2003 Dodge Caravan Interior & seats Problems

THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE UNLOCK BUTTON NOR ARE YOU ABLE TO UNLOCK IT MANUALLY WITH THE CHILD SAFETY SWITCH OFF. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO UNLOCK OR OPEN THIS DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS IS THE DOOR MY SMALL CHILD IS ACCESSED THROUGH. APPARENTLY IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE TOO!!! I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A DEALER FIX IT. & THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478422

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

2003 DODGE CARAVAN ONLY EQUIPPED WITH 3 TETHER LATCHES. TWO ON THE 2ND ROW BUCKETS AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR BENCH. IF A CHILD SEAT IS PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BENCH, YOU CAN NOT FIT ANOTHER CHILD SEAT BESIDE IT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LEGALLY AND SAFELY INSTALL MORE THAN THREE CHILD SEATS IN A 2003 CARAVAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10390414

Incident

Mar 15, 2011

PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE, LOCK WILL NO LONGER LOCK USING REMOTE OR DRIVER DOOR LOCK SWITCH, ALSO AUTO LOCK AT 20MPH NO LONGER AUTO LOCKS, THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD AND THEFT HAZARD. DID NOT KNOW THAT ALL DOORS WERE NOT LOCKING ITEMS COULD BE EASILY STOLEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238618

Incident

Aug 7, 2008

Mileage

52,850 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND THEN IT WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,380. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, REAR LIGHTS THAT WERE HANGING, THE REAR WIPER CAME OFF, THE SLIDING DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE WATER PUMP WAS COMING APART THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND OIL PAN GASKET WERE LEAKING. UPDATED 05/20/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10226034

Incident

Nov 10, 2003

Mileage

18,380 mi

DT: NOTICED THAT AROUND SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 THAT THE DESIGNED SEAT OF THE SECOND ROW SEATS HINGE IN THE FRONT SEAT LOCKS ON THE BACK. WHEN LOCKING THE SEAT IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE LOCK. BUT, IN REALITY, THEY ARE NOT LOCKING IN THE BACK OF SECOND ROW SEAT. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY LOCKED. WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE SEAT AND ITS IS NOT LOCKED IT WILL ROTATE FORWARD. THE ROW IN FRONT FEATURES A HARD PLASTIC HANDLE THAT IF THE CHILDREN WOULD HIT WOULD CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE WHEN NOT PROPERLY LOCKED DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE CONSUMER'S CHILD IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE SEAT WAS ON HIM. HE HIT THE BACK FRONT SEAT, AND THIS BROKE TEETH. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY JUST COMPLAINT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10137412

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

DT: CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO GET INTO VEHICLE A FEW WEEKS AGO REALIZED THAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THERE WAS NO KEY LOCK TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM WHICH UNLOCKS ALL OF THE DOORS. HE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT HAS THE ACTUAL KEY LOCK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO STATED IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131251

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT LUNGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND A BLACK EYE. *AK THE SEAT WAS LEFT RECLINED BY THE OWNER'S DAUGHTER BEFORE INCIDENT OCCURRED. AS CONSUMER TRIED TO RETRIEVE SOME ITEMS FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE, CONSUMER LEANED ACROSS THE SEAT AND PULLED THE LEVER TO RAISE IT FROM THE RECLINED POSITION. AS THE SEAT LUNGED FORWARD, IT HIT THE CONSUMER'S HEAD FORCING IT TO HIT THE HANDLE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10079494

Incident

Jun 17, 2004

Mileage

7,051 mi

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051738

Incident

Sep 13, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi

WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT, THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVING FROM 55 TO 60 MPH. AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED, SLAMMING THE CONSUMER ONTO THE REAR SEATS. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND CITED THE OTHER DRIVER. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND SPINAL INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH *MR

NHTSA ID

10050078

Incident

Oct 20, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi

40 TO 60 MPH REAR END CRASH BY BMW INTO STATIONARY (TRANS IN DRIVE, WAITING TO EXIT EXPRESSWAY) 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT - (ONLY DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN CARAVAN, BOTH WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED) ALL SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED BACKWARD, INCLUDING MIDDLE BENCH, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE FLUNG BACK CAUSING NECK INJURIES. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN CRUSHED. IN ADDITION THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR DETACHED COMPLETELY (ELECTRICAL WIRES TORN OUT FROM VISOR LIGHT) AND FLEW INTO THE DRIVERS FACE. THE CARAVAN AFTER BEING HIT WAS PUSHED INTO THE NEXT CAR IN FRONT OF IT. NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048839

Incident

Nov 24, 2003

Mileage

18,250 mi

SECURITY/VTA LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK-ORDER. THE PART HAS STILL NOT BEEN RECEIVED AS OF AUG 18, 2003. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032754

Incident

Apr 24, 2003

Mileage

5,097 mi

ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 24, 2002, I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 DODGE SXT MINIVAN. ON OCTOBER 25, 2002, I DISCOVERED EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES UNDER BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 25, 2002, SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES INFORMED ME THIS IS THE CONFIGURATION FOR THE NEW 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER MADE A DECISION TO ELIMINATE WHAT HAD BEEN STORAGE COMPARTMENTS UNDER THE TWO SEATS. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CHAIR BASE HAS HOLES DRILLED TO ACCEPT STORAGE DRAWERS, HOWEVER, NONE ARE INSTALLED. UNDER BOTH SEATS ONE FINDS AN ACCUMULATION OF EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE VAN HAD I DISCOVERED THIS THE NIGHT OF THE PURCHASE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. ON OCTOBER 25, 2002, THE DAVID STANLEY DODGE SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE INFORMED ME THIS IS STANDARD ON THE NEW CARAVAN STX. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AFFECTING EVERY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT MINIVAN PRODUCED. CONSEQUENTLY, EVERY OWNER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS HAZARD; DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON ALL FUTURE PRODUCTION, A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE TO INSTALL DRAWERS TO COVER THE EXPOSED WIRES OR SOME SORT OF FACE PLATE SHOULD BE MANUFACTURED WHICH COULD BE INSTALLED OVER THE OPENING ON THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CHAIR BASE TO COVER THESE EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES. AGAIN, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THESE EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES EXIST ON EVERY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT. BY THE WAY, THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION CITING COST AS THE REASON. THE DEALER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ACKNOWLEDGED A SAFETY PROBLEM EXISTS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALER. I URGE NHSTA TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOME CATASTROPHE BEFALLS SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES ON ALL NEW 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SXT MINIVANS. DT

NHTSA ID

768950