NHTSA Complaint #10176347 — 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

I BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT AROUND 87K IN 2004. AT THE TIME I WAS AWARE THAT THERE'S A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. I THOUGHT MAYBE DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE. I'VE BEEN A LOCAL DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICES SINCE THEN AND NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS. UNTIL AROUND SEPTEMBER I WENT TO THE DEAL HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AND A PERSON FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANTED ME TO REPLACE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS FOR MY VEHICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS THIS ALL ABOUT SO I ASKED A LIST OF PARTS THAT HE REQUIRED ME FOR REPLACING. I WENT HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THESE PARTS AND FOUND MANY OWNER OF THIS CARS COMPLAINT ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THIS MODEL. AN OWNER WAS TOLD TO REPLACE HIS SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS AND HE DID WHAT WAS TOLD BUT THE NOISE IS COMING BACK AFTER 6 MONTHS. MY CO-WORKER BOUGHT HIS CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY (2002 MODEL), WHICH IS THE SAME MODEL AS DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AROUND THE SAME TIME (2004) I BOUGHT MINE. IT'S MILEAGE IS AROUND 30K. HE GAVE ME A RIDE JUST 2 WEEKS AGO AND I FOUND THAT IT HAS THE KNOCKING NOISE TOO. MY WORRY IS WILL THIS A SAFETY ISSUE OR NOT? I'M SURE THIS IS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND JUST WONDERING WHY DC ISN'T RECALL THIS MODEL FOR HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED? * THIS SHOULD BE A ALL YEAR ROUND INCIDENT EXCEPTS SUMMER (WHY?). *JB