1999 Dodge Grand Caravan

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. A BOLT THAT IS IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BAR CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WE STOPPED AT A GAS STATION DRIVING SOUTH ON 95. WHEN WE STARTED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT IN ITS NORMAL POSITION WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH NORMALLY HAS THE REMOTE CONTROLS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER (CONTROLS ARE TO BE AT 3:00 ON THE RIGHT AND 9:00 ON THE LEFT), HAD SHIFTED TO ABOUT ALMOST 6:00 FOR THE RIGHT AND 12:00 FOR THE LEFT. I COULD STILL CONTROL THE VAN, SO I PULLED OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT. THE GARAGE MECHANIC CHECKED AND REALIZED THE BOLT UNDERNEATH HAD COME OFF. HE FOUND ANOTHER BOLT THE SAME SIZE AND PUT IT BACK IN. I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION IN FLORIDA THE NEXT DAY AND TOOK THE VAN TO A NTB STORE. THEY CHECKED OUT THE NEW BOLT AND THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VAN AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED OKAY. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, VIN # [XXX] WITH 47,300 MILES. HERE LATELY IT WILL SHIFT ROUGH SOMETIMES AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SERVICE BULLITTEN CONCERNING THIS SITUATION OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED AND WHAT I SHOULD ADVISE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK. I AM NOT SURE THEY SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION AT 25,000 MILES. AS A SERVICE AND TRAINING MANAGER FOR YORK I KNOW THE VALUE OF CORRECT SERVICE. THANKS. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS

I HAD MY 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN FOR REGULAR SERVICING AND THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS RUST PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER. THE PERSON FROM THE SHOP WHO CALLED ME SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO BE EVALUATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DISCOVERED LATER THAT THE ACTUAL MECHANIC LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM WROTE: "RECOMMEND: GET NEW VEHICLE SOON!"THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT A 1999 WOULD BE SO BADLY RUSTED AND QUOTED ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1300 TO REPLACE THE STRUT TOWER AND TAKE CARE OF THE RUST THAT HAD BEGUN TO EAT AT THE OTHER SIDE. NCE THEY HAD IT IN THE SHOP AND DISASSEMBLED, THEY CALLED TO SAY IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL WEEK OF SERVICE SINCE THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP HAD ORDERED THE WRONG PART. THEY SAID THAT, BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE, THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE REASSEMBLING THE VEHICLE FOR ME TO USE WHILE THEY WAITED FOR DELIVERY OF THE PART. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD. (COMPLAINT NUMBER 10090457 ALSO DOCUMENTS THIS ISSUE.) I AM SURPRISED THAT SOMEONE HAS NOT BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS. MY VAN IS ONLY A 1999 AND THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED NEARLY HALF WAY THROUGH. I HAD MY VAN IN FOR SERVICE MANY TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND NO ONE HAD NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY INNUMBERABLE FAMILIES DRIVING AROUND IN A SERIOUSLY UNSAFE VEHICLE SIMPLY BECAUSE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. IF THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, IT DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.*AK

POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE SHORTED TO GROUND MELTING THE INSULATION ON THE CABLE AND NEARLY ALL INTERCONNECTED HARNESS WIRES. TOTAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR AND REPLACED DAMAGED WIRES, STARTER, SENSORS, CONNECTORS, ETC: $3,000+. INVESTIGATION STILL ONGOING.. FAILURE RESULTED FROM DESIGN PLACEMENT OF POSITIVE CABLE IN PROXIMITY OF STRUT TOWER BOLT. BATTERY LOCATION FOR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF STRUT ASSEMBLY. THIS CABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY INSULATION SLEEVE (E.G., CONVOLUTED TUBING OR LOOM) AND IS THEREFORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAR AND ABRASION FROM VIBRATIONS DURING DRIVING.*JB