NHTSA Complaint #10320006 — 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

WIFE NOTICED ABOUT 5~6 MONTHS AGO A HUMMING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST FIRED FROM SITTING OVERNITE. A FEW DAYS AGO I DROVE VAN TO WORK A 3 MILE COMMUTE, DROVE FINE, WHEN LEAVING WORK FOR LUNCH I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF RACKNPINION(RNP). IN CHECKING THE FLUID LEVEL IT WAS DOWN A LITTLE. CALLED DODGE 800-992-1997 TO REPORT OUR '06 GC SXT WITH 21,200 MILES, OBTAINED CASE # AND SETUP APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TO "DIAGNOSE PROBLEM" $48. DEALER STATED RNP NEEDED REPLACING FOR $1018. I CHECKED WITH LOCAL O'REILLY AUTO PARTS AND COULD GET RNP FOR UNDER $300. DODGE CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD PAY 40/60, THEM 40%, ME 60%. I EXPLAINED TO REP THAT IF VEHICLE HAD 60~85K MILES I WOULD UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT AT LESS THAN 25K COME ON. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE IT UP THE CHAIN AND ONLY OFFERED THE $400, SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED IN MY RESEARCH THAT I FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM UNDER THE 50K MARK. NO LUCK WHAT SO EVER. I EXPLAINED TO REP I COULD PURCHASE PART AND REPLACE IT CHEAPER - WHY SHOULD I PAY $600 (PARTS STORE WARRANTY LIFETIME). GOING TO REPLACE IT MYSELF AND SAVE $600. I FEEL DODGE SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING QUALITY ISSUE. I AM TIRED OF HAVING FLUID ALL OVER MY CONCRETE DRIVE WAY. THANKS DODGE, FOR NOTHING. I AM SURPRISED DODGE DOES NOT EXPRESS ANY INTEREST IN MY SAFETY BEING MY STEERING COULD GO OUT ON MY WIFE AND CHILDREN THUS CAUSING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND PLACING THEM IN GRAVE DANGER WITH RESPECT TO LIFE, LIMB OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME. *TR