NHTSA Complaint #10039058 — 1991 DODGE CARAVAN

TRANSMISSION BEHAVES ERRATICALLY. FIRST SYMPTOMS WERE REVVING AND FAILURE TO GO INTO GEAR IN COOL (BELOW 60) OR RAINY WEATHER. THREE TRIPS TO THE DODGE SERVICE CENTER AND SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAVE DONE NO GOOD! ON MY WAY TO WORK THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I HAD TO VEER INTO AN EMPTY LOT AT @ 40 MPH TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY THREE SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE VAN WITH ME. I HAD TO FORCE VAN INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE AS IT WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I HAVE SEEN MANY ISSUES OF THIS TYPE POSTED ON NHTSA AS WELL AS OTHER SITES. ONLY A FEW CRASHES AND INJURIES AND JUST ONE FATALITY. THESE VEHICLES ARE PRIMARILY "FAMILY HAULERS" USED BY CONSUMERS WITH CHILDREN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE CRITERIA IS .....DO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR BE SEVERELY INJURED BEFORE SOMEONE FORCES DODGE TO DO SOMETHING ????!!! *JB