NHTSA Complaint #10991435 — 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

AS PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED, CHRYSLER CONCEALED A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT FROM ITS CUSTOMERS AND THEN REFUSED TO HELP WITH REPAIRS. THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IS CALLED THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (OR TIPM). THE TIPM CONSISTS OF A COMPUTER, FUSES, AND INTERNAL RELAYS, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE'EVERYTHING FROM STEERING AND BRAKES, TO THE ALARM, HEADLIGHTS, AND THE FUEL PUMP. SINCE THE TIPM CONTROLS POWER TO A WIDE VARIETY OF ESSENTIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SAFETY AND SECURITY SYSTEMS, THE DEFECT OFTEN LEAVES THE VEHICLES INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING RELIABLE OR SAFE TRANSPORTATION. MANY CLASS VEHICLES FAIL TO START (OR TAKE DOZENS OF ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER) BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT, AND VEHICLES START UP AT OTHER TIMES ONLY TO STALL, SOMETIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. VEHICLES ALSO CONTINUE RUNNING WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION. THE TIPM DEFECT HAS CAUSED HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS TO SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED HORNS TO HONK, CAR ALARMS TO SOUND, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO ACTIVATE ALL ON THEIR OWN. THE TIPM HAS ALSO CAUSED AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY IN SOME SCENARIOS.