Dodge Grand Caravan

To Whom This May Concern,

I'm writing to you because I'm trying to reach out to find someone who will help with the problems I am having my Dodge Grand Caravan. My husband and I purchased this vehicle in July 2004. At the time of purchase, it had 48,000 miles on it.

Since purchasing this vehicle, I have put new brakes, a new battery, and I made sure that all maintenace necessary was done.

My problems began a few months ago. A bolt under the car broke off and the serpentine belt came off, which left me stranded with a baby and another child in the car. This cost me almost $400.00 to fix. I questioned at that time if this was something that has happened a lot, I was told by the mechanic that "things wear out".

Two weeks ago my dash board became extremely problematic. The check engine light came on, the speedometer and rpms kept flying back and forth, my cold/hot gauge was jumping from cold to hot and the car acted as if it was going to stall out, which happened on a rural road at night, again with my children in the van with me and no one around to help.

The mini van was brought in to the Dodge dealer, where I was told that a sensor needed to be replaced, which cost almost $500.

Now, two weeks later, my check engine light and ABS light come on and my dashboard has a computer failure. Nothing moves,this includes the gas gauge, speedometer, rpm's, hot/cold thermostat. I was told it will cost me in the area of $583.00 to fix this time. I told the mechanic that I didn't understand why I have to pay for this again, I just paid for this two weeks ago, he said, "unfortunately it's the computer this time, and these things happen, there's nothing I can do".

I asked for the corporate number and was given a customer service number. I first spoke with Chris, who created a file. I was then transferred to Lane, who told me they couldn't cover my car because it's too old and has over 68,000 miles on it. Unfortunately these things happen to old vehicles. I was very upset.

Today, my husband tried to call back and spoke with Tracy, she said,"the Dodge company is not covering this problem because we never complained before now". From what I understand, if I would have started complaining back when the bolt broke and the serpentine belt came off they would have considered covering this problem, but I just now brought this to their attention.

To me it doesn't matter when I brought this to their attention, they should stand behind their products. I'm in fear of driving this vehicle with my children now because I feel like I'm driving a ticking time bomb, and I'm waiting for the next thing to go wrong and leave me stranded on a back road in the dark of night with two little children in the car.

If there is any way you can help me even if it's to provide me another number for the Dodge corporate offices, so I can find someone to listen to me and cover the cost of what's going wrong with their product, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for your time and anticipated help,

Sincerely,

Deirdre Remollino, Strasburg, Pa

( Email User)