1999 Dodge Caravan Powertrain (other) Problems

PREPARING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ACCIDENTALLY CAUGHT BY MY SLEEVE AND PULLED DOWN TO THE "DRIVE" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, BUT IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD. BEING ON SOMEWHAT OF A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE PULLED ONTO A BUSY STREET. I GRABBED THE WHEEL TO TURN THE VAN AWAY FROM TRAFFIC, BUT IT HIT AND SCRAPED AGAINST A HIGH CURB, FLATTENING 2 TIRES, DAMAGING THE WHEELS/RIMS OF THOSE TIRES, BENDING A STRUT AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION (I GOT A REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM FIRESTONE, WHICH TOTALED OVER $1,900.00). I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE GEAR SHIFT TO MOVE WITHOUT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT MOVE IT DID AND SO DID THE VAN. OTHER THAN BEING FRIGHTENED AND SHAKEN, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT NO PHYSICAL INJURIES OCCURRED. HOWEVER, HAD I NOT HAD THAT SPLIT SECOND REACTION TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD COLLISION WITH AT LEAST TWO VEHICLES DRIVING DOWN THE BUSY STREET. WONDERING WHY THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT THE CAR RUNNING AND WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS GRIEVOUS OMISSION AND DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE EXTRA $9.00 PER VAN TO INSTALL A BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. I'M INCREDULOUS! I INTEND TO WRITE TO CHRYSLER IN HOPES OF BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGES SUSTAINED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT FIRST WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573289

Incident

Jan 20, 2014

Mileage

77,700 mi

1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAD RECALL IN 2004 TO REPLACE A CLOCKSPRING, BUT DEALER AVOIDED THIS AFTER CUSTOMER'S 3 OR 4 TRIES IN 2004. ON 06-16-2010 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, (ALL [XXX] BROKE LOOSE!) THE MOTOR HIT HIGH REVOLUTIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY "LOCKED" UP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED AS IT TRAVELED BACKWARDS AND FINALLY HITTING AND TOTALING 2 VEHICLES AT OVER 50 MPH.NOTE: SINCE ABOUT 2007 A BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10339338

Incident

Jun 16, 2010

Mileage

152,000 mi

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THERE WAS A BIG NOISE. LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS NO KIND OF WARNING. NO INJURIES.*AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN BROKE. **SLC

NHTSA ID

8017218

Incident

Aug 26, 2002

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND NOT GO INTO GEAR. NLM

NHTSA ID

785510

Incident

Sep 3, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, A NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED DRAGGING A METAL CAN. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. AFTER INSPECTION OF PROBLEM, A PUDDLE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BEGAN FORMING UNDER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT A PIN IN DIFFERENTIAL BROKE, WHICH RUINED TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

886093

Incident

Apr 7, 2001

THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A LOWER GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. YH

NHTSA ID

549705

FRAME IS BENT/ REAR AXLE IS OFF BY 30 DEGREE, AND TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, REAR TAILGATE WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

850720

Incident

Sep 16, 1999

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY DODGE VAN FLICKS ON AND OFF, ON AND OFF. MUCH OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. AND THE ON/OFF BEHAVOIR IS VERY DISTRACTING. IT ALWAYS DRAWS MY ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS. I AM TRYING TO WORK WITH DODGE TO MAKE REPAIRS, OR TO REPURCHASE THE VEHCILE, BUT DODGE IS VERY UNCOOPERATIVE. REPEATED WARRANTY SERVICE HAS NOT SUCCEEDED. MY COMPLAINT LETTER TO CHYRSLER COROPORATION WENT UNANSWERED FOR TWO MONTHS. FINALLY THE ZONE MANAGER, MYRON ABBOTT, CALLED BUT THIS WAS USELESS. I HAVE TRIED TO GET MORE HELP, OR A REPURCHASE FROM MR. ABBOTT, BUT HE AVOIDS ME NOW. ALWAYS HE WILL 'CHECK AND CALL RIGHT BACK.' BUT HE DOESN'T. *AK

NHTSA ID

707894

Incident

Dec 25, 1998