2000 Dodge Grand Caravan

I OWN A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN 2000, I RECENTLY HAD NEW STRUTS INSTALLED ON THE FRONT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND SHOULD BE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF,I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996 TO 2000 CHRYSLER MINI-VANS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WANTS CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

RUSTING STRUT TOWERS 2000 GRAND CARAVAN. I NOTICED RUST ON THE STRUT TOWER ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I SPRAYED UNDERCOATING ON THE TOP OF BOTH TOWERS TO PREVENT FURTHER RUST. I INSPECTED THE TOPS OF THE TOWERS THIS WEEK. BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWER CONTINUE TO RUST IN SPITE OF SEVERAL LAYERS ON UNDERCOATING APPLIED OVER THE LAST YEAR. AS I WAS SERVICING THE BRAKES I DETERMINED IT WAS TIME TO REPLACE THE STRUTS ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN. KNOWING THE TOWERS ARE RUSTED ON THE TOP SIDE I INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STRUT TOWERS THIS AFTERNOON. A CRACK HAS APPEARED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STRUT TOWER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. I WILL INSPECT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TOMORROW. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE RUSTING STRUT TOWERS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN BOTH THE US AND CANADA. THE PROBLEM EXISTS ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS AND MODELS OF DODGE AND CHRYSLER VEHICLES. IF A STRUT RUPTURES A COMPROMISED TOWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED, LIVES CAN AND WILL BE LOST. WITH THE NUMBER OF DODGE AND CHRYSLER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IS MULTIPLIED EXPONENTIALLY. I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. SOMEONE MUST BE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. *TR

1. NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION 2. THE FAILURE OF STRUCTURE SECURING AND RETAINING THE FRONT SUSPENSION (STRUT TOWER) DO TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. UPON FAILURE THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION FALLS APART RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC LOSE OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND SUPPORT. VEHICLE WILL SWERVE RESULTING IN COLLISION OR ROLL OVER. 3. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS A RECALL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STRUT TOWER. *TR

SERIOUS RUST THROUGH OF THE STRUT TOWER ON A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN MADE IN USA. SUDDENLY APPEARED AND RAPIDLY PROGRESSING SINCE JAN 2008. BODY VERY WELL CARED FOR - NO ACCIDENTS, NO RUST IN OR OUT TIL NOW. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC AS CHRYSLER ALLEGES - IT IS STRUCTURAL AND A REAL SAFETY CONCERN SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE A REALLY BIG POT HOLE COULD SENT THE STRUT UP THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD! *TR

I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH CHRYSLER MINIVANS REGARDING THE DESIGN OF THE STRUT TOWERS. I OWN A DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SPEAKING WITH MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS, IT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME THAT THESE WERE NOT RECALLED. THE DANGER FROM WHAT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE COMPANY - ESPECIALLY WHEN MINIVANS ARE OFTEN USED TO CARRY CHILDREN AROUND. UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU DON'T MIND DRIVING AROUND KNOWING YOUR FRONT SUSPENSION MECHANISM COULD PUSH UP THROUGH THE HOOD. IMAGINE BEING ONE RAILROAD TRACK AWAY FROM SUCH A DISASTER AND NOT EVEN KNOWING IT. I BELIEVE THE YEARS AFFECTED WERE 1996-2002. *TR