NHTSA Complaint #10845726 — 2000 CHRYSLER VOYAGER

WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE, ONE OF THE TWO 5/8 INCH GRADE 8 CHASSIS BOLTS WHICH HOLDS THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ON CRACKED AND FELL OFF ONTO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE AND CHILDREN DROVE AWAY IN THE VAN WITHOUT NOTICING THIS. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, I FOUND THE BOLT ON THE FLOOR AND TOLD HER TO STOP DRIVING. OUR MECHANIC CHECKED THE TORQUE ON THE OTHER SIMILAR BOLT ON THE SAME SIDE, AND IT IMMEDIATELY ALSO CRACKED AND FELL OFF. BOTH BOLTS WERE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE FROM THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. THE CRACKS WERE IN THE CENTER OF THE BOLT AND THERE WAS CORROSION INDICATING THAT EACH CRACK HAD BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. ONLY ABOUT 25% OF THE WIDTH OF THE BOLT APPEARED AS RECENTLY BROKEN, UNCORRODED METAL. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THIS VAN HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN ON SALTED ROADS, NOR SEEN ANY EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE FRONT WHEELS. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, FAILURE OF BOTH BOLTS WHILE DRIVING WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL, AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE DEFECTIVE BOLT FAILED WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE, AND NOT WHILE DRIVING IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS!