NHTSA Complaint #10485944 — 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, OVER THE CURB AND CAME TO A STOP. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR BODILY HARM. IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, FEAR OF DEATH WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAL CONCERN. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE AFTER THE INCIDENT. ENGINE FINALLY STARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS A 'BAD WIN MODULE' (WIRELESS IGNITION NODE). THE TECHNICIAN ACTUALLY GUESSED THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIN MODULE BEFORE DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A 'FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM'. AN ONLINE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS PART HAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT IN THE 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (OUR DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS A 2008). THE REASON I AM WRITING THE NHTSA IS THE NEWLY REPLACED WIN MODULE IS CLEARLY A REDESIGNED PART. IT LOOKS AND FUNCTIONS DIFFERENTLY THAN THE OLD, FAULTY WIN MODULE. IF DODGE REDESIGNED THE PART, THEY MUST HAVE ASSUMED THE EARLIER DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE IN SOME WAY. TO JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR A REDESIGN, THERE HAD TO BE SOME DRIVING FACTOR LIKE IMPROVED SAFETY. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS DEFECT HAD THE REAL POTENTIAL OF CAUSING DEATH AND I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. AM I THE FIRST TO HAVE LODGED A COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS PART? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. *TR