NHTSA Complaint #10210297 — 2002 DODGE CARAVAN

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A SPEED OF 45-50 MPH WITHOUT MY HAVING PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE RMP GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING WILDLY AND THE ENGINE EMITTED A LOUD "REVVING" SOUND. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH REDUCED THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE TO ONLY APPROX. 25-35 MPH. IN ORDER TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP, I HAD TO "STAND" ON THE BRAKES (PRESSING EXTREMELY HARD). AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE STALLED. WHEN MY MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, HE, TOO, INDICATED WHAT DIFFICULTY HE HAD "CONTROLLING" THE CAR AND WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS ULTIMATELY TAKEN TO D'AMBROSIO DODGE IN DOWNINGTOWN, PA FOR REPAIR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, INDICATING TO ME I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITH MY VEHICLE. DODGE SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2002 CARAVAN SPORT TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE ELSE IS PUT IN DANGER. *TR