DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY, AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW OF OUR 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (63K MILES) JUST FELL OUT AT ~60 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THE WINDOW WAS NOT VENTED, AND NOTHING WAS UP AGAINST THE WINDOW. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT THIS HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE, AND IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR, SO THE WINDOW PROBABLY FELL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING FALL OUT THE WINDOW THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WE REPORTED THE INCIDENT (INFORMALLY) TO THE POLICE SO THAT THEY COULD DRIVE BY THE AREA WHERE IT OCCURRED TO ENSURE THERE WERE NO ROAD HAZARDS. WE HAVE NOTHING TO EXPLAIN WHY THE WINDOW FELL OUT. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY CONCLUDED IT WAS NOT A DEFECT. I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION, BUT THEY SEEM CONTENT THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. CHRYSLER PROVIDED NO HELP IN COVERING THE $700 CHARGE TO REPLACE THE WINDOW. ALSO, WHEN I ASKED WHICH GOVERNMENT AGENCY I SHOULD CONTACT TO REPORT THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. THEY ONLY STATED THAT THE INCIDENT WILL BE KEPT IN OUR OWN "PERSONAL" FILE, AND IMPLIED THAT KEEPING THIS INFORMATION IN A PRIVATE FILE IS SUFFICIENT. I DISAGREE, AND FEEL THAT THIS COMPLAINT SHOULD BE KNOWN TO THE NHTSA IN CASE THERE ARE OTHER SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. *TR
2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED MY 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT NEW IN 2005. FROM THE TIME IT WAS NEW I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. IN THE BEGINNING THEY WOULD RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WORKED FOR THEM AND SINCE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR IT, AND THAT I NEEDED TO BRING IT IN WHILE IT IS HAPPENING (IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT-THERE ARE NO DEALERSHIPS OPEN!). OF COURSE AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS. THEY STILL GO OFF AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, AND THEY RARELY TURN ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, AND SOMETIMES STAY ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, OR THEY DO TURN OFF THEN TURN THEMSELVES BACK ON WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO SIT AND TURN THE SWITCH ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY (SO MUCH THAT MY WRIST HURT)BEFORE THEY WILL COME ON, THIS HAS TAKEN UP TO 15 MINUTES (WHILE IN A DARK PARKING LOT). I CONTACTED DODGE AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I KNOW THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AS IT BEGAN WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. BUT, DODGE DOESN'T CARE. IN MY DAILY COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK I AM ON I-35 WHERE THERE IS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, WITH NARROW LANES AND CONCRETE WALLS AND NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO, MY HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AND NOT COMING BACK ON CAN GET ME KILLED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I CALLED CHRYSLER ASSISTANCE 800 # AND WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLAINT WAS DENIED BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND WARRANTY BEING OUT. I ARGUED THAT THE PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, SO THEY SHOULD FIX IT. IT HAS BEEN ESCALATED TO A SUPERVISOR, AND I AM AWAITING THEIR DENIAL AT THIS TIME. WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR A POSSIBLE CAUSE/FIX I FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE SAME COMPLAINTS. MINIVANS ARE REGULARLY PURCHASED BY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN (AS WAS MINE). THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. I BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP VOLUNTARILY. *TR
