Consumer Complaint Detail

DODGE / CARAVAN / 1998

Recalls
0 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 001282915 Incident Date: Mar, 31 2001
Consumer's City: SAUGUS Consumer's State: MA
Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO Manufacturers Name: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Model Name: CARAVAN Model Year: 1998
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Power train:automatic transmission
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 0
Vehicle's VIN#: Date added to File: May, 25 2021
Date Complaint Received: Jun, 13 2004 Complaint Type: LETR
Incident Reported To Police: No Purchase Date: Jul, 31 1998
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: No
Number of Cylinders: 0 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: On august, 1, 1998, allen and anne mazerolle purchased a new 1998 dodge grand caravan se manufactured by chrysler from lee dodge in westbrook, maine. at the time of their purchase, neither the dealer nor chrysler provided any disclosure to the mazerolles concerning the differential transmission defect. in 2001, anne mazerolle was operating the chrysler minivan with her children in the vehicle. without any advance warning, a thunderous noise occurred and the vehicle seized and the wheels locked in traffic. mrs. mazerolle telephoned chryslers authorized dealer, lee dodge, from the highway seeking assistance. mrs. mazerolle was informed that, while it was within three years of the vehicles purchase, the mileage exceeded the 36,000 mile limitation and the mazerolles were out of luck as to any warranty coverage. the mazerolles then inquired as to whether there was any recall or problems concerning the chrysler transmission. they were informed by the chrysler dealer that no such problems had been reported by chrysler and there was no recall concerning the transmission. in the emergency, the vehicle was towed from the highway to a transmission specialist, a&m transmission, in south portland, maine. mrs. mazerolle was informed by technicians that there was a serious defect in the transmission and that the pinion gear had seized to the pinion shaft and penetrated the bell housing of the transmission, resulting in the complete lock-up of the vehicles drive train and complete failure of the transmission. *ak *sc *jb