2000 Dodge Caravan
Problem Areas
Complaints Over Time
Recent Complaints
9/8/2008 I WAS TRAVELING ON IR80 & I MUST OF SWERVED A BIT & THE VAN STRUCK A DOT PADDLE MARKER @ HUMBOLDT MILE MARKER 45 IN NEVADA. THE VAN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES & OVERTURNED SIDEWAYS AT LEAST 4 TIMES. MY MOTHER & FATHER PARRISHED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT, BURNED SO MUCH THEY COULDN'T RECOGNIZE THEIR GENDER. MY WIFE & I ESCAPED WITH HER GETTING SEVERELY BURNED ABOUT 76% & I ABOUT 68%, WE WAS TRANSPORTED TO HUMBOLTD HOSPITAL THEN AIR TRANSPORTED TO U OF U BURN CENTER SALT LAKE CITY UTAH WHERE SHE SPENT ABOUT 7 MONTHS IN CCU BURN UNIT & I ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THE MARKER POST WAS UPROOTED & STRUCK THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VAN & DETACHED THE FUEL LINE THEN PUNCTURED THE CROSS MEMBER & DEPOSITING THE FUEL LINE IN THE HOLE THE FIRE STARTED THEN WE OVERTURNED WITH A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS. A MECHANIC EXPLAINED THE SEVERED FUEL LINE WAS A RETURN LINE FROM THE EVAP.CANISTER TO THE FUEL TANK & THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM STAYED AT 49 PSI BEING FED BY AN ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP I REMEMBER DRIVING SPEAKING WITH MY FATHER, MY WIFE & MOM WAS SLEEPING IN THE BACK SEAT THEN I WOKE UP ON FIRE TRYING TO ESCAPE THE WRECKAGE, I HOLLERED @ MY WIFE & I ROLLED OUT OF THE VAN. MY WIFE CHECKED MOM SHE WAS DEAD THEN ANOTHER EXPLOSION BLEW MY WIFE TO THE FRONT SEAT BETWEEN WHERE MY DAD & I SAT, SHE GRABBED DAD BUT HE WOULDN'T COME CAUSE OF MOM. TWO PEOPLE MOVED MY WIFE AFTER MY FATHER SHOVED HER OUT. I STARTED BACK TO THE VAN WHEN ANOTHER EXPLOSION ENGULFED MY FATHER. I DROPPED TO MY KNEES & TOLD A BYSTANDER I JUST KILLED MY MOTHER & FATHER. MY CHILDREN & FAMILY HIRED A BIG TIME LAWYER & IT WAS LOOKING GOOD UNTIL CHRYSLER FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY & CLEARED THEM FROM ALL LAWSUITS PRIOR TO THEIR BANKRUPTCY. MY LAWYER HAD TO WALK AWAY WITH A $30,000 LOSS, SHE WAS 44 & I WAS 48 YEARS OLD PRIME TIME OF OUR LIFE WE STILL BATTLE HEALTH ISSUES FROM THE BURNS & NEVER GOT A RED CENT FROM CHRYSLER. *TR
WHILE VISITING A FAMILY FRIEND CONSUMER DISCOVERED A WATER LEAK T IN HIS CARAVAN. THIS LEAK RESULTED FROM WATER RUNNING DOWN THE EXTERIOR ROOF GROOVES AND DOWN TO THE BACK OF THE VAN. IT HAD A CRACK IN THE WELD THAT WAS FOUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VAN BODY, WHERE THE REAR HATCH WAS LOCATED. THE WATER ENTERED THE CRACK AND RAN DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE VAN . ALSO, PUDDLES WERE FOUND UNDERNEATH THE CARPET, WHICH RESULTS IN A MILD WET CARPET, BUT EVEN WORSE, RUST.*AK I LIFTED THE REAR CARPET IN MY VAN AND THERE WAS WATER AND THE CARPET PAD WAS WET. I HADN'T NOTICED IT BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLASTIC LINER TRAY IN THE BACK. I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT ARE UNAWARE OF IT.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION- WHILE DRIVING ALONG I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD NOISE (BOOM) FROM REAR OF VEHICLE-VEHICLE THEN SWERVED WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL SPINNING AROUND AND TAKING DOWN SIGNS, MAILBOX-AFTER LOOKING AT VAN IT IS APPARENT THAT THE REAR AXLE SLID BACKWARDS IN WHEEL WELL. WHILE BODY IS RUST FREE, UNDERCARRIAGE HAS EXCESSIVE RUST IN SPRING HANGER AREA-VAN HAS BEEN PARKED ON PAVEMENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AIR BAGS AND THE HORN MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, NECK, BACK, AND HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC FACILITY WITH PENDING DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 296,000.
***BLF NOTE CALL CONSUMER TO GET MORE INFO*** MY MOTHER BOUGHT BRAND NEW MIN VAN FROM DODGE, SHE HAS FOR 8 MONTHS. SHE DROVE IN COUNTY ROAD. SHE HIT POTHOLE IN 40 MPH THEN AIR BAG BLEW UP. SHE NOT ABLE TO SEE ROAD WHEN AIR BAD BLOW UP, THAT CAUSE VAN RUN OFF RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER. COUNTY ROAD HAVE A LOT CURE. VAN HAS NOT HIT TILL, SHE CAN NOT SEE ROAD AND WHEEL GO STAY STRAIGHT WHILE ROAD IS CURE. SHE HAVE CLAIM TO DODGE TWICE AND STILL DENY. SHE LOST EVERYTHING. I GAVE HER MY OLD TRUCK FOR HER TO DRIVE. I AND MY MOTHER HAVE TALK WITH INSURANCE TO FIND OUT WHAT GOING ON. HE SAY IT HAVE TO WAIT FOR RECALL. SO NOW THIS RECALL AIRBAG FINALLY COME OUT. SHE HAVE TO GO HOSPITAL BECAUSE HER HEAD HIT BY STEEL WHEEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONTUSION ON THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPINDLE BROKE ON THE TIE ROD CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BUCKLE UNDERNEATH, AS A RESULT SHE LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. FOUR PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THEY ALL SUFFERED INJURIES ON THEIR KNEES, BACK AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. ONE TIME, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL POLE AND THE SECOND TIME, IT ACCELERATED INTO BUSHES AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A FENSE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES AND THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,444. UPDATED 01/06/11*LJ UPDATED 03.28.11
MY 4 CHILDREN WERE IN MY VAN WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND MY 5 YR OLD GOT INTO DRIVERS SEAT AND PULLED GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE AND VAN ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY, ACROSS ROAD, AND OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND IT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, THE GEAR SHIFT SHOULD NOT HAVE MOVED WHILE IT WAS IN PARK WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED TO GET IT OUT OF GEAR. MY DAUGHTER HAD TO HAVE STITCHES AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE SPUN, OVERTURNED ON ITS SIDE, AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER WAS FLOWN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND IS IN A COMA. THE CONTACT HAS COPIES OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,938.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT 40MPH THE CONTACT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONTAL DAMAGE AND WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND BOTH WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
2000 DODGE CARAVAN SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AT A SPEED OVER 55 MPH, STRIKING THE FRONT END AND UNDERCARRIAGE AS IT CAREENED DOWN AND THEN UP A DRAINAGE DITCH, TO THE EXTENT THAT PARTS OF THE VAN WERE TORN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGED. THE VAN THEN WENT THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE STRIKING ONE OF THE MAIN POSTS WITHIN THE ANGLE OUTLINED ON THE PAMPHLET DODGE SENT IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT, AND FINALLY CRASHED INTO A PINE TREE. THE CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN MULTIPLE INJURIES: TO THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM, HEAD WHEN IT BOUNCED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATEDLY KNOCKING HER UNCONSCIOUS, INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, AND RIGHT RIBS FROM THE SEAT BELT. WE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND WERE SENT A FORM LETTER DENYING ANY FAULT IN DEPLOYMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ISSUED IN OCTOBER 2004 CITING THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING. *JB
