1998 Dodge Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE BEGAN ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AFTER REFUELING AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A BRAKE REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

FOUR COOPER FUTURA 2000 LTE P205/70R14 TIRES (DOT U9KE XAD3906) WERE REPLACED ONTO MY MINIVAN WHEELS ON 4/4/2011 AFTER SITTING FOR 16 MONTHS IN PROTECTIVE BAGS IN MY GARAGE. THEY ARE TOURING TIRES AND WERE SWAPPED OUT FOR THE COLD WEATHER TIRES THAT HAD BEEN ON THE VAN FOR THE PREVIOUS 16 MONTHS. ON 4/5/2001 THE TWO REAR TIRES LOST THEIR BEAD WITHIN 50 MILES OF BEING REINSTALLED. THIS IS PERHAPS ONLY THE THIRD TIME BEING PUT ON THEIR WHEELS. UPON INSPECTION BY A QUALIFIED TIRE INSTALLER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH BEADS HAD FAILED. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING 25 HIGHWAY MILES. AT WHICH TIME THE TIRES WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE 25 MILE RETURN TRIP DURING A TURN FROM THE EXPRESSWAY EXIT. BOTH TIRES WERE DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED FOR THE SAME REASON BY THE AFOREMENTIONED INSTALLER. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON 5/24/2007 AT PEPBOYS AUTO STORE 0289 5630 S. WESTNEDGE AVE., PORTANGE , MI 49002. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH TO OCCUR DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 470,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS, THE SERPENTINE BELT WOULD DETACH ITSELF FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM OF THE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

1998 DODGE CARAVAN SE FRONT STRUT COVERS ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH AND I CAN VIEW THE GROUND BENEATH. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED IN SUCH A CRITICAL LOCATION TO THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE. I AM CONCERNED THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE AND SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING A SPEED OF 0 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

MY 1998 DODGE VAN WAS IN TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR SOME GENERAL SERVICE. I ASKED THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE CONSIDERABLE RUST AROUND THE TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT. HE SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SOME VANS AND THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING. IF THE STRUT WERE TO GO BREAK THROUGH THE RUSTED CAP IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT LEAST MAJOR DAMAGE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HE PRINTED ME A COPY OF THE CHRYSLER SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 23-044-02. A WEB SEARCH SHOULD CONSIDERABLE RESULTS ON THE BULLETIN NUMBER. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH REP# HM494. I FIRST TOLD THE BULLETIN DIDN'T EXIST, THEN WHEN I DEMANDED SHE SEARCH UNDER THE BULLETIN NUMBER SHE TOLD ME IT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. THE BULLETINS CLEARLY STATES 1996-2000 NS TOWN&COUNTRY/VOYGER/CARAVAN. HM494 THEN STATED THAT SERVICE BULLETINS WERE ONLY FOR TECHNICIANS AND MECHANICS. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION DIRECTLY RELATED TO DRIVER & PASSENGER SAFETY THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2002 APPARENTLY WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMER. PERSONALLY I DO NOT THINK HM494 WAS QUALIFIED TO MAKE THE STATEMENTS THAT REPRESENT CHRYSLERS CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BECAUSE MY CARAVAN HAS 126,000 MILES I SHOULD NOT EXPECT ANYTHING FROM CHRYSLER. MY CARAVAN WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN 4YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR