2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Seat belts Problems

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO ONE IN THAT SEAT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASES WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT! ADULTS AND OLDER CHILDREN HAVE PUT THE SEAT BELT IN PLACE BUT THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL, THE SEAT BELT WILL RELEASE AT RANDOM, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HAVE TO CLICK IT INTO PLACE AGAIN. WHEN THE PASSENGER CLICKS THE SEAT BELT IN PLACE AND PULLS ON IT, IT EITHER STAYS IN POSITION OR RELEASES. IF IT STAYS IN POSITION, THEN WHILE DRIVING AND OR PARKED, THE SEAT BELT WILL SUDDENLY RELEASE. WHEN THE DRIVER HAD TO STEP HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID A DRIVER WHO STOPPED SUDDENLY, THE SEAT BELT RELEASED YET AT OTHER TIMES, THE SEAT BELT REMAINS IN PLACE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER OR NOT THE VAN IS IN GEAR OR PARKED, OR IF WE'RE STOPPED, MOVING, HIGHWAY DRIVING OR CITY DRIVING, THE SEAT BELT WILL RELEASE AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS HAD HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE TRIP. OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AT ALL. THE DATE GIVEN IS THE MOST RECENT TIME THAT IT RELEASED ON ITS OWN. I HAD BEEN PARKED AND THEN WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN MY DAUGHTER'S SEAT BELT (PASSENGER SIDE) RELEASED ON ITS OWN. I STOPPED AND PUT THE VAN IN PARK THEN HAD HER CLICK IN PLACE AGAIN. WE BOTH PULLED ON IT AND SINCE IT DIDN'T RELEASE, WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP, PRAYING THAT IT WOULDN'T DISCONNECT AGAIN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11051525

Incident

Nov 29, 2017

Mileage

191,600 mi

I PURCHASED MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT 2003 BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN NOV. 2002. I KEPT IT IN MINT CONDITION WITH ALL MAINTENANCE LOGS FILLED OUT. AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT THERE WERE ONLY 95,000 MILES ON THE VAN. IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK BEFORE. ON JAN 18 2015 WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS I HIT BLACK ICE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT FLIPPED FRONT TO BACK, DID A 180 MID AIR, LANDED ON WHEELS THEN ROLLED AT LEAST ONCE TO THE LEFT, LANDING ON THE WHEELS AGAIN. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY PASSENGER AND I BOTH HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON HOWEVER I STILL LIFTED UP AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE ROOF AND THE WINDSHIELD. WE ARE STILL ASSESSING OUR INJURIES. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AS TO HOW I LIFTED OUT OF MY SEAT, BASICALLY THE SEATBELT DID NOT TIGHTEN TO ME. ALSO WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY? HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL CONCERNING THE AIRBAGS OR SEAT BELTS OR OTHER THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF? *TR

NHTSA ID

10676974

Incident

Jan 18, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT TONGUE COULD NOT BE INSERTED INTO LATCH. THE LATCH COULD NOT BE OPENED, NO MATTER HOW MANIPULATED. THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DRIVER CANNOT LATCH SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551652

Incident

Nov 9, 2013

Mileage

64,660 mi

2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH SEAT BELTS CONCERNS **NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SEAT BELTS HAVE A SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198043

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DAIMLERCHRYSLER GEN3 SEATBELT BUCKLE - PRONE TO FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195638

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND TOOK IT INTO HALL DODGE DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA BEACH VA FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND INFORMED THEM THAT MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT CONTINUOUSLY UNLOCKS ITSELF AND HAS TO BE CHECKED REGULARLY FOR SECURITY WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN ONCE AGAIN FOR A SECOND TIME AND REITERATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OVER THE WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ALMOST $300 TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A SAFETY ITEM AND TO CHECK FOR RECALLS. THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME THAT THE BOTTOM LOCKING DEVISE ON THE SEAT BELT WAS INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS THE SEAT BELT IS VERY UNSAFE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188431

Incident

Mar 25, 2007

Mileage

9,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT UNLATCHED FROM THE BASE AND FLIPPED OVER. NOW THE SEAT MUST BE PUSHED IN MULTIPLE TIMES TO ENSURE IT IS LATCHED TO THE BASE. THIS IS A COSCO 22-630 MRC MANUFACTURED JULY 26, 2005.

