1998 DODGE CARAVAN Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE BEGAN ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AFTER REFUELING AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. ONLY THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V268000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP DETACHED, FELL INTO THE TANK ASSEMBLY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 102,000

GAS LEAK AT THE TOP, BEFORE THE OVERFLOW WHEN FILLING. HAVE A SHOP CHECKED, THINKING THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE GAS TANK. THE SHOP FOUND NO LEAK. BROUGHT TO LOCAL DEALER TO FIND IF THERE IS OR WAS ANY RECALL THAT I MISSED. DEALER SAID THAT THRE IS NONE AND IF I WANT IT FIX I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND A RECALL.*AK

Mileage: 44,000

A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY SHOULD NOT PUT A FULL TANK OF GAS IN THE CAR AND SHOULD ONLY FILL HALF A TANK. WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL THIS WOULD CAUSE A LEAK/RUST. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

Mileage: 56,000

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. IT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND H WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN 03E450000, 03E530000, AND 00V268000. *AK

Mileage: 148,500

THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WHILE STANDING NEAR THE VEHICLE. UPON ARRIVING TO WORK THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR AN EARLIER MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Mileage: 61,773

1998 DODGE CARAVAN, VIN [XXX]. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND STARTED TO SMELL GASOLINE. I PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION AND THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT AND THEY PUT IT OUT. THE VAN IS STILL SITTING AT MY HOUSE. THE PLASTIC, HOSES, AND BELTS ARE MELTED. I HAVE CALLED DAIMLER/CHRYSLER AND LOGGED A COMPLAINT. # [XXX] BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 11,600

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL A GASOLINE ODOR ENTERS THE PASSENGER CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, AND GASOLINE LEAKS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL TANK SEAL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK WHEN CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE COLLAR ON TOP OF THE TANK SHAPED LIKE AN EGG INSTEAD OF THE CIRCULAR SHAPE; HOWEVER, CONSUMER REFUSED BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *LA

5 BATTERIES SINCE PURCHASED NEW. THREE WERE NOTED AS HAVING LEAKED BATTERY ACID. IN MAY/JUNE 2003, THE WIRING HARNESSES (MAIN ONES) HAD BEEN EATEN BY BATTERY ACID CAUSING ALL SORTS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE HARNESSES ARE ROUTED UNDER THE BATTERY PAN. STUPID PLACEMENT. DEALER SPLICED WIRES TOGETHER TO GET IT RUNNING AT HIS COST, AT MY INSISTENCE. VAN CONTINUES TO START INCONSISTENTLY. HORN DOESN'T WORK SINCE DEALER SPLICED WIRES. TURN IGNITION KEY - CLICK, REPEAT 10-20 TIMES, STARTER WILL CATCH ON ONE. DESIGN DEFECT IS ROUTING OF HARNESSES AND LACK OF SHIELD TO PROTECT THEM.

Mileage: 59,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH DRIVER NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VENTS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, HE LIFTED UP HOOD AND NOTICED THAT A FUEL LEAKAGE WAS PRESENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS,WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL.*AK

THE FUEL INJECTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 43,711 BECAUSE OF A LEAKAGE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIR. *AK *PH *JB

Mileage: 43,711

PROBLEMS WITH FUEL RAIL ON 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE FUEL LINE IN WHICH THE DODGE DEALER REPAIRED IT, BUT THERE WAS A CONTINUED LEAK THAT HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GOOD YEAR WHO REPLACED THE FAULTY LINE TO STOP THE LEAK, AND ALL THE DEALER DID WAS PLACE A STRONGER CLAMP AROUND THE LEAKING LINE. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED A REFUND, BECAUSE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE WORK. RECALL#00V268000 *SCC. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING HE LOSS A 1/2 OF TANK OF GAS WITHIN 40 MILES. GAS HAD LEAKED OUT. GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

Mileage: 19,324

THE BOLT SEPARATED FROM THE GAS TANK.*JB THE CLAMP WHICH HELD THE GAS TANK IN PLACE WAS HANGING DOWN. *TS *JB

Mileage: 59,846

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE REQUIRED 00V268000 RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON SEALS ON THE FUEL RAILS AND DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM REPAIRS.*MR *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM VENT TUBE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE(00V268000) REGARDING THE FUEL RAIL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE THE WORK DONE AND WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WEREN'T IN. A SECOND NOTICE WAS SENT, STILL NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE THIRD NOTICE WAS RECEIVED AND THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE CONSUMER CAN STRONGLY SMELL GAS IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

