July 29, 2025, started off as a great day. Zayden’s surgery for ear tubes and a bronchotomy went smoothly without any of the complications we were so worried about. There were no issues tied to his CDM 1 condition either. I was a bit annoyed that the anesthesiologist gave him a medication called Robinul, which hadn’t worked well for him before, but thankfully it didn’t cause any problems this time. After the surgery, the ENT told us Zayden’s hearing in his right ear showed significant improvement. That ear had failed seven hearing tests before, so this was great news. The surgery went so quickly that he was only under anesthesia for about five minutes. This meant we could head home after three hours in recovery instead of staying overnight like we’d planned. While Grampa stayed with Zayden in recovery, I went to the Ronald McDonald House to pack up our things. By the time I got back to the hospital, the paperwork was ready, and we were cleared to head home. It felt like an amazing day. Zayden did great, and we were on our way home.
The drive home started off fine. It was me, Grampa, and Zayden. Right before we got to the Skyway Bridge, the low tire pressure light came on. We stopped at the rest area to check and add air to the back tire, which was at 34 lbs instead of the recommended 36 lbs. I didn’t think much of it since this tire sensor had been finicky since we bought the van, despite replacing it multiple times. The next hour of the drive was smooth. The cruise control worked like a charm, traffic was light, and Zayden napped peacefully without any alarms from his monitors. But things took a turn when we left the interstate for the final 46 miles of our trip on Highway 70.
As we exited and hit the brakes, the van jerked hard, the engine revved, and the transmission stopped working. We had no power and had to coast into a nearby parking lot. Luckily, there was a tire shop with “automotive services” on its sign. I asked if they could check the van, even though there weren’t any warning lights on the dash. They ran a diagnostic and said it was likely a torque converter failure. We’ve never had major issues with this van before, even though it has 115,000 miles—mostly highway driving. Sure, there were some electrical issues and that annoying tire sensor, but nothing serious. We’ve always kept up with maintenance, and the dealership never flagged anything unusual during services.
This caught me off guard. Between my family and me, we’ve owned about 12 Dodge Grand Caravans and a Chrysler Town & Country, plus a few Dodge trucks. None of them had issues like this, even with mileage well over 300,000. And here we were, stranded in 118-degree Florida heat with Zayden, who is medically fragile, just an hour from home. I called roadside assistance, and they towed the van back to our area. Over the next week, I had it looked at by three different shops, including the dealership where we bought it. They all confirmed the same thing: a cracked torque converter and a transmission that needed replacing.
The quotes ranged from $4,000 with a private mechanic to $8,960 at the dealership. I reached out to the dealership to see if our extended warranty might cover it. Unfortunately, the warranty had expired less than a month earlier. If it had still been active, the repair would’ve been fully covered. The private mechanic offered a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and said he could finish the job in 1-2 days. The dealership offered a 3-year warranty and said they’d need 8-10 days total to complete the repair.
I broke down and cried for hours. I felt so frustrated. We paid $5,400 for this extended warranty, and it gave us nothing but a false sense of security. If we’d just saved that money, we could’ve already paid for the repair and still had $1,400 left over. I started overthinking all the “should haves” and “could haves.” The irony? The 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan we sold to a family member is still running with 199,876 miles on it, and the 2002 Chrysler Town & Country we sold is still going strong at 321,014 miles. Both have their original engines and transmissions.
After my meltdown, I got to work. This van is more than just a vehicle—it’s our lifeline. It’s how Zayden gets to his medical appointments, how we pick up his medications, formula, and supplies, and how I manage errands. Living in rural Desoto County, Florida, with limited public transportation and healthcare options, we rely heavily on this van. Without it, Zayden wouldn’t get the care he needs.
Our finances are already stretched thin. My savings were drained from the months I spent at the hospital when Zayden was in the NICU. Credit cards are maxed out. The state offers some caregiver assistance now, but it’s not enough to cover everything, especially with Zayden’s additional medical expenses and the cost of driving 570 to 1,600 miles a month for his appointments.
I started reaching out to local charities for help. Most didn’t have funds available, but two offered partial assistance. One would reimburse $1,000 after I paid the repair, and the other offered $2,000 if I used a licensed dealership and showed I could cover the remaining balance. A retired mechanic, still certified on Chrysler transmissions, offered to do the work for just the cost of parts. But since he doesn’t have an active business license, the charities wouldn’t work with him.
