NHTSA Complaint #10050696 — 1997 DODGE CARAVAN

I CONSIDER OURSELVES FORTUNATE AFTER SCOURING THRU THE NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN 1999 WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS MAINLY USED TO TRANSPORT MYSELF AND OUR THREE CHILDREN ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 6 AT THE TIME, BUT NOW MY HUSBAND DRIVES IT BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. WE TO HAVE HAD THE INTERMITENT GHOST WIPERS EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICHLE AND WERE CONSTANTLY TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG OR COULD BE FOUND TO BE WRONG. WE HAVE WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS REPLACED THE DRIVE BELT, THE WATER PUMP, & TIMING BELT DUE TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION AT 123,000 MILES JUST WENT OUT ON MY HUSBAND WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WE ARE TOLD THAT IT WILL COST $1,500 TO FIX. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO GET IT FIXED, BUT AT THE TIME OF THAT DECISION DID NOT REALIZE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE VAN LEFT MY HUSBAND STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE CHRYSLER IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DEFECTS? I DO NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT MY HUSBAND WILL BE DRIVING THIS VEHICHLE AGAIN, ONCE THE TRAMISSION IS REPAIRED. AS I STATED ABOVE I CONSIDER OURSELVES ONE OF THE FORTUNATE ONES TO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD WITH THEIR VEHICHLES, BUT WHEN WILL THE TIME COME TO HOLD CHRYSLER RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHODY WORKMANSHIP? I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS IS THE FIRST AND WILL BE THE LAST CHRYSLER CAR I EVER OWN. MY OTHER CAR IS A FORD F-150, WHICH I AM VERY PROUD TO DRIVE! *AK