NHTSA Complaint #10060271 — 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

THERE HAS BEEN A LEAK INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FROM TOP OF HATCH OPENING. LEAK WAS HIDDEN BY PLASTIC COVERING AND NOT DETECTED UNTIL NOTICEABLE SMELL, POSSIBLE CAUSED BY MOLD. WATER IS ENTERING THROUGH A FAULTY WELD ON EACH SIDE OF THE UPPER HATCH OPENING. LEAK WAS ADDITIONALLY OBSCURED BECAUSE CARPET IS RUBBER BACKED. THE UNDERLYING PADDING WAS SOAKED FROM THE REAR UP TO THE MIDDLE ROW OF SEATS. THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN ONGOING FOR A CONSIDERABLE TIME, BUT WAS UNDETECTABLE DUE TO IT'S LOCATION. THE VAN IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD BUT HAS ONLY 31,300 MILES. THE WELDS SHOULD NOT FAIL IN THIS SHORT TIME. THIS IS EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR A MFG DEFECT. MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE AREA WHERE THE WATER IS ENTERING. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATE OF INCIDENT, BUT I FIRST NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF WETNESS SOMETIME LAST YEAR. I THOUGHT IT HAD DRIPPED OFF THE OPEN HATCH. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.*AK