20 of the
761 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the
seat belts — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
101,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH STRUCK THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (THE CONTACT'S SEAT) SEPARATED FROM THE SEAT TRACK. THE CONTACT STRUCK THE SIDE DOOR AND WAS THROWN INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT AND HE WAS THEN STRUCK BY THE SEAT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE ALSO INJURED, AS THE FRONT PASSENGER'S FEET WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND TWO OF THE OCCUPANTS SUFFERED WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED FOR ALL THE INJURED OCCUPANTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. SEE ALSO 11004763. *DSY ..UPDATED 08/04/17 *BF UPDATED 10/11/2017*JS *JS
NHTSA complaint #11004775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 122,000 milesChesapeake, VACrash
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED IN A FIVE CAR COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE REAR SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED, CAUSING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO FLY FORWARD, HITTING THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10074151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesDavisburg, MI
SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT
THE FEMALE END OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY CRUMBLED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. WE ARE WORRIED THAT THE OTHER SEAT MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY SINE THE PROBLEM INVOLVES A CHILD SEAT. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***770772
NHTSA complaint #10006634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Bedford, MA
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT COMPLAINT. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10016613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesStockton, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLES AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE REAR. *NLM *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10011258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charleroi, PA
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER SAW A NEWS PROGRAM STATING THAT 1993-2002 GRAND CARAVANS HAVE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED FOR HER FAMILY'S SAFETY AND FEELS A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER.
NHTSA complaint #10004560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Naples, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. TS SCC
NHTSA complaint #10001097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HARNESS STRAPS RECEPTACLE IS INOPERATIVE, UNABLE TO FASTEN BUCKLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8019303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pottstown, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELTS ARE RELEASING INVOLUNTARILY. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND KNEW NOTHING OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL REPLACE SEAT BELT WITH SAME EXACT STYLE INSTEAD OF USING ANOTHER KIND THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OWNERS EXPENSE.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8009156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boise, ID
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I WAS SITTING NEXT TO MY CHILD IN HIS CAR SEAT AND WAS PUTTING ON MY SEATBELT WHEN I BUMPED THE RELEASE LEVER TO HIS SEATBELT AND IT POPPED OPEN. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OTHER DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLE OWNERS HAD BEEN HAVING WITH THEIR GEN-3 SEATBELTS. I THOUGHT THAT IF IT WAS THIS EASY TO RELEASE THE BELT, THEN THERE HAD TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #760843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Folcroft, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS GEN-3 SEAT BELTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE NEW GEN-4 SEAT BELTS INSTALLED ASAP. THE GEN-3 SEAT BELTS ARE UNSAFE DUE TO ACCIDENTAL RELEASE. I WANT MY CAR TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR MY FAMILY AND A POSSIBLE RELEASE DURING AN ACCIDENT IS NOT SAFE!
NHTSA complaint #759366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burlington, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE GEN-3 SEATBELT WHICH IS DEFECTIVE. ON AT LEAST 8 OCCASIONS MY SONS CAR SEAT HAS BECOME UNBUCKLED BECAUSE IF ANYTHING TOUCHES THE TOP OF THE BELT IT RELEASES. SO IF THE CAR SEAT SHIFTS AT ALL THE SEATBELT IS RELEASED AND OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE MANY PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #759248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odessa, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS THE GEN-3 SEATBELTS. AFTER SEEING THE INVESTIGATION ON ABC NEWS, I BUCKLED UP ON MY MINIVAN AND APPLIED SLIGHT UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE BELT AND BARELY TOUCHED THE RED SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON WITH THE PALM OF MY HAND AND THE SEAT BELT EJECTED. I PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME WITH THE REST OF THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE THE SEAT BELTS EJECT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING HITTING THE RELEASE BUTTON. I THINK IF THE PALM OF MY HAND RELEASED THE BELTS, I REALLY DO NOT FEEL THAT MY FAMILY IS SECURE AT ALL IN THE GRAND CARAVAN. I HAVE TOLD CO-WORKERS THAT ALSO HAVE THESE TYPE OF SEAT BELTS AND ARE GOING TO PROCEED WITH A COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #759267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granite Falls, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REQUEST RECALL TO REPLACE SEATBELTS.
NHTSA complaint #759123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yatesboro, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
LEFT REAR ROW AND LEFT MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES LOCKED UP, AND REQUIRED CONSUMER TO CUT BELTS TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF VEHICLE. BOTH BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES LOCKED UP, AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #888714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tallahassee, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 45,000 MILES, ALLOWING COOLANT TO FLOW OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO SPOOL OUT AND ALLOW THE OCCUPANT TO BUCKLE THE LATCH PLATE.
NHTSA complaint #743689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hastings, NY
SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT
INTEGRATED SEAT BROKE AT THE LATCH PLATE BETWEEN LEGS. THERE'S A JAGGED PLASTIC PIECE THAT CAN INJURE CHILD. IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS OVER 36,000. CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COST.
NHTSA complaint #879044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charlotte Hall, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BELT KEEPS COMING LOOSE FROM THE SYSTEM, IS EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ALL THE TIME. I AM SURE THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND IS THE MANUFACTURER GOING TO FIX IT? OR DO I GET STUCK FOR THE REPAIRS AGAIN?
NHTSA complaint #727914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roanoke RA, NC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DESIGN OF SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY CAUSES BELT BUCKLES TO BECOME DISLODGED WHEN VEHICLE HITS ROUGH ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #544378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roanoke RA, NC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DESIGN OF SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY CAUSES BELT BUCKLES TO BECOME DISLODGED WHEN VEHICLE HITS ROUGH ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #544378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.