NHTSA Complaint #10846111 — 2008 DODGE CARAVAN

CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AND KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION, THEY WERE LAYING ON THE DASH. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE PASSENGER'S FRONT DOOR WAS OPENED THE HORN STARTED HONKING AND WINDSHIELD WASHER STARTED SPRAYING (WIPERS WERE NOT ACTIVATED).IT LASTED ONLY A COUPLE SECONDS AND STOPPED. IT ALSO ACTIVATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR'S AUTO DIM FEATURE. ONCE I WAS ON THE ROAD DISCOVERED IT ALSO PREVENTED THE CAR FROM SHIFTING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I TRIED MANUALLY SHIFTING AND SLIPPING IT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT. THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED NO RESPONSE TO THE MANUAL SHIFTING IT JUST REMAINED ON THE "D". THE VAN DID GO INTO NEUTRAL AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED "N". I DIDN'T TRY THE VAN AGAIN UNTIL 24HRS LATER AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TIPM AND WILL BE REPLACING IT. IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED AT HOME AND IT ONLY LASTED A FEW SECONDS. OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN THAT LUCKY!! THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT IF IT HASN'T ALREADY IT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. MAKE THE RECALL!!