What 78 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Dodge Caravan

VAN HAS SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. ONCE WHILE IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT. I SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE KEY FOB. I CHANGED TO MY SPARE KEY TO SEE IF THIS MADE ANY DIFFERENCE BUT THE VAN SHUT OFF TWICE SINCE THEN. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON THE 2010 MODELS BUT NOT 2011. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT ASAP. LUCKILY THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WHEN IT HAS STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE THE RECALL GETS EXTENDED TO 2011 VEHICLES?

NHTSA ODI 10894833

AT 7:40AM, THURSDAY 3/5/ 15 I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO GO DROP MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL THE WIPER BLADE STARTED GOING ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HORN ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED HITTING MY HAND AND BURNING MY LEFT HAND IT FILLED MY VAN FULL OF SMOKED WHERE WE COULDN'T SEE I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN CLEAR IT OUT ALL THE SMOKE THEN I DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP TOOK PICTURES OF THE WIPER BLADES, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING, THE TIME, THE TRAFFIC IN THE BACKGROUND, TO PROVE THAT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT LARRY H MILLER CHRYSLER JEEP WAS VERY RUDE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD PROBABLY END UP PAYING FOR THIS OR THAT I COULD CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP GOT A CALL LATER ON THIS EVENING SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONTACT CHRYSLER SO I WENT AHEAD AND CALLED CHRYSLER MYSELF GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO INVESTIGATE IT AND THEY PUT THE VEHICLE ON HOLD FOR ANY REPAIRS UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION WAS DONE AND NOW IN THE MEANTIME I AM A SINGLE FATHER WITH FIVE CHILDREN I HAVE NO VEHICLE AND THEY WILL NOT OFFER ME A RENT A CAR WHEN I CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE ADVISOR OR THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY IGNORE MY PHONE CALLS AND DO NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALLS WHEN I CALL CHRYSLER THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE SENT ME OVER TO THE ACCIDENT CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AND THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR FURTHER WORD. I HEARD FROM ANOTHER DODGE CARAVAN ON HER THAT THIS COULD POSSIBLY TAKE UP TO 3 MONTHS OF ARBITRATION BEFORE I EVEN HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHEN OR HOW OR WHERE MY VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED FIXED OR REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10692970

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 11V315000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE RECALLS HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10611020