NHTSA Complaint #10153490 — 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

THE CUP HOLDER IN SOME VEHICLES IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS, BEVERAGE SPLASHES ONTO THE DASH, IN THIS CASE INTO A COMPUTER BOARD IN THE DASH THROUGH SLOTS IN THE DASH FOR THE HEATER CONTROLS. THE RESULT IS TOTAL FAILURE OF THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, WINDSHIELD WASHER AND WIPERS, FRONT AND REAR HEATERS, AND AIR CONDITIONING. THE LACK OF ABILITY TO CLEAR THE FRONT AND REAR GLASS CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE [XXX]. POSSIBLY SEVERAL BRANDS OF VEHICLE HAVE THIS ENGINEERING DESIGN PROBLEM. THE RESPONSE THAT I GOT FROM CHRYSLER WHEN I ASKED ABOUT REPLACEMENT PARTS IS THAT THE WARRANTY IS FOR THREE YEARS, AND AFTER THAT "TOUGH." THEIR E-MAIL RESPONSE IS ATTACHED. AT A MINIMUM, REPLACEMENT PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR A REASONABLE TIME AFTER PRODUCTION STOPS, AND THIS VEHICLE IS STILL IN PRODUCTION. SINCE IT IS A DESIGN ERROR, I FEEL THAT THIS FIELD FAILURE SHOULD BE CORRECTED WITHOUT CHARGE. IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, THEN I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL THIS $20 COMPUTER BOARD MYSELF. IT REQUIRES REMOVAL OF FOUR SCREWS. --->SNIP<--- YOUR VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED WITH A WARRANTY AGAINST DEFECTS FOR A PERIOD OF 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. YOUR CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE, ARE UNDERSTANDABLE. HOWEVER, YOUR REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER MUST BE DECLINED. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)