2006 Dodge Grand Caravan Suspension Problems

I HAD SUSPENSION WORK COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE (INNER/OUTER TIE RODS, RACK AND PINION AND CONTROL ARMS REPLACED BY A SHOP) AFTER DRIVING BACK TO TEXAS I NOTICED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE EXTREMELY WORN AND WAS CLOSE TO A BLOW OUT. I CONTACTED THE SHOP ABOUT IT AND THEY REFUSED TO WORK WITH ME. AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT APPEARED TO NOT HAVE BEEN DONE AND THAT THE SPECS WAS OFF THE CHARTS. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED THE SHOP THAT MADE THE INITIAL REPAIRS AND THEY DENIED NOT COMPLETING AN ALIGNMENT. I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 11 YEARS AND MY TIRES HAVE NEVER WORN THIS FAST AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL THIS REPAIR SHOP DID THE SUSPENSION WORK ON MY VEHICLE. THE SHOP NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR UNSAFE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES. THEIR MAINTENANCE AND LACK OF SAFETY STANDARDS PUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IN JEOPARDY, AND THEY'RE STILL IN DENIAL OF ANY WRONG DOING NOR ARE THEY WILLING TO PROVIDE ME SPECS OF THE ALIGNMENT THEY SAID THEY DID. PHOTOS ARE ATTACHED.

WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY URBAN HIGHWAYS WITH LIMITED OR NO SHOULDER, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING CLUNKING NOISES, ORIGINATING FROM THE LEFT SIDE, WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS, POTHOLES AND OTHER ROAD IRREGULARITIES. NOT WANTING TO PULL OVER IN AN AREA WITH LIMITED SHOULDER LANES, I CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER A PERIOD OF 50 MILES OR SO, TO THE POINT THAT I WAS ACTIVELY SEEKING A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND CHECK THE VEHICLE. BEFORE I HAD A (SAFE) OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, A MUCH LARGER CLUNK WAS HEARD, AND THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY EXPERIENCED GREATLY IMPAIRED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED, AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A CONTROLLED STOP ON THE SHOULDER. VISUAL INSPECTION IMMEDIATELY SHOWED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE CAMBER. THE STRUT SHAFT WAS ALSO NO LONGER MATED TO THE STEERING BEARING AT THE TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER, AND WAS RESTING AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE STRUT TOWER. THE TOP SURFACE OF THE STRUT SHAFT HAD AN IRREGULAR, ROUGH FEEL TO IT, SUGGESTIVE OF BRITTLE FAILURE. AFTER LIMPING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE NEAREST OFF-RAMP (APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE) AT LOW SPEED (10 MPH) I PARKED HE VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL PEP BOYS, WHICH REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES.

BACK REAR WINDOW IMPLODED FOR THE SECOND TIME(FIRST TIME 2009, SECOND TIME 2010), NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR WHY THIS HAPPENS OTHER THAN IT WAS COLD AND SNOWY OUTSIDE SO THE WEATHER MUST HAVE CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR, (THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY) MY FAMILY WAS IN THE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO LEAVE SO I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT "NOTHING" WENT THRU THE WINDOW JUST A MAJOR DEFECT OF DODGE. NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VAN STARTING WHEN VAN HAD 5000 MILES, AIR BAG SENSOR ON, SLIDING DOORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, LOUD SOUND FROM ENGINE, TIE RODS NEED REPLACED FOR THIRD TIME, CONTROL ARM BROKE, LOCKS MAKE A WHINY SOUND, CHECK SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON TOLD 3 TIMES THAT WE NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS . REALLY AT 30,000 MILES. WE CHANGED THEM, LIGHT STILL ON TODAY. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF VAN NOW DEALER SATES THAT THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, EGV VALVE, VALVE GASKET, ALL NEEDS REPLACED AND THE LIGHT ON HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SPARK PLUGS, GO FIGURE. I HAVE SENT DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER LETTERS IN REGARDS TO MY SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS WOULD BE MY FOURTH TIME CALLING CHYRSLER ABOUT MAJOR ISSUES. THEY LACK CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NOTHING EVER DONE. WE PURCHASED NEW AND VAN IS NOW 5 YEARS OLD WITH SAME AND NEW PROBLEMS SINCE 5000 MILES, NOW HAS 77,000. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A DODGE VAN AGAIN!! *TR

NOISE SIMILAR TO "BOTTOMING OUT" CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS FULLY OCCUPIED. ANY DIP IN THE ROAD EXACERBATES THE NOISE. *JB