1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Vehicle Speed Control Problems

I PURCHASED MY 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN 2009, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH ON CHECKING WITH MY MECHANIC SAID MY ABS SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AS IS ALL OTHER INSTRUMENT RELATED READINGS. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PANEL CAME BACK ON AND WORKED FOR AWHILE THAN SHUT OFF AGAIN. SOMEONE SAID HIT THE PANEL FACE AND THE GAUGES SHOULD COME BACK ON. I DID AND IT DID. FOR AWHILE. OVER TIME THE GAUGE FAILURE INTERVAL GREW SHORTER AND SHORTER, AND HITTING THE PANEL FINALLY FAILED TO RETURN THE USE OF THE GAUGES. TO REPLACE THIS GAUGE CLUSTER IS AN $800.00 PLUS REPAIR IN A SHOP WITH A REBUILD PANEL COSTING OVER $200.00 BY ITSELF. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT A DEALER WILL CHARGE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE LEARNED THE GAUGE FAILURE CULPRIT IS COLD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER AND IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CLASS OF VEHICLE. THIS DEFICIENCY CAN EASILY BE AVOIDED BY BETTER QUALITY CONTROL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Mileage: 106,500

AUGUST 12, 2004 RE: DANGEROUS RUNAWAY-VEHICLE 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VIN [XXX] THIS IS TO DOCUMENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT OCCURRED ON JULY 22, 2004 WITH THE ABOVE VEHICLE. THE MINIVAN HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT HAD ABOUT 124,800 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE, [XXX], WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION ON I-40 FROM WILMINGTON TO CHAPEL HILL . SHE WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IS NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE SITUATION WAS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT ALTHOUGH IT IS LIKELY THAT SHE HAD ACCELERATED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE CAR WAS GOING OVER 90 MPH AND WOULDNT STOP ALTHOUGH SHE USED THE BRAKES WITH ALL HER FORCE. SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND BRAKED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER, WITH THE BRAKES SMOKING AND IN FLAME. IN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE ENGINE SPEED TOOK OFF AND SHE SHUT IT DOWN AND CALLED AAA FOR A TOW. THE AAA SERVICE STATION MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM THE THROTTLE. THE CABLE WAS STUCK FAST AND HAD KEPT THE THROTTLE OPEN. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY WIFE HAD BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VAN WITHOUT COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR RUNNING OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BRINGING IT TO A HALT. THE CABLE APPEARED TO HAVE A BROKEN STRAND THAT STUCK INTO THE OUTER SHEATH. IT IS ONLY ABOUT 20 INCHES LONG AND MAKES A 180 DEGREE U-TURN BETWEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM SERVO AND THE THROTTLE. THAT DESIGN PLACES MORE STRESS ON THE CABLE THAN IF IT WERE A STRAIGHT RUN. THE DEFECTIVE CABLE IS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. I AM AN MIT GRADUATE MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL OPERATIONS FOR CONSUMERS UNION AND I BELIEVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN BY NHTSA TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ME ANY REMEDY EXCEPT REPAIR AT MY OWN EXPENSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 124,800

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

Mileage: 93,000

HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VAN LUNGED FORWARD. THE ACTUAL CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THE ENGINE'S FRONT CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK THIS CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED A DEFECT PER MECHANIC(S). THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN THIS MAKE/MODEL FOR SOME TIME AND HAD MANY COMPLAINTS AND REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO HELP GIVEN BY THE DEALER. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 70,000

AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD, AND HORN / CRUISE CONTROL OPERATE POORLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DIDN'T WORK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CLOCKSPRING "SPRUNG" 3 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURE BUT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE HORN DIDN'T WORK, AIRBAG DIDN'T WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. OTHER INCIDENT IS ROUGH ENGINE DURING IDLE AND POWER SURGE IF GOING UP HILL*AK

CLOCKSPRING UNIT FAILS TO PROVIDE POWER TO AIRBAG, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES IN STEERING WHEEL. THIS UNIT CAN FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT AND PREVENT AIRBAG FROM BEING DEPLOYED. DC HAS SOLD OVER 150,000 REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRINGS AT OVER $250 A PIECE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURES DEFECT. I WAS UNABLE TO BLOW MY HORN AT ANOTHER DRIVER TO GET HIS ATTENTION. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HOWEVER UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED AS I AM WITH NO HORN, NO CRUISE CONTROL CONTROLS, AND AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON, AND CRUISE CONTROL WILL INTREMITTENTLY NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT ON , HORN & CRUISE CONTROL ARE NOT WORKING

THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY.

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTION. DEALER REPLACED "CLOCK SPRING" ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR PROBLEM. AIRBAGS NOT WORKING IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS AT IDLE, THE RPMS SHOW ANYWHERE FROM 1000 TO 3000 AND THE SPEEDOMETER READS 30 TO 40 MPH, VEHICLE WAS LURCHING BACK AND FORTH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW UPSTREAM OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED, AFTER REPAIRS THE VEHICLE IS STILL LURCHING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TRAVELLING UPHILL. *SLC

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON/ HORN DOES NOT WORK, AN D CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED, CRUISE CONTROL OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND HORN/ CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. DEALER REPLACED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY.*AK

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION, CLOCKSPRING, FOR THE AIR BAG FAILED. AIRBAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL INOP.

CLOCK SPRING ASSY. FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT CAUSES AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON DISABLING AIR BAG, CRUISE. *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

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE HORN FAILS TO FUNCTION, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *JB

HAVE DISCOVERED MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. RESULTS IN LOSS OF HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING LIT AT ALL TIMES.*AK

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

CLOCK SPRING FAILED, DISABLING HORN, AIRBAG, AND CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $250 FOR THE REPAIR. SINCE THEN, TWO OTHER FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THEIR CLOCK SPRING FAIL, AND THEY HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (08-010-01) FOR THE REPAIR, BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR AT NO, OR A REDUCED, COST. AS THE HORN AND AIRBAG WERE DISABLED, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED AS A SAFETY ISSUE RECALL.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A WEEK; HAS STAYED ON PERMANENTLY EVER SINCE OCT 8, 2001. CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS. HORN IS STILL WORKING AS OF 10/21/01.

AIRBAG, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN WERE INOPERABLE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON/OFF UNTIL IT REMAINED CONTINOUSLY ON. PROBLEM EFFECTED HORN USAGE AND CRUISE CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BEING BROKEN. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON AND OFF. CRUISE CONTROL OFF SWITCH DOESN'T DISENGAGE VEHICLE, ONLY IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF. STEERING WHEEL MAKES A SQUEAKY NOISE, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT CONSUMER'S STEERING ABILITY. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER TO BRING VEHICLE IN TO BE INSPECTED.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL IN-OP. CLOCKSPRING WAS BAD. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL IN-OP. CLOCKSPRING WAS BAD. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON/OFF WHILE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC

WHILE IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED TO 30-40 MPH IN A SHORT DISTANCE WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. PRIOR TO INCIDENT CONSUMER SMELLED WIRES BURNING. *AK

CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY FAILURE (AIRBAG LIGHT; NO HORN; NO CRUISE CONTROL). *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON - CRUISE CONTROL, HORN INOP, CLOCKSPRING IS BROKEN, COMMON PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE STOPPING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER FROM BEHIND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. THEN, CONSUMER RAN INTO A FENCE. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE AND HUNG DRIVER BY LEFT ARM. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, FELL BACK, AND HIT CHILD IN CAR SEAT IN THE HEAD, THE MIDDLE SEAT WHERE TWO TODDLERS WERE, ALSO BROKE AND FLIPPED BACKWARD, CONSUMER WAS INJURED, ALSO STATED HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. ALSO, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS, AND HAD NOT ASSISTED CONSUMER. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. ALSO, HORN DID NOT NOT WORK. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AS WELL, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THE AIR BAG PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE RELOADED AND THE ESTIMATED COST WOULD BE $400-$500. *JB

REPAIRED BY DEALER "CLOCK SPRING" $217.80 NOT COVERED BY WARR. COMMON PROBLEM PER DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. SINCE INCIDENT, SRS LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING, AND HORN ASSEMBLY/ CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE.*AK *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALSO, HORN ASSEMBLY AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERABLE.*AK THE CONSUMER HAD TRADED THE VEHICLE. *YH

CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSED LOSS OF AIR BAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROLL. CLOCK SPRING FAILED WHERE THE MANUFACTURE PLACED A PLASTIC STRIP ON THE SPRING CABLE THAT PUT A SEVERE BEND IN CABLE CAUSING IT TO BREAK THE CIRCUIT AND LOOSE THE VITAL SAFETY FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE.

MY AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, I HAVE NO HORN, AND I HAVE NO CRUISE CONTROL... WHEN I CONTACTED DODGE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WOULD COST APPROX. $100.00 TO PUT ON ANALYSIS, AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS... THEN I READ THIS ARTICLE LAST NIGHT, STATING 164 PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM... WHAT DO I NEED TO DO.. WILL THE DEALER, FIX THIS AT NO CHARGE?*AK

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF, AND SOMETIMES HORN WOULD NOT WORK, AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON. CONSUMER TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING. SO THEY REPLACED IT. *AK

1)CLOCK SPRING ASSY. FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT CAUSES AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON DISABLING AIR BAG, CRUISE AND HORN ALSO WONT WORK. I HAVE A DIGITAL PICTURE OF THE FAILED PART IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. 2) BELT TENSIONER JUST BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC CAUSING NO POWRER STEERING AND VERY LITTLE BRAKES. APPEARED THE STUD THAT GOES THROUGH IT SNAPPED INTO. *AK

WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL AT AN INTERSECTION, VEHICLE WILL DRIFT INTO THE INTERSECTION AND ENGINE WILL NOT TAKE OFF. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR LONG HOURS, THE VEHICLE WILL DECELERATE TO 0 MPH AND BOUNCE BACK UP TO 60 MPH, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, AND CONTINUED BACKARDS WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED UNTIL IT HIT A BUILDING.

WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD.