10 of the
857 complaints about the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the
seats — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
104,384 miles.
DRIVER SEATBACK FAILURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT, THE DRIVER CLIMBED INTO THE DRIVER SEAT, AND THE SEAT BACK SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ONTO THE CHILD PASSENGER SEATED BEHIND THE DRIVER, CAUSING SLIGHT SUPERFICIAL INJURY. EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE SEAT BACK SUFFERED METAL SHEER AND SPOT WELD FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE SEAT BACK FAILURE, AND HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENT, NOR HAD THE SEAT EVER BEEN REPLACED. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10064180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 136,000 milesBatesville, ARCrash2 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN 1997 DODGE CARAVAN AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, FRONT SEAT RECLINER ASSEMBLY WENT BACK, THROWING DRIVER TO BACK, CAUSING HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #10062043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mundelein, ILCrash1 injured
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN, CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION. HINGE ON DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE AND INJURY TO TO DRIVER. REAR AND FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8005800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roseville, CA
SEATS
THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY (WITHOUT PICTURES) TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. I AM FORWARDING A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT I ENLISTED WITH CENTURY/GRACO CHILDRENS PRODUCTS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN IN THAT THERE IS NO WAY POSSIBLE THAT ANY OF THE CAR SEATS IN THIS CATAGORY COULD BE ANY MORE FUNCTIONAL OR LESS DANGEROUS THAN THE ONE I HAVE. THE REASON IS THAT ALL THE CAR SEATS HAVE THE SAME PLASTIC USED FOR THE BASES. HERE IS THE ATTACHED MEMO: I HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN WHICH WAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. THE CAR SEAT BASE IN REFERENCE TO THE CAR SEAT MODEL STATED ABOVE HAS A SERIOUS STRUCTURAL DEFECT. WHEN OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP WAS INSTALLING OUR CAR SEAT IN OUR NEW VEHICLE THE BASE WOULD NOT ANGLE PROPERLY. WHEN THE BASE WAS EXAMINED BY THE INSPECTOR, SHE DISCOVERED THE PLASTIC ON THE BASE WAS SEVERLY BENT IN TWO PLACES COMPRIMISING ITS SAFETY AS WELL AS ITS COMFORT FOR THE CHILD. THE AREA IN QUESTION IS THE PIECE THAT ELEVATES THE FRONT OF THE CAR SEAT (IN THIS CASE THE PIECE IN QUESTION IS DARK BLUE). IN ADDITION TO THIS PIECE, THE WHITE PLASTIC PIECES WHICH STAND OUT FROM THE SIDE IN THE AREA OR CHANNEL IN WHICH THE "BLUE" PIECE SLIDES IN AND OUT OF IS BENT ON EACH SIDE. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN IN THAT THIS CANNOT BE THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE THAT IS THIS WAY. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT WOULD PERIODICALLY LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THERE BASE TO CHECK THIS OUT? THIS IS A MAJOR AND VERY SERIOUS CONCERN. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO REPLACING MY BASE FOR ME. I HAVE THE ABILITY, IF YOU NEED ME TOO TO SEND DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE AREA IN QUESTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #757897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MT Holly, NCCrash1 injured
SEATS
WHILE STOPPING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER FROM BEHIND, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. THEN, CONSUMER RAN INTO A FENCE. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE AND HUNG DRIVER BY LEFT ARM. DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, FELL BACK, AND HIT CHILD IN CAR SEAT IN THE HEAD, THE MIDDLE SEAT WHERE TWO TODDLERS WERE, ALSO BROKE AND FLIPPED BACKWARD, CONSUMER WAS INJURED, ALSO STATED HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, POSSIBLE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #888271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Piont Pleasant, NJCrash5 injured
SEATS
MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED. THREE SEATS TWISTED FROM THE FORCE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK(MY SEAT) SNAPPED BACKWARDS CAUSING MY 5 YR. OLD DAUGHTER (WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND ME) TO STRIKE HER FACE, HEAD AND JAW CAUSING INJURY. THE SEAT IS A POWER SEAT AND ALLTHOUGH IT SNAPPED BACKWARDS AND BENT, IT COULD STILL BE OPERATED TO MOVE IT BACK UP INTO DRIVING POSITION. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE SUFFERED A FATAL HEAD INJURY FROM THE IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE FRONT SEAT BACK FAILURE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #728401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gibsonia, PA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
HEADREST HAS DESIGN FLAW, HEADREST COLLAPSES WHEN PRESSING HEAD BACKWARDS. YH
NHTSA complaint #550550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Talahassee, FLCrash
SEATS
BUCKET SEAT: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN A TRUCK RAN A LIGHT AND HIT VAN ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, VEHICLE SWERVED AROUND IN THE STREET. THE IMPACT FROM THE ACCIDENT BENT THE BARS THAT THE BUCKET SEAT ATTATCHES TO ON THE FLOORBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #820521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orting, WA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF.
NHTSA complaint #522493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orting, WA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
MIDDLE RIGHT BUCKET SEAT LIFT HANDLE IS TOO SMALL AND THE SPRING IS TOO HEAVY FOR AN ADULT TO OPERATE.
NHTSA complaint #522494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.