2002 Dodge Grand Caravan

ON NOVEMBER 28, 2007 MY 2 YEAR OLD SON, DYLAN FISHER DEPETRO LOST HIS LIFE, ALONG WITH 9 MONTH OLD AMELIA DEMEUSE, TO A MINIVAN FIRE THAT ALSO SERIOUSLY INJURED TWO OTHERS IN THE TOWN OF LUXEMBURG, WI. OUR SON'S SITTER RAN SOME ERRANDS FOR ANOTHER LITTLE GIRL'S 1ST BIRTHDAY. WHILE SHE WAS IN A HARDWARE STORE, PURCHASING DECORATIONS, THE MINIVAN, HOLDING FIVE CHILDREN (ALONG WITH MY SON) CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAUSE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. I HOLD NO ANGER TOWARDS SUE LALUZERNE, THE SITTER. SHE LOVED MY SON AND MY SON LOVED HER. HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT MY SON'S DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN. HE WAS CALLED HOME TO JESUS FOR A REASON AND I FEEL IT'S MY CALLING TO ENSURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. THE MINIVAN WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. MY SON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE FROM SMOKE INHALATION AND SOOT. HE PROBABLY ONLY TOOK TWO BREATHS BEFORE BECOMING UNCONSCIOUS. ALTHOUGH THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR A VEHICLE BECOMING CONSUMED IN FLAMES IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. MY SON WAS IN A CAR SEAT THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE MINIVAN; A SEAT THAT CONTAINED HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, TOXIC MATERIALS. WE ARE WORKING WITH GIL ROSS, A LAWYER OUT OF CHICAGO, TO HELP US DURING THIS TIME. THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COULD EVER EASE THE PAIN OF LOSING MY CHILD. WHAT I REALLY WANT TO HAPPEN OUT OF ALL OF THIS IS FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY TO STOP USING FLAMMABLE MATERIALS IN THEIR SEATS, ESPECIALLY IF CAR SEATS ARE BUILT IN. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE TRAINED IN THE USE OF CAR SEATS IN CPR CLASSES ACROSS THE NATION AND A MECHANISM FOR QUICK RELEASE OF A CAR SEAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. I ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING THE WORLD AWARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND HELPING US TO CHANGE THE SAFETY STANDARDS. MY SON DESERVES THIS. THANK YOU. *TR

ON JULY 4, 2002 MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW SPEED ROLLOVER IN WHICH THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. IN THE MINUTES FOLLOWING THE ROLLOVER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY UP. MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN WERE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALL 3 BY THE GRACE OF GOD WERE PULLED TO SAFETY BY PERSONS NEAR THE ACCIDENT. TWO MONTHS LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE VAN FROM THE DEALER INDICATING THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM TO REPLACE A PART THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER. *NM

I EXPERIENCED RAMDOM FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY DODGE CARAVAN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN". I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE WAS PROBABLY THE "FRONT CONTROL MODULE" BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT POSITIVE IT WAS THE CAUSE, AND BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE PART. AFTER THIS OCCURED THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE MODULE AT A COST OF $307.05. THE REPLACEMENT OCCURED 9/15/2004. I HAVE HAD NO SIMILAT PROBLEMS SINCE THE MODULE WAS REPLACED. I HAD PURCHACED THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WITH THE VEHICLE BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE MODULE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE POLICY. IT COVERS 7 DIFFERENT NAMED CONTROL MODULES BUT NOT THIS ONE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND REGISTERED A COMPLAINT-#12641005.

ACCIDENT, GRAND CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. VAN FLIPPED, EXTENSIVE FRONT END, FRAME, SIDE, ROOF, ETC, DAMAGE. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NOR DID THE SIDE AIR BAGS. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS, INCLUDING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, INDICATE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME DISENGAGED DURING THE ACCIDENT (AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BELT TANG AND ANCHORAGE BUCKLE).*JB

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A SCHOOL BUS AND DRIVER'S SEAT DID NOT HOLD. THE RECLINING BACK BROKE.*AK

DURING A 40 MPH FRONT END VEHICLE COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND HIT A POLE. THE IMPACT FROM THE POLE DAMAGED THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS A CONVERSION VAN TO ACCOMODATE A WHEEL CHAIR PASSENGER. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAST THERE WAS COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE VAN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH ANOTHER VEHICLE IMPACTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *PH *NLM

