1999 Dodge Grand Caravan — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving, your instrument cluster display goes completely blank — your gas gauge, temperature gauge, speedometer, and digital readouts all stop working and show zero. Normal operation usually returns within a few minutes, or sometimes faster if you tap the dashboard. This appears to be caused by faulty electrical connections in the instrument cluster that disrupt communication between your vehicle's computers. A technician will need to inspect and repair the connections in your instrument cluster to restore normal operation.

Your dashboard instruments (fuel gauge, speedometer, temperature gauge) are intermittently shutting off while driving. They come back on temporarily when you hit a bump or tap the top of the dashboard. Since you use your van daily to transport a disabled passenger, losing visibility of fuel level, speed, and engine temperature is a significant safety and reliability concern.

Your ignition switch allows the key to be removed while the engine is running, regardless of what gear the van is in — this is a safety hazard. Your van also experiences intermittent failure to start that feels like a dead battery, but replacing the battery didn't fix it; the problem is with the ignition switch itself. The ignition switch will likely need to be replaced to resolve both issues.

Your instrument panel stopped working while the vehicle was parked. The gauges like your fuel gauge and odometer work intermittently, and your check engine light came on. This happened at around 170,000 miles. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the electrical connection to your instrument cluster and replacing any faulty wiring, connectors, or the cluster itself.

Your driver side strut tower has rusted through and failed, which is a structural suspension component that supports your vehicle's weight and handling. This is a serious safety issue that needs immediate repair before driving. The fix will likely involve welding or replacing the rusted strut tower and repairing any related suspension damage.

Your driver's side front strut mount has developed dangerous rust that could fail and cause an accident. This is a suspension component that connects the shock absorber to your vehicle's frame, and rust corrosion has compromised its structural integrity. The fix will involve replacing the rusted strut mount assembly with new parts.

Your airbag warning light started flashing and then stayed on permanently. At the same time, your cruise control stopped working. Dodge issued a recall for the airbag system, but the replacement part wasn't available and the manufacturer couldn't tell you when it would be. Repairing this will likely require replacing the airbag system component and diagnosing the cruise control electrical circuit.

Your airbag warning light is on, cruise control stopped working, and the radio changes stations when you turn the steering wheel. A repair shop diagnosed a defective clock spring (a component that maintains electrical connections in the steering column) and it was already replaced by Chrysler under a recall. You're asking whether Chrysler will cover another replacement if it fails again.

Your car is stalling and shutting off without warning while you're driving at different speeds. At the same time, your headlights stop working and your dashboard instruments aren't functioning properly. The dealer hasn't been able to determine what's causing these electrical failures. This will likely require a full electrical system diagnostic to find and fix the underlying problem.

Your dashboard lights and gauges intermittently disappear, and your electric door locks stop working. Sometimes the problem goes away on its own, but other times you need to tap the top of the dashboard several times to make them come back. This happens while driving on any type of road.

Your airbag warning light came on and stayed lit while you were driving slowly and turning at about 10 mph. This matches a known issue (NHTSA campaign 04V480000) affecting airbags in your vehicle model. The warning light suggests your airbags may not deploy properly in a crash. You'll need to have a dealer diagnose and repair the airbag system to ensure your safety features work correctly.

You noticed a strong gasoline smell when driving your van. Later that same day, when you started the engine while the car was parked, it suddenly began smoking and caught fire. This suggests a fuel system leak or fuel injection problem that allowed gasoline to accumulate and ignite.

Your serpentine belt repeatedly comes off when exposed to water from rain or car washes, causing your power steering, water pump, and alternator to stop working. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially when driving in traffic or at highway speeds. The issue may be addressed with a serpentine belt tensioner enhancement kit designed to keep the belt properly seated.

While driving at 35 mph, you noticed a strong fuel smell inside your van. You pulled over and the engine compartment caught fire. The fire department had to extinguish it, and the van was destroyed. A fuel system leak or failure likely caused the fire, which may require inspection of fuel lines, connections, and the fuel pump assembly.

Your serpentine belt keeps falling off whenever it rains or snows, which causes you to lose power steering on wet or icy roads—a serious safety hazard, especially in a family van. After the belt falls off, you have to pull over and manually put it back on, which is dangerous and difficult in heavy rain or blizzard conditions. The fix will likely involve inspecting the belt tension, pulleys, and belt routing to determine why it's slipping off in wet conditions.

Your serpentine belt comes off when driving on wet roads, which cuts power to your power steering and can cause you to lose control, especially at normal highway speeds on curves. This is an ongoing issue that multiple owners have experienced, but Chrysler has not issued a recall or addressed it. The fix involves replacing the serpentine belt and pulley with upgraded parts designed to prevent the belt from slipping.

A minivan with seven people was involved in a fatal head-on collision when struck by a utility trailer loaded with crushed vehicles that had broken loose from an oncoming tractor-trailer. This incident raises concerns about trailer hitch safety and the adequacy of current regulations for securing heavy utility trailers.

Your Dodge Grand Caravan is experiencing multiple electrical problems despite having a new battery and alternator. The battery warning light comes on, dashboard lights flicker while driving, the car sometimes won't start or turn over (requiring jump starts), and the power door locks are beeping and buzzing constantly. These issues are making the car feel unreliable and unsafe to drive. A qualified mechanic will need to diagnose the charging system wiring, battery connections, and electrical distribution to find what's causing these widespread electrical failures.

Your clockspring (the coiled connector under your steering wheel) is causing your airbag warning light to stay on. You've also noticed your dashboard gauges temporarily went out while driving on the highway, and your headlights flicker on and off intermittently. A faulty clockspring can affect both your airbag system and electrical connections, so this needs prompt attention.

Your car has developed a strong gasoline smell both inside and outside the vehicle that has been getting worse over the past two weeks. The smell is usually most noticeable when you apply the brakes, stop suddenly, or park in the garage. A mechanic will need to inspect your fuel system for leaks, which could involve checking fuel lines, connections, and the fuel tank.