THE CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORM ON THE VEHICLE.*JB

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR 00V-268 IN REFERENCE TO THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE O-RINGS, AFTER WAITING AT THE DEALER THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT SURE WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. NLM

FUEL LINE LEADING TO THE FUEL TANK WAS BROKEN AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAKAGE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE VAN STARTED ACTING LIKE IS NOT GETRTING GAS ON MARCH 11. IT STALLED AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE BY MY HOUSE. THEY COULD'T FIND THE PROMBLEM. SO I TOOK IT HOME AFTER A WEEK. IT DIID IT AGAIN SO I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE GARAGE AND THEY STILL COULDN'T FIND IT. SO I DROVE IT TO A DEALER AND THEY HAD IT FOR A WEEK. THEY FOUND NO REASON FOR IT TO STALL OR ACT LIKE IT HAD NO GAS. SO I TOOK IT HOME AND IT DID IT AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY AND FUEL THOTTLE AND A FEUL PURGE AND NEW FUEL FILTER SO I PAID 438.00 FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE AND TOOK IT HOME AFTER A WEEK. THEN I HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS AND IT ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T GET GAS AND STALLED AGAIN. SO I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROMBLEM IS. I AM NOT TAKING IT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM BUT ONE CHRYSLER SAID WAS A FIVE STAR AND IN MY CITY. EVERYONE IS BEEN REAL NICE BUT THEY PROMBLEM IS STILL THERE. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT MAY DIE WHILE DRIVING . I HAVE HAD IT TOWED 5 TIMES SINCE 3/11. I MAY HAVE GOTTEN ONE WEEK WORTH OF DRIVING OUT OF IT FOR THIS MONTH AND A HALF. IT STILL HAS THE PROMBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAK OIL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WELDED. *YD

CONSUMER FOUND FUEL IN DRIVEWAY. THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM HIS AUTOMOBILE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS RECALL OOV268000 ON FUEL LEAKAGE.*AK

THE CONSUMER IS AWARE OF A FAULT IN THE 1996-2000 MINI-VANS, IN THE GAS LINE, AND IS VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. (IS AFRAID OF FOR HER FAMILY AND HOME, IF THE VEHICLE CATCH'S FIRE) THE CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR NHTSA FOR HELP IN CORRECTING THE DEFECT-CAMPAIGN#00V-268. *SCC

FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING WHERE FUEL PUMP WAS ATTACHED TO TANK. DEALER STATED TANK WAS WARPED.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO GAS CAP FAILURE. *AK

THE PLASTIC CAP THAT SEALS THE GASKET SEALING THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK POPPED OFF AND GASOLINE WAS PUMPED OUT ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND POURED OUT ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO EMPTYING OF THE GAS TANK AND MAJOR RISK ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO HOLES IN THE GAS TANK AND THE PLASTIC CAP WAS NOT BROKEN, IT HAD SIMPLY POPPED OFF LEADING TO THIS POTENTIALLY DISASTEROUS PROBLEM. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED, GASOLINE ALL OVER THEPLACE, AND MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.

THE PLASTIC CAP THAT SEALS THE GASKET SEALING THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK POPPED OFF AND GASOLINE WAS PUMPED OUT ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND POURED OUT ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO EMPTYING OF THE GAS TANK AND MAJOR RISK ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO HOLES IN THE GAS TANK AND THE PLASTIC CAP WAS NOT BROKEN, IT HAD SIMPLY POPPED OFF LEADING TO THIS POTENTIALLY DISASTEROUS PROBLEM. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED, GASOLINE ALL OVER THEPLACE, AND MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.*AK

FUEL WAS POURING OUT FROM VEHICLE WHEN TANK WAS FIRST BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE. DEALER HAS REPLACED O-RING 2 TIMES/ A FILLER TUBE AND GAS TANK ONCE WITHIN 2 YEARS. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP ALSO REPLACED O-RING ONCE, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING.*AK

FUEL WAS POURING OUT FROM VEHICLE WHEN TANK WAS FIRST BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE. DEALER HAS REPLACED O-RING 2 TIMES/ A FILLER TUBE AND GAS TANK ONCE WITHIN 2 YEARS. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP ALSO REPLACED O-RING ONCE, BUT DEFECT KEEPS OCCURRING.*AK

