NHTSA Complaint #750443 — 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

THE HEAD GASKET FOR THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A HAIR LINE CRACK WHICH LEAKS ANTIFREEZE DOWN THE BACKSIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS OCCURRED AFTER STANDARD WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH A MILAGE OF ONLY 57000 MILES. THE LEAKING CREATES AN ODER FROM THE EVAPORATION OF ANTIFREEZE WHICH IS CLEARLY DETECTABLE FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE CAB. THIS PROBLEM EQUATES TO AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $1000.00+. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS AN EPEDEMIC TYPICAL OF THIS ENGINE. THE AUTO MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS DONE NOTHING, THAT I'M AWARE OF, TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM FOR CURRENT OWNERS APART FROM MAKING THE OWNER REPAIR THE DEFECT AT THEIR EXPENSE (WITHOUT HAVING PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY). I'M DEEPLY DISGUSTED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS ATTEMPT TO IGNORE THIS DESIGN FLAW.*AK