NHTSA Complaint #11403016 — 2017 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

OIL FILTER ADAPTER/OIL COOLER. WHILE GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THAT HAD A TOTAL FAILURE AT 110,000 MILES WHILE ENROUTE TO GET THE RECOMMENDED 120,000 MILE SERVICE, THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE OIL COOLER HAD A DECENT SIZED CRACK NEAR THE BASE AND REQUIRED REPLACING. THEY TOLD US THE COULD ORDER THE PART BUT WOULDN'T KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE IN BECAUSE THERE WERE 14,772 UNITS ON BACK ORDER. HE SEARCHED THE SYSTEM AND FOUND 1 AVAILABLE 2 HOURS AWAY. I LEFT THE DEALER AND DRIVE STRAIGHT THERE AND IT TOO WAS GONE WITH NO PROJECTED ARRIVAL OF MORE. I WAS TOLD IF I KEPT THE OIL TOPPED UP AND KEPT AN EYE ON IT, IT WOULD BE OK AND NOT CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. I HAVE NOT SPENT ENOUGH ON OIL TO KEEP IT TOPPED UP THAT I COULD HAVE PAID FOR THE PART OF IT WE'RE AVAILABLE. ONLINE AFTERMARKET SOURCES ARE SOLD OUT WITH NO IDEA WHEN THEY'LL GET MORE. AS OF 09:30, 15 MARCH 2021, THE PARTS DEPARTMENT OF LANDERS CDJR IN BOSSIER CITY, LOUISIANA CONFIRMED THAT THERE ARE NOW OVER 15,000 UNITS ON BACK ORDER AND WHEN REQUESTING TO ORDER, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ESTIMATED WAIT TIME. WENT DIRECT WITH DODGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD 'ESCALATE THE REVIEW TO TRY AND GET THE PART TO THE DEALER'. NOT SURE HOW THAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A SUPPLY TO MEET THE DEMAND. EACH DEALER I'VE CALLED IN A 6 HOUR RADIUS FROM MY LOCATION HAS SAID IT SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH IT BEING SUCH A FAULTY DESIGN OF PLASTIC RESTING DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE MOTOR BUT THAT FIAT WON'T DO THAT. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE OIL LEAKING DOWN, SPRAYS ON TO THE EXHAUST CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE HAZARD.