NHTSA Complaint #10524685 — 1999 DODGE CARAVAN

WHILE REPLACING REAR BRAKE DRUMS IN MY GARAGE, IT BECAME NECESSARY TO JACK THE VEHICLE TO RAISE THE REAR LEFT SIDE AND REMOVE THE REAR LEFT WHEEL. I BROKE THE LUG NUTS LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE GROUND, THEN, USING THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE, I FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO POSITION THE JACK IN THE RECOMMENDED LOCATION TOWARD THE LEFT REAR AT THE IDENTIFIED JACKING LOCATION. I RAISED THE VEHICLE JUST ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. AS I WAS SPINNING THE LUG NUTS OFF, THE CAR FELL OFF THE JACK. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE RUST HAD COMPROMISED THE STRUCTURAL METAL AT THE JACKING LOCATION AND THE WEIGHT, WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING RAISED, CRUSHED THE WEAKENED STEEL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT TOO CLOSE AND WAS NOT CAUGHT UNDER THE WHEEL OR OTHER BODY PART. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR, AT THE RECOMMENDED JACKING LOCATION, HAD BEEN SEVERELY COMPROMISED BY RUST. THE EXTENT OF THE RUST DAMAGE WAS NOT OBVIOUS UNTIL THE CAR FELL OFF THE JACK. AT THAT POINT THE PAINT WHICH HAD BEEN HIDING THE DAMAGE HAD FALLEN OFF AS THE STRUCTURAL STEEL UNDER IT COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR. THERE IS ALSO A RUBBER PAD THAT CONTRIBUTED TO CONCEALMENT OF THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE SINCE IT COVERED MOST OF THE DAMAGED AREA SURROUNDING THE STUD USED TO PROPERLY LOCATE THE TOP OF THE JACK. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE INJURY TO ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN CHRYSLER'S OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR