NHTSA Complaint #10192255 — 2007 DODGE CARAVAN

2007 DODGE CARAVAN IGNITION TUMBLER SPINS VERY EASILY AND VEHICLE CAN BE TURNED OFF BY JUST TAPPING OR BUMPING THE BOTTOM OF THE KEY. IN MY INSTANCE, WE JUST BOUGHT THIS VAN LESS THAN A MONTH AGO AND MY KNEES BUMPED THE KEYS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE KEY IN THE IGNTION. SUBSEQUENTLY THE CAR TURNED OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO BRAKES & STEERING. THIS OCCURRED TWICE JUST A COUPLE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EVER SINCE. LUCKILY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARK POSITION. SAME PROBLEM WAS ALSO NOTICED BY THE TECH CREW AT THE DEALERSHIP ON MY VEHICLE AND ALL THE OTHER 2007 CARAVANS AT THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION IN MY VEHICLE TWICE AS WELL AS TRIED MANUALLY TIGHTENING THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITH NO SUCCESS. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE BECAUSE CHRYSLER ENGINEERING DEPT. IS VOWING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PARTS AND THAT IT WORKS AS EXPECTED. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE VARIOUS CHANNELS IN THE CHRYSLER "BUYBACK" PROGRAM AND ULTIMATELY SPOKE WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER WHO STATED THEY DO NOT SEE ANY ISSUES AND NO ONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED SO THEY WILL NOT BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THE SUGGESTIONS I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CHRYSLER STAFF SAID I SHOULD ADJUST MY SEAT, REMOVE EXTRA KEYS FROM THE ONE IN THE IGNITION AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. NORMALLY I LIKE CARAVANS FOR I HAVE OWNED ANOTHER ONE FOR 10 YEARS AND THE IGNITION ON MY OLD VAN IS NOTHING LIKE THIS ONE. ULTIMATELY I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF FIX PUT IN PLACE FOR I DON'T THINK THE KEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPIN THAT FREELY. THIS COULD BE A DEADLYCONSEQUENCE FOR NOT ONLY WOULD SOMEONE LOOSE BRAKING & STEERING BUT I WONDER IF THE VEHICLE AIRBAGS WOULD ALSO BE DISABLED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WARN OTHER OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONSEQUENCE NOT ONLY FOR THEIR SAFETY BUT FOR THOSE DRIVING AROUND THEM. *TR