2000 DODGE VAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 - 2000 DODGE CARAVAN/VOYAGERS. THE HOUSING UNIT THAT HOUSES THE STRUTS, MOST TIMES ON THE LEFT, DRIVER'S SIDE RUSTS AND CORRODES, CAUSING THE STRUT TO BREAK THROUGH. AT THIS POINT, THE DRIVER COULD HIT A BUMP, (THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SOME PEOPLE) AND THE STRUT CAN ACTUALLY BREAK THROUGH THE DASHBOARD OR WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING! CURRENTLY, ON MY VEHICLE, THE STRUT HAS BROKEN THROUGH THE HOUSING UNIT. IT IS APPROXIMATELY $300 TO FIX. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER, AND THEY HAVE CREATED A KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DUE TO THIS FACT, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL; OR AT LEAST PROVIDE MONETARY ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. COMMONLY THE MINIVANS ARE PURCHASED TO TRANSPORT FAMILIES. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, WHICH COULD EITHER PERMANENTLY DISABLE SOMEONE, OR EVEN WORSE COULD BE FATAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ORDERED THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR ON JULY 2, 2009. THE PARTS HAVE NOT YET ARRIVED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH A RENTAL VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RETRIEVED HER VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPONENT WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY WERE WAITING ON ADDITIONAL PARTS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND SHE IS WAITING TO RECEIVE A CALL ABOUT THE REPAIR. SHE WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER SOON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,857 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL, AND HE WAS TOLD THAT IT DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT COULD SMELL FUEL, AND THAT THE SMELL HAS BEEN THERE FOR SOMETIME, BUT HE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AFTER HE PUT GASOLINE IN THIS VEHICLE. ALSO THE SMELL WAS THE STRONGEST WHEN STOPPING OR STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL SEEPAGE AND IT WAS GETTING WORSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 168000. *AK UPDATE 04/12/07 *TR

1) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VAN WAS PERFORMING BEAUTIFULLY. 2) WHEN ALMOST HOME AND APPROACHING THE OFF RAMP THERE WERE 2 CARS IN FRONT OF HER. UPON SLOWING DOWN, THE VAN WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE BRAKED HARD AND STOPPED. THE 1ST CAR PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE INTERSTATE AND THE 2ND CAR MOVED UP. SHE LET UP SLIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE AND THE VAN TOOK OFF. SHE COULD NOT COMPLETELY STOP IT THIS TIME AND SHE HIT THE 2ND CAR ON ITS LEFT BACK FENDER. THE VAN CONTINUED ON SWIPING THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE OTHER CAR. SHE WENT ON AROUND THE CAR, TURNED RIGHT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND PROCEEDED TO GUIDE THE VAN INTO A DITCH WHEN HER PASSENGER KNOCKED THE VAN OUT OF GEAR. SHE QUICKLY TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND CAME TO A STOP. 3) THE NEXT DAY I CALLED A DODGE SERVICE MANAGER AND ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. HE STATED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIRTY THROTTLE BODY OR DEFECTIVE IDLE ADJUST CONTROL MOTOR. WE HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND A NEW ICA MOTOR INSTALLED. THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT THE ICA MOTOR WAS INDEED DEFECTIVE AND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS OF THIS YEAR. TOTAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS $3,763 PLUS THE LEFT SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE PLUS THE LABOR AND PARTS TO CORRECT THE INTERNAL PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE VAN IS A 2000 YEAR MODEL IT ONLY HAD 23,800 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *NM

1) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VAN WAS PERFORMING BEAUTIFULLY. 2) WHEN ALMOST HOME AND APPROACHING THE OFF RAMP THERE WERE 2 CARS IN FRONT OF HER. UPON SLOWING DOWN, THE VAN WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE BRAKED HARD AND STOPPED. THE 1ST CAR PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE INTERSTATE AND THE 2ND CAR MOVED UP. SHE LET UP SLIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE AND THE VAN TOOK OFF. SHE COULD NOT COMPLETELY STOP IT THIS TIME AND SHE HIT THE 2ND CAR ON ITS LEFT BACK FENDER. THE VAN CONTINUED ON SWIPING THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE OTHER CAR. SHE WENT ON AROUND THE CAR, TURNED RIGHT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND PROCEEDED TO GUIDE THE VAN INTO A DITCH WHEN HER PASSENGER KNOCKED THE VAN OUT OF GEAR. SHE QUICKLY TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND CAME TO A STOP. 3) THE NEXT DAY I CALLED A DODGE SERVICE MANAGER AND ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. HE STATED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIRTY THROTTLE BODY OR DEFECTIVE IDLE ADJUST CONTROL MOTOR. WE HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND A NEW ICA MOTOR INSTALLED. THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT THE ICA MOTOR WAS INDEED DEFECTIVE AND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS OF THIS YEAR. TOTAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS $3,763 PLUS THE LEFT SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE PLUS THE LABOR AND PARTS TO CORRECT THE INTERNAL PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE VAN IS A 2000 YEAR MODEL IT ONLY HAD 23,800 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *NM