1999 Dodge Grand Caravan

MY 1999 CARAVAN HAS THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK TOWER RUSTED OUT. THE IS A COMMON FLAW AND A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THEY'VE HAD SO MANY VANS DO THIS, THEY CREATED A REPAIR PART KIT. IF THE SHOCK BREAKS THROUGH WHILE DRIVING, SEVERE INJURIES DUE TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WILL LIKELY OCCUR. *TR

WHILE REPAIRING A FAULTY STRUT IN THE FRONT END I DISCOVERED A RUSTED THROUGH TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE HOLE IS ABOUT ONE-THIRD THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TOP OF THE TOWER. THE TOP IS ALSO PARTIALLY BENT UPWARDS FROM THE FORCE OF THE STRUT PUSHING UP. IF THIS BREAKS THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION WILL COLLAPSE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DODGE ISSUED TSB 23-044-02 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THE DEALER I TALKED TO, HERB CHAMBERS IN DANVERS MASS., SAID THE RIGHT WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REMOVE THE MOTOR AND WELD IN A NEW TOWER. THIS IS VERY COSTLY, PROBABLY MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE VAN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT DODGE SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR! *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR DODGE GRAND CARAVAN NEW IN 1999. TODAY (MAY 13,2009) I WENT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE STRUT MOUNT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS RUSTING AWAY. ONE-QUARTER TO ONE-THIRD OF THE METAL SUPPORTING THE STRUT MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. IT WAS LARGE ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD HAVE STUCK YOUR HAND THROUGH IT. I THEN TOOK IT TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP THEY THEN CALLED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP REGARDING ANY HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED A HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND SAID A "KIT" WAS AVAILABLE TO FIX IT. THE BODY SHOP SAID IF THERE WAS A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS THEN THAT MEANS THAT THIS WAS BY NO MEANS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS SHOCKED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 1999, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLAMPS WERE DIM. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY LAUGHED AT HER. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. SHE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED AND RECENTLY HAD THE HEADLAMPS POLISHED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS THE CONTACT'S PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 280,000. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ THE TAILGATE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE SLIDING DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE CRYSTALLIZED TO THE POINT IT CREATES SHADOWS ON THE ROAD. UPDATED 09/012/08. *JB

FRONT STRUT TOWERS OF 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ARE RUSTING THROUGH CAUSING POTENTIAL FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUSPENSION/BODY - STRUT TOWER CORROSION. NUMBER: 23-044-02 GROUP: BODY DATE: OCT. 14, 2002 SUBJECT: NS STRUT TOWER CORROSION THEY ARE CONSIDERING IT A COSMETIC ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. CHRYSLER HAS PRODUCED A REMEDY WITH A CAP KIT, AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. NO NOTIFICATION TO PRESENT OWNERS TO INSPECT THIS SAFETY ITEM HAS BEEN PRODUCED. *TR

MY 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STRUT TOWER IS RUSTED OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IS IDENTIFIED IN CHRYSLERS TSB 23-044-02. THIS DEFECT APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON ALL MODELS IN THOSE YEARS. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR DESPITE THE FACT IT IS A LATENT DEFECT. THE TOWER HAS BEEN RUSTING FOR MANY YEARS AND I NEVER NOTICED IT BEFORE. NOW I OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY AND I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. IF THE STRUT TOWER BREAKS I COULD LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. *TR