NHTSA Complaint #768950 — 2003 DODGE CARAVAN

ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 24, 2002, I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 DODGE SXT MINIVAN. ON OCTOBER 25, 2002, I DISCOVERED EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES UNDER BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 25, 2002, SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES INFORMED ME THIS IS THE CONFIGURATION FOR THE NEW 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER MADE A DECISION TO ELIMINATE WHAT HAD BEEN STORAGE COMPARTMENTS UNDER THE TWO SEATS. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CHAIR BASE HAS HOLES DRILLED TO ACCEPT STORAGE DRAWERS, HOWEVER, NONE ARE INSTALLED. UNDER BOTH SEATS ONE FINDS AN ACCUMULATION OF EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VAN HAD I DISCOVERED THIS THE NIGHT OF THE PURCHASE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. ON OCTOBER 25, 2002, THE DAVID STANLEY DODGE SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE INFORMED ME THIS IS STANDARD ON THE NEW CARAVAN STX. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AFFECTING EVERY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT MINIVAN PRODUCED. CONSEQUENTLY, EVERY OWNER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS HAZARD; DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON ALL FUTURE PRODUCTION, A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE TO INSTALL DRAWERS TO COVER THE EXPOSED WIRES OR SOME SORT OF FACE PLATE SHOULD BE MANUFACTURED WHICH COULD BE INSTALLED OVER THE OPENING ON THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CHAIR BASE TO COVER THESE EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES. AGAIN, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THESE EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES EXIST ON EVERY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT. BY THE WAY, THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION CITING COST AS THE REASON. THE DEALER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ACKNOWLEDGED A SAFETY PROBLEM EXISTS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALER. I URGE NHSTA TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOME CATASTROPHE BEFALLS SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES ON ALL NEW 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT MINIVANS. DT