1997 Dodge Grand Caravan Fuel System Other Problems

ON MARCH 3RD, OF 2005, WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM AN OUTING WITH MY FOUR CHILDREN, I NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN OUR 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WITHIN MOMENTS AFTER GETTING THE KIDS OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT OF OUR MINIVAN WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BEFORE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD WAS DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW A COMPLETE LOSS. SINCE WE DID NOT CARRY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO ITS AGE, I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES, WHICH CAME TO JUST AROUND $5,300. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SENT AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR TO OUR RESIDENCE TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT. THE RESULTS WERE TURNED OVER TO THEIR CLAIM BOARD AND WE WERE ADVISED ON 3-18-05 THAT THEIR COMPANY REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE THAT NOT ONLY DESTROYED OUR VEHICLE BUT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR OUR FOUR CHILDREN. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS FIRE-RELATED RECALLS ON THE 1997 DODGE MINIVANS. SPECIFICALLY, AN ARTICLE SHOWED THAT A RECALL EXISTED ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL DEATHS WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF FUEL RAIL AND O-RING DEFECTS (DAIMLER CHRYSLER RECALL #895). AT NO TIME SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, WAS THERE ANY NOTIFICATION CONCERNING SAFETY RECALLS AND AFTER SPECIFICALLY ASKING A DODGE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT. AFTER RECEIVING THE DENIAL LETTER FROM DAIMLER-CHRYSLER, I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR CLAIMS RESOLUTION GROUP, WHO WOULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON WHY THE CLAIM WAS DENIED AND REFUSED TO SEND ME A COPY OF THEIR INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT.

THE FUEL GAUGE WAVERS AFTER FILLING UP. WHEN THERE IS LESS THAN HALF A TANK OF GAS IN CAR, THE GAUGE READS CORRECTLY. BUT WHEN FULL, THE GAUGE GOES FROM EMPTY TO FULL CONSTANTLY AND THE BELL "DINGS" WHEN THE NEEDLE GETS TO EMPTY. *JB

CONSUMER STATES HE RECIEVED A RECALL FOR THE FUEL LINE # 895. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. NLM

QUICK CONNECT FITTING WAS NOT COMPLETED, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF VEHICLE.