NHTSA Complaint #10347262 — 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED A FUEL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A TEMPORARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE FUEL RAIL. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AGO UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V268000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR PART WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, THE HIGH FUEL PRESSURE LINE SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO MASSIVE CORROSION AND THE FUEL PUMP LINE EXHIBITED A CRACK. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPLACEMENT FUEL SENDING UNIT THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 2004 CRACKED. UPDATD 10/25/10