1999 Dodge Grand Caravan

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE UTILITY TRAILER SAFETY. *SMD THE DRIVER OF A MINIVAN ALONG WITH SIX OTHER PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION ON A RURAL ROAD, WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BY A TRAILER LOADED WITH CRUSHED VEHICLES, THAT HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM A TRACTOR TRAILER HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, WIRING HARNESS REPLACED, AND PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.*MR THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH EMC DS2000 ADAPTIVE STEERING AND EMC EGB. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S FAILURE ALARMS CONSTANTLY SOUNDED. ON ONE OCCASION THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE GEAR TRAIN OF THE ENCODERS WERE DAMAGED. BOTH ENCODER GEARS AS WELL AS THE ENCODER ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. *NM

APPROXIMATEL;Y AN HOUR AFTER MVA (DAMAGE TO FRONT DRIVERS SIDE), I LEFT TO ACCIDENT SCENE. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, SO PULLED OVER AT FIRST AVALIABLE AREA. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. INSURANCE ESTIMATES IN EXCESS OF $6000 OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE FORM ACCIDENT IN ADDITION TO FIRE. VEHICLE IS TOTAL LOSS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE CRUMBLE ZONES PROPERLY PROTECTED TO FRAME. I DON'T THINK THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. INVESTIGATION OF NHTSA WEB SITE PRODUCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA99013 WHICH PROMPTED CONTACT. *AK

AS MY FRIEND WHO BORROWED MY VEHICLE APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, CAUSING HER TO COLLIDE INTO A VEHICLE WHICH CONSEQUENTLY HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE REPORT CORRECTLY INDICATES NO OPERATOR FAULT, BUT RATHER A FAULTY BRAKE LINE WHICH BURST, LEAVING A POOL OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKING SYSTEM THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES TO FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY. UNFORTUNATELY THE 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DOES NOT HAVE SUCH A SYSTEM. ALL BRAKES WERE LOST, MY VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE (WHICH WAS TOTALED AND RESULTED IN AN INJURED DRIVER) WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE INSPECTED WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BUT THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND CREATED THE INCIDENT.

MY CAR WAS REAR ENDED BY A LARGE PICKUP ON THE FREEWAY. IMMEDIATELY ON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK WENT INTO A RECLINED POSITION. THEREFORE, THE ONLY SAFETY DEVICE OPERATIONAL WAS THE LAP BELT AS THE SHOULDER BELT AND HEAD REST DEPEND ON THE SEAT BACK TO BE OF ANY USE AND THE AIRBAG ONLY DEPLOYS IN A FRONT END CRASH. THIS LED TO MY UPPER BODY BEING JERKED ALL OVER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. DODGE'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE SEAT BACK IS SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IN A REAR END CRASH. I FIND THIS RATHER INCREDIBLE AS THAT LEAVES ONLY THE LAP BELT FUNCTIONAL. *JB

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND STRUCK FROM BEHIND. BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS BROKE REARWARD INTO A FULLY RECLINED POSITION. THE DRIVERS SEAT STRUCK A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD WHO WAS SEATED IN THE SECOND ROW AND RESTRAINED WITH THE LAP-SHOULDER BELT. THE CHILD SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES.

ON AUGUST 22 OUR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS REAR-ENDED. IN THE COLLISION, THE SEAT BACK ON 3 OF THE 4 BUCKET SEATS WAS BROKEN. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE HEADREST OFFERED NO PROTECTION AGAINST WHIPLASH.

