2000 Dodge Caravan

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING PROPERLY, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 234,000. UPDATED 01/07/09 *BF UPDATED 01/07/09.*JB

1. THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT CAP ON OUR 2000 DODGE CARAVAN HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS THE STRUT ASSEMBLY IS READY TO PUSH THROUGH THE HOOD. 2. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN AND THE RESULT IS A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AFTER 7 YEARS OF USE. THIS AMOUNT OF RUST IS NOT ORDINARY FOR THE LOCATION AND GAUGE OF THE METAL. 3. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR FOR $2000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT 15 MPH OR TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. AN AUTO SHOP REPAIRED THE IDLER ARM DURING A TEST DRIVE, BUT THE NOISE STILL REMAINED. A MECHANIC LIFTED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUTS WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP AND RECEIVED THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CONTACT CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE STATE SHE LIVES IN USES SALT ON THEIR HIGHWAYS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMATION AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,600. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR

THIS IS INQUIRY TO CHRYSLER'S PROBLEM WITH FRONT STRUT TOWERS ON 2000 CARAVAN/VOYAGER/T&C. SPECIFICALLY: SERVICE BULLETIN, NUMBER: 23-044-02, GROUP: BODY; DATE: OCT. 14, 2002; SUBJECT: NS STRUT TOWER CORROSION. IF THIS IS ONLY A "COSMETIC" PROBLEM, WHY IS A NEW STRUT CAP AND NS STRUT INSTALLATION KIT REQUIRED? SOUNDS LIKE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM REPAIR TO ME. MY DEALERSHIPS SERVICE MANAGER CAUTIONED MY AGAINST GOING THROUGH THE WINTER WITHOUT THE REPAIR! HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, JUST THIS TSB. IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED BY 10/14/02, SHOULDN'T IT BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. MANY DRIVERS WILL JUST ASSUME "IT'S JUST RUST" AND NOT KNOW OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE STRUT CAP BREAKS. THIS FAILURE, ON A HIGHWAY, COULD RESULT IN DEADLY CRASH! HAS NHTSA LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE ANY REMEDY, OTHER THAN THE CONSUMER PAYING THE APPROXIMATE $500 REPAIR? IF NOT, IT APPEARS THAT CORPORATE PROFIT TRUMPS ETHICS (LIVES/INJURIES) AGAIN? PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR POSITION ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE CHECKING THE FLUID IN HIS VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TOWER WHICH HOUSES THE STRUT, WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT A CAP NEEDS TO BE PLACED OVER THE TOWER. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99,225 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.