1989 Dodge Caravan
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Dodge › Caravan › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Dodge Caravan. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 1989 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.
Inboard front seat belt buckle assembly straps can suffer fatigue failure of the strap near its anchor position.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Fatigue failure of safety belts in a sudden stop oraccident condition results in increased likelihood of injury to seat occupant.
Remedy
Replace fatigued straps or retrofit straps with a reinforcement plate and removal of an antirotation tab to prevent fatigue failure.
The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The leakage of oil in the engine compartment could causea fire.
Remedy
Replace gasket cover with revised cover, and rtv sealant will be applied in place of a gasket.
Owner complaints
191 complaints12 involved a crash11 involved a fire19 injuries2 deaths
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
There has developed an unusual and unsafe condition in the front passenger door lock mechanism that on a regular basis causes the door to lock by itself whereby it IS unable to be unlocked by any means from inside the vehicle. The only way to unlock the door when this happens, IS from the outside by use of the key. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling
Consumer received nhtsa recall 89v237000. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, as well as made several appointments to get his car serviced. However, to this day his car has still not been serviced.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
While driving at 30 mph and with no warning check engine light came on, then the vehicle shut off. Consumer has made contact with dealer. *Ak *nlm
- Fuel system, other › Fuel injection system
Fuel injector leak sprays high pressure gasoline on top of intake manifold. large amounts of gasoline leak from injector onto hot components of engine. leakage increases dramatically with decrease in ambient temperature. injector: bendix deka 4418213
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Power train › Automatic transmission
The transmission has failed repeatedly after a new one was installed, initially the vehicle experienced the breakage of two axles, main axle, vac pinion and both front bearings (r4761821-aa transmission-41t 2100 2001). nlm
- Electrical system › Starter assembly · Engine and engine cooling · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components · Tires · Visibility › Windshield
Windshield was replaced. *yh *cb
- Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/rack
Wire strand that holds spare tire onto vehicle IS defective, it snapped, causing spare tire to fall off.*ak jlg
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
- Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
Vibration causing body of driver's side door to crack . bolts that hold locking mechanism had expanded, and they fell inside of door. Door will not close properly. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
We were driving on rt 1 in smrna delaware and it felt like the engine lost compression. I pulled to the side of the road turned off the van got out and saw fire under the hood. This incident happened on 3/17/2002 at 8/30 pm within minutes the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
While traveling at 20 mph passenger's side seatbelt did not hold passenger when vehicle rear ended another vehicle. passenger side seat belt spring inside of the mechanism broke, this spring stopped seatbelt from coming out of seatbelt retractor in collision. passenger was thrown against windshield, and injured neck and head. Consumer has contacted dealer. *Ak
- Structure › Body › Tailgate
While back door IS opened could be placing anything inside of vehicle, but it will be droping down on consumer's head. dealer had tried to fix problem, but still problem continued just like mentioned in recall 95 I 001 008. *Ak
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Headlights are not nearly bright enough and are an unsafely designed. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission · Structure › Body › Trunk lid
Trunk door, when opening will not stay in up position, will slam shut. Also when vehicle put in drive, it will not take off. Consumer has to drive it in D1 constantly, when she drives it in D2 vehicle will stall. *ak *slc
- Structure › Body › Tailgate
The right lift on the tailgate IS tearing the body material and leaving jagged metal exposed. I have talked to the manufacturer and they say they have no liability in this matter and that it has not been reported before.*ak
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
This IS not a safety hazard but, did not know where to write. it IS the paint & the air conditioner. it has been told to me that in 89 vehicles did not receive primer and therefore caused paint to chip. I went to the dealer and was told they were not aware of this but to passify me they would…
This IS not a safety hazard but, did not know where to write. it IS the paint & the air conditioner. it has been told to me that in 89 vehicles did not receive primer and therefore caused paint to chip. I went to the dealer and was told they were not aware of this but to passify me they would allow 200 to spot paint my van and I would pay 200 at maaco. not there dealership shop but maaco and to only allow spot painting. I had already paid to have the hood and front fenders painted because it was so bad and the roof IS now horrible! I am the original owner and feel it IS only right they paint the van and get it over with! I have complained for the past five or more years about the van stalling out if I use my air conditioner but none of the dodge dealers can or will find any problem so I suffer in the heat. if I use the a/c and when I reach my destination and shut it off even if I let it sit overnight the van will stall out.please forward to proper people and let me know if anything will be done about these two problems. I am not trying to make money only want comfort . I plan on buying another dodge probably in the next two to three years as other than the afore mentioned irratations I have enjoyed my van and gotten a lot of use out of it and want to keep it!*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Consumer was traveling about 55mph on the highyway and heard a big booming sound. she pulled over onto the shoulder, and noticed oil leaking from underneath vehicle. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Power train › Automatic transmission · Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
Transmission failed. Yh
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
When traveling vehicle stalled/cut off and caught on fire in the engine compartment. The cause of the problem has yet to be determined. vehicle was totaled. Please provide any further details.
- Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
While parked vehicle caught fire because the newly installed fuel pressure regulator was deffective. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission slipping due to failure. nlm
- Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/rack
While driving spare tire fell off on the road. The cable, that supports the spare tire underneath vehicle,had broken. Vehicle behind hit tire. Contacted manufacturer & informed nothing will be done due to age of vehicle. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Power train › Automatic transmission
Valve cover gasket just started leaking 1 week after we purchased the van. 2. Transmission went out on sept. 24, 1999 2ND time in less than a year. The whole thing needs replacing once again.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
There IS a technical service bulletin out on this issue(#18-31-90, nhtsa item # sb022436). it reads as follows: start-stall and/or decel dieout during low speed maneuvers-repair involves replacement of origingal engine controller(smec) with revised unit-all 1989/90 dodge caravans. our van did…
There IS a technical service bulletin out on this issue(#18-31-90, nhtsa item # sb022436). it reads as follows: start-stall and/or decel dieout during low speed maneuvers-repair involves replacement of origingal engine controller(smec) with revised unit-all 1989/90 dodge caravans. our van did this on several occasions before it finnally died on the highway. it was a lucky thing that we were only going about 30 mph at the time and had a place to pull over. when we took it in for a diagnostic they told us the engine controller had failed and it would be $400 to replace it, money we didn't have. so our van just sits there waiting to be fixed and we don't have a car except for a 3-person truck(there are 5 in our family).
- Unknown or other
The exterior paint on the roof and along the gutters IS peeling and flaking off. the undercoat has turned into a fine powdery substance that streaks down the vehicle after IS been washed or during a rainfall. the paint around the aft windows IS also flaking off. the paint seems to be lifting off from under the paint surface.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Automatic transmission failure
The petition alleges that the chrysler corporation failed to produce a quality transmission in its model year 1989 minivans, which can fail immaturely
- 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.
- R/htchbck hydr.cylin.fails
There is no summary currently available
- Rear wiper switch/fires
There is no summary currently available
- Seat belt buckle failure
There is no summary currently available
- Trans park system failure
There is no summary currently available
- Rear seat structure fails
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- Underdash fires
There is no summary currently available
- Underdash fires
There is no summary currently available
- Transmission downshifting
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Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10150552Child Seat Tether Anchor Installation This bulletin describes procedures to install Child Seat Tether Anchors based on Customer Request. Retrofits are subject to part availability. Vehicles in the following list that are marked **** for the model year are no longer supported with OEM retrofit kits. NOTE: Dealers are encouraged to honor any customers? request for the installation of the Child Seat Tether Anchors and Dealer reimbursement will be made by FCA US LLC regardless of vehicle age or mileage. See the Warranty Policy and Procedure Manual and/or Warranty Bulletin D-08-33 for reimbursement detail.
- 6089028Information on 41te/42le service information. *Nlm
- 6088988Concerns with 41te/42le transaxle shudder during an emcc (electronically modulated converter clutch) shift. *Nlm
- 6088786Concerns with engine coolant usage. *Nlm
- 618049Subject regarding wire splice repairs.
- 615688Subject regarding child seat tether anchors.
- 612160Subject on the child seat tether anchors. *Mjs
- 610635Subject regarding child seat tether anchors.
- 609995This bulletin provides a revised wire splice procedure and related parts.
- 607963Information on child seat tether anchors.
- 607959This bulletin announces the availability and installation of a resuable automatic transmission oil pan gasket.
- 605014Conditions with intermittent loss of speed control.
- 604696Subject regarding reusable automatic transmission oil pan gasket.
- 604364Service and parts information on 1999 running changes to transmission range sensor (trs)
- 600862Information on installation of radio transmitting equipment.
- 600751Subject on delayed transaxle engagement.
- 52963Various car owner's have expressed interest in using engine coolants made with propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol.
- 51993Vehicle shudder during torque converter emcc (lock up) operation/diagnostic trouble code 38.
- 51978Vehicles with 3.0L engines - intake valve deposits - driveway die out, rough idle, lack of power, sags or hesitation.
- 51942Difficult to clean light colored "chalky" residue from plastic body components that are molded in black.
- 46371Bulletin supersedes technical service bulletin 08-16-95, dated apr. 14, 1995. If the vehicle operator **repeatedly** presses and releases the set button with their foot off of the accelerator (a 'lift foot set' to begin speed control operation), the vehicle may accelerate and exceed the desired set speed by up to 5 mph (8 km/h) and then decelerate to less than the desired set speed before finally achieving the desired set speed.
- 43055Unknown
- 41049Cruise control overshoot/undershoot during initial set speed selection.
- 39008Cold start hesitation.
Every Dodge Caravan model year
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