What 87 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, A 2004 HONDA ACCORD CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SLIDING DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERHEAD AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT WERE DEFLATED. IN ADDITION, THE OTHER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT ALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE UPPER RIGHT TORSO AND HIP THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE 2004 HONDA ACCORD SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING INSPECTION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11088382

FAULTLY BRAKE CALIPAR - KEEP HANGING UP AND CAUSING TIRE TO GET HOT AND SMOKE COMES OUT VERY HOT.

NHTSA ODI 10876501

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION - WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFICLIGHT -- OF THE DRIVER-SIDE SWITCHBOX THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS, DOORLOCKS & OUTSIDE MIRRORS. FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ARMREST MAKING ESCAPE FROM VEHICLE DIFFICULT. FDNY WAS CALLED & EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THIS HAPPENED EARLY FRIDAY MORNING/SNOWING. INSURANCE COMPANY EXAMINED CAR & AUTHORIZED REPAIR. CHRYSLER SENT AN ENGINEERING SAFETY INSPECTOR WHO HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED. WE RECEIVED A "SAFETY RECALL NOTICE" [ P25/NHTSA 14V-234] LATER THAT SAME DAY. CHRYSLER HAS IGNORED MY CALLS & LIVE-CHATS FOR THE PAST MONTH. DEALERSHIP STILL HAS THE VEHICLE BUT CAN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM CHRYSLER EITHER. INCIDENT OCCURRED 4 WEEKS AGO! HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RENT A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE -- AT MY EXPENSE -- FOR TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES.

NHTSA ODI 10852904

DRIVING ONLY 10 MILES THE BRAKES SMELLED HOT. STOPPED AND CHECKED, TOUCHED THE LUG NUT AND BURNED FINGER THEY WERE SO HOT. HAD IT TAKEN IN AND ROTORS WERE TURNED AND NEW BRAKE PADS. OLD PADS WERE GONE. NOW AT 31600 MILES THE SAME THING. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL GLADLY CHARGE US FOR NEW ROTORS AND PADS BUT ADMIT THE CALIPERS DO HAVE A PROBLEM. SO FOR OVER $400 AND A TOW BILL THEY CAN HELP US. CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH NO RESULTS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616763

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND ONE INJURY WAS REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,488.

NHTSA ODI 10606323

FIRST TIME, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD. TOOK IT TO CORTLAND DODGE, THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING [NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY] CHARGED US ABOUT 80.00 ! SECOND TIME. FUSES BLOWN FOR SEAT CONTROLS AND WIPERS THIRD TIME CAR STARTED SHIFTING WILDLY UP AND DOWN. HEAD LIGHTS STARTED TO DIM AND CAR FINALLY QUIT! HAD IT TOWED TO DODGE DEALER WAS INFORMED IT NEEDED NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY[NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY] COST ALMOST 1000.00 TO FIX IT!! FOURTH TIME CAR WAS PARKED BESIDE THE HOUSE WHEN HORN STARTED BLOWING WHEN WE WENT OUTSIDE CAR WAS RUNNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING WIPERS AND WASHERS WERE GOING FULL SPEED, FLASHERS GOING AND RED GLOW UNDER CAR ALSO DOORS WERE LOCKED ! ! WE FINALLY GOT DOOR UNLOCKED AND GOT HOOD OPEN,BATTERY AND FUSE BOX WAS CHERRY RED. FINALLY TOOK HEDGE CLIPPERS AND CUT BATTERY CABLES AND THINGS COOLED DOWN ! WHAT CAN WE DO?!?!?!?! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10562598

I PURCHASED A NEW VAN ON JULY 5, 2013. ON JULY 8, 2013, I DROVE 4 MILES, AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 40 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VAN SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT MOMENTARILY, UPON WHICH I REGAINED CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. SUDDENLY, THE VAN JOLTED RIGHT AGAIN, JUMPED THE CURB, CLIMBED AN EMBANKMENT, AND WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. I KEPT PUSHING THE EMC CONTROLS FORWARD....BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT THAT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, BUT RATHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN I CRASHED THROUGH A LARGE EVERGREEN TREE (FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER AREA). THE VAN CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL I RAN HEAD FIRST INTO A HARDWARE STORE, WHICH ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS AN ANALYSIS PERFORMED, AND I EXPRESSED GREAT CONCERN OVER THE LACK OF INFORMATION DISCLOSED IN THE REPORT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JULY 8, 2013. TODAY IS DECEMBER 31, 2013, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS TAKING THIS LONG TO REPLACE A NEW VAN. THERE WAS INFORMATION DISCOVERED FROM THE INITIAL MECHANIC WHO RECEIVED THE VAN AFTER THE ACCIDENT, INCLUSIVE OF PHOTOGRAPHS, WHO WAS TOLD BY ADJUSTERS TO WITHHOLD AND NOT DISCLOSE THE NOTED INFORMATION. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY. I DO NOT WANT ANOTHER PERSON TO ENDURE WHAT I ENDURED, OR WORSE, AN INNOCENT PERSON HURT BY EQUIPMENT, OR INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT, THAT MAY CAUSE A DRIVER NOT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER HIS/HER VEHICLE. IN THE REPORT, THE SPECIALIST USED LANGUAGE INDICATING THAT THE DRIVER "LOST CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE." THAT IS A COMPLETELY ERRONEOUS STATEMENT. A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED TO DETERMINE WHY AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, WHO HAS AN EXCESS OF 13 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH EMC/AEVIT CONTROLS WAS PLACED IN A PERILOUS SITUATION, WHERE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, AND THE VAN CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, UNTIL IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558048