1985 Dodge Caravan
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Dodge › Caravan › 1985
These records cover every 1985 Dodge Caravan. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
6 recalls name the 1985 Dodge Caravan. Newest first.
Federal mogul IS recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between november 9, 2007 and march 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. the part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353. these parts were made for use on the various vehicles listed above.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The nuts included in the packaging for these ball joint assemblies are missing the intended prevailing torque (self-locking) feature. if the incorrect nut was to become loose, the joining members may loosen leading to a separation of the ball joint. this may result in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. the recall began on may 22, 2008. owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659.
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans without remote release. this IS not a safety recall. there has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. chrysler IS conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate latch assembly of the affected minivans. in a collision, the rear liftgate latch assembly could…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the liftgate latch opens, occupants can be ejected resulting in significantly increased risk of injury or death.
Remedy
Chrysler dealers will replace the liftgate latch with a new stronger latch assembly without charge. chrysler began notifying owners during november 1995.
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans with remote release. this IS not a safety recall. there has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. chrysler IS conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate latch assembly of the affected minivans. in a collision, the rear liftgate latch assembly could open.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the liftgate latch opens, occupants can be ejected resulting in significantly increased risk of injury or death.
Remedy
Chrysler dealers will replace the liftgate latch with a new stronger latch assembly without charge. chrysler began notifying owners of these vehicles during july 1996.
Vans equipped with the optional sunscreen rear glass which has less than 70 percent luminous transmittance and does not have a passenger side outside rearview mirror are not in compliance with fmvss 111, rear view mirrors.…
Roadway stones may become lodged in the height sensing brake proportioning valve. This may cause the proportioning valve to fail. consequence of defect: proportioning valve malfunction results in increased stopping distances during hard braking with a light load…
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Clear proportioning valve of stones and install a protective cover to prevent stones from entering.
The metal fuel supply tube may crack at the fuel pump end due to vibration. The crack may result in fuel leakage. (The fuel supply tube connects the fuel pump to the fuel filter.)
Risk and remedy
Remedy
A fuel tube retaining clip assembly will be installed on all involved vehicles, free of charge. This will restrict tube vibration and prevent cracks.
Owner complaints
49 complaints6 involved a crash4 involved a fire6 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Structure › Body › Door
My dodge caravan minivan IS on high . When I drive it it will remain one speed until I put the brake on. I know these cars were recalled. I would like a refund of my investment. the door panel lights also get extremely hot. They have burnt holes in themselves and holes on my personal belongings.
- Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate
Hatchback window IS rusting around the edge, and the consumer took the vehicle to the shop. They can't do anything about the hatchback window. *ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
While driving 70 mph the hood flew up into the windshield. *ak
- Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/rack
Cable that holds the spare tire rusted and broke. manufacturer will be notified. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring · Latches/locks/linkages › Tailgate › Latch · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Rear door latch unlocks on its own.
- Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
Left inner tie-rod end failed, causing wheels to come off in two different directions.
- Visibility
Plastic window latch cracked/came off while driving 55 mph.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle running on its own compression even though the ignition key had been turned off. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Brakes pulsated due to warped brake rotors. *ak
- Parking brake › Conventional › Mechanical › Linkage and cable
Emergency brake cable rusted.
- Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs · Tires
Was driving home the coil spring broke and rubbed on the passenger side tire, causing the tire to blow out . *ak
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
While accelerating at 55 mph, suddenly received no acceleration, gas pedal dropped to floor, black smoke came from rear exhaust, dealer called it phantom/ghost problem, common to this vehicle; dealer cannot duplicate problem, happens at continued high speed. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Seat belt attachment failed (attorney for client)
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Front passenger's lap/shoulder belt retracted and locked up and could not get child out of the seat, had to cut seat belt to get child out. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)
Vehicle was left in an idle position in park, jumped out gear, rolled backwards into another yard, hitting steps. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Seat belt broke loose from its attachment to the floor in accident, resulting in injury. (Attorney for client) *dh
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator · Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Power train › Automatic transmission · Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly · Steering › Rack and pinion · Suspension › Front › Control arm · Suspension › Front › Macpherson strut · Suspension › Front › Springs › Torsion bar · Suspension › Rear › Shock absorber
Transmission slipped/failed twice.
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
Driver seatback broke after being hit from behide while sitting at a light. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Retractor on the driver side failed to lock up during a rear end collision. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
The car was parked and for no reason it was on firer. The insurance agent said it was fuel line failur*ake.
- Electrical system
While driving smelled an odor, saw a glow under dashboard followed by sparks coming out of the heater vent (heater was not on ). *Sd
- Electrical system › Wiring · Structure › Body › Door · Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Electrical wiring to door locks & to power windows breaks making them non functional.tt bundle of wires to door from main body they flex each time the door IS open there are three broken wires rendering power locks and power window inoperable.*jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Vehicle fire caused by an engine oil leak (ohio state police accident report) *ak
- Parking brake › Conventional
Emergency parking brake did not hold vehicle while parked, vehicle rollaway. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Liftgate latches
Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.nhtsa analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form…
Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.nhtsa analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form of static and dynamic crash testing, engineering evaluations, complaint and field analyses, and real world data analyses.a technical report discussing these analyses can be found in the engineering analysis technical report in the public viewing file.chrysler has advised nhtsa that it will conduct a campaign to replace the latches on all the subject vehicles.the chrysler campaign will consist of notification letters to all owners; free replacement of all latches with stronger, safer latches regardless of the age of the minivans; national advertising to promote customer awareness of the campaign; quarterly reports regarding campaign completion rates; as well as additional measures to ensure a high completion rate, above and beyond the actions that normally would be taken in a formal safety recall.these include follow up written and telephonic notifications to owners who do not bring their vehicles in for corrective action.nhtsa firmly believes that the crash performance of the latches on these minivans raises serious safety concerns, and that the campaign addresses these concerns.the chrysler corrective action will increase the strength of the liftgate latches and decrease the potential for inertial unlatching, thereby reducing the risk of crash-related openings of the liftgate and possible occupant ejection through the liftgate opening.owners of chrysler minivans will get a stronger, safer latch free of charge at the earliest possible time, without the need for further technical investigation and complex and time-consuming litigation with an uncertain outcome.based on the above, odi IS closing this investigation.
- Trans park system failure
There is no summary currently available
- Spare tire carrier fails
There is no summary currently available
- Underdash fires
There is no summary currently available
- Spare tire carrier failure
There is no summary currently available
- Underdash fires
There is no summary currently available
- Broken drivers seat
There is no summary currently available
Every Dodge Caravan model year
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