I even contacted Chrysler’s parent company, Stellantis. A manager said they’d reimburse the repair costs after the work was done, but I explained I didn’t have the money upfront. I also pointed out that this transmission issue is a known problem that Chrysler has documented since 2014. She promised to follow up with local dealerships to find another solution, but I never heard back. I’m stuck in limbo, trying to figure out how to get this repair done so we can get back to some sense of normalcy.
Dear Mr. ,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you as a grandmother, a former law enforcement officer, and a former paramedic who had to step away from my career to care for my grandson’s urgent medical needs. I wish to bring to your attention a pressing matter regarding our 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan GT—an essential vehicle for our family, particularly in meeting the critical medical needs of two family members with serious health conditions.
Our family has been loyal to the Dodge brand for years, having owned several Dodge vehicles that brought us great satisfaction. Furthermore, some of our family members have proudly worked for Chrysler in the past, fostering a strong connection to your organization. It is with this trust and sense of loyalty that I am reaching out for assistance. We are facing a significant financial burden due to a major mechanical failure in our vehicle—one that occurred just 29 days after the expiration of its extended warranty. Specifically, the torque converter failed, an issue that would have been fully covered had it happened within the warranty period.
This vehicle plays a vital role in our daily lives, particularly in caring for my 14-month-old grandson who lives with a rare genetic condition, Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. His condition requires specialized medical equipment, including ventilators, oxygen monitors, suction machines, and feeding devices, all of which the Grand Caravan accommodates with its spacious design. Additionally, it enables us to travel to the 37 specialists involved in his care. Its reliability has been nothing short of essential for his treatment and overall quality of life.
We purchased this vehicle in June 2019 with 21,000 miles on it and ensured consistent maintenance in accordance with the owner’s manual. Over the years, we encountered minor electrical issues—such as recurring failures of the rear tire sensor—which we addressed at our own expense. Despite these small setbacks, we remained satisfied with the vehicle’s performance until July 29, 2025.
On that day, while returning home from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Florida, the vehicle experienced a sudden failure. After disengaging cruise control and slowing down, the car emitted a loud squeal, the engine unexpectedly revved, and the transmission stopped delivering power. I managed to safely coast to a nearby automotive shop, where an initial inspection revealed that the torque converter had cracked, rendering the transmission irreparable. The estimated cost for a full transmission replacement was quoted at $8,790, excluding taxes. Unfortunately, this expense is far beyond our financial means, given my full-time caregiving duties and our limited household income due to my grandson’s medical condition.
To ensure accuracy, I sought second opinions from two additional mechanics, both of whom confirmed the initial diagnosis: the transmission damage was extensive and required a complete replacement. During my research, I discovered that torque converter failure is a well-documented issue with the 62TE transmission used in Dodge vehicles since 2014. I also learned that Chrysler reportedly developed a repair kit to address this known issue, yet we were never informed about it or offered the opportunity to implement it during our vehicle ownership.
Our financial situation is deeply strained. We rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for my grandson and modest caregiver compensation from the State of Florida. Due to the full-time care my grandson requires and the lack of nursing support in our rural community, I am unable to pursue additional income. Moreover, alternative transportation options in our area are extremely limited, making this vehicle essential to accessing critical medical appointments, pharmacies, and other services vital to my grandson’s care.
The impact of this situation extends beyond the financial strain. The unexpected failure of our vehicle has introduced significant stress and disrupted our daily lives. The lack of reliable transportation has compromised our ability to attend critical medical appointments and undermined the stability we work so hard to maintain. For our family, this vehicle is far more than a means of transportation—it is a lifeline that enables us to provide the care my grandson so desperately needs. Restoring it would not only alleviate our financial burden but also bring much-needed peace of mind and stability back into our lives.
In light of the documented prevalence of this mechanical failure and the circumstances surrounding our case, I respectfully request your assistance in easing the financial burden of these necessary repairs. Your support could come in the form of coordinating with a local dealership to reduce repair costs or exploring alternative solutions. Additionally, I would be willing to offer my 20 years of experience as a Notary Public as a gesture of goodwill or contribution toward the repair expenses. Your assistance in resolving this matter would make a profound difference in our ability to care for my grandson and maintain our family’s well-being.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this request. I remain hopeful that, together, we can reach a resolution that reflects your company’s commitment to customer satisfaction and community support. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss this matter further.
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