10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 75,079 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Strut towers rusting on 2000 Dodge Caravan. Vehicle began wobbling severely while driving on the freeway. Took it to a repair shop to find out that both strut towers are severely rusted. After researching the internet I found the technical service bulletin, which states this is a cosmetic repair! this is unbelievable! the strut tower is completely rusted and hardly anything is holding it in place. Thousands of vehicles have been affected, but there has been no recall? Dodge should be repairing this for free.
- Brattleboro, VT, USA
I noticed serious rusting on the top of the drivers side and passengers strut towers. I read on a car forum Chrysler knows of the problem with shock tower rust rot and has a tsb for it. However, Chrysler will not fix this defects for free. Dodge/ Chrysler sells repair kits (caps with screws and glue) for the rusted shock tower caps. The repair kit doesn't seem strong enough for solving this structural problem. The forum says welding the caps is more structurally sound. I believe that this is a big safety issue due to a major structural engineering defect.
- Wilbraham, MA, USA
I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan that has a strut tower rusting through. It is my understanding that this is a common problem. Shouldn't Chrysler be addressing this? I had a 1996 that did the same thing.
- Warrenton, VA, USA
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 updated 01/07/09.
- Rockford, MI, USA
Just purchased 2000 Dodge Caravan SE and after purchasing I noticed rust-rotted holes in drivers side shock tower top. I can't safety it until repaired. I read on a car forum Chrysler knows of the problem with shock tower rust rot and supposedly have a tsb for it. But I know how hard it is to convince Chrysler to fix their manufacturing defects for free. The forum also mentioned Chrysler sells repair kits for the rusted shock tower caps. But even their fix kit doesn't seem strong enough for a structural problem. They sell caps with screws and glue. But the forum says welding the caps is more structurally sound. Tomorrow, June 9, 08, I will call Chrysler to see if it's a free repair, which it should be because it's a safety issue. I would like to know who I can contact here in Canada and find out about any other tsb's for this van. Thanks.
- Brampton, 00, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Caravan. While driving over a bump at 15 mph or turning the steering wheel, the contact heard a popping sound coming from the front driver's side. An auto shop repaired the idler arm during a test drive, but the noise still remained. A mechanic lifted the hood of the vehicle and discovered that the struts were rusted. The contact was advised not to drive the vehicle. She took the vehicle to another shop and received the same diagnosis. They stated that the failure was due to a manufacturer defect. The contact called Chrysler and was informed that nothing could be done because the state she lives in uses salt on their highways. The vehicle is currently parked and has not been repaired. The dealer information and failure mileage were unknown. The current mileage was 72,600. Updated 04/16/08 updated 04/16/08
- Richmond, IN, USA
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan sport, 3.3 L engine driver side strut tower rusting at alarming rate, will have to be rebuilt or reinforced or strut and spring assembly will eventually not be supported resulting in front wheel not being supported. This vehicle is only 5 years old and has 75K miles.
- Newark, OH, USA
Unknown water was coming through the dashboard/instrument panel on the passenger's side, and consumer was unable to locate the problem. Dealer informed the consumer that this vehicle was outside the warranty, and there was no manufacturer's recall on that issue.
- Sharon, MA, USA
Subj: Copy of letter sent ~ rear end low-impact collision/seats breaking subj: Re: daimler Chrysler customer assistance ([xxx]) date: 6/25/03 9:09:50 pm pacific daylight time from: Usfromcalifornia to: Customerassist@DaimlerChrysler.com dear daimler/Chrysler, it seems unbelievable that a company that is suppose to be as reputable as yours, and can spend billions, and billions of dollars on advertisements to sell your cars, but will do nothing to help someone when you know that your seats have been a problem since the 1960's (just check the nts&H website, and you will see all the problems that are now already well-known, that you have known about for years, with your front seats breaking in low-impact rear end collisions! I am now permantelty disabled due to your seats causing a severe concussion & traumatic brain injury from this problem! and the real thing that we just cannot understand is that your so called trusted and safe automobiles have caused me and my family to go through a living [xxx] for the past 11 months, and your reputable company is refusing to take your adult responsiblities and acknowledge your problems and compensate us and our families for our tragedies!!!! most of all, your lack of fixing this front seat problem, so that others will be saved from being hurt! we were hit in the rear end of our 2000 Dodge minivan, at a low speed, and both of our front seats completely broke backwards, and now I will never be the same from the concussion and brain damage I incurred from the seats breaking! unfortunately, we cannot afford an attorney to help us get some type of compensation from your company, so we are at the mercy of friends and family trying to help us get through all this. Thank you! sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Fontana, CA, USA
The consumer wanted the dealer to install a front end lift because the ground clearance was low causing body damage.
- Kerrville, TX, USA
Consumer stated there is a noise coming from under carriage of vehicle.
- Frankilin, NJ, USA
Consumer stated there is a noise coming from under carriage of vehicle.
- Frankilin, NJ, USA
The consumer wanted the dealer to install a front end lift because the ground clearance was low causing body damage.
- Kerrville, TX, USA
- Iron River, WI, USA