2000 Dodge Caravan

THE FOLLOWING REQUEST WAS RECEIVED FROM THE NTSB WEB SITE: MESSAGE: VAN ACCIDENT INCIDENT - 2000 DODGE VAN 2500 ON TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 AROUND 4PM, I WAS ON MY WAY TO MARYVILLE TO PICK UP A TV. TRAVELING SOUTH ON EBENEZER ROAD, I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTING IT AT 45 MPH. APPROACHING NORTH SHORE IN THE RIGHT LANE, I SAW 4-6 CARS WAITING AT THE LIGHT. I TAP THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IMMEDIATELY FELT THE VAN ACCELERATION. I TURNED INTO THE LEFT LANE TO MISS THE CARS IN THE RIGHT LANE. I REPOSITION MY FOOT BY LIFTING IT UP THINKING THAT I HAD PRESS BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE, AND PRESS IT BACK ON THE BRAKE. THE VAN WAS STILL ACCELERATING AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF WHY WAS IT STILL ACCELERATING? BY THAT TIME, I WAS IN THE INTERSECTION AND HAD NO CONTROL. I HIT A POLE AND GUARD RAIL ON THE FAR SIDE OF NORTH SHORE. I DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLE. ALL OF THIS TOOK AROUND 10 SECONDS. THE VAN WAS TOTALED! ARE THERE OTHERS REPORTED WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. ONE TIME, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL POLE AND THE SECOND TIME, IT ACCELERATED INTO BUSHES AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A FENSE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES AND THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,444. UPDATED 01/06/11*LJ UPDATED 03.28.11

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALLS 04E036000 AND 04E035000 ON VEHICLE THAT WAS MODIFIED. HAD TAKEN IT ON APPOINTED DATE TO A CERTIFIED DEALER OF MODIFIED VEHICLES, ABILITY CENTER-MACY'S LIFTGATE, FOR REPAIRS. UPON ARRIVING WAS INFORMED NOT ABLE TO DO RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO VEHICLE BEING MODIFIED BY ANOTHER COMPANY. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE FROM MANUFACTURER'S GENERAL MANAGER. IN ADDITION, WAS INFORMED BY MANUFACTURER TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE CORRECTION. *AK

WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD GOTTEN BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE OWNER THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED, WENT INTO THE GARAGE, AND HIT THE WASHER AND DRYER. OWNER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. *AK *SCC *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING ON 18 JULY 2002. REPAIRS WERE DELAYED UNTIL I HAD $224 TO PAY THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ON 8 AUGUST 2002. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 0801001, NHTSA NUMBER 620059 AND ENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA01-007 DESCRIBE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. RECALL NUMBER 01V153 DESCRIBES THIS PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER DODGE TRUCK. ALL MECHANICS CONTACTED KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHY ALL STEERING WHEEL WIRING STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL.*AK