243 of the
14,200 complaints filed about the Dodge Caravan
are about the seats —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1993.
Twice upon driving tonight, I pressed the pedal to accelerate when the light turned green, and the driver seat unlocked and pulled me backwards. If I wasn't holding on to the steering wheel I would have lost control of the car and been involved in an accident. I was able to press the break with the tip of my toe, manage to put the car in park, readjust the seat and go back into drive. All this while the light had turned green and cars were accelerating behind me. This happened twice tonight!! I am taller than my mom, but she is the primary driver of this vehicle. And this has started happening more often. I am VERY concerned for her safety with this issue driving to work and heading home. And she is a senior driver. You can imagine my concern... We always check the seats when first getting into the car to make sure everything is ok. But now the seat is dislodging without warning ⚠️. Could this possibly be a recall issue we missed? I think it's time to trade in this vehicle for a different one if nothing can be done
NHTSA complaint #11516230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WAS LEAVING WORK, WHEN I SAT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE SEAT BROKE AND FELL BACK. THE BROKEN PART IS ACTUALLY THE FRAME OF THE SEAT, NOT THE TILT MECHANISM. THE TUBULATION THAT COMPRISED THE SEAT FRAME CATASTROPHICALLY BROKE ADJACENT TO THE WELDMENT. THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #11205007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVERS SEAT WAS RELEASING AND RECLINING, VAN DOOR BEHIND DRIVERS SEAT COMPLETELY CAME OFF THE TRACK AND BENT THE RAILING AND THE BLACK STOPPER CAME OFF, SEVERAL TIMES MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I SMELLED GAS ON 1 INCIDENT AND SHORTLY AFTER FIXING IT MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. TRIM ON BOTH SLIDING DOORS WERE COMING OFF. THIRD BENCH SEAT WAS FALLING BELOW OTHER SEAT AND WAS NOT EVEN. ALL THESE HAPPENED DURING STATIONARY
NHTSA complaint #10958718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A DODGE CARAVAN 2012 AND TAKING IT IN FOR SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHEN IT WAS SENT TO THE DALLAS DODGE IN DALLAS, GA THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH CAR KILLING TWO BRAND NEW BATTERIES. BROUGHT A THIRD ONE AND FINALLY CALL TO HAVE IT PICKED UP SO THEY COULD CHECK IT.HE THEN CALLED ME AND SAID IT WAS THE DRIVER SEAT WIRING SYSTEMS AND TO FIX IT WOULD BY $500.00. I ADVISED HIM IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE WORKING PROPERLY GO AHEAD.I PICKED UP MY CAR AND GOT IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SO I HAD IT SENT BACK TO THEM AND THEY CHECK IT AGAIN AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. I GOT IT BACK THE NEXT DAY WHICH WAS A SATURDAY AFTER SITTING THERE MAKING SURE THEY CHECK EVERYTHING. BASICALLY THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND NOTHING WAS WRONG. I TOLD THEM IF I HAD ANY ISSUES I WOULD BRING IT BACK ON MONDAY. I ADVISED I WILL REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE TO AT LEAST GO TO CHURCH THE NEXT DAY. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM CHURCH I DID NOT TAKE CABLE OFF AND BATTERY DIED AGAIN. SO ON MONDAY 8/17, I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THEY SAID THE PUT IT ON A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND ONLY NOTICE THAT MY BATTERY WAS HAVE WAY DRAINED. I STILL NO ANSWERS TO WHAT CAUSED IT TO DRAIN. I NOTICE THAT A MOTOR IN THE REAR AREA WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING. THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. NO WE NOTICE THAT WE HAVING DELAYS IN STARTING THE CAR LIKE FUEL IS NOT GET THE ENGINE. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES TRYING TO START, IT WOULD STALL OUT AND THEN FINALLY START. SO AGAIN I HAD TO TAKE BATTERY CABLE OFF UNTIL THE NEXT FOLLOWING MONDAY - 8/24, I THIS TIME THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS THE TIMP MODULE AND IT WILL COST ME $1000 TO FIX IT. ME AND FAMILY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR, NOW WE ARE EXPERIENCING STALLING WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. THIS IS NOT GOOD SERVICE IF YOU KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART.
NHTSA complaint #10760192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 25 MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT ALL OF SUDDEN FELL BACK (THE TOP SEAT) AND WONT STAY UP IN POSITION. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS FAULTY DUE TO A MECHANISM NOT BEING ATTACH CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SEAT FIXED DUE TO HIGH COSTS. ALSO THE REAR CHASSIS BRAKE TUBE SEEM TO RUST EXTREMELY AND CREATE ITSELF A HOLE.
NHTSA complaint #10744772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DAUGHTERS AND I WERE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND I JUST PRESSED ON THE GAS WHEN THE BACK BENCH SEAT THAT HAS THE STOW AND GO SEATING UNLATCHED FROM THE FLOOR AND FLUNG HER BACKWARDS. THOUGH SHE DIDN'T GET TO HURT. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE? I AM NERVOUS TO LET THEM SIT IN THAT SEAT BUT THE BENCH AND BOTH BUCKET SEATS HAVE THIS LOCKING MECHANISM.
NHTSA complaint #10693840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT ON ME NO MATTER WHERE I AM AT. MY FRONT SEATS WILL NOT MOVE BACK AND FORTH AT DUE TO THE HANDLE MECHANISM BREAKING. MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES DO NOT PUT OUT THE RIGHT BEAM OF LIGHT THE IT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE PROPERLY AT NIGHT. I NEED YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER PLEASE.
NHTSA complaint #10691924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BEZEL CLIP THAT SUPPORTED THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BEZEL CLIP WAS BROKEN, THE SEAT WOULD NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BEZEL CLIP REPLACED SIX TIMES. NONE OF THE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CLIP AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
NHTSA complaint #10542307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR SEAT MOVED CONTINUOUSLY AND INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECLINING MECHANISM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 5/24/13
NHTSA complaint #10508663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT OUTER SEAT SHIELD FAILED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,287.
NHTSA complaint #10499398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT ARM REST BROKE OFF. AFTER CHECKING BY ( MYSELF) I FOUND THE BOLT HOLDING THE ARM ON HAD BROKE AT THE END OF THE THREADS. THIS CAUSED ME TO FALL TO THE RIGHT BUT I STILL HAD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10468068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CARAVAN XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BABY TREND, MODEL#CS31029 SAFETY SEAT WOULD NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INSPECTION STATION TECHNICIAN WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SEATS WERE AT AN ANGLE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY SEAT TO FIT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10416920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN IS MISSING THE LOWER ANCHORS IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT FOR THE LATCH SYSTEM. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THE LACK OF THE ANCHORS SINCE I JUST NOW AM INSTALLING A CAR SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10267574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DODGE CARAVAN SE 1995 MODEL HAS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE DRIVER SEAT BACK RESTS. MY DODGE CARAVAN SE 1995 MODEL WAS REAR ENDED BY A SPEEDING TOYOTA COROLLA. THE DODGE WAS GOING BELOW 10 MPH DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AHEAD ON THE ROAD. THE COROLLA WAS SPEEDING OVER 65MPH(ABOUT 75MPH). THE DODGE CARAVAN DRIVER SEAT BACK REST FELL BACKWARD. I ABSOLUTELY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10252385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT ANY UNKNOWN TIME, THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK, OR UNLOCK BY WAY OF USING THE KEY FOB BUTTONS. THE BUTTON HOWEVER DOES ACTIVATE THE HORN, WHICH WOULD MAKE YOU THINK THE DOORS ARE LOCKED,IN REALITY THEY ARE NOT. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SAFE AND SECURED VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE SERVICE DEPT.'S OF SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS WITH THE ANSWERS BEING LIGHTNING IN THE SKY, STATIC FROM THE SEATS, UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE FROM SOMEWHERE(MAYBE SPACE!. ONE SERVICE DEPT.'S CHARGED $ 36.72 TO FIX CODE. THE NEXT TIME THOUGH THERE WAS NO CHARGE?? WHY THE FIRST TIME WHEN IT'S STILL UNDER WARRANTY @ 26,000 MILES ..THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHY??? FORMER COMPLAINTS FROM DODGE P.U. OWNER HAD SIMILAR SITUATION AND HAD TO HAVE HIS VEH. TOWED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, ANOTHER REASON CITED FROM DEALERS SERVICE DEPT WAS SLIDING ACROSS THE SEAT COULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM, HOW DO YOU DO THIS WHEN IT HAS BUCKET SEATS??????
NHTSA complaint #10240602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON A BOULEVARD THOROUGHFARE IN A SNOWSTORM, I LEANED BACK SLIGHTLY ON THE SEATBACK TO SHIFT MY WEIGHT SO I COULD SEE BETTER. I HEARD A LOUD SOUND SIMILAR TO A BULLET BEING FIRED, AND THE SEATBACK IMMEDIATELY FELL BACKWARD TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION. I WAS NOW ON MY BACK, UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD OR OTHER REFERENCES THROUGH ANY WINDOW. I PULLED MYSELF UP USING THE STEERING WHEEL AND REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURY. I PHONED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND REPORTED WHAT TOOK PLACE. THEY ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD ME TO HAVE MY DEALER MAKE A DIAGNOSIS AND CALL THEM. THEY PHONED ME BACK THE SAME DAY SAYING THE MANUFACTURER WILL PAY TO HAVE THE SEAT REPAIRED IF I AGREED TO A $200. CO-PAY. I AGREED AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT RECLINER, STATING ON THEIR PAPERWORK "THERE WAS A NUT ON THE SEAT FRAME THAT BROKE/SNAPPED OFF OF ROD." I ASKED FOR THE BROKEN PARTS, BUT THE DEALER SAID THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED THEY BE SENT TO THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10218845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER 6 AND 7 YEAR OLD SONS WERE BOTH SLIGHTLY LEANING OVER THE SEAT, AND ONE OF THEM PRESSED A BUTTON. THE SEAT SUDDENLY RELEASED AND PINNED BOTH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE WELL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TAILGATE. THEY WERE BOTH COMPLAINING THAT THEY COULD NOT BREATHE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND RELEASED THE TAILGATE. BOTH CHILDREN FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THEIR HEADS STRUCK THE CEMENT. THE SEVEN YEAR OLD SUSTAINED A BUMP ON HIS HEAD AND STATED THAT HIS HEAD HURT. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,497.
NHTSA complaint #10216619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.