2000 Dodge Caravan

I BOUGHT THE VAN USED AND NOTHING WAS NOTED ABOUT THE STRUT TOWER ON INSPECTION HOWEVER A FRIEND OF MINE NOTED IT WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF ME BUYING THE CAR. AS HE WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC I TOOK HIM SERIOUSLY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTING ON THE TOP WHERE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD IT TO THE BODY EXIST. I CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND AFTER WITNESSING A DODGE CARAVAN SIMILAR TO MINE LITERALLY FALL APART WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK I REALIZED THAT I SHOULD GET IT FIXED. I FOUND JUNK YARD TO GET THEM TO CUT OUT A STRUT TOWER OFF A JUNKED CARAVAN AND THEN FOUND A GOOD WELDER TO REPLACE THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER WHICH WAS THE ONLY PART OF THE TOWER THAT WAS RUSTING. THE TOP THE TOWER WAS PAPER THIN AND WHEN HE SHOWED ME THE PIECE HE REMOVED I NOTED THAT I COULD PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE METAL THAT WAS LEFT. IF THIS HAD BROKEN THROUGH WHILE I WAS DRIVING I BELIEVE A SERIOUS, INJURIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD'VE OCCURRED AS THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WOULD'VE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND LIKE THE CAR I SAW IN THE PARKING LOT, MY AXLE WOULD'VE BROKEN AND I WOULD'VE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE..DEADLY AT 60 MPH. *TR

I NOTICED SERIOUS RUSTING ON THE TOP OF THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS STRUT TOWERS. I READ ON A CAR FORUM CHRYSLER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM WITH SHOCK TOWER RUST ROT AND HAS A TSB FOR IT. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER WILL NOT FIX THIS DEFECTS FOR FREE. DODGE/ CHRYSLER SELLS REPAIR KITS (CAPS WITH SCREWS AND GLUE) FOR THE RUSTED SHOCK TOWER CAPS. THE REPAIR KIT DOESN'T SEEM STRONG ENOUGH FOR SOLVING THIS STRUCTURAL PROBLEM. THE FORUM SAYS WELDING THE CAPS IS MORE STRUCTURALLY SOUND. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO A MAJOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING PROPERLY, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 234,000. UPDATED 01/07/09 *BF UPDATED 01/07/09.*JB

JUST PURCHASED 2000 DODGE CARAVAN SE AND AFTER PURCHASING I NOTICED RUST-ROTTED HOLES IN DRIVERS SIDE SHOCK TOWER TOP. I CAN'T SAFETY IT UNTIL REPAIRED. I READ ON A CAR FORUM CHRYSLER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM WITH SHOCK TOWER RUST ROT AND SUPPOSEDLY HAVE A TSB FOR IT. BUT I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO CONVINCE CHRYSLER TO FIX THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS FOR FREE. THE FORUM ALSO MENTIONED CHRYSLER SELLS REPAIR KITS FOR THE RUSTED SHOCK TOWER CAPS. BUT EVEN THEIR FIX KIT DOESN'T SEEM STRONG ENOUGH FOR A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM. THEY SELL CAPS WITH SCREWS AND GLUE. BUT THE FORUM SAYS WELDING THE CAPS IS MORE STRUCTURALLY SOUND. TOMORROW, JUNE 9, 08, I WILL CALL CHRYSLER TO SEE IF IT'S A FREE REPAIR, WHICH IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO I CAN CONTACT HERE IN CANADA AND FIND OUT ABOUT ANY OTHER TSB'S FOR THIS VAN. THANKS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT 15 MPH OR TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. AN AUTO SHOP REPAIRED THE IDLER ARM DURING A TEST DRIVE, BUT THE NOISE STILL REMAINED. A MECHANIC LIFTED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUTS WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP AND RECEIVED THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CONTACT CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE STATE SHE LIVES IN USES SALT ON THEIR HIGHWAYS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMATION AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,600. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR