NHTSA Complaint #10245165 — 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

I SUBMITTED THIS COMPLAINT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED MY VEHICLE. I WORRY THAT THERE COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I OWN A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT. IN THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO DODGE CITY OF MILWAUKEE FOR TWO SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, ONE IN WINTER 2007 AND ANOTHER IN SPRING 2008. DURING BOTH VISITS, I COMPLAINED OF AN PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. ON SHARP LEFT TURNS, THE VAN OFTEN MAKES A "PULSING" OR "HOWLING" SOUND. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, DODGE CITY OF MILWAUKEE FIXED SOMETHING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, BUT THE SOUND NEVER WENT AWAY. EARLIER TODAY, AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE ALLEY BEHIND MY HOUSE, THE CAR'S STEERING SUDDENLY FROZE AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I AM NOT SURE OF THE REASON FOR THIS, BUT IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY TRAFFIC, OR IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I CHECKED THE OIL, WHICH WAS A BIT LOW BUT STILL IN THE NORMAL RANGE (I ALSO COMPLAINED ON BOTH VISITS THAT THE CAR LOSES OIL QUICKLY AND WAS ASSURED BY DODGE CITY OF MILWAUKEE THAT THIS IS NORMAL). I SHUT OFF THE CAR, TURNED IT ON AGAIN, AND IT SEEMED TO WORK NORMALLY. SINCE THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED, I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT THIS INCIDENT IS SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE PROBLEM THAT YOUR TECHNICIANS NEGLIGENTLY FAILED TO ADDRESS. WHEN I PURCHASED A NEW DODGE VAN IN 2006 FOR MY FAMILY OF SIX, I NEVER IMAGINED THAT IT WOULD CAUSE ME TO FEAR FOR OUR SAFETY WITHIN TWO YEARS. THIS IS AN ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS LARGELY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF DODGE CITY OF MILWAUKEE'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS THAT I REPEATEDLY MENTIONED. I AM COPYING MY LAWYER ON THIS MESSAGE, ALONG WITH THE WILDE DODGE SALESMAN WHO ORIGINALLY SOLD ME THE CAR, AND I ALSO PLAN TO INFORM THE NATIONAL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. IF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS TOO OBSCURE TO IDENTIFY, THEN I SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT PUT MY FOUR SMALL CHILDREN AT RISK. *TR