2001 Dodge Caravan

DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THESE DEFECTS ARE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. THIS WAS A MATTER OF RECALL FOR THE DODGE CARAVAN AND GRAND CARAVAN, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND GRAND VOYAGER AND CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY FROM THE 1996-2000 MODEL YEARS. OUR CAR IS 2001 MODEL AND IS NOT IN A RECALL LIST, BUT IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT FIXED IN 2001 YEAR MODELS. AM I ALONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS UNFIXED PROBLEM? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WAS COMING HOME WHEN I SMELT A BURNING SMELL. I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT STILL SMELT THE SMELL. I TURNED BACK ON THE CAR TO PULL OVER MORE IN THE LIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON (IT WAS DARK). WHEN I TURNED BACK ON THE CAR NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WORKED, NO BLINKERS, NO TEMP GAUGE, NO GAS GAUGE, NO RPM, NO SPEEDOMETER. ABOUT THREE HOURS LATER, STILL AT THE GAS STATION I DECIDED TO PRESS THE TRIP BUTTON AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON BUT MY DOOR AJAR BUTTON FLASHES ON AND OFF INCLUDING THE LIGHTS THAT COME ONE WHEN THE DOOR OPENS, WITH THE DINGING AND THE LOCKS GO CRAZY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NO I DID NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT FOR SURE IT WOULD CATCH FIRE. BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THEY HAVE JUST FAILED TO REPORT IT SO IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED! I HAD ALL MY 5 CHILDREN WITH ME, I THANK GOD WE WERE ABLE TO STAY SAFE. I LOCAL DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT AND SAYS IT IS THE INTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE INTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS MELTED AND THAT IS WHY I WAS SMELLING A BURN SMELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL THE KEY FINALLY FRACTURED WHILE IN THE IGNITION. SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITH ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

2001 - DODGE CARAVAN - LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT FELL OUT, HANGING ON BY WIRES. TOOK TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, SAID DEALER HAD TO FIX. TOOK TO DEALER, STATED COULD NOT REINSTALL, NEEDED WHOLE NEW UNIT FOR DRY ROTTED RUBBER GASKET. TOOK VEHICLE TO HOME DEPOT, BOUGHT 1 TUBE OF BLACK EXTERIOR SILICONE CAULK. DROVE VEHICLE HOME, AND CLEANED AREA AROUND REAR TAIL LIGHT. PUSHED LIGHT BACK INTO PLACE AND CAULKED AROUND DRY ROTTED RUBBER. TAPED TAIL LIGHT TO BODY ASSEMBLY (BE CAREFUL TO USE TAPE WHICH WILL NOT DAMAGE VEHICLE). LEFT VEHICLE TO SIT STILL FOR 24 HOURS AS CAULK DRIED. MADE THIS SIMPLE REPAIR MYSELF FOR $2.86 WHEN THE DEALER WANTED OVER $500 TO REPAIR. WHAT A RIP OFF WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN MAKE A VEHICLE THAT LASTS, THEY HAVE TO PRICE GOUGE THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

2001 DODGE CARAVAN - A/C SYSTEM & DASH/ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL AND LIGHTS - HAD VEHICLE FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS, TOTAL FAILURE OF A/C SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED SYSTEM. SYSTEM WORKED APPROXIMATELY THREE (3) YEARS, THEN HAD ANOTHER TOTAL FAILURE OF SYSTEM, ALONG WITH FAN SPEED SWITCH NO LONGER WORKING MEDIUM AND HIGH SPEEDS. VEHICLE PAST WARRANTY SO HAD PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACE EVAPORATOR. HAD TO PULL DASH OUT TO REPLACE EVAPORATOR, AS NO ACCESS TO MAKE REPAIR UNDER HOOD, COST OF $1,500 DUE TO LABOR INTENSIVE PULLING DASH FOR A/C REPAIR. AFTER DASH PULLED OUT AND REINSTALLED, DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT A FEW DAYS AFTER A/C REPAIR. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, STATED INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS WERE FALLING OFF, PAPER/ADHESIVE ADHERING COMPONENTS TO DASH DRY ROTTED AND NO LONGER STICKING. NEEDED NEW PANEL AT COST OF $1,000. THESE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED IN SUMMER MONTHS. IN WINTER, DISCOVERED HEATER DID NOT WORK. HAVEN'T REPAIRED THAT YET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE CARAVAN. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND RESPONDED AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $1000. THE DEALER WILL ALSO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IN ORDER TO DETERMINE ADDITIONAL FAILURES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CONTROL MODULE TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.