The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating 160,000 Dodge Caravan minivans after widespread complaints that the engines are stalling.
On Sept. 9, 2014, the NHTSA announced that it is investigating Chrysler minivans after receiving at least 8 complaints that the engines stall once drivers refuel the vehicles. Drivers complained that the vehicles stall repeatedly in traffic and after refueling.
One graphic complaint posted on the NHTSAs website described a harrowing experience where a mothers Chrysler minivan stalled on the Highway while there were children in the car. The minivan was a 2007 Grand Caravan and the complaint detailed how the steering wheel locked up during a turn on the highway and become impossible to turn.
Note, the NHTSA investigation does not mean that any Chrysler vehicles have been recalled. The investigation opened by the NHTSA is only the first step in determining whether there is a widespread safety defect in the minivans.
This isn't the first time that Chrysler minivans have been accused of stalling. The Chrysler Town & Country 2004 and 2005 models received over 20 stalling complaints. Complaints about stalling vehicles are not limited to the minivan lineup in Chrysler cars.
In 2013, the NHTSA received reports that Chrysler 300s and Dodge Magnums and Dodge Chargers were also stalling. In all of these cases, consumers reported that the vehicles were most likely to stall when they were being driven slowly or when the cars had recently been refueled. That investigation was closed by the NHTSA without announcing a recall when the issue was found not to pose a significant safety threat.
A Chrysler spokesperson has announced that the company supports the NHTSAs current investigation but denied the existence of any reports suggesting that the stalling issue caused accidents or injuries.
In response to General Motors safety recall woes, and its own emerging stalling issues, Chrysler has established an internal safety office tasked with reviewing vehicle safety and ensuring that the company is in compliance with all existing federal regulations.
The Knoxville auto accident lawyers at Greg Coleman Law assist injured and worried residents of Knoxville, Tennessee who are dealing with defective vehicles and car accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Chrysler vehicle, contact an injury attorney at our law firm today by calling (865) 247-0080 or contact us through our Free Case Evaluation form.
