NHTSA Complaint #10263021 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

WE HAVE TAKEN OUR 2005 DODGE SXT GRAND CARAVAN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH MOST OF THE TIME THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE. THEN ON MONDAY MARCH 23 AFTER LEAVING THE CITY AND BRINGING MY CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT COMPLETE THE TURN. WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC BEHIND I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GUN THE ENGINE AND GO INTO THE FIELD. I STOPPED THE CAR WITH BRAKES THAT WORKED, AT LEAST, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS COMPLETE FREE PLAY IN THE WHEEL. I TURNED THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND THERE WAS A CLUNK AND THEN I AGAIN HAD REGULAR MOVEMENT OF TIRES WITH THE WHEEL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT I WAS BRINGING IT IN WITH MY DAD FOLLOWING BEHIND. TOMKINSON DODGE HAS HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS AND TOLD ME THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT SINCE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CAN'T PINPOINT THE PROBLEM, WARRANTY WON'T PAY UNTIL THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS TOO EXPENSE TO LET A TECH GET INSIDE AND TAKE THINGS APART TO FIND THE ACTUALLY PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME I NEED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN AND IT WILL BE FINE, BUT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO LET THEM COME AND TOW IT AND DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN! IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN MY CHILDREN AND I COULD BE DEAD. I WAS JUST LUCKY TO NOT BE IN TOO BUSY OF A PLACE UNLIKE I HAD BEEN A HALF HOUR BEFORE. SO THERE WAS A FAILURE BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT MAY BE TO EXPENSIVE FOR THE DEALERSHIP. *TR