Federal regulators opened probe into a potential problem with Chrysler minivans stalling after a man complained about the problem with his 2007 vehicle, and since then they have found others about similar problems.
After the initial complaint, the query expanded to include seven more 2007 model year vehicles. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
However, an analysis by Reuters suggests that thee are more than 100 complaints about the problem dating back to 2008.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the problem may affect 160,000 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from 2004 to 2007.
Chrysler told Reuters on Wednesday that it is “investigating certain vehicles in response to the NHTSA inquiry. That investigation is not complete.”
(Chrysler recalls nearly 700,000 minivans for ignition issue. For more, Click Here.)
NHTSA plans to study how often the problem happens and whether it occurs in other similarly equipped minivans. The inquiry will determine if a formal investigation should be started, which could lead to a recall of the affected vehicles.
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In the complaint, the problem occurred with a van with 44,000 miles on it. It exhibits the problem after the gas tank is completely filled. The van stalled when his wife while she was driving with children on a freeway, the complaint said.
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“The danger was that she was on a turn and the steering wheel became impossible for her to turn,” the man wrote in his complaint. There are eight other complaints to NHTSA of similar problems from other drivers.
Chrysler, Dodge & Plymouth vans have had this problem as far back as the 90’s and, until now no one has ever done anything about it. It’s about time! You’ll be driving down the road and the motor just turns itself off for absolutely no reason. My mechanic practically rebuilt my Dodge Caravan and never could find the problem, so I got rid it and swore never to buy a Chrysler product again! Glad they finally caught up with a 20 year old problem.
I have 2006 town & country and had the same problem, it has happened on rare occasion.
Chrysler is garbage, I had a 1990 Caravan and what a piece of junk. My dad had 2005 PT Cruiser and at 80,000 miles it needed motor mounts and engine repairs. My Mother(RIP)brought a 2004 Dodge Intrepid and the dash board kept cracking, took it back plenty of times and it kept happening. Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, all garbage.