NHTSA Complaint #10153650 — 2001 DODGE CARAVAN

CORRECTION/ADDITION TO COMPLAINT 10153230. AT THE REQUEST OF DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF WHY TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. BOTH DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND LOCAL DEALER STATED REPEATEDLY THAT THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE. CUSTOMER SHOWED DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE OTHER TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY COULD BE DETACHED FROM BODY WITH FINGERTIP. AFTER FOLLOW-UP WITH DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, CUSTOMER WAS DENIED REPLACEMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, CUSTOMER PERFORMED OWN DUE DILIGENCE AND FOUND THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS LOOSE TAIL LAMP PROBLEM IN SEPTEMBER 2001 FOR ALL 2001 AND EARLY 2002 DODGE CARAVANS. SAME BULLETIN DETAILS SIMPLE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CORRECT BY PLACEMENT OF J-CLIP TO THE LEADING EDGE MOUNTING TAB OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY (DODGE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 08-021-01). TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS SINCE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED AND MOUNTING TAB HAS BEEN EXTENDED. BOTH LOCAL DEALER AND DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS SERVICE BULLETIN EXISTED AFTER CUSTOMER ARGUED IT'S EXISTENCE, BUT STILL DENIED REPLACEMENT. ANY OWNER OF 2001 OR EARLY 2002 DODGE CARAVANS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES PRIOR TO FAILURE DURING OPERATION, POSSIBLE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DETACHING INTO TRAFFIC, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, AND OPERATOR HAVING TO DETACH FAILED ASSEMBLY AT ROADSIDE AT RISK OF INTERSTATE TRAFFIC LIKE MYSELF. *JB