12 of the 599 complaints about the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the seats — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 67,500 miles.
12
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THA PASSENGER SEAT ADJUSTMENT BAR IS BROKEN AND THE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN ONE POSITION... NO ONE CAN USE THE SEAT BECAUSE IT MOVES ALL THE TIME. *TR THE DRIVER SEAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES NOT MOVE, I JUST CAN NOT ADJUST THE SEAT AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10200048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
MY CAR WAS REAR ENDED BY A LARGE PICKUP ON THE FREEWAY. IMMEDIATELY ON IMPACT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK WENT INTO A RECLINED POSITION. THEREFORE, THE ONLY SAFETY DEVICE OPERATIONAL WAS THE LAP BELT AS THE SHOULDER BELT AND HEAD REST DEPEND ON THE SEAT BACK TO BE OF ANY USE AND THE AIRBAG ONLY DEPLOYS IN A FRONT END CRASH. THIS LED TO MY UPPER BODY BEING JERKED ALL OVER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. DODGE'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE SEAT BACK IS SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IN A REAR END CRASH. I FIND THIS RATHER INCREDIBLE AS THAT LEAVES ONLY THE LAP BELT FUNCTIONAL.
NHTSA complaint #10161384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND STRUCK FROM BEHIND. BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS BROKE REARWARD INTO A FULLY RECLINED POSITION. THE DRIVERS SEAT STRUCK A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD WHO WAS SEATED IN THE SECOND ROW AND RESTRAINED WITH THE LAP-SHOULDER BELT. THE CHILD SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10058166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
WE BOUGHT OUR DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON MARCH 11TH 2000, WITHIN THE FOLLOWING MONTH WE TOOK THE VAN BACK TO THE LEITH DEALER SHIP THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A VERY LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT WAS COMMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WELL AND WE WERE TOLD AND I QUOITE " THAT IS A NOISE THAT IS VERY COMMON TO DODGE VEHICLES" AND BASICLLY TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. IT GOT WORSE SO WE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DEFFIANTLY WORSE AND WOULD YOU PLEASE LOOK AT IT, AGAIN WE WERE TOLD THE SAME THING. ALL IN ALL WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT TIMES AND EVERYTIME THE ANSWER WAS THE SAME. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR (2003) WE TOOK OUR VAN IN TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE TO HAVE NEW TIRES BUT ON THE VAN AND I ASKED ONCE AGAIN IF THEY WOULD CHECK AND SEE IF THEY COULD FIND THE SOURCE TO THE NOISE, AND THEY DID. FOR 3 YEARS WE DROVE AROUND WITH THE WHEEL HUB COMMING OFF, IT TURNED OUT THE THE WHEEL HUB ASEMBLEY WAS LOOSE AND COMING OFF YOU COULD PULL THE WHEEL IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WITH IT TIGHTLY BOLTED TO THE VAN ITSELF, THE GAS STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE SWAY BAR LINK KIT HAD TO REPLACED ON IT ALSO. ALL IN ALL THE TOTAL BILL ENDED UP AS $800.09 TO GET THE VAN FIXED. WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE ON THE VAN AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD ONCE AGAIN THAT THIS IS ALSO COMMON TO DODGE VEHICLES. WE WOULD LOVE TO BE REIMBERSED FOR THIS BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP SOLD US THIS VEHICLE IN THIS SHAPE AND KNEW IT AND THEN LIED ABOUT IT NOT ONCE BUT SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS.
NHTSA complaint #10049430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
ON AUGUST 22 OUR 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS REAR-ENDED. IN THE COLLISION, THE SEAT BACK ON 3 OF THE 4 BUCKET SEATS WAS BROKEN. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE HEADREST OFFERED NO PROTECTION AGAINST WHIPLASH.
NHTSA complaint #10036786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVERS SEAT-BACK RECLINING LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE SEAT FRAME CAUSING SEAT TO REMAIN IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10014408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SEATBACK LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE SEAT FRAME, CAUSING THE SEAT TO STICK IN UP-RIGHT POSITION. *AK CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SEAT IF EVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8014975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WAS DRIVING & WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BEHIND WHEEL WELL. UPON IMPACT, REAR BACK BUCKET SEAT BECAME DISLODGED FROM SEAT TRACT. CHILD SEAT WITH CHILD IN IT WAS RECLING BACKWARDS. MANUFACTURER INDICATED PROBLEM WAS RIVER'S FAULT.
NHTSA complaint #881808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WAS REAR ENDED, AND BACK SEAT POPPED OUT OF TRACK. NO INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #879844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING BACK SEAT POPPED OUT OF TRACK.
NHTSA complaint #879845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND DRIVERS SEATBACK COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO FALL INTO THE BACK . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER IS NOT IN FAVOR WITH INSURANCE'S DECISION TO REPLACE SEAT INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #859565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER WAS REARENDED WITH A 40 MPH IMPACT WHEN DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #847393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.