NHTSA Complaint #10522678 — 1996 DODGE CARAVAN

THIS VEHICLE HAS A CHRONIC DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THROWING ITS SERPENTINE BELT WHENEVER THE TENSION PULLEY GETS WET. SOON AS THE BELT IS THROWN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING, AND IT STEERS 10 TIMES WORSE THAN A MACK TRUCK. THE LACK OF STEERING IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD TO EVERY OTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. AS IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY BY DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE, ETC. THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO TIME TO REACT. IN ADDITION TO LACK OF STEERING THERE IS NO ALTERNATOR OUTPUT, RESULTING IN RAPID BATTERY DRAIN. ALSO THERE IS NO COOLANT SYSTEM FAN RESULTING IN RAPID ENGINE OVERHEATING. THIS DESIGN FAULT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR WELL OVER A DECADE, NO MAKE THAT 2 DECADES, BUT CHRYSLER HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DATES BACK TO ALL CHRYSLER MINI-VAN DESIGNS FROM THE EARLY 1990S TO AT LEAST 2000. IF THE LACK OF STEERING IS NOT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. WE HAVE A USED WHEELCHAIR CONVERSION CARAVAN VAN TO TRANSPORT MY WIFE. THIS LATEST INCIDENT WAS THE PAST SATURDAY NIGHT AS WE LEFT A RESTAURANT TO RETURN HOME. IT HAD BEEN RAINING PROFUSELY AND SUDDENLY I HAD NO STEERING. I KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS SINCE THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. DO YOU EXPECT YOUR VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE JUST BECAUSE YOU DRIVE IN THE RAIN? WHY HAS NOT CHRYSLER BEEN MADE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A REPAIR RECALL? I DON'T CARE IF THE VAN IS OVER A DECADE OLD. THIS DEFECT IS ONE WHICH ENDANGERS EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AND WHICH CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO ADDRESS WELL OVER A DECADE AGO. *TR