NHTSA Complaint #10211506 — 2000 DODGE CARAVAN

THIS IS INQUIRY TO CHRYSLER'S PROBLEM WITH FRONT STRUT TOWERS ON 2000 CARAVAN/VOYAGER/T&C. SPECIFICALLY: SERVICE BULLETIN, NUMBER: 23-044-02, GROUP: BODY; DATE: OCT. 14, 2002; SUBJECT: NS STRUT TOWER CORROSION. IF THIS IS ONLY A "COSMETIC" PROBLEM, WHY IS A NEW STRUT CAP AND NS STRUT INSTALLATION KIT REQUIRED? SOUNDS LIKE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM REPAIR TO ME. MY DEALERSHIPS SERVICE MANAGER CAUTIONED MY AGAINST GOING THROUGH THE WINTER WITHOUT THE REPAIR! HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, JUST THIS TSB. IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED BY 10/14/02, SHOULDN'T IT BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. MANY DRIVERS WILL JUST ASSUME "IT'S JUST RUST" AND NOT KNOW OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE STRUT CAP BREAKS. THIS FAILURE, ON A HIGHWAY, COULD RESULT IN DEADLY CRASH! HAS NHTSA LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE ANY REMEDY, OTHER THAN THE CONSUMER PAYING THE APPROXIMATE $500 REPAIR? IF NOT, IT APPEARS THAT CORPORATE PROFIT TRUMPS ETHICS (LIVES/INJURIES) AGAIN? PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR POSITION ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR