the last three years the brakes have had to be replaced due to manufacturing recall problema. The last two times were 5 months from each other. This Van cannot be trusted as a family vehicle as you never know if it is safe to go into traffic. We went to a family function an hour away and the brakes just went out and we were in the middle of heavy traffic. No warning or anything.
I don't know what you guys are all complaining about. I have owned Two Dodge Grand Caravan's and currently own a 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan. I love this van and it drives great and I have had no problems what so ever with either of the vans. I love my 1997 model as it is great to look at and is very room and comfortable. It has 133,000 miles on it and I have faced no problems. You just have to take care of your car and maintain it. You can't expect a car no to give you trouble if you don't maintain it. I will surely be buying another Grand Caravan in the future.
I'm sort of on the line with this one. I too have a 1997 Caravan SE and I love the ride, comfort and convenience.
I had the following problems:
All letters lit up on gear shift. They replaced the switch on the transmission. No more problem.
Steering wheel functions went out, cruise, air bag, etc. They replaced the clockspring under a recall. No more problem.
Head gasket leaking problems...twice. But after the second time, at about 100K miles, everything went south. I ended up buying an engine from a salvage yard and having a neighborhood mechanic replace the whole thing. That was almost a deal breaker for me, but the rest of the vehicle was in too good of shape to junk the whole thing.
Power steering pump went out.
Now, at 130K miles, everything seems to be stable again. I have a check engine light, but I know it's one of the two oxygen sensors, so I just put black tape over the light.
I have had no transmission problems yet... fingers crossed.
I'm going to run it until either the tranny dies or the engine goes again... then, it will go to the junkyard.
I don't know if I'll buy another Caravan... I think I'll go with a Toyota.
Yes we are having transmission problems also. It seems to be slipping in and out of gear at highway speed. Of course it finally blew so we had it repaired. Guess what, two weeks later it has started to do the same thing again.
Nice wipers, fortunately it is the rear wiper on our Caravan that is possesed, starting and stopping when it pleases.
This is our last Dodge!
My 97 Caravan the other day had the door locks start locking and unlocking and the interior lights kept coming on an off, then the door ajar light came on,now the interior lights stay on with the door ajar light on. Please tell me what this is all about, unhappy customer.
My 97 Grand Caravan LE has had the serpentine belt, tensioner and bracket replaced 3 times. Symptom of a bad serpentine belt is a LOUD squeal. A bad tensioner and bracket creates a loud chirping sound. WD40 gives temporary relief.
I figured I had a friendly ghost who was saying hello every time the wiper came on by itself, I always say hello back.
Transmission still leaks, had it fixed once, but now I just keep an eye on the fluid level.
Cassette player ate my favorite tape the day I drove it home (used, at 35,000 miles). I don't use it anymore.
Electric door lock on rear passenger door works when it feels like it, but we can work around that.
Even now at almost 100,000 miles. it has never failed to start and has never left me stranded.
Wish I had it when the kids were much younger, we'd have taken more vacations. Great for long trips, very comfortable. The kids love the rear climate controls and plug-in for their CD players. Grand Caravan has plenty of leg and head room for my TALL 16, 18 & 20 yr. olds. I'm still hauling them and their friends around in comfort.
Make sure to get the tinted windows, keeps the van cooler in the summer. Head rests are a must, too.
Love it and will miss it when I no longer need a vehicle this large. Will certainly consider a Dodge for my next vehicle.
1997 Dodge Caravan SE.
1. Wipers come on when ever they feel like it
2. Front interior lights don't work
3. Tranny went out at 70000 miles ($2300)
4. Accelerator was stuck on and accelerating on the highway on its own
5. Rear vent windows don't work sometimes
6. Battery light comes on and there's no problem
7. Brakes grind and shimmy (front & rear brake were replaced with rotor resurfaced drum)
8. Power steering pump failed prematurely
9. Power steering squeal when van is on
10. A/C problems. Never found the problem
11. Strut tie rod squeak
12. Some door locks don't work
I have worked on cars since I was 14 years old, now I am 32. I always do my routine maintenance on my 97' Caravan (8 years), 98' Expedition (2years), 92' Tempo (12 years) and my 72' Chevy truck (6 years).
All these cars are great cars, but it is a shame that Daimler Chrysler can't stand behind their cars with all these problems. I don't think I will buy another Chrysler product again until they address these problems with all Caravan owners with these problems (tranny & wipers, brakes, accelerator; these are very serious, all others are minor)
Gino Rivera riveras2@juno.com.
96 dodge caravan wipers come on and off all the time. Have put on 6 serpentine belts and 4 tensioner so I know what you guys are talking about.