NHTSA ID

10163975

Incident

Jul 31, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBEALTS BECAME UNBUCKLED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BOTH A FRONTAL AND REAR IMPACT; THE CRASH INVOLVED 3 OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS 2ND IN THE ROW OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING 70 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE INCIDENT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED THE SEATBELT BECOMING UNBUCKLED WITHOUT DEPRESSSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE BUCKLE WAS FREE OF DIRT AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS. THE CONTACT'S FEET WENT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT TOE, CRUSHED LEFT FOOT, CUTS ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND LEG. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AIRBAG BURNS ON BOTH ARMS AND CHEST, AS WELL AS A KNOT ON THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ID

10160804

Incident

Jul 5, 2004

DT: 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK DURING AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS A REAR IMPACT CRASH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND TRAFFIC HAS JUST STARTED TO MOVE, AND VEHICLE IN FRONT STARTED A CHAIN REACTION OF STOPPING. THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR DID NOT STOP, HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE OTHER CAR WENT UNDER THE REAR OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S WIFE HIT HER FACE ON THE DASHBOARD, AND CONSUMER HIT THE SIDE OF HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. SINCE THE ACCIDENT NO ONE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHY THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK DURING THE IMPACT. CONSUMER HAD THE VAN FOR FIVE WEEKS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THERE TWO PERSONS WERE INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10138745

Incident

Oct 1, 2005

Mileage

32,000 mi

DT: THERE IS AN INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MADE INTO THE VEHICLE. IF THE SEAT IS NOT CLICKED IN PROPERLY IT WILL ALLOW THE ENTIRE SEAT TO TILT FORWARD. CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS INJURED WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING AT 15 KM. HOSPITAL REPORTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF RESTRAINT TO KEEP THE SEAT FROM MOVING FORWARD OR IF THERE COULD BE SOME TYPE OF WARNING SYSTEM ON THE DASH FOR EXAMPLE A CHECK CHILD SEAT LIGHT. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY WERE INDUSTRY STANDARDS. THE CONSUMER WAS LOCATED IN ONTARIO, CANDA. THE CHILD SEAT IS A DODGE.

NHTSA ID

10133348

Incident

Mar 12, 2005

Mileage

58,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON, IMPACT BOTH PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGERS. THIS CAUSED BOTH PASSENGER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097185

Incident

Oct 2, 2004

Mileage

22,690 mi

EVENFLO TRIUMPH MODEL # 359128P1, DOM 10/21/2003. THE CHILD WAS CHOKING OFF THE MATERIAL FROM BOTH SIDES OF ARM REST. CHILD WAS ABLE TO PULL UNDERNEATH THE CAR SEAT AND PLACE THE MATERIAL INSIDE OF HIS MOUTH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095289

Incident

Oct 6, 2004

ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, MY DAUGHTER'S GEN3 SEAT BELT HAS UNLATCHED WITH NO APPARANT CAUSE. MY CHILDREN ARE 2 1/2 AND 4 AND THE SOUL PURPOSE OF BUYING THE VAN WAS TO HELP ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. IF THEIR BELTS ARE UNLATCHING FOR NO APPARANT REASON, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A CRASH? THEY CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE PROTECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10053166

Incident

Dec 11, 2003

Mileage

6,500 mi

THE REAR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR PASSENGER SEAT IN A GOLD DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AT ADVANTAGE RENTAL CAR NEAR THE SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AIRPORT HAS THE SEATBELT CONNECTION ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE SEAT. IT LOOKLS LIKE THERE ARE TWO LEFT SEATS INSTALLED. I REPORTED THIS TO THE INSPECTOR AT THE OFFICE AND I'M TOLD HE TRIED TO CHARGE US $150 FOR DAMAGES NOT NOTED DURING PICKUP OF THE VAN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045789

Incident

Nov 6, 2003

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE WITH THE MIDDLE CHILD BENCH SEATS. MY 4 YEAR OLD SON PUT HIS JUICE CUP DOWN BETWEEN HIM AND THE INFANT SEAT BUCKLED NEXT TO HIM. THE JUICE CUP HIT THE SEAT BELT RELEASE FOR THE INFANT SEAT AND RELEASED IT. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN. IF I HADN'T HEARD THE CLICK OF THE RELEASE , I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN MY 4 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WAS UNPROTECTED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018734

Incident

May 3, 2003

Mileage

1,350 mi

UNSAFE GEN3 SEAT BELTS - REQUEST TO DEMAND THAT DAIMLERCHRYLER RECALL ALL VEHICLE TYPES THAT HAVE THE GEN3 SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA ID

10016855

Incident

May 1, 2003

I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DODGE SEAT BELTS. WITH THE STUDIES DONE WHY DODGE HASN'T CHANGED ALL SEAT BELTS THAT AREN'T SAFE OR ACHIEVED A HIGH SAFETY RATING. I HAVE ORDERED A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK AND MIDDLE SEATS. I WOULD LIKE FOR DODGE TO AS AN OPTION ON NEW VEHICLES AT THE LEAST BE ABLE TO TRADE IN THE 3 SEAT BELTS FOR THE 4 GRAND CARAVAN FRONT SEAT BELTS. DT

NHTSA ID

769773