2000 DODGE CARAVAN SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AT A SPEED OVER 55 MPH, STRIKING THE FRONT END AND UNDERCARRIAGE AS IT CAREENED DOWN AND THEN UP A DRAINAGE DITCH, TO THE EXTENT THAT PARTS OF THE VAN WERE TORN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGED. THE VAN THEN WENT THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE STRIKING ONE OF THE MAIN POSTS WITHIN THE ANGLE OUTLINED ON THE PAMPHLET DODGE SENT IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT, AND FINALLY CRASHED INTO A PINE TREE. THE CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN MULTIPLE INJURIES: TO THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM, HEAD WHEN IT BOUNCED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL REPEATEDLY KNOCKING HER UNCONSCIOUS, INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, AND RIGHT RIBS FROM THE SEAT BELT. WE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND WERE SENT A FORM LETTER DENYING ANY FAULT IN DEPLOYMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ISSUED IN OCTOBER 2004 CITING THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES WHEN HER CHEST STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING GARAGE. AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE HOLIDAY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
DT: CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH HER 2 LITTLE GIRLS. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BRAKES FAILED AND STEERING LOCKED UP. WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT AND HIT TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE NO BRAKES IN THE VAN. *AK VAN. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM
DURING A 35 MPH FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NECK INJURES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT THE FOOT BEHING ON THE BRAKE. 4 YEAR OLD HIT THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND ACROSS THE STREET. *TC
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TWO CARS BEHIND A STOPPED VEHICLE, MAKING A U TURN. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR, AND THE SECOND VEHICLE BOUNCED BACK AND COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST AND ABDOMEN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SC *JB
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED MILD BRUISES. *AK *SC
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. TRAFFIC SUDDENLY STOPPED, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURY. FRONT PASSENGER'S CHEST WAS BRUISED FROM THE SEAT BELT. FOUR PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. ALL PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. FRONT PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS BEFORE THE COLLISION. CHRYSLER WAS SENDING A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK
SUBJ: COPY OF LETTER SENT ~ REAR END LOW-IMPACT COLLISION/SEATS BREAKING SUBJ: RE: DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ([XXX]) DATE: 6/25/03 9:09:50 PM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME FROM: USFROMCALIFORNIA TO: CUSTOMERASSIST@DAIMLERCHRYSLER.COM DEAR DAIMLER/CHRYSLER, IT SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A COMPANY THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE AS REPUTABLE AS YOURS, AND CAN SPEND BILLIONS, AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ADVERTISEMENTS TO SELL YOUR CARS, BUT WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP SOMEONE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SEATS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE 1960'S (JUST CHECK THE NTS&H WEBSITE, AND YOU WILL SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOW ALREADY WELL-KNOWN, THAT YOU HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS, WITH YOUR FRONT SEATS BREAKING IN LOW-IMPACT REAR END COLLISIONS! I AM NOW PERMANTELTY DISABLED DUE TO YOUR SEATS CAUSING A SEVERE CONCUSSION & TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FROM THIS PROBLEM! AND THE REAL THING THAT WE JUST CANNOT UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOUR SO CALLED TRUSTED AND SAFE AUTOMOBILES HAVE CAUSED ME AND MY FAMILY TO GO THROUGH A LIVING [XXX] FOR THE PAST 11 MONTHS, AND YOUR REPUTABLE COMPANY IS REFUSING TO TAKE YOUR ADULT RESPONSIBLITIES AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PROBLEMS AND COMPENSATE US AND OUR FAMILIES FOR OUR TRAGEDIES!!!! MOST OF ALL, YOUR LACK OF FIXING THIS FRONT SEAT PROBLEM, SO THAT OTHERS WILL BE SAVED FROM BEING HURT! WE WERE HIT IN THE REAR END OF OUR 2000 DODGE MINIVAN, AT A LOW SPEED, AND BOTH OF OUR FRONT SEATS COMPLETELY BROKE BACKWARDS, AND NOW I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME FROM THE CONCUSSION AND BRAIN DAMAGE I INCURRED FROM THE SEATS BREAKING! UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY TO HELP US GET SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION FROM YOUR COMPANY, SO WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY TRYING TO HELP US GET THROUGH ALL THIS. THANK YOU! SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
