NHTSA Complaint #10765276 — 2005 DODGE CARAVAN

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY 2005 DODGE CARAVAN WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE MINIVAN FAILED COMPLETELY, SHUTTING DOWN MY POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, ALL DASHBOARD INDICATORS, AND ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS (INCLUDING THE FOUR-WAY FLASHERS). FORTUNATELY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AFTER IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME, A DODGE DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKING MECHANISM HAD FAILED AND SHORTED OUT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND WOULD COST $900 TO REPAIR. IT ALSO COST AN EXTRA $500 TO REPLACE THE MECHANISM THAT THE PART IS ATTACHED TO BECAUSE IT HAD RUSTED SO SEVERELY. THESE INCIDENTS WERE FRIGHTENING BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED OR AT NIGHT SINCE ALL MY LIGHTS WOULD HAVE SHUT OFF. I WOULD CONSIDER BUYING A NEWER WHEELCHAIR VAN IF THEY WERE NOT SO INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE.