NHTSA Complaint #10098100 — 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

DEAR NHTSA: IAM POSTING THE EXACT PROBLEM AS LISTED UNDER YOUR "DEFECTS" PAGE FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE: MAKE : DODGE MODEL : GRAND CARAVAN YEAR : 1998 MANUFACTURER : DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION ERVICE BULLETIN NUM : 98771 DATE OF BULLETIN: MAY 01, 1998 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 601474 COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN SUMMARY: THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY MAY NOT TURN ON THE RADIATOR COOLING FANS, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. *AK ================ THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. THE RADIATOR FAN RELAY FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO MY DEALER, TEAM DODGE OF STONE MOUNTAIN, GOERGIA. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE RELAY AS A RECALL (A TINY MODULE LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE RADIATOR), AND CHARGED ME IN EXCESS OF $150.00 TO REPLACE IT. SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MANY DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS THAT THIS IS INDEED A COMMON PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF A FACTORY-WIDE RECALL, AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER. THANK YOU.