NHTSA Complaint #10159894 — 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE UNDER MY 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I TOOK IT INTO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A REAR COOLING/HEATING SYSTEM PIPE THAT HAD RUSTED AND WAS CAUSING MY ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK OUT AND NOT PROPERLY CIRCULATE IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT DODGE HAD A RECALL SO I CONSULTED MY LOCAL DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR 2004-2005 MODEL YEARS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR MY VEHICLES PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE SAME EXACT ONE THAT WAS ON RECALL FOR THE NEWER VEHICLES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHILE HAVING TO FILL THE RADIATOR WITH A GARDENHOSE EVERY TIME I TOOK IT OUT BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED MY RUSTED STEEL PIPE WITH THE NEWER DESIGNED ALUMINUM PIPE THAT DODGE IS NOW USING IN THE VEHICLES. THIS COST $300 TO REPLACE. *NM