Notably, the inquiry was initiated in reaction to a petition filed by one of several Dodge Grand Caravan owners who submitted submitted complaints.
The agency has received at least eight reports claiming the minivan engines are prone to stalling, without warning, after the fuel tanks have been filled.
“My wife (with kids in car) stalled on the highway,” wrote the owner who filed the petition. “The danger was that she was on a turn and the steering wheel became impossible for her to turn it. This is a major safety issue, and my hope is that Chrysler makes good on a defective part.”
Another complaint notes that a service technician blamed the problem on a “non-serviceable” check valve that malfunctions and allows liquid fuel into the evaporative line after reaching a certain level. The deal charged the owner over $750 to replace the entire fuel tank.
The NHTSA is now taking a closer look at the complaints to determine if the issue is widespread and deserving of a formal recall. If so, it could affect over 150,000 vehicles.
Leave a Reply