NHTSA Complaint #10064581 — 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

ON 6/11/03 VEHICLE WAS MAKING POWER STEERING NOISES & AUTO DR LOCKS WOULDN'T LOCK AT 15 MPH. REPLACED POWER HOSE, HOSE CLAMP & OIL TRANS. INFORMED I NEEDED NEW BRAKES (22, 153 MILES & DIDN'T REQ THAT THEY DO THIS WHEN I ARRIVED AT SHOP). 7/2/03 TOOK VAN IN 'CAUSE LEFT REAR (DRIVER SIDE) SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE AT A GAS PUMP. WHILE AT GAS PUMP W/2 OF OUR 4 KIDS IN THE CAR. BRAKES THAT WERE JUST REPLACED PREV MONTH WERE SQUEAKING AS WELL AS THE STEERING AGAIN. (DEALER-BRAKES SQUEAK 'CAUSE THEY ARE METAL & THERE IS AIR IN THE STEERING LINE). 9/23/03 VAN BATTERY BLEW UP WHEN STARTED. REPLACED BATTERY. 12/3/03 STEERING MAKING NOISE DURING TURNS. REPLACED BOTH SWAY BARS LINKS. 12/29/03 STEERING IS VERY TIGHT & SHUDDERING AGAIN & AUTO LOCK BUTTON ON KEY CHAIN WON'T WORK. ORDERED NEW POWER STEERING RACK & RESEVOIR. THEN ON 1/6/04 TACH SPIKED AT 4K, VEHICLE LOST POWER & ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY W/MY BABY IN THE CAR. DETERMINATION WAS THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID ASSY FAILURE & REPLACED THE SAME. THIS COST ME $107 (WOULD HAVE COST MORE IF I WASN'T GIVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FIRE I HAD). 1/19/04 VAN WAS GIVING A BURN SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALONG WITH SMOKE. THEY FOUND A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH SHORTING IN COIL. A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACED & RECHARGED. 2/5/04 VEHICLE TAKEN FOR THE LAST TIME FOR LOUD POPPING SOUND UNDER THE DR'S FT AREA WHEN TURNING LEFT. ALL SUSPENSION PARTS TIGHTENED. NEXT VISIT IS REQ'D BY THE FL LEMON LAW TO GIVE THEM 1 MORE CHANCE BEFORE PAPERWORK CAN BE FILED. DONE ON 3/8/04 FOR STEERING NOISE WHEN STOPPED & JUST TURNING WHEEL. REPLACED PT THAT WAS REPLACED BEFORE: POWER STEERING PUMP RESEVOIR. PAPERWORK FILED FOR FLORIDA LEMON LAW ON 4/5/04,UNSAVE VEHICLE & FEAR FOR SAFETY OF FAMILY. *JB