NHTSA Complaint #719215 — 1997 DODGE CARAVAN

FIRST IN JULY THE MASTER CYLINDERS ON OUR BACK BRAKES WERE SHREDDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A BRIDGE WITH A CAR FULL TO TEEN AGE GIRLS. IN DECEMBER, I NOTICED A HESITATION AND SEEMINGLY "JUMPING INTO GEAR" ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND ALTHOUGH WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY DECLINED TO PAY FOR IT. THE JOB WAS TO COST ABOUT $1500. IN FEB, WE BROUGHT THE VAN TO A INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER, AND AS HE WAS LOOKING AT THE ENGINE, HE SAW THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WE DID CONTACT CHRYSLER AND WERE TOLD TO BRING IT TO A DEALERSHIP IN OUR AREA. TODAY, WE DID FIND OUT THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE HEAD GASKET BUT NOT THE TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE VOLUMES OF INTERNET SITES THAT SITE SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 90-98 CARAVANS. THESE STORIES COULD BE RUBBER STAMPED. DURING THIS TIME, I FOUND ABOUT 15 PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING OR HAD TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THEIR VANS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE CHRYSLER RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. PLEASE HELP. *AK