1993 Dodge Ram Van

Defect. SOME OF THE ABS EQUIPPED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN UNDERSIZED BRAKE RETURN CHECK VALVE. IN INCIDENTS WHERE HARD BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS APPLIED ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACES, LIKE RAIN COVERED STREETS, THE VALVES MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE ABS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CREATES EXCESS BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND MAY CAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.

Risk. LACK OF FRONT WHEEL ABS COULD CAUSE THE FRONT WHEELBRAKES TO LOCK, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE RETURN CHECK VALVE WITH THE CORRECT VALVE.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) FRONT DISC BRAKES ONLY PARTIALLY RELEASED FROM LOCKED UP. STILL MOSTLY ON. DRAGGING EXCESSIVLY. DROVESAFELY HOME LESS THAN 3 MILES. LOTS OF HOT BRAKES ODOR. PARKED OVERNIGHT. NEXT MORNING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEM THE NIGHT BEFORE. 1993 DODGE RAMVAN 3500 1TON MAXIVAN. VIN:[XXX] . GOT ON LINE TO TRY TO GET SOME INFO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW TO CORRECT. FOUND INFO ON RECALL#93V082000 BRAKES/HYDRAULIC-ANTISKID SYSTEM 1993 DODGE RAMVAN3500 MAXIVAN. CONTACTED DAN BECKER, SERVICE ADVISOR AT STOCKTON DODGE INCORPORATION -DEALER:59548. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT THE SUBJECT OR OBJECT OF ANY RECALL. I MENTIONED THE INFO I FOUND ONLINE TO NO AVAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE FACTS AS YOU KNOW THEM. WAS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON 1993 DODGE VANS? WAS THERE A RECALL? IS RECALL#93V082000 A BOGUS NUMBER? WAS MY VAN RECALLED AND REPAIRED? IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND MY VAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BUT WAS NOT, MAY I EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE NOT AT MY EXPENSE? [XXX] *TR

EVERY YEAR SINCE OCT. 2000 (BOUGHT THE VAN IN MARCH 2000) WHEN WE USE THE AC THE CHECK GUAGES LIGHT COMES ON, THE OIL PRESSURE DROPS AND THE ENGINE MAKES A TAPPING NOISE. IN OCT. OF 2000 WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE PCM AND THEY REPLACED THAT ALONG WITH AN AC MODULE. TWICE THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT AND OIL PRESSURE SWITCH (ONCE IN 2000 AND AGAIN ON JUNE 9, 2003). TWICE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN JUNE OF 2002 THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WE HAD TO REPLACE AN OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR. I WAS TOLD ONE OF THE SERVICEMEN AT SCHAEFER & STROMINGHER(JUNE 11, 2003) THAT IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY I SHOULD LOOK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE (BETWEEN HIM, ME AND THE LAMPPOST). I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. HE HAD PULLED ALL OF OUR SERVICE RECORDS AND WAS TRYING TO BE AS HONEST AS HE COULD WITHOUT GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EM. BRAKE ON, PARKED ON AN INCLINE. DRIVER LEFT CAR RUNNING FOR APPROX. 4 MINS. WHEN SHE RETURNED, SHE DECIDED NOT TO LEAVE AGAIN, SO REACHED IN AND TURNED KEY TO SHUT OF IGNITION. VAN ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN HILL. EMER. BRAKE WAS STILL ON. DRIVER FELL OUT OF CAR. CAR WENT DOWN EMBANKEMENT. HIT TREE AND CAME TO A STANDSTILL IN GULLY, STILL UPRIGHT. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO UNDERCARRAIGE OF CAR. DRIVER RECEIVED ABRASIONS AND BRUISES, SPRAINED WRIST. WHEN THE CAR WAS EXAMINED WE COULD SEE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL ENGAGED, BUT THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE, INSTEAD OF PARK. *AK