2000 Dodge Caravan

MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN HAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE PART OF THE UNIBODY (BILATERAL STRUT TOWERS) ARE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUTWARD. THE DRIVER SIDE IS IN SUCH POOR CONDITION THAT IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE. THE METAL IS SO CORRODED YOU CAN POKE A PEN THROUGH THE METAL ON THE STRUT TOWER LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANICS, USED PART DISTRIBUTORS: "THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CARAVANS OF THIS TIME FRAME ('96-2000). THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS EVEN COME OUT WITH A "PATCH KIT" BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH EXPERIENCED MECHANICS RECOMMEND REMOVAL OF STRUTS AND WELDING NEW ONES IN PLACE. THIS IS A COSTLY FIX DUE TO BEING LABOR INTENSIVE. REGARDLESS... AFTER SEVERAL CONTACTS WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONSUMER LINE, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THIS DEFECT OR FOR PATCHING IT. THEY DO NOT FEEL IT IS A RECALL ITEM AND APPARENTLY ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WILL FIX MY VEHICLE AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND WILL NEVER BUY A PRODUCT FROM THEIR LINE AGAIN SINCE THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THE SAFETY/QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCT. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT YET AND I WILL NOT BE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED PROPERLY. *JB

WHILE VISITING A FAMILY FRIEND CONSUMER DISCOVERED A WATER LEAK T IN HIS CARAVAN. THIS LEAK RESULTED FROM WATER RUNNING DOWN THE EXTERIOR ROOF GROOVES AND DOWN TO THE BACK OF THE VAN. IT HAD A CRACK IN THE WELD THAT WAS FOUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VAN BODY, WHERE THE REAR HATCH WAS LOCATED. THE WATER ENTERED THE CRACK AND RAN DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE VAN . ALSO, PUDDLES WERE FOUND UNDERNEATH THE CARPET, WHICH RESULTS IN A MILD WET CARPET, BUT EVEN WORSE, RUST.*AK I LIFTED THE REAR CARPET IN MY VAN AND THERE WAS WATER AND THE CARPET PAD WAS WET. I HADN'T NOTICED IT BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLASTIC LINER TRAY IN THE BACK. I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT ARE UNAWARE OF IT.

A CONVERSION TOP WAS PUT ON MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE TV HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY SECURED. WHILE DRIVING, THE TV FLEW OUT OF THE TOP, RIPPING CORDS, SWINGING BACK AND FORTH, WHILE HANGING FROM A CABLE. THE TV JUST BARELY MISSED THE HEAD OF MY CHILD. NO ONE IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS TV WEIGHS ABOUT 10 POUNDS. THE TV BOUNCES AROUND WHILE DRIVING. WHILE BRINGING THIS CAR IN FOR OTHER UNRELATED SERVICE PROBLEMS, I WOULD ALWAYS ASK THEM TO SECURE THE TV. IT WAS SECURED BY VELCRO!. *AK

SUBJ: COPY OF LETTER SENT ~ REAR END LOW-IMPACT COLLISION/SEATS BREAKING SUBJ: RE: DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ([XXX]) DATE: 6/25/03 9:09:50 PM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME FROM: USFROMCALIFORNIA TO: CUSTOMERASSIST@DAIMLERCHRYSLER.COM DEAR DAIMLER/CHRYSLER, IT SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A COMPANY THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE AS REPUTABLE AS YOURS, AND CAN SPEND BILLIONS, AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ADVERTISEMENTS TO SELL YOUR CARS, BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP SOMEONE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SEATS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE 1960'S (JUST CHECK THE NTS&H WEBSITE, AND YOU WILL SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOW ALREADY WELL-KNOWN, THAT YOU HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS, WITH YOUR FRONT SEATS BREAKING IN LOW-IMPACT REAR END COLLISIONS! I AM NOW PERMANTELTY DISABLED DUE TO YOUR SEATS CAUSING A SEVERE CONCUSSION & TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FROM THIS PROBLEM! AND THE REAL THING THAT WE JUST CANNOT UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOUR SO CALLED TRUSTED AND SAFE AUTOMOBILES HAVE CAUSED ME AND MY FAMILY TO GO THROUGH A LIVING [XXX] FOR THE PAST 11 MONTHS, AND YOUR REPUTABLE COMPANY IS REFUSING TO TAKE YOUR ADULT RESPONSIBLITIES AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PROBLEMS AND COMPENSATE US AND OUR FAMILIES FOR OUR TRAGEDIES!!!! MOST OF ALL, YOUR LACK OF FIXING THIS FRONT SEAT PROBLEM, SO THAT OTHERS WILL BE SAVED FROM BEING HURT! WE WERE HIT IN THE REAR END OF OUR 2000 DODGE MINIVAN, AT A LOW SPEED, AND BOTH OF OUR FRONT SEATS COMPLETELY BROKE BACKWARDS, AND NOW I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME FROM THE CONCUSSION AND BRAIN DAMAGE I INCURRED FROM THE SEATS BREAKING! UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY TO HELP US GET SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION FROM YOUR COMPANY, SO WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY TRYING TO HELP US GET THROUGH ALL THIS. THANK YOU! SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITHIN THE AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL SYSTEM, COMPONENT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIME IN TWO YEARS. THE DEALER BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON A DESIGN FAILURE WHEREIN PLASTIC BAGS CAN BE SUCKED UP INTO THE INTERIOR A/C DRAFT SYSTEM BLOCKING THE FAN FROM WORKING. IN ADDITION, THE SUNVISORS WERE DEFECTIVE , REPORTED, AND NEVER REPLACED. DEALER HAS FOR THE MOST PART BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO VEHICLE PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS UNINHABITATBLE WITHOUT AN A/C