NHTSA Complaint #11387413 — 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

9:45 PM I HAD JUST TAKEN THE EXIT FOR 781 OFF OFF I-81 IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, NY TO HEAD TO FORT DRUM. I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO 62, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65. IT WAS ABOUT A MILE OR SO DOWN FROM THE ON RAMP WHEN THE VAN SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AT 62MPH. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL OR LIGHTS, NOT EVEN THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD NO CONTROL. THERE IS NO ROAD LIGHTING IN THAT AREA AND NO OTHER CARS WERE AROUND SO I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD OR ANYTHING AROUND ME. MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS THAT I NEEDED TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE NO OTHER CARS COULD SEE ME BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. I TRIED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND THEY WORKED SO I TRIED AS HARD AS I COULD TO PULL THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I ENDED UP HITTING A GUARD RAIL AND THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN PARK, AND THEN I CALLED 911. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WORKED FINE. IT TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES FOR THE POLICE OFFICER TO ARRIVE. SHE ASKED WHAT HAPPENED, LOOKED AT THE GUARD RAIL AND THE VEHICLE. I GAVE HER MY LICENSE, INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION AND SHE DID THE PAPERWORK. I LEFT THE SCENE IN THE VEHICLE AT 10:35PM. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE BUMPER AND WHEEL WELL AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE HUB CAP. THIS WAS TERRIFYING TO EXPERIENCE. I AM VERY, VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ALONE ON A STRAIGHT, ONE WAY PIECE OF HIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT HAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN DIFFERENT. I COULD HAVE GONE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I COULD HAVE BEEN REARENDED, MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR GRAND CARAVAN AND THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, BUT IF I INPUT MY VIN IT SAYS THERE'S NO RECALLS FOR THAT VIN.