NHTSA Complaint #10594051 — 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE THIS MORNING, I WAS TAKING A TURN ONTO MY STREET WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MUSCLE THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETE THE REST OF THE TURN AND AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS TURNING TO GO THE WAY THAT I WAS COMING FROM. THE LADY IN THE OTHER CAR WAS LOOKING AT ME IN FEAR WITH HER ARMS RAISED LIKE "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" I TRIED TO TURN THE ENGINE ON SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK AS I COASTED DOWN MY STREET FORCEFULLY PUMPING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. ONCE I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, IT STARTED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS AS WELL. THERE IS EVEN A RECALL ON DODGE GRAND CARAVANS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM 3 AUGUST 2009 TO 17 JUNE 2010 FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON THIS WEBSITE AND MANY OTHERS THAT THIS ISSUE EXISTS OUTSIDE THESE DATES THOUGH AND THAT THE DODGE COMPANY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. I HAVE NOT CONSULTED WITH MY DEALERSHIP YET BUT I AM HOPEFUL BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO BE GREAT PEOPLE. WHATEVER THE CASE, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE HAVING MY WIFE DRIVE MY CHILDREN AROUND. I DO NOT FEEL AS IF SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT POWER STEERING DURING A TURN IN THE EVENT THAT THE CAR TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AS IT DID TO ME. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED TO ENCOMPASS ALL THE YEARS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND NOT JUST THE ONES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR