NHTSA Complaint #10191641 — 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

I OWN AND DRIVE A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. ON MAY 19, 2007, I DROVE TO MY USUAL PARKING SPOT AND PUT THE VAN IN 'PARK'. I EXITED THE CAR AND LOOKED TO THE REAR OF THE VAN TO SEE HOW CLOSE I WAS TO THE SIDEWALK. I REACHED INTO THE CAR TO PULL OUT MY KEY, ACCIDENTALLY TURNING IT TO 'ACCESSORY' FOR A BRIEF SECOND BEFORE TURNING IT TO THE 'OFF' POSITION AND REMOVING THE KEY. WHILE STANDING NEXT TO THE CAR, WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR STILL OPEN, THE VAN BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS! I WAS IN SHOCK FOR A BIT BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS PUSHING ME FROM BEHIND, AND I HAD TO WALK FORWARD TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM KNOCKING ME DOWN. I TRIED TO REACH THE BRAKE WITH MY LEFT HAND OR JUMP INTO THE VEHICLE SO I COULD BRAKE. BEING PUSHED BY THE DOOR PREVENTED THIS. THE REAR WHEELS ROLLED OVER THE CURB FOLLOWED BY THE FRONT TIRES. I DESPERATELY TRIED TO PREVENT THE VAN FROM ROLLING INTO THE STREET BY GRABBING THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURNING IT A LITTLE. THE SLIGHT UPSLOPE OF THE ROAD SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN ENOUGH FOR ME TO JUMP IN. I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, STARTED THE VEHICLE AS QUICKLY AS I COULD AND PUT IT IN DRIVE. I MOVED FORWARD SLIGHTLY, HITTING THE CURB, PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND DROVE BACK A BIT TO CLEAR THE CURB, PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND DROVE BACK UP ONTO THE PARKING AREA. I IMMEDIATELY FELT PAIN IN BOTH KNEES, BACK, BOTH HIPS, RIGHT LEG AND RIGHT ANKLE, LEFT UPPER AREA UNDER MY ARM AND INTO THE RIBCAGE. LATER I ALSO BEGAN HAVING STIFFNESS IN MY NECK, AND EXPERIENCED OCCASIONAL NUMBNESS IN BOTH ARMS, DEPENDING ON THE POSITION I HAD THEM IN. I TRIED TO CONTACT DAIMLER CHRYSLER ONLINE SINCE IT WAS A SATURDAY. EVEN AFTER CHOOSING THE LINK "CONTACT US" I WAS NEVER GIVEN A PHONE NUMBER OR E-MAIL ADDRESS! ON MONDAY, MAY 21, 2007, I CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ONE YEAR AGO. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VAN CHECKED OVER AND REPAIRED THIS FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007.