NHTSA Complaint #714578 — 1989 DODGE CARAVAN

THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE(#18-31-90, NHTSA ITEM # SB022436). IT READS AS FOLLOWS: START-STALL AND/OR DECEL DIEOUT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS-REPAIR INVOLVES REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINGAL ENGINE CONTROLLER(SMEC) WITH REVISED UNIT-ALL 1989/90 DODGE CARAVANS. OUR VAN DID THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE IT FINNALLY DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A LUCKY THING THAT WE WERE ONLY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AT THE TIME AND HAD A PLACE TO PULL OVER. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THEY TOLD US THE ENGINE CONTROLLER HAD FAILED AND IT WOULD BE $400 TO REPLACE IT, MONEY WE DIDN'T HAVE. SO OUR VAN JUST SITS THERE WAITING TO BE FIXED AND WE DON'T HAVE A CAR EXCEPT FOR A 3-PERSON TRUCK(THERE ARE 5 IN OUR FAMILY).