NHTSA Complaint #708705 — 1997 DODGE CARAVAN

I WAS PARKED AT BURGER KING, TURNED THE IGNITION AND PUT MY CARAVAN IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE. TO MY SURPRISE, THE CAR GAVE A SEVER JOLT, AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE....I TRIED AGAIN AND THE SAME JOLT OCCURRED, THIS TIME SOUNDING LIKE STUFF INSIDE WAS BEING SMASHED UP (LIKE A TRASH COMPACTOR SOUNDS). I TRIED TO GET IT INTO DRIVE (EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALMOST AS FAR UP AS I COULD GO) AND IT WOULDN'T BUDGE EITHER...THE SOUNDS GETTING WORSE. AFRAID I WAS CRUSHING THINGS INSIDE, I TURNED THE CAR OFF. MY TWO CHILDREN AND I WALKED THE MILE OR SO HOME AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE MECHANIC SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. ONCE HE LOOKED IT OVER AND TOOK THE TRANSMISSION OUT, IT WAS A SEVERE PROBLEM, "BIZZARRE" IS THE EXACT WORD OF THE MECHANC WHO ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY WARNING SIGNS. I HAD NONE. HE SAID HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THE EXTENT OF STUFF BROKEN APART INSIDE THE TRANSMISION LIKE BROKEN GLASS...AND SAID HE COULD NOT EVEN COME UP WITH AN EXPLANATION OF HOW IT MIGHT HAVE OCCURED SINCE IT WAS SO UNLIKELY FOR A CAR THIS NEW (97) WITH ONLY 43000 MILES AND THEN FOR THE "REAR PLANETARY (SP) GEAR CARRIER TO HAVE BEEN MUTILATED LIKE IT WAS WITHOUT THE FRONT HAPPENING. I HAVE PHOTOS TO SHOW THE HORRIFIC DAMAGE. AND I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE, GOD FORBID, I HAD NOT BEEN PARKED BUT STOPPED FOR A LIGHT OR SOMETHING OR ON A DARK ROAD OR WHEREVER, I CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT OF THE ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS HAPPENING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AND I FEEL CHRYSLER SHOULD ANSWER TO THIS!!!!!!!! I DID CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SVC CENTER TO REPORT THIS AND TO DEMAND RESTITUTION AS IT COST ME $2134; THEY DID NOT WANT TO KNOW NOTHING SINCE I HAD NOT BROUGHT IT TO A "CHRYLSER/DODGE DEALER" TO BE FIXED....THE CATCH 22 IS THAT I DID NOT DO SO BECAUSE I WAS PASSED MY WARRANTLY AND MY EXPERIENCES WITH DEALERS' SERVICE CENTER PRICES FOR MAJOR WORK HAS BEEN BEYOND MY POCKETBOOK!!! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER