NHTSA Complaint #10028348 — 1992 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER

MY 1992 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER MINIVAN HAS EXPERIENCED RECURRING FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT BOTH ILLUMINATED. ON OCCASION THE SYSTEM RESUMED OPERATION IF THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF OR NOT DRIVEN FOR 2 OR MORE HOURS. IN MARCH OF 2003 A LOCAL GARAGE DIAGNOSED THE ABS RELAY WAS NOT PROVIDING POWER TO THE ABS PUMP. THE RELAY WAS REPLACED - COST $100. DAYS LATER THE SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN. THE PUMP WOULD ONLY OPERATE IF CONNECTED TO DIRECT BATTERY VOLTAGE TO START IT RUNNING. IN LATE APRIL THE ABS PUMP WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER LOCAL GARAGE  COST OVER $500. THE SYSTEM OPERATED ANOTHER 3 WEEKS, AND THEN FAILED AGAIN, COMPLETELY FAILING DURING IN MID-JUNE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO THE SAME GARAGE. THE TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED THAT THE ABS RELAY COIL HAD FAILED. THE VAN IS UN-DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE ABS PUMP ALSO SUPPLIES POWER BRAKE PRESSURE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO CHRIS LEITH DODGE IN WAKE FOREST, NC ON JULY 3, 2003 AND INSPECTED. ON JULY 11, 2003 THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LET ME KNOW THAT THEY NEEDED THE DISTRICT MANAGER TO MAKE DETERMINATION OF RECALL WARRANTY REPAIR OF THE SYSTEM. JULY 15, 2003, THE SERVICE MANAGER AND DISTRICT MANAGER DETERMINED THAT THE PART THE TECHNICIAN IDENTIFIED AS MALFUNCTIONING (HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY R-4683398) WAS NOT A PART OF RECALL 96V-099 # 685. THE ABS PUMP IS PART OF THE RECALL AND WAS TO BE WARRANTED FOR LIFE. THE RECALL ALSO STATES THAT REPAIRS DONE EARLIER TO THIS PART WERE TO BE REIMBURSED AS A PART OF THIS RECALL. I AWAIT INFORMATION ON HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO OBTAIN AND INSTALL REPAIR PARTS. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $999.84. THE VAN WAS PURCHASED USED FOR $1800. REPAIRS ARE NEARING THAT VALUE. ACCORDING TO COMPLAINTS AND THE ENGINEERING EVALUATION THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. I KNOW THE VAN IS NOT NEW, BUT AT LEAST IT CAN BE SAFE, OR THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED NOT TO KEEP THESE VEHICLES IN OPERATION IF CHRYSLER WILL NOT HONOR THE TERMS AND SPIRIT OF THE RECALL.