NHTSA Complaint #11377618 — 2008 DODGE CARAVAN

ORIGINALLY HAD TAKEN CAR IN FOR RECALL. THE RECALL WAS FOR BOTH DOORS. THE DEALER HAD DELIVERED THE CAR AND TOLD ME I WOULD BE CONTACTED FOR REPAIR ON THE PASSENGER DOOR ONCE THE PARTS WERE IN STOCK. AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING I FINALLY CONTACTED THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE IN STOCK. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I WAS SET TO DROP OFF THE VAN I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS GOING TO BE CHARGED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PUT IN AS COMPLETE IN THE DEALERS RECORDS BUT SHOWED PARTS NOT INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT DODGE AND LEFT THE VAN THERE OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE TO GET THE RUNAROUND WITH DODGE. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. MY FAMILY HAS USED THE VAN EVER SINCE. I HAVE ALWAYS PUT OFF REPAIRING IT BECAUSE IT WAS A RECALL THAT BROKE DOWN AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL VERBATIM AND IS A HAZARD FOR MULTIPLE REASONS AND I WOULD BLAME DODGE DIRECTLY IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH OUT THE LAST FEW YEARS TRYING TO RECTIFY THIS EGREGIOUS SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECORDS INDICATE ONLY ONE SIDE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE RECALL STILL TO THIS DAY SHOWS COMPLETE. I TAKE PRIDE IN BUYING AND MAINTAINING AN 'AMERICAN MADE' PRODUCT AND WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR PRINCIPLE. DODGE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED FOR A CUSTOMER WHO IS A FAMILY MAN. I PROTECT MY FAMILY WITH MY OWN LIFE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO ONLY USE ONE DOOR WHEN PARKING ON A BUSY STREET WITH 2-5 CHILDREN WHO ARE FORCED TO GET OUT ONTO A BUSY STREET IF THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION. IT CAN BE VERY RISKY. EVEN PICKING THEM UP FROM SCHOOL THEY ARE MADE TO WALK TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR EVEN THOU THE PICK UP SIDE IS ON THE PASSENGER. SECONDLY MY MAIN ISSUE IS A SHORT WHILE DRIVING. PROTRUDING WIRES COULD BE PINCHED IF THE DOOR IS USED WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE OR FAULT IN THE DOOR FUNCTIONALITY