2001 Dodge Caravan

WENT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR A TIRE PROBLEM, UPON TAKING THE FRONT WHEELS OFF THEY DISCOVERED FAILING SWAY BAR LINKS. THEY SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM BY ACTUALLY PULLING THE LINK APART FROM THE SWAY BAR BY HAND. AS I WAS LEAVING THE SHOP TO GO HOME ONE OF THE LINKS DISCONNECTED AND NOW THE VEHICLE HAS A NOTICEABLE SWAY IN TIGHT CORNERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IN 2001 AND NOW HAS 51,000 ON IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS TOO SOON FOR PARTS LIKE THIS TO BE FAILING. *NM

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2001 DODGE CARAVAN SE AND HAD ENGINE & ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING OVER THE BRIDGE OUT OF NEW YORK CITY, THE CAR FILLED UP WITH WHITE SMOKE OF A REALLY TOXIC SMELL. GREENISH BROWN FLUID LEAKED OUT AT MY FEET. SEVERAL TIMES I WENT TO HAVE IT FIXED, ALL THE FLUIDS WOULD LEAK OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, I WOULD TAKE IT BACK TO ONLY HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN. FINALLY THEY CLAMPED A HOSE UNDERNEATH THE CAR CAUSING FLUIDS TO SWISH BACK AND FORTH IN THE DASH AREA SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MY LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF. (VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE WITH CHILDREN). WENT THROUGH THE LEMON LAW UNIT WITH A JUDGE THAT DID NOT USUALLY WORK IN THAT COURT, AND LOST THE CASE AFTER PAYING A LAWYER $2000. THAT WENT OUT ON DISABILITY! I HAD NO JUSTICE AND STOPPED PAYING ON THE CAR. IT WAS REPOSSESED AND SOMEONE ELSE IS PROBABLY DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS CAR! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION THEN LOCKED UP, NOT ALLOWING THE CONTACT TO CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 8/16/2006 - *NM

CORRECTION/ADDITION TO COMPLAINT 10153230. AT THE REQUEST OF DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF WHY TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. BOTH DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND LOCAL DEALER STATED REPEATEDLY THAT THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE. CUSTOMER SHOWED DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE OTHER TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY COULD BE DETACHED FROM BODY WITH FINGERTIP. AFTER FOLLOW-UP WITH DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, CUSTOMER WAS DENIED REPLACEMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, CUSTOMER PERFORMED OWN DUE DILIGENCE AND FOUND THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS LOOSE TAIL LAMP PROBLEM IN SEPTEMBER 2001 FOR ALL 2001 AND EARLY 2002 DODGE CARAVANS. SAME BULLETIN DETAILS SIMPLE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CORRECT BY PLACEMENT OF J-CLIP TO THE LEADING EDGE MOUNTING TAB OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY (DODGE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 08-021-01). TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS SINCE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED AND MOUNTING TAB HAS BEEN EXTENDED. BOTH LOCAL DEALER AND DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS SERVICE BULLETIN EXISTED AFTER CUSTOMER ARGUED IT'S EXISTENCE, BUT STILL DENIED REPLACEMENT. ANY OWNER OF 2001 OR EARLY 2002 DODGE CARAVANS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES PRIOR TO FAILURE DURING OPERATION, POSSIBLE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DETACHING INTO TRAFFIC, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, AND OPERATOR HAVING TO DETACH FAILED ASSEMBLY AT ROADSIDE AT RISK OF INTERSTATE TRAFFIC LIKE MYSELF. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD CAME LOOSE AND WAS HANGING BY THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

DRIVER'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE HORN WILL NOT OPERATE. THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES GOES AWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK ALSO, THE HORN MAY NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED I.E. IF A CHILD RUNS OUT IN FRONT OF MY VAN. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND PUMPED THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WORK BETTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THEY STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDAL NEVER WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB