2016 Braunability Dodge Wheelchair Van

Defect. On July 20, 2018 Braun Corporation (Braun) filed a recall for certain 2017-2018 BraunAbility Dodge Side Entry Vans with a manual in-floor wheelchair ramp built on Dodge RT minivan chassis. The brake lines may not be connected to the corresponding ports on the hydraulic control unit, causing reduced performance of the electronic stability control (ESC) system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems," and 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems." On August 21, 2018, Braun expanded this recall to include an additional 31,165 vehicles. Included in this update are 2012-2016 BraunAbility Dodge Side Entry Vans and 2012-2018 Chrysler Town and Country Side Entry Vans.

Risk. A reduction of ESC function can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Braun will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the right rear brake line to the left wheel, and install a brake line extension to reroute the left rear brake line to the right rear wheel. This repair will be completed free of charge. The recall began on August 17, 2018. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.

I PURCHASED THIS VAN IN FEBRUARY, IT WAS NOT DRIVEN UNTIL AUGUST. IT WENT TO BRAIN TO MODIFIED FOR WHEELCHAIR CONVERSIONS. I NOTICED IN EARLY NOVEMBER THAT THE HOOD HAS 4 SEPARATE RUST SPOTS AND THE THE PANEL WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS SNAPPED OFF FROM GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. GIVEN THAT THIS VAN IS A 2016 AND HAS LIMITED MILES, I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND I'M NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANOTHER CONVERSION FOR 5 YEARS. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO LAST THAT DURATION.

I AM CONCERNED WITH CORROSION ON THIS CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS CAUSED PERFORATION AND SEPARATION OF THE FRAME. THIS RUST ISSUE IS VERY APPARENT WHERE THE MODIFICATIONS WERE DONE ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE/FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL DODGE COMPONETS HAVE LITTLE TO NO RUST. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS CONVERSION WAS A RAMPVAN CONVERSION DONE PER BRAUN USING THE IMS CONVERSION ALLOY STEEL AND WAS MANUFACTURED IN WINAMAC IN. THEY DID STOP PRODUCTION ON THIS SHORTLY AFTER MY PURCHASE OF THIS MODIFIED VEHICLE RELATED TO THIS VERY ISSUE. THE VAN IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS ROUTINELY SERVICED AND CARED FOR OUT OF THE ELEMENTS. DESPITE THIS METICULOUS CARE, THIS SUBSTANDARD USE OF MATERIALS THAT FAILED HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE A ROAD HAZARD. I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM AND BRAUN PRIOR WARRANTY GOING OFF WITH NO REAL RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. THIS IS COMPLETELY DUE TO USE OF SUBSTANDARD DESIGN AND MATERIALS. THIS MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR SELLING AND MARKETING A KNOWN POORLY DESIGNED VEHICLE.