2000 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

WHILE DRIVING VAN ON INTERSTATE 95 IN CONNECTICUT, I FELL ASLEEP FOR A FEW SECONDS AND DRIFTED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND THEN HIT 9 CHAINLINK FENCE POSTS IN A ROW. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPING I WOKE AND BRACED MY SELF FOR IMPACT BY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE AND PULLING ON THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD ME. BEFORE IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED AT THE 12: O'CLOCK POSITION AND I BENT THE TWO SEPARATED TOWARD ME LIKE TWO BLUNT SPEARS. ON IMPACT (THE VAN RODE UP ON STEEL GUIDE WIRES AND WAS SLAMMED TO A STOP BY THE FIRST STEEL POLE HOOKING THE FRONT AXLE) THE FOUR INCHES OF SLACK ON THE SEAT BELT ALLOWED THE BLUNT SPEAR TO CRASH INTO MY CHEST CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. SIX DAYS IN HOSPITAL WITH BROKEN STERNUM, BROKEN RIBS, BLEEDING, COLLAPSED RIGHT LUNG. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE BEING 52 YEARS OLD, 190 LBS AND NOT VERY STRONG. I AM HAVING THE WHEEL ANALYSED BY A PROFESSIONAL TO SEE IF THE METAL CORE WAS FLAWED OR THE CORE WAS NOT THICK ENOUGH. HOW CAN I GET THE SPECS FOR THIS INNER CORE TO COMPARE TO THE FINDINGS? IF THE WHEEL HAD NOT BROKE, I WOULD HAVE NO INJURIES.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH AND OVER PEDAL WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER, THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTEDVEHICLE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK *SLC

MY MINIVAN WAS PARKED (IN PARK, SHUT OFF, KEYS OUT OF IGNITION) IN A DRIVEWAY (SOMEWHAT OF A STEEP INCLINE) WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS THE ROAD, OFF A SMALL CLIFF INTO A DITCH WITH MY 6 YR. OLD CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER WITH AN OLDER MODEL DODGE CARAVAN. NOTIFIED HIM THAT CAR SEAT WITH A LITTLE OUTWARD PRESSURE SEATBELT BECOMES UNLATCHED. HE WILL CONTACT DEALERSHIP. *AK

VEHICLE CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN IGNITION. CONSUMER STATES CAR CAN ALSO BE PULLED OUT OF GEAR.*AK

CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE A COUPLE TIMES TO DEALER DUE TO ALIGNMENT DEFECT WHICH HAD WORN OUT THE TIRES EVERY SIX THOUSAND MILES AND REPLACED THEM. TIRES MADE A LOT OF NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER CAN STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND REAR TIRES WILL LOCK UP. VEHICLE WILL KEEP ROLLING WITHOUT STOPPING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, BUT DEFECT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED.*AK *SLC

THE LOCKING CLIP ON THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK DO NOT WORK AND HAVE NEVER WORKED, POLICE AND CAR SEAT EXPERT COULD NOT INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE CENTER OF THE MIDDLE SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT HAS TO STRETCH TOO FAR. *MJS

NOTED LEAKAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FORM UNDERSIDE OF ENGINE - DOWN CLOSE TO 1 QT. IN 3,000 MILES. PROBLEM TRACED TO LOOSE COOLANT CLAMPS AT RADIATOR. SERVIE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THEY AHD SEEN MANY OF THESE LATELY.

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR HAS HAD FOUR FAILURES. 2 LATCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED PAPERWORK ON THE LAST INCIDENT. NOR HAS THE DEALER CALLED TO FOLLOW UP ON THE LAST TWO ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, BUT I DONT FEEL THAT THEY CARE. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE DOOR WOULD LOCK, AND IT COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED AT ALL. WE HAVE ELECTRIC LOCKS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT WORK. YOU ALSO COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN 9 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED. 4 FOR A TRANSMISSION LEAK , ONCE FOR PAINTING, AND NOW 4 TIMES FOR THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY CONDITION.*AK