13 of the 840 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Caravan are about the seats — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,500 miles.
13
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEATS
ONLY A BLOCK OR 2 FROM HOME, DOING 20 MPH THERE WAS THE SMELL OF SMOKE THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. WE BAILED FROM THE VAN AND BEFORE 911 COULD BE CALLED THE VAN WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10617741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY AN AMBULANCE. THE CRASH CAUSED HIM TO LIE FLAT ON HIS BACK AND THE SEAT TO BEND BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE SEAT UPRIGHT, BUT COULD NOT BECAUSE THE SEAT FAILED IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LOWER BACK, WALKING IMMOBILITY, AND SHOOTING PAINS UP AND DOWN HIS LEFT SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT UNLESS HE HAS THE DAMAGED SEAT TO BE REPAIRED, THEY HAVE NO WORDS OR ASSISTANCE FOR HIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 165,000.
NHTSA complaint #10197076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE DRIVING FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AN RECALL, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10092006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WE HAVE HAD THE STEERING RAC REPLACED TWICE. WE ALSO HAVE CONSTANT ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WHAT WE ARE WONDERING HAS THERE EVER BEEN REPORTS ON THE FRONT SEATS (DRIVERS SEAT) SEPARATING AS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED 8/3/03 THE WELDING HAS SEPERATED AND THE SUPPORT BAR HAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY APART WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10030798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS ON THE BACK. ALSO STATED THAT THEY ARE RIPPEN FROM THE FABRIC AND IS NOW ALSO HAPPENING WITH THE ONES ON FRONT TOO. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. MR
NHTSA complaint #8022548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS TO SNAP BACKWARDS. VEHICLE SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGES AS WELL. MANUFACTURER NOT YET NOTIFIED. *TT
NHTSA complaint #567399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
SEATBACK BOLTS KEEP GETTING LOOSE FROM JOLTS DUE TO SEATS BEING FLIPPED FOREWARD TO EXIT REAR 3RD ROW SEAT,SEATBACK WILL BECOME UN ERECT AND NOT LATCH IN UPRIGHT POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #762839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
MY CARAVAN HAS BENCH SEATS THAT DO NOT HAVE HEADRESTS, BUT DO HAVE ATTACHMENT POINTS FOR THE HEADRESTS. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED (2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO) THAT MY DAUGHTER'S HEAD EXTENDS ABOVE THE TOP OF THE SEAT. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, HER HEAD WOULD SNAP BACK OVER THE TOP OF THE SEAT. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT, WHEN I BOUGHT MY VAN, HEADRESTS WERE CONSIDERED ACCESSORIES, BUT ARE NOW STANDARD EQUIPMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE NOW STANDARD EQUIPMENT BECAUSE CHRYSLER REALIZED ITS POTENTIAL LIABILITY. THE APPROXIMATE COST OF 4 HEADRESTS IS $800. I E-MAILED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND RECEIVED NEITHER SYMPATHY NOR SATISFACTION. IN MY LAST E-MAIL, I MENTIONED THE SAFETY ISSUE. THEY ARE NO LONGER ANSWERING MY E-MAILS. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THEY MAY BE RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #746864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
VEHICLE HAS NO ADJUSTABLE RESTRAINTS. THERE ARE HOLES PLANTED INSIDE OF VEHICLE FOR A HEADREST. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE MIDDLE AND REAR SEATS HAVE NO HEAD RESTRAINTS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #890685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE LOWER THAN THE RIGHT AND THE BRAKES WEAR DOWN ONLY ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE, VEHICLE SKIDDED WHEN BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER WAS ADVISED FRONT CALIPER, ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY VEHICLE WAS SKIDDING, CONSUMER IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE ROTOR, CALIPER AND BRAKE ONLY ON FRONT SIDE EVERY 8000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DELEARSHIP THAT THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY SIX MONTHS. *JB KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION, DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE CYLINDER AND IT BROKE, DEALER REPLACED. TAPE DRAGGED IN THE TAPE PLAYER, DEALER REPLACED. AT TIMES WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS NO RADIO, LIGHTS, OR HORN, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. SLIGHT FLUID LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE,CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION JERKED. ARM REST FASTNER BACKED OFF. LEFT FRONT BRAKES CONTINUE TO WEAR AND PULL VEHICLE, BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #560931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH AND REARENDED A VEHICLE THAT CAME TO SUDDEN STOP. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES IN BOTH CASES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AFTER 12/14/00.
NHTSA complaint #884404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LAY DOWN WHILE STILL TRAVELING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #874992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, IMPACT 30-35 MPH FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED TO THE RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #832161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.