2000 DODGE CARAVAN Suspension Problems

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION- WHILE DRIVING ALONG I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD NOISE (BOOM) FROM REAR OF VEHICLE-VEHICLE THEN SWERVED WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL SPINNING AROUND AND TAKING DOWN SIGNS, MAILBOX-AFTER LOOKING AT VAN IT IS APPARENT THAT THE REAR AXLE SLID BACKWARDS IN WHEEL WELL. WHILE BODY IS RUST FREE, UNDERCARRIAGE HAS EXCESSIVE RUST IN SPRING HANGER AREA-VAN HAS BEEN PARKED ON PAVEMENT ITS ENTIRE LIFE.

STRUT TOWERS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT RUSTED THROUGH ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC AND OTHERS THAT THE STRUT TOWER MAY FAIL COMPLETELY AND PUSH UP THROUGH THE HOOD, CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO DRIVER (ME).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOCKS WERE COVERED WITH RUST AND CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK TOWER IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING A SERIOUS DANGER TO ME AND MY FAMILY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PROGRESSING RAPIDLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE STRUT TOWER ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR BODY WORK. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

I TOOK THE CAR TO GET THE OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH CAR IN THIS CONDITION. I THEN CHECKED ON THE COST OF GETTING THIS REPAIRED AND THE COST ARE HIGH FROM 500.00 TO 1000.00 DOLLARS I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE BODY OF THE CAR GIVES OUT BEFORE THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 175,00 MILES AND STILL RUNS GREAT BUT THE MAIN BODY COMPONENTS ARE FAILING. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED GETTING ONLINE AND FILING COMPLAINT WITH THE GOVERNMENT. *TR

RUSTING THROUGH OF STRUT TOWER WHICH COULD RESULT IN STRUT PENETRATING THROUGH HOOD AND WINDSHIELD OF VAN. IF TOWER WERE TO COLLAPSE AT SPEED VAN WOULD DROP ON THAT SIDE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN ROLL OVER. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

2000 DODGE CARAVAN SUSPENSION STRUT TOWER RUST AFTER 7 YEARS. THIS COULD BE DISASTROUS WHEN IT BROKEN. AND IT IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS KIND OF VEHICLE. DEALER OFFER A FIX QUOTE $1300 + TAX. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING PROPERLY, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 234,000. UPDATED 01/07/09 *BF UPDATED 01/07/09.*JB

THIS IS INQUIRY TO CHRYSLER'S PROBLEM WITH FRONT STRUT TOWERS ON 2000 CARAVAN/VOYAGER/T&C. SPECIFICALLY: SERVICE BULLETIN, NUMBER: 23-044-02, GROUP: BODY; DATE: OCT. 14, 2002; SUBJECT: NS STRUT TOWER CORROSION. IF THIS IS ONLY A "COSMETIC" PROBLEM, WHY IS A NEW STRUT CAP AND NS STRUT INSTALLATION KIT REQUIRED? SOUNDS LIKE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM REPAIR TO ME. MY DEALERSHIPS SERVICE MANAGER CAUTIONED MY AGAINST GOING THROUGH THE WINTER WITHOUT THE REPAIR! HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, JUST THIS TSB. IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER ACKNOWLEDGED BY 10/14/02, SHOULDN'T IT BE LOOKED INTO FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. MANY DRIVERS WILL JUST ASSUME "IT'S JUST RUST" AND NOT KNOW OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE STRUT CAP BREAKS. THIS FAILURE, ON A HIGHWAY, COULD RESULT IN DEADLY CRASH! HAS NHTSA LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE ANY REMEDY, OTHER THAN THE CONSUMER PAYING THE APPROXIMATE $500 REPAIR? IF NOT, IT APPEARS THAT...

THE STRUT TOWERS ON MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DRIVER SIDE IS MUCH WORSE THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. *JB

DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTING OUT VERY BAD. CARAVAN ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE INSTALL OF NEW STRUT. IT IS ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND LOOKS TO BE THAT MY 2000 CARAVAN IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THE BATTERY IS ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE RUSTED TOWER. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT AFFECTED AT ALL. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE IS SEEING A LOT OF THE CARAVANS AND TOWN AND COUNTRIES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TOP HALF OF THE TOWER HAS TO BE CUT OUT AND A NEW ONE WELDED IN. THANK YOU DAIMLER CHRYSLER FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCTS. AND YOU WONDER WHY THE AMERICAN MARKET IS GOING TO THE JAPANESE AUTO MAKERS. *JB

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. TODAY I SAW THAT THE TOP OF BOTH STRUT TOWERS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ARE RUSTING OUT. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF READING ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AND CHRYSLER IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FAILURE AS OF YET, BUT IF NOT ADDRESSED QUICKLY THERE IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT!!! *NM

I AM WRITING TODAY BECAUSE I PURCHASED A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN IN FEBRUARY 2005. EVERY MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED. IN MARCH THE BRAKES WERE DUSTED OFF. AGAIN IN APRIL THE BRAKES AGAIN WERE DUSTED OFF ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN MAY THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE BRAKES I BELIEVE BOTH FRONT AND BACK. IN JUNE I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT GARAGE AND PAID TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPLACED AGAIN. THEN IN JULY THE CALIPERS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN AUGUST THE SAME GARAGE STATED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ABS NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I COULD ONLY HAVE THE BRAKES DONE AT THIS TIME. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 MINIMUM SO FAR REPAIRING MY CAR. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ABS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS. ALSO I WAS TOLD THAT...

THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, THE BRAKE LINE LEAKED, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, THE FRONT AXLE AND CALIPER PADS/ROTORS BROKE SPILLING BALL JOINT INTO THE STREET. *BF THERE WERE ALSO SCREECHING SOUNDS, ODOR(S), VIBRATIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE A/C FAILED.

THE FRONT STRUT TOWER RUSTED AND CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED AND THEY NOTICED THE RUST AND CRACK. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 10000317 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

VEHICLE CONTINUED TO WOBBLE UPON ACCELERATION. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON 4 OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT IN THE MORNING, THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT CAN BE HEARD WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON. *JB