Body & structure
Filed Dec 4, 2003
THERE IS A STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS IN THE FRONT DOORS OF DODGE/CHRYSLER MINIVANS THAT CAUSES DOOR FAILURE. THE DOORS BECOME IMPROPERLY ALIGNED WITH THE DOOR FRAME, MAKING THEM DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE DOOR ALSO FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY AS A RESULT OF MISALIGNMENT. THIS CAN CAUSE THE DOOR TO FLY OPEN SUDDENLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING A CORNER. IT HAPPENED TO ME, BUT FORTUNATELY MY PASSENGER WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT AND WAS NOT THROWN OUT OF THE CAR. OTHERS MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WHEN THE DOORS ON MY 1995 GRAND CARAVAN BEGAN TO FAIL, I WENT TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP FOR REPAIR, THINKING IT WAS A SIMPLE MATTER OF REPAIRING WELDS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE (BY A PREVIOUS OWNER). I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MY LOCAL DODGE/CHRYSLER DEALER HAS REPAIRED MANY DOORS, SO THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, AT LEAST IN THE CASE OF MY VEHICLE, THE DOORS WERE BRAISED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE, I UNDERSTAND, TO WELD THEM. IT LOOKS TO ME AS IF THE ONLY LASTING REPAIR WOULD INVOLVE REINFORCING THE DOOR FRAME, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE EXTENSIVE BODY WORK. MY DOORS ARE FAILING AGAIN, AND I WANT A FIX THAT WILL LAST! IT SCARES ME TO DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT IN AN EMERGENCY. *NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 10049202
- Incident
- Nov 9, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Feb 24, 2003
THE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS BROKE ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10007190
- Incident
- Jul 29, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Feb 12, 2003
DOOR STRUCTURE : HINGE AND ASSEMBLY.
- NHTSA ID
- 10007191
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Dec 31, 2002
THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR FRAME IS BREAKING OFF METAL. TS THE DRIVER DOOR MOUNTING POINT ON THE BODY, IS CRACKING FROM THE FLEX OF THE DOOR AND WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK COMPLETELY OFF. SCC
- NHTSA ID
- 10001757
- Incident
- Nov 2, 2002
- Mileage
- 103,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 2002
LEFT FRONT DOOR HINGE RUSTED AND DOOR FELL OFF. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 8002722
- Incident
- Feb 25, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Dec 19, 2001
I NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY THE DEALER OR THE MFG ABOUT MY COMPLAINTS. THEY WANT THESE PROBLEMS TO GET TOO OLD SO THEY SIMPLY IGNORE YOU. THEY MAY BE HUNDREDS OF THESE VANS WITH CRACKED FRONT COWLINGS WHERE THE DOOR HINGES MATE. THE DOORS WILLNOT CLOSE SAFELY AND LOCK. MY FAMILY IS AT RISK AND WITH THREE CHILDREN I CANNOT DUMP THIS DEATH TRAP BECAUSE THE MFG IGNORES THEIR DESIGN DEFECTS. THERE MAY BE HUNDREDS OF THESE VANS OUT WAITING FOR A SMALL ACCIDENT TO THROW SOMEONE OUT BECAUSE THE DOOR MOUNTING IS NOT SOLID. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THESE DEATH VANS. RESPECTFULLUY YOURS JOHN STRINGFELLOW
- NHTSA ID
- 755856
- Incident
- May 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Dec 19, 2001
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 755851
- Incident
- May 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Nov 30, 2001
SLIDING DOOR CAME OFF THE HINGES; DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED,AND WERER UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 899715
- Incident
- Jul 15, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Sep 24, 2001
BOTTOM HINGES FOR DRIVER'S DOOR ARE FAILING, CAUSING DOOR DROP DOWN, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF DOOR TO PROPERLY ALIGN WITH FRAME SO THAT DOOR CAN BE CLOSED AND LOCKED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 896726
- Incident
- Sep 15, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Mar 16, 2001
DRIVER DOOR IS SAGGING, WELD ON HINGE IS RUSTING. HINGE IS PULLING AWAY FROM DOOR. CONSUMER HAS TO LIFT UP ON DOOR TO OPEN AND CLOSE IT.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 883214
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Feb 27, 2001
DOOR IS RUSTING AT HINGES RIGHT OFF POST . CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 881582
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jan 5, 2001
DRIVER'S DOOR HINGE IS RIPPING OFF METAL OF FRAME, DOOR COULD POSSIBLY FALL OFF. DEALER SAID NEEDED TO EITHER SPOT WELD OR REPLACE FRAME. *AK UPON EXAMINING THE DOOR, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DOOR HAD DROPPED SEVERAL INCHES AND WAS GADUALLY SEPARATING FROM THE BODY FRAME. THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE FRAME WHICH COST THE CONSUMER SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED IT OCCURED DUE TO AGE OF THE VEHICLE. *YH
- NHTSA ID
- 877508
- Incident
- Dec 15, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Oct 21, 2000
FAILURE OF THE DOOR FRAME AT THE HINGE POINT FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSANGER SIDE FRONT DOORS CAUSING THEM TO SAG AND SCRAPE ON THE DOOR LOCK POST, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ALSO RUBS ON THE FRONT FENDER. RIGHT SIDE DOOR REPAIRED AT LOCAL BODY SHOP 1 YEAR AGO BY WELDING EXTRA STRUCTURAL BACKING BEHIND THE DOOR HINGE MATING AREA AND THEN WELDING HING TO FRAME AND EXTRA BACKING (DOOR LOCKS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DOOR SAG INTERFERANCE). LEFT SIDE NOT REPAIRED TO DATE.
- NHTSA ID
- 734848
- Incident
- Feb 15, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Aug 24, 2000
CONSUMERS DOOR IS CRACKING AT THE HINGE, IT'S BEGINNING TO DETERIORATE. DEALER SAID IT'S CHEAP METAL THAT'S BEING USED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 868604
- Incident
- Aug 22, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Aug 24, 2000
NO SUMMARY
- NHTSA ID
- 728883
- Incident
- May 15, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Apr 7, 2000
THE DOORS WILL NOT SHUT DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 859894
Body & structure
Filed Aug 29, 1999
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE IS FAULTY OR DEFECTIVE (LOOSE) WHICH CAUSES DOOR TO DROP (NOT ALIGN CORRECTLY) WHICH CAUSES LATCHING/LOCKING FEATURES TO NOT WORK PROPERLY, THUS DOOR WILL EITHER NOT SHUT OR WILL SHUT AND WILL COME OPEN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A SAFETY PROBLEM
- NHTSA ID
- 710676
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 1999
NO SUMMARY
- NHTSA ID
- 710543
- Incident
- Jul 1, 1998
Body & structure
Filed May 4, 1999
THE FRONT DOORS HINGES HAVE TORN OFF FROM THE POST, CAUSING THE DOORS TO SAG AND WILL NOT SHUT OR CLOSE CORRECTLY. DELAER HAS WELDED THE DOOR ONCE, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED, AND THEN DEALER REPLACED POST. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 837444
Body & structure
Filed Jul 16, 1997
ROOF LEAKS, SOAKING DRIVER SEAT BELT DURING A RAINSTRORM. IN COLD WEATHER THE WATER FREEZES AND BELT CANNOT BE USED.
- NHTSA ID
- 520842
- Incident
- Jun 1, 1997
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.