Six problems related to air bag on-off switch have been reported for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Defect clockspring leads to airbag light is on, and propely mailfunction. The instrument panel started burning in the switch contacts and smoke came out of the dashboard. The car was parked with two small kids sitting in their baby seats. One of the kids, 3 years old manged to knock on the window for getting help. The fire stopped without making additional damages and nobody were injured. The fuses did not blow.
Coolant gauge, tach,and speedometer all flatline at same time and return intermittently, air bag warning light stays on and horn and cruise control stopped working at same time. Drivers side sliding door lock works when it wants to. Windshield wipers work when they want to when it is cold outside. No fuel leaks until recall repair made then leak developed when tank filled ( dealer fixed). Radio does not switch from am to fm unless button pushed 3 or 4 times. Just one big electrical lemon.
Vehicle experiencing problem with air bag sensor light remaining on. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that problem was due to a clock spring which needed replacement. Also, horn failure was caused by air bag moving on to relay switch. Dealer informed that repairs would cost consumer $950. 00.
Clock spring in steering wheel needed to be replaced again (est $250). This is the second time within 18 months. This switch controls cruise control, horn, and air bag functions. When it fails, those functions don't work. Particularly the air bag and horn are major safety issues. The front wipers would activate for no reason (startling driver) - repaired at owners expense by dealer. Door locks have always acted spooky. Immedialtley locking after unlocking with fob or with key. Dealer found door drivers door switch shorted. Repaired at owners expense (est $160). Local dealer notified of all problems - have not contact manufaturer directly.
I purchased this vehicle October of 1995, in March of 96 the fuse block had to be replaced along with a multi function switch because the wipers would come on by themselves while I was driving, a contact and plunger kit because the right sliding door would not always unlock when using the unlock button, the fuel tank was replaced because it only held 12 gallons of gas when it was supposed to hold 18 - 20, the tank was installed so that the tank was bowed in the middle and the front door panel was reattached to the door and the left sliding door was repaired because it would not unlock with the key. In August of 1997 the switch for the interior lights was replaced because the lights would flicker, the left side sliding door lock was replaced again along with the rear door latch. In sept. 0f 97 a gear was replaced for the power steering, the left sliding door had moulding replaced because the clips were broken. In August of 98 the stereo was replaced because the treble would fade, the vehicle shut off while I was driving no one could explain this phenomenon, the relay switch was replaced and the rack and pinion was replaced also the multi-function switch was replaced again. In sept. Of 98 the car was back in the shop because the air bag light came on. Evidently when they replaced the relay switch just 7 days earlier things in the dash started working that had not worked up til that point for instance I was not aware that the chime would go off if the blinker was left on for over a mile. It took 7 days to get my car back because they found out that there were never any screws holding the air bag in the module so as far as I know for the two years that my husband and I were driving this car there was no protection by and air bag. This past week July 1, we were on vacation and we had to replace the transmission to the tune of $l771. The car is back in the shop today (7/6) because it appears that the transmission continues to slip and run at high rpm. Please help!!.
Intermittently srs light will illuminate when driving, and cruise control becomes inoperable. Consumer also states wiper switch was replaced twice, still intermittent wipers fail to operate correctly, also radio does not see cd player, unless vehicle is shut off and on sometimes more than once.