NHTSA Complaint #10346087 — 2005 DODGE CARAVAN

2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BCM SOFTWARE FAILURE ' THE FAILURE HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO. IT RESULTED IN POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE FOR THE VAN AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE NOT SHUTTING OFF WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY TAKEN OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, IT WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE 'POWER DOOR LOCKS'. WITH THAT IN MIND, THERE IS ONLY ONE KEY ENTRANCE FOR THE VAN ' ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THEREFORE, WITHOUT THE POWER DOOR LOCK FEATURE ENABLED WE CANNOT ACCESS OUR SMALL CHILDREN AS EASILY AS HAVING THE KEY AND BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY. ALSO, ABOUT THREE NIGHTS AGO I PULLED MY VAN INTO THE GARAGE, PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND TOOK THE KEY OUT. THE AUXILIARY FEATURES AND FAN MOTOR WERE STILL RUNNING SO I ALERTED MY HUSBAND TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, TURN THE VAN OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION. EVENTUALLY, HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO STOP THE ENGINE. I DIDN'T HAVE TO RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET VERY LONG TO SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VAN. THERE IS COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT OF PEOPLE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS NOT TAKEN CONTROL OF IT AND MADE A MANDATORY RECALL ON THIS PRODUCT WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BCM SOFTWARE FAILURE (THAT CHRYSLER IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH) WAS OUR PROBLEM. AFTER PAYING $70.60 FOR A RENTAL CAR AND $105.93 FOR THE BCM UPDATE WE NOW HAVE WORKING POWER DOOR LOCKS. *TR