8.7

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
2,909 miles

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problem #44

Jun 012005

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Air bag light stayed on/the cruise control switch didn't work, and the horn malfunctioned. Noticed these failures on June 1, 2005. Have not contacted the dealer. Had checked the fuses, they were still good.

- Bemidji, MN, USA

problem #43

Jul 102003

Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles
The cruise control stopped working. Then the air bag light came on. I later realized that the horn doesn't work. I reported this to the dealer service dept. At a nys inspection visit. The vehicle passed inspection. I have had several incidents where I needed to use the horn, and was unable to. This is a serious safety defect.

- Spencerport, NY, USA

problem #42

Apr 262004

Caravan

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Hi my name is [xxx] and I purchased a 1997 Dodge Caravan for $3,600 and traded in my car which was worth $400 at least that's what the dealer man said. I brought back the Caravan the next day to the dealership because I was told they were going to fix some minor problems, including the horn that was not functioning at all. They spent the whole day with the van and didn't do anything to it, then they said to bring it back the next day and told me that the horn was going to get ordered and that it was going to take a while because the part that they needed couldn't be sent via mail because it was considered to be explosive so when I decided to ask for my money back since it had a 30 day warranty they told me that they were going to fix it as soon as possible. I went to pick up my van and when I saw it they put it a different horn and told me that it would pass inspection and that they would replace the part that the van needed if I was willing to pay half on it. In conclusion to this the piece that they need is the clock spring which cost about $ 400 to $ 900 and they said that it was safe to drive the van with the horn that they put in instead of putting a new clock spring. They didn't tell me that once the clock springs breaks down the airbag, cruise control. And the radio wouldn't function properly. I don't think that I should pay for something that I think that they should've taken care of before selling that vehicle. Please help me with this matter I will appreciate if you can help me. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fall River, MA, USA

problem #41

Jul 102003

(reported on)

Caravan

  • 36,000 miles
Consumer states that the horn sometimes sounds unexpectedly for long periods of time. Cause unknown.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #40

Jul 102003

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
Consumer states that horn comes on by itself for long periods of time. Cause unknown.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #39

Mar 192003

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
Clockspring failed, causing horn/air bag and cruise control to malfunction.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #38

Aug 012002

Caravan

  • miles
Air bag light always on no horn to work wipers come on at any time by themselves.

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #37

Nov 082002

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
Air bag light stays on and cruise and horn quit working at the same time. This is just like my brothers van his is 97 Dodge sport identical situation with his this tells me that their is a design issue in the column.

- Waynesfield, OH, USA

problem #36

Oct 032002

Caravan

  • miles
Consumer states horn does not blow and air bag light has illuminated.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

problem #35

Oct 092002

(reported on)

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Ea-01007 consumer states the airbag light illumniates continuously which means the air bag has a malfunction. The problem has effected the horn not to alert others. The dealer is aware of the problem.

- Peabody, MA, USA

problem #34

Jul 012002

Caravan

  • miles
The airbag lightilluminated. Horn no longer is operative. The dealership is aware of the problem.

- Ellington, CT, USA

problem #33

Aug 062002

Caravan

  • miles
The steering wheel clockspring failure results in the simultaneous failure of the airbag system, horn, and cruise control.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #32

Jul 022002

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Horn will intermittently work. Contacted dealer, and the dealer stated that problem could possibly be becaused by a clock spring defect. Jlg

- Corapolis, PA, USA

problem #31

Aug 202002

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
The air bag indicator light came on and stayed on and now the cruise control and horn do not work. I have researched this problem and it seems that this is a very common problem. It is stated that the "clock spring" is the part in question, this seems to have been a safety issue at one time (NHTSA# 98V046) for a different model, why is it not a safety recall item now? it is my understanding the the air bag will not perform with this particular part defective, which would lead me to believe that this could cause serious damages or worse yet "death ". if we get a reduction in our insurance premiums for purchasing restraint systems such as this, it should be upon the manufacturer to stand behind the product.

- Claremore, OK, USA

problem #30

Mar 012002

Caravan

  • miles
Airbag, horn, and cruise control all failed at the same time. Cause is the clockspring module behind the steering wheel. This is a safefy hazzard and Chrysler should pay the repair. This is a common problem on this mini van.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #29

Aug 082002

(reported on)

Caravan

  • miles
I noticed my airbag light staying on and the horn not working. I called a dealer and was told that it was probably a clockspring. She said they go out regularly. It evidently affects the airbag, horn and other components. Not long after mine went out, my mothers started doing the same thing. She also has a 1997 model Dodge, but hers is a Grand Caravan. I then went to my mechanic to ask him if he could fix it and he said he had just had someone else come in with the same problem. It seems to me that this is very unsafe.

- Corinth, MS, USA

problem #28

May 152002

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Ea 01 007/air bag clockspring, air bag light remain on while driving and horn is inoperative. Dealer contacted.. the engine blew at 73000 miles according to the technician and advisor at the Dodge dealership.

- La Mirida, CA, USA

problem #27

Jul 012002

Caravan

  • miles
First the air bag light went on and did not go off. Then the horn stopped working. Then the cruise control did not come on. I took the van to the local Dodge dealer and the diagnosis is that clock spring in the steering wheel needs to be replaced. In the current condition the air bag will not deploy on the driver side in the event of an accident. The estimated cost is ~ $300. I have scheduled the work for next week. I called Chrysler and was told that since there is not a recall for this they will not participate in the repair cost. This is a safety issue if the air bag will not deploy. Per articles on the internet Chrysler has replaces over 124,000 clock springs, on their own admission!

- Lake Forest, IL, USA

problem #26

Jul 012002

Caravan

  • miles
Dodge Caravan safety issue with the air bag. The air bag light stays on, the horn does not function and the cruise control does not work. My mechanic and the dealer both found this to be a defective clock spring in the steering wheel.

- Lake Forest, IL, USA

problem #25

Jun 142002

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Air bag/ horn and crusie control failed due to clockspring malfunctioning. Horn could not be used in a emergency situation. Dealer was notified.

- Mesa, AR, USA

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