NHTSA Complaint #10215885 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

IN 2005 WE PURCHASED A NEW DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND HAD IT MODIFIED FOR MY HUSBAND TO DRIVE FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR, SPENDING $50,000 TOTAL FOR THIS VEHICLE/MODIFICATIONS. IN THE SPAN OF TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES ' DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING PART OF THE TIME, BATTERY DRAIN THAT CAN'T BE LOCATED, BAD DOOR SENSORS, ETC. WE ALSO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION UNIT (UNDER WARRANTY). JUST 18 MONTHS LATER THE RACK AND PINION UNIT WAS BAD AGAIN. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, WE SPENT $1,129 TO FIX IT. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THIS PART WENT BAD AGAIN SO SOON. DO WE HAVE TO SPEND $1000 EVERY YEAR TO REPLACE THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART? THE DODGE DEALER MY HUSBAND WORKED WITH INFORMED HIM THAT THE RACK AND PINION UNIT NOW COMES WITH A COOLER TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE, SO OBVIOUSLY DODGE IS AWARE THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS A SHORT LIFESPAN. IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHY WASN'T A RECALL SENT OUT TO ADD THE COOLER TO THIS UNIT. I'M VERY DISSATISFIED WITH OUR DODGE VAN AND WILL PROBABLY NEVER PURCHASE FROM DODGE/CHRYSLER/JEEP AGAIN! SHOULDN'T A RECENTLY INSTALLED PART LAST LONGER THAN 18 MONTHS? ISN'T THAT REASONABLE? WE'VE GONE THROUGH TWO RACK AND PINION UNITS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS FOR A 2005 VEHICLE ' THAT'S RIDICULOUS! SHAME ON DODGE FOR NOT ASSISTING CUSTOMERS WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART! ON TOP OF YOUR AVERAGE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CUSTOMER, THERE ARE A LOT OF DISABLED CUSTOMERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE SPENT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IT SHOULD COST TO DRIVE AND TO HAVE THAT VEHICLE BREAK DOWN CONTINUOUSLY SUCKS!! MY HUSBAND CAN'T JUST HITCH A RIDE WITH A NEIGHBOR OR EVEN RENT A CAR FOR THAT MATTER. HE HAD TO MISS WORK WHILE DODGE SPENT AN ENTIRE DAY REPLACING A PART THEY JUST REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AGO. I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT WILL BREAK NEXT! *TR