NHTSA Complaint #10252946 — 2000 DODGE CARAVAN

I BOUGHT THE VAN USED AND NOTHING WAS NOTED ABOUT THE STRUT TOWER ON INSPECTION HOWEVER A FRIEND OF MINE NOTED IT WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF ME BUYING THE CAR. AS HE WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC I TOOK HIM SERIOUSLY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTING ON THE TOP WHERE THE BOLTS THAT HOLD IT TO THE BODY EXIST. I CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND AFTER WITNESSING A DODGE CARAVAN SIMILAR TO MINE LITERALLY FALL APART WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK I REALIZED THAT I SHOULD GET IT FIXED. I FOUND JUNK YARD TO GET THEM TO CUT OUT A STRUT TOWER OFF A JUNKED CARAVAN AND THEN FOUND A GOOD WELDER TO REPLACE THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER WHICH WAS THE ONLY PART OF THE TOWER THAT WAS RUSTING. THE TOP THE TOWER WAS PAPER THIN AND WHEN HE SHOWED ME THE PIECE HE REMOVED I NOTED THAT I COULD PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE METAL THAT WAS LEFT. IF THIS HAD BROKEN THROUGH WHILE I WAS DRIVING I BELIEVE A SERIOUS, INJURIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD'VE OCCURRED AS THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WOULD'VE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND LIKE THE CAR I SAW IN THE PARKING LOT, MY AXLE WOULD'VE BROKEN AND I WOULD'VE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE..DEADLY AT 60 MPH. *TR