1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Interior & seats Problems

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 *JS

NHTSA ID

11004775

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT INCAS IN CAME APART AT THE ADJUSTER TRACKS. THIS CAUSED ME TO BE THROWN INTO THE REAR OF THE VAN MAKING MY INJURES MUCH WORSE. SEE ALSO 11004775. *DSY

NHTSA ID

11004763

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

1,800,000 mi

WHEN I PURCHASED MY VAN AUGUST 21 2009 IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THE SALESPERSON SAID IT WAS FROM THE BULBS BEING BURNT OUT. I WENT TO AUTOZONE THAT DAY TO GET THE BULBS REPLACED, AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. AUTOZONE TOLD ME IT WAS THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH THAT HAD WENT BAD AND WAS CAUSING MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK. I WENT TO GOODYEAR A FEW DAYS LATER TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD HOLD OR WORK FOR A WHILE. SINCE THEN IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES IF I TURNED THE DEFROSTER ON IT WOULD KICK ON, BUT NOW IT WILL TURN ON FOR MAYBE ONE TURN AND TURN OFF RIGHT AND WHEN I GO TO USE IT AGAIN, IT'LL TURN ON THEN CUT OFF AND WONT TURN BACK ON. ALSO MY SLIDING PASSENGER DOORS, THE CHILD LOCK IS STUCK AND NOONE CAN OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO GET OUT OR THE PASSENGER HAS TO GET OUT TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE DOOR HANDLES ARE HARD TO OPEN ON THE OUTSIDE. EVEN THOUGH THE CHILD LOCK WILL SAY ITS NOT ON, YOU CAN NOT STILL OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VAN. ALSO I HAVE SOME PANS UNDER MY ENGINE THAT LEAKING FLUIDS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, ITS THE OIL PAN, COOLANT PAN, AND I HAVE METAL SHAVINGS IN SOME OF MY FLUIDS. THIS WAS ALSO LIKE THIS WHEN I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288771

Incident

Aug 21, 2009

Mileage

117,587 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AT 5 MPH. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT CAME OFF TRACK DURING THE CRASH. DUE TO THE SEAT POSITION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

NHTSA ID

10192742

Incident

Jun 4, 2007

Mileage

124,000 mi

THE BOLT ATTACHING THE HANDLE TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM BROKE. HERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO EVENTS LEADINGUP TO THE FAILURE.SEAT WILL NOT STAY UPRIGHT.VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED, I WILL RETAIN DEFECTIVE PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100135

Incident

Nov 17, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE INTSURMENTS WILL HAVE A LOSS OF POWER. NO GAUGES, ODOMETER SPEEDOMETER. WHEN IT COMES BACK THE DOORS RELOCK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048851

Incident

Nov 14, 2003

PASSENGER SEATBACKS ON MIDDLE ROW CAPITAINS SEATS ARE CONSTANTLY COMMING LOOSE DUE TO BOLTS ON SIDE NEAR FOLDING HINGES COMING LOOSE! VERY UNSAFE AS BACKS OF SEATS CAN FALL OFF OR RECLINE FULLY BACK RENDERING SEATBELTS WORTHLESS!*AK

NHTSA ID

10037325

Incident

Aug 28, 2003

THE REAR LIFT GATE LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE WHILE BEING USED. *PH

NHTSA ID

10032367

Mileage

67,970 mi

PASSENGER SEAT BACK BROKE FOR NO REASON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018479

Incident

Aug 10, 2002

WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR! CONSIDERING BUYING ANOTHER GM PRODUCT INSTEAD. THIS IS THE 3RD AND FINAL CHRYSLER PURCHASE. LOVE THE VEHICLE, BUT TOO MANY DEFECTS FOR THE PRICE PAID. DT

NHTSA ID

769503

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SAFETY CHILD PROOF DOORS ARE INOPERATIVE. THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AND GET OUT OF VEHICLE WITH SYSTEM ACTIVATED. *NLM *SCC

NHTSA ID

8019314

Incident

Jul 24, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

759036

WHILE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER MINI-VAN TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. AS A RESULT LEFT POWER SEAT COLLAPSED TO THE FULLY RECLINED POSITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

758794

Incident

Jan 5, 2002

DRIVERS SEAT, TOP BACK MOVES BACK WHILE DRIVING. WOULD HAVE TO STOP TO ADJUST SEAT CONSTANTLY. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP YET. *AK *JG

NHTSA ID

8002876

Incident

Jan 10, 2002

INSTRUMENT PANEL EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

872551

Incident

Oct 5, 2000

WHEN VAN WAS REAR ENDED BY A 95 AUDI, TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACK BROKE AND RECLINED ALL THE WAY BACK. SEATS ARE BEING REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

860491

Incident

Apr 11, 2000

A 200 LB 80 YEAR OLD MAN WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF HIS VAN. WHEN HE AND HIS WIFE WAS REAR-ENDED IN A 25-30 MPH IMPACT BY A 85 NISSAN PICKUP. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE PASSENGER SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS AND THE MAN BROKE HIS NECK, HE PASSED AWAY A FEW DAYS LATER. SEEING HOW THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE, IT DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT THAT THE SEAT BROKE UNDER SUCH A RELATIVELY MINOR IMPACT. WHO WOULD I NEED TO CONTACT TO INITIATE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT CLAIM TO HELP COVER THE MOUNTAIN OF MEDICAL BILLS RESULTING FROM THIS A INCIDENT?

NHTSA ID

784402

THE SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVERS HAS SEATBELT RECEIVERS THAT ARE FLUSH WITH THE SEAT. THIS IS A PROBLEM IF YOU PLACE A CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT ON THAT BENCH AND HOOK IT IN BECAUSE ANY CHILD THAT ENTERS THE CAR AND TRIES TO HOOK THEIR SEATBELT IN, COULD UNHOOK THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THEY CAN UNHOOK IT SIMPLY BY PUTTING A TOY DOWN NEXT TO THEM OR EVEN IF THE CHILD IN THE SAFETY SEAT SHOULD DROP A TOY IT COULD UNHOOK THE LATCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. ONE TIME AS I WAS TURNING THE CORNER MY SONS SEAT FLIPPED COMPLETELY OVER AND LANDED NEXT TO THE BENCH (BETWEEN THE BENCH AND THE DOOR). YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW ANGRY I WAS. I HAVE TRIED TO GO TO DODGE AND I HAVE CALLED THE NTSB AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL CARSEAT SAFETY BUREAU, BUT I HAVE NO ANSWERS YET. I HAVE WRITTEN TO DODGE, BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM. TO KEEP MY SON SAFE AND ALIVE I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE MIDDLE BENCH AND MOVE THE REAR SEAT FORWARD, AS IT HAS BELT LATCHES THAT ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO UNHOOK( THEY ARE LONGER) AND HAVE REMAINED LATCHED. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME IN GETTING IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP? OR TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE IN SAFEETY AND DESIGN AT DODGE WILL KNOW HOW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS THOSE HOOKS ARE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR ME AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS. SINCERELY, LISA RAMBO

NHTSA ID

713216

REAR HEAT AND AIR LINE RUNNING UNDER FRONT OF VAN CAUSED RATTLE. DEALER HAD VAN FOR OVER 15 DAYS , REPLACED TRANSMISSION, MOST OF THE DASH WAS PULLED OUT, ALL KINDS OF HEAT SHIELDS WERE REMOVED AND PROBLEM STILL RETURNED. FINALLY AFTER OVER 12 RETURN TRIPS TO DEALER THEY REPLACED THE LINES OR CLAMPS AND PROBLEM IS GONE. NOW THE PROBLEMS ARE SHOWING UP FROM THE DASH BEING REMOVE. RADIO,SPEAKERS,DASH LITES & RATTLES.

NHTSA ID

707298

Incident

Jan 20, 1999

COURTESY LIGHT FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

606839

Incident

Jul 1, 1998

DRIVER SEAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR LONG DRIVES. YH

NHTSA ID

606520

DRIVER'S SEAT TRACKS AND ANCHORS ARE DEFECTIVE. DROVE, STOPPED AND REAR ENDED, SEAT WENT FORWARD, CAME BACK AND WAS BROKEN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS BENT/ MIDDLE PASSENGER'S SEAT BROKENAND WILL NOT LIFT UP. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

834038

Incident

Jan 26, 1999