NHTSA Complaint #10171529 — 2002 DODGE CARAVAN

I AND MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING UP HWY 44 AT 1730 HRS TO PICK UP OUR SON FROM WORK AT SIX FLAGS(IN THE RAIN), SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 DODGE CARAVAN EC. WE CAME DOWN PAST ANTIRE HILL RD THERE WERE A WARRING BUZZER AND A ENGINE WARRING LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER THE VAN SEEM TO HAVE A SHUTTER IN THE STEERING, SHE STATED AND I SAW THIS. AS WE CROSSED THE MERAMAC RIVER THERE WAS A LOUD METAL POPPING AND GRINDING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALMOST THROUGH ME OUT OF THE SEAT I THOUGHT SHE HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES. SHE STATED SHE HAD NOT AND THAT SHE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME CONTROLLING IT. SHE HAD LET OFF THE GAS AND SLOWED BUT NOT BEFORE HEARING THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE LOCK UP AND SKID ON THE WET PAVEMENT PULLING US TOWARD THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND. THEN THE VEHICLE GAVE ANOTHER LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND POP AND SHE GOT TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD HER POP THE HOOD AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK PUSHED OUT OF THE TUBE WITH FLUID SPRAYED EVERY WERE. I SAID I WOULD TRY AND GET US TO WALMART SO WE COULD CALL FAR HELP AND GET A RIDE FOR MY SON. I THEN STARED THE VAN PLACED IT IN (L) AND CONTINUED TO THE HWY 109 EXIT. THEN TO THE OUTER ROAD THEN FINALLY MAKING IT TO WALMART'S PARKING LOT. WHILE TRYING TO PULLING TO A PARKING SPOT THE TRANS GAVE ONE LAST LOUD SNAPPING SOUND, THAT WAS ALL I HAD TO ROLL BACK DOWN THE HILL AND COST TO PARK VAN. ENGINE WOULD RUN NOTHING FROM TRANS IN ANY GEAR. WE WALKED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION AND CALLED MY FATHER TO COME AND GET US. WE ARRIVED BACK HOME AT 2030 HRS. THE VAN IS NOT FIXED THIS JUST HAPPENED I AM GOING TO CALL CHRYSLER MONDAY TO SE IF THEY WILL COVER IT. IF NOT I WILL BE FIXING IT MYSELF AND YOU MAY HAVE THE PARTS IF NEEDED. THE ODOMETER HAD JUST TURN TO 72,000 MILES ON THIS DAY OF HAPPENING. *NM