This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Upon turning left, the left front strut sheared from lower control arm. (ball joint failure) the wheel assembly remained attached at the upper mount of the strut, but turned and pushed sideways against the bodywork, pulling the axle out of the trans and destroying the cv joint. The car skidded to a stop with no steering control. There were no injuries. This is the second time this has happened. The previous incident occurred two years earlier (about 20K miles ago). The upper portion of the strut had a failure under similar conditions with similar results. The strut was replaced, but the lower control arm may not have been.
The strut tower on the 1997 Dodge Caravan, that has 99,500 miles rusted and needed to be replaced. After researching this problem I discovered that this was a common problem. Dodge admitted to a design flaw for the premature rusting strut towers. A tech service bulletin from Chrysler dated October '02 explicitly stated that all '1996 to 19'99 Chrysler vans Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler, had the problem with the strut towers. All of them will eventually rust from the bottom up. As I stated, the strut towers were defective in there design. Clearly, when the rusted strut tower gives, the strut will come up through the hood. At that point, lives will be in danger, as the probability of losing control of the vehicle is inevitable. Please consider this my formal complaint. Will Chrysler live up to the responsibility and repair this know defect for those of us out of the warranty timeline.
Make : Dodge model : Caravan year : 1998 manufacturer : daimler Chrysler corporation service bulletin num : 2304402 date of bulletin: Oct 14, 2002 NHTSA item number: 10000317 component: Structure:body summary: Cosmetic corrosion or perforation at upper strut tower/S usually between the strut and upper load path beam inner panel (inner fender).
Defective transmission, causing difficulty in reverse position and surgeing while driving. Also vibration and the vehicle pulls to the right badly which may cause an accident. Dealer cannot determine problem, but is going to replace the tires. Michelin stated that it not the tires, but the vehicle itself.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bryn Mawr , PA, USA