"Chrysler flooded with complaints over minivan's anti-lock brakes"
	By Catherine O'Brien, Associated Press Writer

	WASHINGTON--The government's highway safety are has expanded an 
investigation into the anti-lock brakes on six models of Chrysler vehicles
after receiving hundreds of complaints that minivans with the same
system took too long to stop.
	The Chrysler vehicle models in the expanded investigation are the New
Yorker, Fifth Avenue, Imperial, Eagle Premier, Dodge Dynasty and Monaco built
from 1990 to 1993 with the Bendix-10 anti-lock brake system.
	The move, confirmed by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
spokesman Tim Hurd, widened the probe already underway into the Chrysler
Town and Country, Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan minivan models built
from 1991 to 1993.
	NHTSA files show more than 1,900 consumer complaints about the 
minivan brake system.
	There have been at least 26 minivan accidents and three injuries in
accidents reporting the minivan braking problems, NHTSA documents show.
	It is NHTSA policy not to comment about an ongoing investigation.
However, public documents filed with NHTSA report consumer complaints 
that the anti-lock brake system has "excessively long stopping distances"
and in some cases complete loss of braking ability.
	NHTSA said in the documents that many complaints allegedly involve
intermittent braking problems.  Those servicing the brakes frequently
cannot determine the cause.
	Chrysler engineering spokesman Lindsay Brooke in Auburn Hills,
Michigan, said there is no clear pattern of anti-lock brake problems.
	However, an internal Chrysler memo written by senior staff 
supervisor Rick Cortright says the company has seen "an increase in consumer
calls" about the Bendix 10 anti-lock brake system.  The Sept. 12, 1994, 
memo said the system often can be rebuilt and asks senior staff and
supervisors to contact a Chrysler hotling before installing new assemblies.
	The internal document was obtained by the Center for Auto Safety
said it had received nearly 100 reports of anti-lock brake failure on 
Chrysler vehicles.  Director Clarence Ditlow said consumers are reporting
an "astronomical" repair cost of $2,000 to $2,500, with one owner paying
$3,500.
	Brooke acknowledged a "small number of Chrysler minivan owners
paid a lot of money to have their systems replaced when their vehicle was
no longer covered by warranty."  However, he said a recent company policy
limits any owner's cost for the brake system's repair or replacement to
$600.
	The minutes of a November 10, 1992, meeting attended by Chrysler
and Bendix employees said Chrysler's field people were "desperate for
a fix" after receiving consumer complaints of excessive force required to 
depress the brake pedal or so-called brake floating.  Brake floating
means there is less tension or response when pressure is applied to the
brake pedal.
	The internal document was written by Jack Martinic, a senior
project engineer for anti-lock braking systems, and provided by
Chrysler to NHTSA.
	Martinic did not return a message left on his answering machine.
	There are about 254,000 of the Chrysler minivans on the road,
NHTSA files indicate.  The expanded investigation brings the total 
number of vehicles to about 318,000, Chrysler said."


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From: June 13, 1995  (printed in a small town paper in its entirety)