NHTSA Complaint #718291 — 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

THE ON-THE COLUMN GEAR SHIFT LEVER MAY BE PLACED IN PARK AND NOT LOCK IN THE RECESSED PARK POSITION SO THAT THE LEVER AND TRANSMISSION MAY DROPPED INTO REVERSE SPONTANEOUSLY OR WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR BY PUSH IT WITH A TOOTH PICK. HE HAS A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT. THERE ARE IN ESSENCE 2 PARK POSITIONS THAT THE LEVER WILL REGISTER "PARK" ON THE LED INDICATOR ON THE DASH. ONE OF THEM IS THE "TRUE" PARK WHERE THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUALLY SITS BACK AND MUST BE PULLED TOWARD THE DRIVER BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO BE POSITIONED DOWN INTO ANY GEAR. THE OTHER POSITION ALLOWS THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO REGISTER "PARK" ON THE LED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK WHILE SITTING THERE BUT ANY VIBRATION COULD CAUSE IT TO SPONTANEOUSLY ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. IN THIS VERSION OF "PARK" THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT POSITIONED BACK INTO THE LOCKED RECESS. THE FACT THAT THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS WANTONLY BEING MANUFACTURED WITHOUT AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM, WHICH REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE DEPRESSED PRIOR TO SHIFTING, HAS EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM. HAD IT (AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM) HAVE BEEN ON THE VEHICLE MY WIFE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN HER ANKLE CRUSHED, BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE DAYS, BE FACING FURTHER SURGERY AND SKIN GRAFTING AS WELL AS PERMANENT DISFIGUREMENT. THERE IS AR TWO DEFECTS HERE. A DESIGN DEFECT BY NOT HAVING AN INTERLOCK MECHANISM INSTALLED AS WELL AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THAT THE COLUMN REGISTERS 2 PARKING POSITIONS WHEN ONLY ONE SHOULD EXIST SAFELY. *AK