Faults:

My check engine light comes on.

When I remove the oil fill cap air comes gushing out, estimated to be about 5 psi in the crank case.

Intake manifold pressure sometimes around 4 psi according the scan-tool

Oil was leaking about 2 quarts per week from the rubber gaskets throughout the engine.

Rough idle at stop lights.

General Comments:

I cobbled it this way as follows.

Plugged the PVC valve the rest of the way with form a gasket. Purchased a 3/8 by 4 foot piece of hose and attached it to exhaust port on top of the rocker arm cover where PCV was plumbed into. This stopped the oil leaks from many of the rubber gaskets throughout the engine.

I also disconnected the source vacuum to the EGR system and plugged the port.

I enjoy this and when the vehicle fails I'll pump the gas and fill it wood pallets and burn it in my back yard and the kids will love it.

Wje_jr@msn.com.

Faults:

Passenger side sun-visor seam split; dealer fixed immediately under warranty.

General Comments:

This van has been spectacularly reliable and trouble-free. We bought it new in '98 and have changed the oil every 3000 miles, the transmission fluid as specified, put on a new set of tires at 62,000 miles and have done nothing else to it. We are very happy and would definitely purchase another.

Faults:

What hasn't gone wrong with this thing? First to go was the little strap on the seat backs. Minor, I know, but annoying. Then the engine barfed its valve cover gasket at 30,000 miles. It did this again at only 45,000 miles! Finally, Chrysler redesigned the valve cover for this engine. Finding the spark plug seals around here is a nightmare- it's a common item that has a lot of demand! Oh yeah, you must replace the manifold gaskets each time!

The coil packs quit working around 70,000 miles. The computer decided to shut the van off and on intermittently, while driving, around this time. Not the engine, mind you, but everything else on the van, including the map lights! The engine continued to run, though nothing else did.

The head gasket went bye bye at 80,000 miles, and another valve cover gasket decided to depart at 100,000 miles. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The plug wires were changed according to normal maintenance. It was at this time the water pump fell off! Not that it started to squeal, nor did it decide to leak, it came apart! Pieces! What a horrible thing to happen on a trip, hundreds of miles from home!

One of the cam lobes was partially wiped off. When it was discovered during the next valve cover gasket interchange, I learned that one of the cam retainers was not bolted down! There was a good quarter inch between the bolt head and the retainer. It had been like that since it left the factory.

The transmission fell apart soon after. Once repaired, a few months later the linkage fell apart. I've replaced almost every sensor on the thing, along with the cat converters, but the service engine light comes back on for one reason or another each time I get it reset.

Right front speaker quit working.

General Comments:

Cheap purchase price, but what a horribly underpowered vehicle. Handles well, comfortable on trips, great utility, and looks nice. But the howling wind noise, shoddy workmanship, horrible engine and transmission, and poor body fit have chased me away from Dodge. Even worse, the dealership here is horrible! The service manager told me to "get used to it" when I took it in, under warranty, for a ticking noise. One oil pump later I was on the road again when I went to another dealership.

Ironically, once the bugs were ironed out (around 130,000 miles) the thing has been rock solid reliable. But the stigma remains. I've spent enough to get it that way to have bought a second car.