NHTSA Complaint #722253 — 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS VAN ONLY 7 MONTHS!!! WE HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE THAT HAS 97,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE TOOK A TRIP IN THE LAST WEEK TO CALIFORNIA TO SEE OUR DAUGHTER WHEN THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY PROBLEMS, WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN RENO, NEVADA - (3223 MILL ST, RENO, NV 89502 -- #(775)-323-3106). THEY SAID THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED REPLACING. AT A COST OF 300 DOLLARS, WE AGREED IN HOPES THAT THE LIGHT PROBLEM WOULD BE CURED EVEN THOUGH NOTHING SEEMED WRONG. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING, WE NOTICED THAT THE VAN WAS RUNNING TERRIBLY AND WOULD DIE WHEN STOPPED. FRUSTRATED THAT "NO" PROBLEM WITH OUR VAN PROGRESSED TO WORSE WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT AGAIN. AFTER TESTING IT AGAIN, THEY SAID THE CAMSHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE WE HAD TO RETURN HOME FOR WORK, WE COULD NOT WAIT TO GET IT FIX. ON RETURNING HOME WE TOOK IT INTO OUR TRUSTED MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY. HE CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT WE WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. OUR COMPLAINT IS THAT OUR ENGINE SHOULD NOT OF FAILED ONLY AFTER ONLY 97,000 MILES - IT IS LUDICROUS.*AK