I ROLLED INTO THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR EXCEPT FOR THE AIRBAGS. THE DRIVER AIRBAG SMACKED ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST AND THUMB. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 3 MPH BECAUSE I HAD STOPPED AND THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED AND WE WERE BOTH GOING FORWARD TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT A REALLY SLOW SPEED. I ROLLED INTO HER AND A SECOND OR TWO LATER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ *CN

ON 12/25/2010 MY FAMILY AND I WAS DRIVING IN OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, VIN # [XXX]. WE SLIDE ON ICE AND SNOW GOING DOWN A HILL AND AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WE SMASHED INTO A TREE HEAD ON. BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. LUCKY NO BIG INJURIES. THE WHOLE FRONT END, METAL BAR, RADIATOR, HOOD AND FRAME WERE ALL DAMAGED. IF THE TREE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANY LARGER, WE WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND QUICKLY FAILED. RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. NOTICED FLUID LEAK IN THE ROAD WHERE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, PULLING ME INTO A PICKUP TRUCK AND "TOTALING" MY 2002 DODGE GRANDCARAVAN BEYOND INSURED RECOVERY. NOTE: I HAD POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE REPLACED AS INSTRUCTED IN 2004 RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES. ON MAY 13, 2007, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, FORCING HER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS SHOVED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. BOTH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG FAILED. THE ENGINE SIZE AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,000.

I was driving down highway 60 when my van backfired. I thought it was a blown tire & started pulling off the highway. When pulling off the highway I noticed the orange glare off the side rails on the highway. That's when I realized that the van had caught on fire under the hood. Once I pulled over I had a friend call 911 to report my van on fire while I tried to open the hood & put the fire out. The hood was to hot to open so I grabbed everything I could from my van & stayed clear of it until the Arizona fire dept & Arizona highway patrol came. All my information was taken by the Arizona highway patrol. I was told that my van will be at J&S Towing & that my friends & i can leave the scene.

The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the heater blower had become inoperable and upon inspection, it was discovered that the heater blower wiring harness was burnt and the wires were melted together. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 185,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR HANDLE HAD MELTED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE SUN AND THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED. ALSO, THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD ALSO MELTED AND CRACKED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE SUN CAUSING DEBRIS TO SEPARATE FROM THE DASHBOARD MAKING CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPENED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER JACKSONVILLE DODGE (11101 NURSERYFIELD DR. JACKSONVILLE FL) AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN JUST WENT UP IN FLAMES WHILE DRIVING WITHIN MAYBE 5 MINUTES FIRE FIGHTERS CONTROL THE SITUATION BUT THE MOTOR ,BATTERY, EVERYTHING IN FRONT INSIDE HOOD JUST MELTED I REALLY NEED HELP I HAD JUST FINISHED PAYING IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I ATTRIBUTE THIS TO THE FAULTY ELECTRICAL RECALLS IT HAS AS WELL AS THE FUEL. HELP. AT LEAST I WANT A REPLACEMENT. *TR

WHILE GOING TO PICK MY CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING OFF BY THEMSELVES AND THE RADIO STARTED CHANGING CHANNELS. THE VAN QUIT AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, NOTICED A FIRE ON WIRES BELOW. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BUT CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I SMELLED SMOKE. I COULDN'T SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM SO I CONTINUED DRIVING. THEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR. I THEN PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I COULDN'T SEE A FIRE FROM INSIDE AND THE DOOR DIDN'T FEEL HOT. I WALKED AROUND TO THE OUTSIDE AND TOUCHED THE DOOR, WHICH WAS HOT. I THEN NOTICED BURN MARKS THROUGH THE PAINT. I WENT BACK INTO THE VAN AND PULLED PART OF THE PANEL AWAY AND SAW FLAMES INSIDE THE DOOR. I THEN TOOK A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND ASKED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AT A STOP LIGHT WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HEATING VENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD. THE SMOKE BEGAN TO TURN BLACK AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE DASHBOARD VENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO PLASTIC BURNING. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE SAME SMELL INTERMITTENTLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A HOSE LEAKING FLUID AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT RECALL THE TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING OR THE TYPE OF HOSE THAT WAS REPLACED. THE SMELL CONTINUED HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. UPDATED ON 05/30/2006. *AK