NHTSA Complaint #720528 — 1997 DODGE CARAVAN

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON 3/6/00-DEALER COULD NOT EVEN DIAGNOSIS PROBLEM FOR 5 DAYS. FINALLY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. DID REPAIRS WHICH TOOK A TOTAL OF 8 DAYS AND CHARGED ME ALMOST $2300.00. I REAS IN CONSUMER REPORT RE: THE DODGE CARAVAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT WAY BEFORE ITS TIME, AND THAT THE 97 CARAVANS MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE TRANIS-SO I FOLLOWED UP WITH A CALL TO THE MAIN OFFICE AND SPOKE TO SOMEONE NAMED COLEEN PHELPS TODAY AT 800-992-1997 AND SHE SAID SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THAT, AND THESE SORT OF OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUES ARE DEALT WITH ON A INDIVIDUAL BASIS- SHE PUT ME ON HOLD FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND CAME BACK AND SAID THAT-SINCE MY VEHICLE IS WAY OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME WITH ANY OF THE COST THAT I HAD TO ENDURE. I EXPLAINED THAT IT IS STILL NOT EVEN 100%-IT STILL DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR 8 DAYS OF A RENTAL CAR LAST TIME IT WAS IN-DO YOU GUYS COMPENSATE WITH A VEHICLE WHILE RE-LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM-SHE SAID THAT IT IS DOUBTFUL. BUT I CAN ASK THE DEALER-IN OTHER WORDS THEY ARE NOT BIG ON KEEPING CUSTOMERS. MY COMPANY PURCHASED 4 1997 DODGE CARAVANS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION JOBS AT LEAST ONCE-SOME TWICE-WE WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE ANY MORE DOGE VEHICLES FOR THIS COMPANY. *AK