NHTSA Complaint #11320343 — 2016 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM WRITING TODAY WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON OUR 2016 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. OUR VAN HAS REAR POWER SLIDER DOORS AND LOCKS; RECENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR HAS STOPPED SLIDING AND WILL NOT UNLOCK AT ALL, EITHER WITH THE KEY OR MANUALLY. APPARENTLY THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE; THE DEALER HAS STATED THAT THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT A VEHICLE FOR REPAIR BUT WE WILL HAVE TO PAY THE $100 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND APPROXIMATELY $1100-1300 TO HAVE THE DOOR REPAIRED. THIS IS A COMMON FACTORY DEFECT THAT IS ALSO A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN; IF I WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, HOW COULD I POSSIBLY GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR SAFELY? IF IT WAS SIMPLY A POWER VS. MANUAL DOOR ISSUE, WE WOULDN'T MIND. HOWEVER, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. NOT ONLY IS THE INCONVENIENCE SEVERE WITH TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS, BUT THE SAFETY ISSUE IS UNCONSCIONABLE. WILL IT TAKE THE DEATH OF A CHILD FOR DODGE TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE COMMON PROBLEM? EVEN THE REPAIR TECH AT THE DEALER SAID THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND NOT SAFE FOR FAMILIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL OR AT [XXX] FOR MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR