2000 Dodge Caravan

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, WITHOUT ADEQUATE CAUSE ON SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 2004 AT AROUND 5 P.M. I WAS TRAVELING IN MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED GRAVEL SURFACE ROAD THAT IS ROUGH IN SPOTS, AT 10 MPH OR LESS WHEN BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS . I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY, UNAWARE OF WHAT HAD CAUSED THEM TO DEPLOY IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY FRONT END OR SIDE COLLISION. GIVEN THAT I WAS SEATED UPRIGHT AND NOT THROWN FORWARD BY ANY COLLISION, THE DRIVER SIDE BAG SLIGHLTY CONTACTED THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE, SCRAPING IT. MY READING GLASSES, PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, OPEN, UPSIDE DOWN AND WITH LENSES FACING FORWARD, WERE FLATTENED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SURVEYED THE SITUATION. A HAED-SIZE STONE HAD CONTACTED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE MUFFLER AND BEEN ROLLED UP AND FREE. OBSERVING NO DAMAGE OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE, I CONSULTED MY OWNERS MANUAL, STUFFED THE AIRBAGS BACK INTO THEIR CAVITIES AND DROVE HOME, SOMEWHAT SHAKEN BY THE EXPERIENCE. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER. THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS TEAM HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED. IT RESPONDED, STATING THAT IT FEELS THAT THE AIRBAGS OPERATED PROPERLY BY DEPLOYING IN THIS SITUATION. I CHALLENGED THE FINDING AND REQUESTED A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATION REPORT. MY REQUEST WAS DENIED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER CLAIMING THE INFORMATION IS PROPRIETARY. IT ADVISED ME TO PERSUE REPAIRS THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, OR HIRE MY OWN INVESTIGATOR AND ATTORNEY. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE OF RECORD IS $2893.63, MINUS A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. I HAVE NOT ACCEPTED A SETTLEMENT OR HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR FEAR THAT MY INSURER WILL RAISE MY RATES TO RECOVER THE LARGE PAYOUT.*AK

I HAVE HAD 4 COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITH MY 2000 CARAVAN: 2 OFWHICH REQUIRED A COMPLETE REBUILD AND 2 OF WHICH REQUIRED ENTIRELY NEW UNITS (TRANSMISSIONS) AND NEW CV AXLES AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP. THE WORSE OF THE 4 TIMES WAS ON THANKSGIVING 2002, LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER A FACTORY REBUILD WHERE THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. 3 OF 4 REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED AT A CHRYSLER/DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE 4TH AND SO FAR FINAL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND IT HAS LASTED THE LONGEST, OVER 22,000 MILES. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT CARAVAN TRANSMISSIONS. I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS WARRANTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US PEOPLE WHO HAVE DUMPED $30,000 INTO JUNK. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE MUCH MORE SPECIFICS I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE, BUT THIS FORM IS LIMITED TO 2000 CHARACTERS.... MY ORIGINAL SUBMISSION CONTAINED 3,493 CHARACTERS SO IT HAS BEEN TRUNKATED TO FIT IN THE SPACE ALLOTTED. *AK

THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE IDLE PULLEY TO THE ENGINE SHEARED OFF THE ENGINE IN MY 2000 3.3 LITER GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 48000 MILES ON IT AND LEFT ME WITH NO POWER STEERING. IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THERE WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY SHE COULD HAVE STEERED THE VAN DUE TO THE TOTAL LACK OF ANY POWER STEERING. EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING IS THAT WE JUST CAME BACK FROM A TRIP TO FLORIDA,IF THAT HAPPENED ON I-95 TRAVELING AT 70 MPH THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AT ONLY 7 MPH. *JB

THE FRONT STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUSTED. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE STRUT TOWER BREAKING . IF THIS OCCURRED, THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COULD COLLAPSE , AND WOULD CAUSE THE FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE TOWER TO RUST, BUT IT COULD BE CAUSED BY ROAD SALT. *AK *SC *JB