FLEXIBLE FUEL HOSE WHICH COMES FROM THE FUEL TANK INTO THE FUEL RAIL CRACKED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH MAY START A FIRE. NO REPLACEMENT READILY AVAILABLE-LINE WAS SHORTENED AND REUSED, BUT FAILED AGAIN TWICE WITH SEVERE FUEL LEAKS EACH TIME. *AK

WENT TO FILL THE GAS TANK AND HAD A FUEL LEAKAGE. CONTACTED DEALER AN DREPLACED GAS TANK. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 TO 40 MPH CONSUMER STRUCK AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE AND PUNCTURED A WHOLE IN THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING A GAS LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REPAIRED THE FUEL TANK. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH GAS IT LOST 1/4 TANK DUE TO LEAK IN A CIRCLE UNDER THE GAS TANK. DEALER CONTACTED, AND TOWED VEHICLE IN. SEALANT PUT ON TO REPAIR. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED INJULY, 1999. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I OWN A HANDICAP ADAPTED VAN WHICH I FEEL IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN..THIS VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS (AT LEAST) 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM..(WHEN FILED WITH GASOLINE, IT BUCKS, HESTITTAES AND STALLS OUT , LAST TIME ON TOP OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS(I WAS SCARED TO DEATH), EACH TIME MY VAN IS IN FOR REPAIRS AS WELLI HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AS I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY SPECIALLY ADAPTED VAN AND ASLO EACH TIME I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE VAN AND IT HAS TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS..I'M ALSO IN A JAMI CAN'T BE DRIVING A VAN THAT COULD BREAK UP ON ME(I CAN;T WALK..I CAN'T TAKE A CAB) MY VAN CAME BACK WITH A NEW FUELTANK AND FUEL LINE LAST THURSDAY AND TODAY RIDE-AWAY CORP HAD TO PICK IT UP AGAIN..FOR REPAIRS TO THE SPECIALLY ADAPTED"EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE, WHICH I'VE NOT HAD NOW SINCE LAST FRIDAY) AND ALSO SINCE THE "REPAIRED" VAN HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME THE KNEELER(SPECIAL SUSPENSION FLOOR) HAS BEEN "BOUNCING" WHEN THE RAMP IS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MAKING A "BARKING" SOUND..THIS VAN HAS ONLY (NOW) A LITTLE OVER 8 MILES ON IT, AND I FEEL THIS VAN IS VERY UNSAFE AND I'M VERY NERVOUS AND APPREHENSIVE EACH TIME ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN HAVE TO USE IT...I HAVE TRIED TO BE PATIENT AND HAVE TRIED "WORKING" WITH THE COMPANIES, BUT IT JUST APPEARS TO BE ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS VAN..ALSO I'D LIKE TO ADD ANOTHER POINT THAT I FEEL DESERVES SOME TIME..WHEN I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THIS VAN IN 2/98 RIDE_AWAY CORP IN EAST HARTFORD OR NEW HAMPSHIRE(THE HEADQUARTERS) WERE THE "MIDDLEMAN" SO TO SPEAK , IT WAS THRU THEM THAT THE VAN WAS PURCHASED..THE MONEY WAS PAID IMMEDIATELY CUZ BRAUN IN INDIANA WOULDN'T SEND THE VAN UNTIL THEY HAD THEIR MONEY..IT WAS "FAXED" TO THEM AND WE WERE EXPECTING THE VAN IN A MATTER OF AT THE MOST 10DAYS(AS IT HAD TO BE FLAT BEDDED TO CT) THE VAN DIDN'T ARRIVE UNTIL 6 WEEKS LATER(AFTER BRAUN CHRSLER HAD THEIR MONEY) WHY DID MY VAN HAVE TO SIT THERE UP IN WINAMAC INDIANA FOR AN EXTRA 6 WEEK..COULD IT BE THAT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM EVEN WAY BACK THEN?WH.

FUEL GAUGE FAILED. *YC

GAS CONTINUOSLY FLOWING FROM VEHICLE FLOODING GARAGE.

GAS TANK LEAKING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO FAULTY FUEL PUMPS.

THE DEFECTIVE FUELPUMP RETAINER RING BROKE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK IN WHICH IF THERE WAS A SOURCE OF IGNITION IT MAY START A FIRE. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.