NHTSA Complaint #10183045 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

THIS IS AN ABBREVIATED COPY OF THE SECOND LETTER I HAVE SENT TO DODGE THE FIRST LETTER WAS SENT IN SEPT, 2006. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT RAINS. UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. FEB 20, 2007 DODGE CUSTOMER ASSIST CTR POWER STEERING FAILURE DUE TO RAIN 2005 DODGE CARAVAN VIN: [XXX] THIS IS THE 2ND ATTEMPT TO GET DODGE OR CHRYSLER TO CARE ABOUT THE VEHICLE BUILT THAT HAS A POWER STEERING FLAW. IT IS APPARENT FROM YOUR LACK OF CORRESPONDENCE OR COMMUNICATION THAT YOUR COMPANY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CUSTOMER??S SAFETY. UPON YOUR ADVICE, I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTER, AUTOWAY IN CLEARWATER, FL. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL CHRYSLER COMES UP WITH A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. AS I HAVE STATED IN PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE, MY WIFE DRIVES THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE 99% OF THE TIME. SHE LOVES THE CONVENIENCE, PERFORMANCE AND MOST OF THE TIME THE HANDLING OF THE VAN. HOWEVER, WHEN IT RAINS, WHICH IS OFTEN IN FLORIDA, THE POWER STEERING CEASES TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AS SHE IS DRIVING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MY WIFE IS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURS. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO TARPON DODGE FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST NINE MONTHS. THE LAST TIME, JAN 2007, I WAS TOLD EACH TIME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO EXCEPT AVOID THE RAIN. NOT ACCEPTABLE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS GOING TO GET WITH CHRYSLER TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. TO DATE NO PHONE CALLS. I PREVIOUSLY CALLED TARPON DODGE SER. & SPOKE TO A MR. LITTLEJOHN. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL CARAVANS WITH THE SAME POWER STEERING PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO GET SOME ANSWERS FROM CHRYSLER. MY WIFE ON FEB 13, 2007 WAS TAKING HER FATHER TO LUNCH WHEN A MAJOR RAIN STORM OCCURRED. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT 6 DIFFERENT TIMES AS SHE WAS TRYING TO GET HOME. *NM *JS