NHTSA Complaint #10186087 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

MY 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT WITH 50100 MILES ON IT HAD THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAIN ON DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS OCCASIONALLY DRIVEN IN HEAVY RAIN AND SEASONALLY WAS EXPOSED TO MID-ATLANTIC WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY IMPACT OR DISTURBANCE TO FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO COMMUNICATION FROM LF IMPACT SENSOR. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED CORROSION ON THE PIN CONNECTORS , LOCATED INSIDE A SUPPOSEDLY WATERPROOF WEATHERPAC RUBBER CONNECTOR, WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS PLUGGED INTO THE SENSOR. *AK THE LF SENSOR AND ABOUT 3" OF THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $240. AFTER READING THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURING ON OTHER VEHICLES I ASSUME THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE RF SENSOR FAILS AS WELL. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS FAILURE IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THE COST TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM (PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE) SHOULD NOT BE BOURNE BY THE CONSUMER. ADDITIONALLY, THE METHOD WATERPROOFING THE SPLICING OF THE NEW SENSOR WIRING CONSISTED ONLY OF HAND WRAPPED ELECTRICAL TAPE AROUND THE WIRES. IF THAT METHOD IS STANDARD REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE FOR A COMPONENT THAT IS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO WHEEL SPRAY, THEN IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE A SECOND WAVE OF FAILURES WHEN THE WIRING SPLICES SHORT OUT IN VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED. I DO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR AND MATING HARNESS AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT FOR INSPECTION IF NECESSARY.