1997 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE PAINT ON MY 97 DODGE CARAVAN IS PEELING OFF ON THE TOP OF THE VAN. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS? *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING.*JB

THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPED OFF, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND FUNCTION OF THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL.*JB

THE PASSENGER SIDE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKED IN POSITION WITH THE INFANT BUCKLED IN AND THE SEAT BELT AROUND THE CHILDS NECK. *JB *TS

ON THE DATE GIVEN, MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD IN THE TOWN OF PERU, NY, WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT (FACTORY OPTION) CAST ALUMINUM WHEEL SPLIT IN TWO CIRCUMFRENTIALLY, PULLING HER VIOLENTLY INTO A SNOWBANK. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF THE FAILURE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LS, AND THE WHEEL IN QUESTION IS THE FACTORY OPTIONAL ALUMINUM CAST ITEM. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS OUR FAULT. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, IT HAD NEVER BEEN ABUSED, THERE WAS NO AIR LEAKAGE OVER TIME TO INDICATE A CRACK OR FAULT, THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 DEGREES F., AND THERE WAS NO OBSTACLE IN THE ROAD WHICH COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT. THE WHEEL SIMPLY BROK INTO TWO PIECES. WE FEEL THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT SINCE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF SUCH A VITAL PIECE OF VEHICLE EQUIPMENT COULD OBVIOUSLY PROVE FATAL. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR IF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD FAILED, PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE POSSIBLE RESULTS ARE OBVIOUS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT MYSELF OR MY WIFE AT ANY TIME CONCERNING THIS MATTER, AND WE ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE.

WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE GEAR HAD MOVED INTO REVERSE.*JB

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALL NUMBER 00V268000 VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE CORRECT VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. PH

WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPING VEHICLE , THE SERVICE LIGHTS WILL SUDDENLY COME ON. THIS IS A RESULT OF THE SERPENTINE BELT COMING OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE BELT. PH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. THE DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE WAY THE HEAD GASKET WAS DESIGNED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED TWICE. TS

TRANSMISSION FAIL TO MOVE VEHICLE, ACCOMPANIED BY WHIRRING SOUND.*PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770862