POWER STEERING FAILED, CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION AND INJURIES. *AK *JB

CONSUMER WAS PARKED WITH MOTOR RUNNING, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE , VEHICLE IN GEAR AND ENGINE REVVED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE/ BUILDING, AND A COUPLE OF TREES. FINALLY, GOT TO STOP AT AN EMBANKMENT. VEHICLE TOTALLED. *AK

2 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES . CONSUMER STATED ALL CHRYSLER VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A HILL INTO WOODS/ HITTING TREES, AND GOING INTO A DITCH. CAUSED $6000 DAMAGE. CHILD HAD A LARGE BUMP ON HEAD. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND DRIVERS SEATBACK COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO FALL INTO THE BACK . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER IS NOT IN FAVOR WITH INSURANCE'S DECISION TO REPLACE SEAT INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SEATS. *TT

THE ON-THE COLUMN GEAR SHIFT LEVER MAY BE PLACED IN PARK AND NOT LOCK IN THE RECESSED PARK POSITION SO THAT THE LEVER AND TRANSMISSION MAY DROPPED INTO REVERSE SPONTANEOUSLY OR WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR BY PUSH IT WITH A TOOTH PICK. HE HAS A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT. THERE ARE IN ESSENCE 2 PARK POSITIONS THAT THE LEVER WILL REGISTER "PARK" ON THE LED INDICATOR ON THE DASH. ONE OF THEM IS THE "TRUE" PARK WHERE THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUALLY SITS BACK AND MUST BE PULLED TOWARD THE DRIVER BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO BE POSITIONED DOWN INTO ANY GEAR. THE OTHER POSITION ALLOWS THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO REGISTER "PARK" ON THE LED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK WHILE SITTING THERE BUT ANY VIBRATION COULD CAUSE IT TO SPONTANEOUSLY ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. IN THIS VERSION OF "PARK" THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT POSITIONED BACK INTO THE LOCKED RECESS. THE FACT THAT THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS WANTONLY BEING MANUFACTURED WITHOUT AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM, WHICH REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE DEPRESSED PRIOR TO SHIFTING, HAS EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM. HAD IT (AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM) HAVE BEEN ON THE VEHICLE MY WIFE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN HER ANKLE CRUSHED, BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS, BE FACING FURTHER SURGERY AND SKIN GRAFTING AS WELL AS PERMANENT DISFIGUREMENT. THERE IS AR TWO DEFECTS HERE. A DESIGN DEFECT BY NOT HAVING AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM INSTALLED AS WELL AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THAT THE COLUMN REGISTERS 2 PARKING POSITIONS WHEN ONLY ONE SHOULD EXIST SAFELY. *AK

VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK, WHEN IT SUDDENLY CHANGED TO REVERSE, KNOCKING DOWN AND RUNNING OVER THE DRIVER. *TR

ON GOING PROBLEM, WITH MYSELF AND PREVIOUS OWNERS. NEVER ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER AND NO RECALL EVER DONE. WHEN DRIVING ON WET ROADS THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF LEAVING YOU WITH NO POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF CONTROL IF GOING AT NORMAL SPEEDS AND ON A CURVE. IT IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM AND HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER. THEY JUST SAY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL AND REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS SO PREVALENT THAT GATES HAS MADE A REPLACEMENT PULLEY AND BELT TO FIX IT, BUT IT COSTS ABOUT $120.00 AND CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE FIX AND INSTALLATION. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF? *TR

MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED THE SHIFTING LEVER OUT OF PARK WITH OUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VAN WENT IN TO NEUTRAL AND CAME DOWN OUR DRIVE WAY AND HIT A SNOWBANK COMING CLOSE TO A FOOT FROM HITTING MY HOME. THE DOOR HIT MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK AND CRUSHED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ON THE VAN INTO THE FENDER. THE LIFT GATE ON THE BACK CAVED IN. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT FROM BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE VAN BEFORE IT ROLLED. IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED WITH OUT THE BRAKE BEING PRESSED. *TR

1999 CARAVAN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED. *TS THE AIR BAGS SHOULD ONLY HAVE DEPLOYED DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WROTE THE CONSUMER EXPLAINING, THAT BASED ON THEIR INSPECTION, IT WAS REVEALED THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *JB

VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL ON THE FRONT LEFT DUE TO FLAT TIRE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH CONSUMER STRUCK A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK *TC

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *SC

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THIS WOULD CONSTITUTE THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HITTING AT 30MPH. *AK FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DUING THE EVENT OF A CRASH. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AT THIS POINT.