2000 Dodge Caravan

STEERING SEIZED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE "RACK AND PINION WAS BINDING". THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS OR ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND WELL MAINTAINED. THE INABILITY TO STEER AT SPEEDS, OTHER THAN PARKING SPEEDS, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AS THIS STEERING FAILURE IS SPONTANEOUS, AND THE ETIOLOGY UNKNOWN, IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, DR. [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP ON NAD-40,REQ. 18445:CAG. I RECEIVED A REPORT FROM QUALI-TECH, INC. (MATERIALS ANALYSIS LABORATORY) REGARDING THE TESTING OF MY STEERING WHEEL THAT SNAPPED AT THE 12:00 O'CLOCK POSITION WHILE I WAS PUSHING ON BRAKE AND PULLING WHEEL TOWARD ME BEFORE IMPACT. THE REPORT STATES "THE STEERING WHEEL FRACTURED AT A LOCATION WHERE THE ALUMINUM CORE CONTAINS A HIGH AMOUNT OF POROSITY AND DENDRITIC SEGREGATION. THE CENTER SIXTY PERCENT OF THE CROSS-SECTION EXHIBITED THE POROSITY. THE PRESENCE OF THE POROSITY AND DENDRITIC SEGREGATION WOULD HIGHLY REDUCE THE STRENGTH OF THE CENTER ALUMINUM SECTION AND CAUSE FAILURE TO OCCUR AT REDUCED IMPACT LOADS AS COMPARED TO A SECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN THESE MATERIAL DEFECTS." MY QUESTION IS HOW DO I GET THE X-RAYS OF THIS STEERING WHEEL DURING ITS MANUFACTRING AND HOW MANY OTHER DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEELS ARE OUT THERE?*AK

WHILE DRIVING VAN ON INTERSTATE 95 IN CONNECTICUT, I FELL ASLEEP FOR A FEW SECONDS AND DRIFTED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THEN HIT 9 CHAINLINK FENCE POSTS IN A ROW. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPING I WOKE AND BRACED MY SELF FOR IMPACT BY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE AND PULLING ON THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD ME. BEFORE IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED AT THE 12: O'CLOCK POSITION AND I BENT THE TWO SEPARATED TOWARD ME LIKE TWO BLUNT SPEARS. ON IMPACT (THE VAN RODE UP ON STEEL GUIDE WIRES AND WAS SLAMMED TO A STOP BY THE FIRST STEEL POLE HOOKING THE FRONT AXLE) THE FOUR INCHES OF SLACK ON THE SEAT BELT ALLOWED THE BLUNT SPEAR TO CRASH INTO MY CHEST CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. SIX DAYS IN HOSPITAL WITH BROKEN STERNUM, BROKEN RIBS, BLEEDING, COLLAPSED RIGHT LUNG. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE BEING 52 YEARS OLD, 190 LBS AND NOT VERY STRONG. I AM HAVING THE WHEEL ANALYSED BY A PROFESSIONAL TO SEE IF THE METAL CORE WAS FLAWED OR THE CORE WAS NOT THICK ENOUGH. HOW CAN I GET THE SPECS FOR THIS INNER CORE TO COMPARE TO THE FINDINGS? IF THE WHEEL HAD NOT BROKE, I WOULD HAVE NO INJURIES.*AK

LAST FOUR MONTHS CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH STEERING SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP EIGHT TIMES SINCE SHE PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THEN, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, AND THEY WERE FIXING VEHICLE AT THIS MOMENT. *AK