NHTSA Complaint #10290100 — 1999 DODGE CARAVAN

WE OWN A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THREE WEEKS AGO WE TOOK IT IN FOR A CHECK UP AT A CERTIFIED MECHANICS SHOP. THEY INFORMED US THE TENSIONER WAS BENT AND SERPENTINE DRIVING BELT NEEDED REPLACING. WE AUTHORIZED THEM TO MAKE THE REPAIR. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 1994 WITH NO INCIDENT. LAST MONDAY WE DROVE THROUGH STANDING WATER AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS THROWN. WE LOST POWER STEERING NOT TO MENTION THAT THE DRIVING BELT POWERS EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY WE WERE ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE OUT OF TOWN AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE BACK TO THE MECHANICS SHOP. THEY INFORMED US THAT INDEED THIS IS A PROBLEM DODGE MINIVANS HAVE. IN THE LAST 2 DAYS WE HAVE GONE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY WEB FORUMS WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 1,000'S OF DODGE/CHRYSLER OWNERS GOING BACK AS FAR AS 2002. DODGE HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY FLAW IN THEIR ENGINE PULLEY DESIGN. WE CAN BUY AN AFTERMARKET NEW DESIGNED TENSIONER AND BELT AT OUR EXPENSE MANUFACTURED BY 2 SEPARATE COMPANIES, BUT DODGE OFFERS NOTHING TO CONSUMERS WHO BOUGHT THEIR VEHICLES THINKING THEY ARE SAFE. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DODGE/CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT AND RECALL THESE POTENTIAL DEATH TRAPS OFF THE ROAD TO FIX THIS NEGLIGENCE ON THEIR PART. JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT DYING IN CRASHES BECAUSE OF THIS (OR ARE THEY AND WE JUST NEVER FIND OUT THIS WAS THE CAUSE) DOESN'T MEAN THEY SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR