Four problems related to ignition have been reported for the 1999 Dodge Caravan. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The ignition key will not turn. Unable to start the car. Not an electrical issue. The key physically does not turn. Happened completely randomly. Other people have suggested tapping the end of the key with a rubber mallet, but I do not trust this fix. I now have a family vehicle that I do not feel comfortable bringing my family anywhere far away in. Transporting my family was the only reason I bought a minivan.
1999 Dodge grand Caravan viin: 1b4gp44g4xb816925 this van is a lemon from day 1. I have contacted Chrysler, owner of landmark Dodge in GA, mediation, arbitration, consumer action line, and any other person that would listen. This van has quit on me at least eight times. Sometimes on rural roads. Several times on a major highway. The last major incident occurred on father's day with six family members inside the vehicle. There was no warning before it quit. It would not startafterwards. We were on a busy hwy 19/41 in jonesboro. Several other times, I lost my speedometer, and could not accelerate. I have had check engine lights, leaky doors, inoperable window motors, halted intermittent windshield wipers, sluggish locks, etc. I wanted to keep my vehicle. However, it is very unsafe. I cannot afford to trade it in. That was not my intention when I purchased it.
On Dec 8,2000 my wife,four children and myself were in springfield mo, approx 80 miles from our house shopping at the mall. When we finished our shopping and left the mall,we were in congested traffic at approx. 30 mph the van shut off without any type of warning or indication of a problem, the abillity to properly steer the van was lost and I luckily came to a stop at the red light almost hitting the vehicle in front of me. On Dec 30 we were on our way to springfield mo, we pulled off of the interstate to use the restrom in the mcdonalds. While pulling in the parking area the van once again shut off without any type of warning or indication that there was a problem. Once again I lost all controls and instrumentation to include the loss of proper steering ability. I almost hit the parked car to the right of me. Chrysler has refused to replace my vehicle or to refund the purchase price, so here I am with a $ 20,000 unreliable vehicle that we are afraid to drive. I am currently a senior non commissioned officer in the u. S. Army, I've been on active duty for 18 years, this is not an attempt to defraud Chrysler or an attempt to get out of a debt, this is an honest situation that is happening to honest, law abiding, hard working americans, whom strongly believe in our country and our way of life.
The key sticks in the ignition and fails to turn. The consumer has to pound and play with the key in the ignition to release it. The dealership indicated that is due to a bad ignition cylinder and it needed to be replaced. They also indicated that this is a common failure with this part. Please provide more information.