NHTSA Complaint #10100522 — 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

WE NOTICED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO FIRESTONE. PROBLEM DUE TO BAD LEAK DETECTION PUMP. LDP ON ORDER BUT VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THREE DAYS. THE DAY LDP ARRIVES SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUITS. COMPUTER BURNED OUT. ORDERED REBUILT COMPUTER, SINCE NO NEW COMPUTERS AVAILABLE, FROM DODGE. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN 14 DAYS WAITING FOR COMPUTER. FIRESTONE INSTALLS COMPUTER. THREE DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. FIRESTONE SAYS PROBLEM DUE TO BAD LDP. OBTAIN NEW LDP FROM DODGE BUT INSTALLED BY FIRESTONE. TWO DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. FIRESTONE RESETS COMPUTER BUT CODES KEEPS DISPLAYING. FIRESTONE SAYS PROBLEM BEYOND THEIR EXPERTISE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DODGE. DODGE INSPECTS VEHICLE SAYS COMPUTER BURNED OUT. DODGE HAS VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS WAITING REPLACEMENT COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY. DODGE REPLACES COMPUTER AND CHECKS WIRING HARNESS FOR LOOSE CONNECTIONS. TWO DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. DODGE SAYS COMPUTER BURNED OUT. DODGE REPLACES AND THIRD COMPUTER WHICH BURNS OUT. DODGE SUSPECTS BAD LDP, BUT RULES OUT WHEN INFORMED LDP WAS REPLACED LESS THAN ONE MONTH. DODGE REPLACES AND BURNS OUT FOURTH COMPUTER. 26 DAYS AND FIVE COMPUTERS LATER, DODGE SAYS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS PROBLEM. DODGE CONSULTS WITH CHRYSLER TECHNICAL WHO RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS. WE DECLINE BECAUSE NOT A SURE FIX AND HAVE DODGE PUT THE VEHICLE BACK TOGETHER. DODGE DISCONNECTED WIRE BETWEEN LDP AND COMPUTER TO PREVENT COMPUTER FROM BURNING UP. UPON TAKING VEHICLE HOME RADIATOR LEAK DISCOVERED WHICH WE REPLACE. WIRING HARNESS INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL EXPERT WHO SAID VEHICLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO TRACE.*AK