This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The cup holder in some vehicles is located directly adjacent to the dashboard. When the vehicle stops, beverage splashes onto the dash, in this case into a computer board in the dash through slots in the dash for the heater controls. The result is total failure of the front and rear window defroster, windshield washer and wipers, front and rear heaters, and air conditioning. The lack of ability to clear the front and rear glass constitutes a safety hazard. This particular vehicle is a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan SE [xxx]. possibly several brands of vehicle have this engineering design problem. The response that I got from Chrysler when I asked about replacement parts is that the warranty is for three years, and after that "tough." Their E-mail response is attached. At a minimum, replacement parts should be available for a reasonable time after production stops, and this vehicle is still in production. Since it is a design error, I feel that this field failure should be corrected without charge. If that is not possible, then I should be allowed to purchase and install this $20 computer board myself. It requires removal of four screws. --->snip<--- your vehicle was provided with a warranty against defects for a period of 3 years or 36,000 miles. Your concerns, particularly in view of the expense and inconvenience involved in this issue, are understandable. However, your request for consideration in this matter must be declined. Updated 07/16/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On 12/5/2002, my husband & I were sitting at a red light in our 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan when we were rear-ended by a Ford Taurus. Being lower to the ground than the Caravan, the Taurus hit the dealer installed tow bar causing the frame to buckle above both axles & minimal damage to the body of the van. The case for recovery of medical bills & wages lost is now coming up & we found out that they are claiming that we were hit between 8-10 mph. I talked with someone in your legal department & she told me to see if Chrysler could give me info on the strength of that frame & if not, to file a complaint. We heard back from Chrysler this morning & they said that they couldn't help us.
We took our 1996 Grand Caravan in for recalls that Dodge sent us. They called my wife back and told her it was condemnable and unsafe to drive, because the strut tower was very badly rusted. By the time I had the chance to call them, because I was at work, the person she talked to had left, however I did talk to another person acquainted with the vehicle. He said because of the mileage and that I wasn't the original owner Dodge wouldn't do anything for us. He also said it would cost $2000 per side to fix and the van wasn't worth it. I said this is a serious thing and it should be fixed by Chrysler because they obviously used inferior materials on that part of the van. He said that they would not fix it, and the weather where we live had something to do with it. I said so I am just out of a vehicle to drive", and he said you can drive it but it's not safe. Now the other man told my wife that if she hit a hole or went over rr tracks it could come completely through and she would lose total control of the vehicle. The auto body man we took it to said that the part should have been galvanized when they made it and this wouldn't be happening. Another thing I would like to note is that our 1994 Caravan did not have this problem and it had over 270,000 miles on it. Also this 1996 does not have rust anywhere else. Someone is going to get hurt or killed if they don't recall these and fix them. They recalled a clock spring for the airbag, and they didn't ask the mileage of our vehicle, and they performed all the other recalls on it that day so they could get there money, but they won"T do anything about a suspension component that is life threatening. I would like also to add that your car doesn't need to have an airbag to be safe or run, but it does need a suspension. This is not an only case, we have another 1996 Grand Caravan that looks like rust is bubbling under the paint at that same spot, so it is a very easy thing to not see.
The body structure which held the strut to the front suspension was badly rusted. The consumer was told if he drove over a railroad track, the strut could go completely through the body structure it's connected to and he could loose control of the vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA