1996 Dodge Grand Caravan child seat problems

CHILD SEAT

INTERNAL MECHANICAL FAILURE OF INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT, RIGHT HAND SIDE. THE CABLE ASSEMBLY IN THE SEAT MODULE HAS FAILED. THIS CABLE ASSEMBLY LOCKS THE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER BELTS. THE CABLE HOOKS DIRECTLY TO THE LATCH PLATE AND WHEN THE BELT BUCKLE IS CONNECTED TO THE LATCH PLATE THE PLATE'S FORWARD MOVEMENT PULLS THE CABLE CAUSING THE SHOULDER BELT'S RETRACTOR TO LOCK. THIS CABLE CONNECTION HAS SEPARATED FROM THE LATCH PLATE (CABLE END IS ALSO FRAYED WITH THREE STRANDS LEFT ON IT'S END), RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELTS, RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY UNLOCKABLE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION FOR ANY CHILDS LIFE IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RESTRAIN THE CHILD IN THE SEAT LIKE IS SUPOSSED TO. LEFT HAND ICSS ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT CUSHION PIVOT FRAME WHICH IS TWISTED AT LEFT ATTACHED POINT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. THAT THE SEAT MODULES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND COSTS ON AN ESTIMATE OF $1,300+. I, REFUSE TO PAY ANY AMOUNT WHEN MY GUT FEELING IS THAT CHRYSLER HAS PUT OUT THESE ICSS WHICH ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I'M HAVING NOW FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. CHRYSLER ON 01/02/03 TOLD ME THAT IF I PAY THE FIRST $800+ THAT THEY WOULD PAY THE REMAINING DIFFERENCE. NOW, TO ME THIS IS LIKE SAYING YES, WE KNOW WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE ICSS SO WE ARE WILLING TO HELP. WELL, AFTER READING SO MANY LIKE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE ICSS, I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REALIZE THAT EVERY TIME A CHILD IS PLACED IN THEIR "CHRYSLER" ICSS THAT THE CHILD'S LIFE IS IN THEIR HANDS. THEY NEED TO OWN-UP TO FLAWS OF ENGINEERING AND FIX THESE SEATS SO THAT WE THE CUSTOMER CAN TRUST IN THEIR PRODUCT.. ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. RESPECTFULLY, SEVERINO L. RODRIGUEZ

NHTSA complaint #10000697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:HARNESS BUCKLE:INFANT

CONSUMER STATES THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH PINCHES BOTH INFANTS WHO USE THIS SEAT, BOTH OF THE CHILDREN ARE WELL UNDER THE 50 POUND LIMIT FOR THE SEAT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #562605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:HARNESS BUCKLE:INFANT

CONSUMER STATES THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH PINCHES BOTH INFANTS WHO USE THIS SEAT, BOTH OF THE CHILDREN ARE WELL UNDER THE 50 POUND LIMIT FOR THE SEAT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #562605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

THE CABLE ON MY INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT FAILED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO LATCH FOR A WHILE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE LATCH PLATE. THERE WERE NO OBSTICLES IN THAT AREA AND EVEN THE DEALERSHIP AGREED THAT IT IS A BROKEN CABLE. MY SEAT IS PROBABLY THE OLDEST OF THESE INTEGRATED SEATS AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THE CABLE WOULD WEAR AND JUST BREAK ON SEATS THAT ARE BUILT IN. DODGE HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE NECESSARY PART IF I PAY FOR THE LABER. THE TOTAL COST IS ABOUT $650 OF WHICH I WILL HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $120. I'M CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MAY ALSO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT ALSO OCCURS TO ME THAT IF MY CABLES SNAPPED WHEN THERE WAS NO CRASH WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS A CRASH. MAYBE THESE SEATS WERE SAFE WHEN THEY WERE NEW BUT ARE THE NOW?

NHTSA complaint #743469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

BUILD IN CHILD SEAT LOCATED IN MIDDLE BENCH. BCKLES LATCH AND SHOULDER STRAPS WILL NOT TIGHTEN AND LOCK. THE DANGER IS NOT IMMEDIATELY APPARENT SINCE THE BUCKLE STILL LATCHES.

NHTSA complaint #883357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING

THE STRAPS TO THE SAFETY SEAT DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY TO HOLD THE CHILD SECURELY. THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER PIECE TO KEEP THE CHILD FROM SEPARATING THE STRAPS AND GETTING OUT OF THE SEAT. ALSO THE CHILD IS ABLE TO RELEASE THE SAFETY SEAT EXTENSIONS WHICH WERE INSTALLED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN THE SAFETY SEATS WERE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #741985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

MIDDLE 2 SEATS ARE BUILD-IN CCS, AND THE BELT BUCKLE DO NOT LATCH ON EITHER ONE.

NHTSA complaint #883275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING

CHILD SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACK WHILE CHILD WAS LOCKED IN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INOFRMATION.

NHTSA complaint #879676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

RECALL 98V2185000; DEALER DID NOT GIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN THE BUCKLE . PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY REMEDY OF RECALL. THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, AND THE CLIPS WERE NOT EASILY REMOVED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #875496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING

DAY CARES VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN HAS A INTEGRAL CHILD SEAT. HARNESS STRAP TIGHTENS UP & IS VERY HARD TO RELEASE. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT COULD BE TIME CONSUMING & DANGEROUS TO THE CHILD TRYING TO GET THEM OUT. DEALER HASN'T RESPONDED TO THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #872744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

INTRGRATED CHILD SEAT BUCKLE BROKE, PREVENTING BELT FROM LOCKING IN THE HOUSING MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #863461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

THE BUILT-IN CSS HARNESS LATCH PLATE IS BROKEN. IT FAILS TO STAY LOCKED IN THE BUCKLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED NO WARRANTY ON BUILT-IN CSS. WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT IN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #858530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

LEFT SIDE INTERGRATED CSS BELTS NO LONGER STAY TIGHT WHEN BUCKLED. ONCE BUCKLED AND PULL ON BELTS, THEY WILL RELEASE. CHILD IS NO LONGER SECURE. DEALER SAYS TO FIX, PART ALONE (WHOLE NEW ICSS MODULE) WILL BE $409. VERY UNREALISTIC PRICE WHEN FOR $100 CAN EASLIY BUY A CAR SEAT . HAVE TWO CHILDREN STILL USING BOTH ICSS. DO NOT FEEL ICSS SHOULD HAVE FAILED AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF USE AND THEN BE SO UNREASONABLE TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #716609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

THE BUILT-IN CHILD SEAT GETS STUCK WITH THE CHILD IN THE SEAT AND WHEN THE SEATS ARE CLOSE AND THEN A CHILD CANT GET IN THEM. CHRYSLER DID A RECALL AND INSTALLED A SAFTY CLIP TO ADDRESS GETTING THE CHILD OUT. BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES THAT YOU CANT USE THE SEAT WHEN THE GET STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION SO YOU CANT PUT A CHILD IN THE SEAT. ALSO NOTE CHRYSLER HAS CHANGE THE MECHINISM ON NEWER VANS. THEY GAVE A AN ESCAPE ROUTE NOT A FIX TO THE PROBLEM OF THE BELTS GETTING STUCK DUE TO FOOD FALLING IN THE LOCK AREA. REMEBER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD SEAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REPORT I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO UNLOCK THE SEAT BELTS WHEN THE GET STUCK PERMINANTLY CLOSED. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO CALL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH I CALL OVER 25 TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND FROM MY HOME AND WORK ONLY TO RECEIVE A BUSY SIGNAL EVERY TIME. I ASK THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL SINCE THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER AND THEY DECLINED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS CHILD SEAT SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #715466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

CHILD SEAT REPLACEMENT DOES NOT RECOIL

NHTSA complaint #713235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:HARNESS RETAINER/CHEST CLIP

MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 23MOS, 35INCHES, 31LBS, IS ABLE TO REMOVE THE TODDLER CHEST CLIP AND PUSH HER ARMS OUT OF THE SHOULDER STRAPS. CENTURY HAS A LOCKING CLIP BUT FISHER-PRICE DOES NOT. F-P HAS OFFERED TO TAKE THE SEAT BACK FOR A FULL REFUND SINCE IT IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR MY CHILD, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I WORRY ABOUT OTHER CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO DO THIS. UP UNTIL NOW I WAS QUITE SATISFIED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #706211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

BUILT IN (CHILD SEAT) BELTS CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN ON CHILD AND WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #604622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH STUCK AND STRAPS CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN.

NHTSA complaint #536225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:HARNESS BUCKLE:INFANT

WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CHILD OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER COULD'NT GET THE CHILD OUT DUE TO THE HARNESS STRAP BUCKLE WOULD'NT COME OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE CHILD TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD GET THE CHILD OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #830193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

VEHICLE EQUIPED WITH CHILD INTEGRATED SAFETY SEATS, HOWEVER STRAP RESTRAINTS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING THEM TO GET JAMMED WHILE THE SPRING MECHANISM THAT TIGHTENS THE SHOULDER STRAPS KEPT GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER.

NHTSA complaint #541113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

CHILDREN HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS FIVE TIMES AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT.

NHTSA complaint #780364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH STUCK AND STRAPS CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN.

NHTSA complaint #536225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT, BOTH ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT HAVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #537469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:HARNESS BUCKLE:INFANT

THE BUCKLE CAME LOOSE SO THAT THE CHILD IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER IS GOING TO REPLACE .

NHTSA complaint #823510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT WOULD NOT RELEASE CHILD PROPERLY, LOCK RELEASED HOWEVER BELTS TIGHTENED ON CHILD.

NHTSA complaint #525757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT

THE CHILD CAR SEAT STRAPS WOULD NOT RELEASE, THEY ONLY GET TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SHOWN THE RELEASE HOOKS IN ORDER TO RETRACT STRAPS EFFICIENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #521656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

CHILD SEAT:HARNESS/CROTCH BUCKLE

LEFT SIDE OF CHILD SAFETY SEAT WON'T RELEASE.

NHTSA complaint #515524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.