2002 DODGE VAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I OWN A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN,WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED AND WOULDN'T START. RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE REVEALED A HOLE CAUSED BY A WEAKENED TUBING WALL AND MOUNT CLIP AT THE WELD POINT. MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 36,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT WENT UNNOTICED BECAUSE OF LOCATION. DODGE REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM COMPLAINT #16378324 ALSO A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SAME PROBLEM COMPLAINT#16376641. *TR

POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING. DEALER DESCRIBES IT AS "MAJOR REPAIR". *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES HAD CONSISTENT AND WORSENING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED AFTER EVERY REPAIR. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES BURSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FAULTY DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DESIGN AND THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS THAN TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE.

WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT A 800 POUND HOG IN THE ROAD SENDING IT AIRBORN AND IT HIT OUR VAN BOUNCING OFF AND LANDING IN THE DITCH. OUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHIELD SMASHED INTO A BILLION PIECES , BUT THEN OUR VAN BURSTED INTO FLAMES TOTALLY GUTTING OUR VAN. HAD THE HOG ACTUALLY CAME IN ON US WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE AS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR US TO GET OUT. THE VAN WENT UP VERY FAST AND WE HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHY OR WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

WE WERE REAR ENDED AT 40-45 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS COLLAPSED ON TO THE PASSENGERS IN THE MIDDLE SEATS. BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND ALL THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE INJURED. THE PASSENGER IN THE MIDDLE SEAT WAS CRUSHED. WE ASKED A EMPLOYEE AT DODGE IF THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AND HE SAID YES. HOW COULD THIS BE THE RIGHT WAY FOR THE SEATS TO REACT, SHOULDN'T THE SEAT STAY UP RIGHT SO THE AIR BAG IS BY YOUR HEAD. [I REALLY WISH SOMEONE WOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS. *NM