What 30 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE HOWEVER 4 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY TO A NEARBY ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WHERE ANTI-COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MORE MILES AND POWERED OFF AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE BEING OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 8-9 HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN WHERE IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. THE THERMOSTAT INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS HOT AND THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND EXHAUST PIPE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ODOR ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT MADE IT TO THEIR RESIDENCE AND LIFTED THE HOOD. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS RED FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND PIPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUNCOAST JEEP DODGE RAM (8755 PARK BLVD N, SEMINOLE, FL 33777, (727) 393-4621) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ENGINE MOUNT FRACTURED CAUSING THE BYPASS LINE, THE FITTINGS, AND THE WIRE HARNESS TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COSTS BEING $1,100.00. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT ALL ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS AND WAS CONCERNED FOR HER FAMILY'S SAFETY SINCE THERE WERE 4 CHILDREN WHO WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *DT

NHTSA ODI 11191583

RIDING ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55-65MPH, THE ETC (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHED AND BEEPED. THE LIGHT WAS A RED LIGHTENING BOLT WITH LINES ON EITHER SIDE. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME, I WAS CRUISING AND OUT OF NO WHERE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THESE LIGHTS CAME ON. I REALIZED THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING, I HAD LOST POWER. I COASTED INTO THE NEXT DRIVE WHICH WAS A CHURCH. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. I HAVE GONE ABOUT 100 MILES SINCE THAT HAPPENED AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. THE TCS (TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR) LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ETC LIGHT, WHICH IS A YELLOW LIGHT WITH A CAR AND ZIGZAG LINES UNDER THE CAR. UPON RESTART BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNDER MORE DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

NHTSA ODI 10955564