2007 Dodge Grand Caravan Airbags Problems

ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 2017, A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS TRAVELING NB ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY A LARGER VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS AND TRAVELING 50-55 MPH. AFTER BEING IMPACTED FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE SPUN 360 DEGREES. AFTER THE SPIN, THE VAN WAS IMPACTED DIRECTLY HEAD ON, IN THE FRONT, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, BY A 4 DOOR SEDAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK THE OCCUPANTS TO THEIR SEATS. THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE ALLOWED SIGNIFICANT BODY MOVEMENTS OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. IT CAUSED ABRUPT FORWARD AND BACKWARD MOTION OF THEIR HEADS, NECKS, BACKS, ARMS, LEGS AND TORSOS, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL INJURY AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THE DRIVER ACCOMPANIED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND X-RAY EVALUATIONS WERE PERFORMED BY A MEDICAL SPECIALIST. THE PASSENGER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH UPPER SPINE, HEAD AND NECK INJURIES WITH SIGNIFICANT MUSCLE PAIN AND SEVERE CONCUSSION. THE DRIVER HAD INJURIES TO HIS SHOULDER, NECK, KNEE, TORSO AND BACK AREAS WITH SIGNIFICANT MUSCLE PAIN. SUMMARY, HAD THE SEAT BELTS FUNCTIONED, AS WAS ADVERTISED AND DESIGNED BY THIS MANUFACTURER, BOTH PASSENGERS WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED SUCH SEVERE PHYSICAL INJURIES, AND HAD THE AIR BAGS FUNCTIONED AND DEPLOYED, AS ADVERTISED AND DESIGNED, BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED IN THIS IMPACT-COLLISION. HISTORY, THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OF PAST YEARS DESIGN INCLUDING THIS 2007 MODEL YEAR HAVE HAD SIMILAR AND REPEATED REPORTS OF SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG FAILURE. CONCLUSION, THIS MANUFACTURER KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THESE SAFETY DEFEATS, FROM PAST SETTLEMENT LITIGATION. THIS MANUFACTURER ALLEGEDLY HAS FAILED OR REFUSED TO CORRECT THESE ALLEGED INJURY CAUSING VEHICLE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG DEFECTS.

NHTSA ID

11056329

Incident

Dec 21, 2017

Mileage

134,121 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAN CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING ON AND OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MACDONALD MOTORS AUTO GROUP DEALER IN BRIDGTON, ME THAT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING OCCUPANT RESTRAIN MODULE FAILURE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AGAIN BY MACDONALD MOTORS AUTO GROUP DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A USED SEAT FROM A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS STILL ILLUMINATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID

11021471

Incident

Sep 5, 2017

Mileage

113,000 mi

MY WIFE IS HANDICAPPED. I OWN A LOWERED FLOOR MINIVAN WITH A RAMP FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS. VANTAGE MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL ("VMI"), 5202 SOUTH 28TH PLACE, PHOENIX, AZ 85040, (602) 243-2700 DID THE CONVERSION OF MY 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO MAKE IT HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE ("RAMP VAN"). DODGE/CHRYSLER ("DODGE") WORKS WITH VMI AND A DODGE DEALER IN TEMPE ARIZONA TO SELL RAMP VANS NATIONWIDE THROUGH A DEALER NETWORK. RAMP VANS ARE SOLD THROUGH LOCAL DEALERS WHO PROVIDE BOTH WARRANTY AND NON WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE CONVERSION ELEMENTS OF THE RAMP VANS. LOCAL DODGE DEALERS PROVIDE NON-CONVERSION WARRANTY AND NON-WARRANTY SERVICE. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR EACH TO POINT THE FINGER AT THE OTHER CONCERNING ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT ONLY OPERATES INTERMITENTLY. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO BOTH VISION DODGE (920 PANORAMA TRAIL SOUTH, ROCHESTER, NY 14625, (585) 385-5700, AND AUTOCRAFTING 72 HINCHEY ROAD, ROCHESTER, NY 14624 ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. AUTOCRAFTING REPORTED THAT VMI WAS INVOLVED IN TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM. BETWEEN VISION DODGE AND AUTOCRAFTING THERE HAVE BEEN 3 OR 4 ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE AIRBAG PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. VISION DODGE CHARGED ME SUBSTANTIAL COSTS FOR REPAIRS THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NEITHER DODGE NOR VMI HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG FAILURE AND THE INABILITY OF DODGE AND VMI TO FIX IT INDICATES A MAJOR DESIGN FAILURE IN AN ESSENTIAL AND LEGALLY REQUIRED SAFETY SYSTEM. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM GOES ON AND OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS AS REPORTED BY THE VEHICLE'S WARNING LIGHTS. WHOEVER IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IS AT SERIOUS RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY SHOULD THE VAN BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE AIRBAG NOT WORKING. OCCURRED 12/2015 AND FROM OCTOBER 2016 TO DATE.

NHTSA ID

10985501

Incident

Dec 29, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.

NHTSA ID

10940294

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATORS FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10905794

Incident

Jul 12, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

4/17/2016 WE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHICH TOTALED OUR VAN. THE FRONT WAS DAMAGED AND THE VAN WAS TOTALED HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THE WINDSHIELD WAS DAMAGED

NHTSA ID

10855334

Incident

Mar 17, 2016

Mileage

85,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10837997

Incident

Sep 23, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLADDER PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10722586

Incident

Mar 1, 2015

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO A ROW OF TREES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE NOT CONNECTED AND WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10443670

Incident

Oct 11, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS WENT BAD BECAUSE THE WIRE HARNESS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE OPEN CIRCUIT, CAUSING THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10429082

Incident

Oct 6, 2011

Mileage

89,828 mi

AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE DID NOT WORK WITH A HIGH SPEED FROM IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374029

Incident

Dec 29, 2010

Mileage

63,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. PER OWNERS MANUAL AND OTHER SOURCES - THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR. CAUSE IS LEAKAGE INTO THE SENSOR FROM ROAD SALT AND OR WATER. AIR BAG IS POSSIBLY IN A NON-WORKING CONDITION - THUS LEAVING THE POTENTIAL FOR BODILY HARM IF A CRASH SHOULD OCCUR. MANUFACTURER IS NOT OFFERING A FIX AT THIS TIME, AND ACTUALLY DENIES ANY PROBLEMS WITH SAID DEVICES.

NHTSA ID

10368810

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,500.

NHTSA ID

10344446

Incident

Jul 12, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

MET HERD OF HORSES ON MAIN ROAD, HIT HORSES KILLED 4, TOTALLY WRECKED MY 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, REPEAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER AIRLIFTED TO NORFOLK, GEN HOSPITAL, 5 FACIAL FRACTURES, CHRYSLER NOTIFIED ON 2-22-10, AS OF 03-06-10 NO RESPONSE, CAIR NUMBER 19335234. HAVE PHOTOS AVAILABLE, FEEL MASSIVE FAILURE WITH AIR BAGS A GREAT RISK FOR FUTURE ACCIDENTS, WHAT DO I DO NEXT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318085

Incident

Jan 20, 2010

Mileage

53,000 mi

2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. SINCE ABOUT 5,000 MILES THE VAN HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT RUMBLING/SQUEALING FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM, MORE PRONOUNCED AT A STOP, BUT ALSO AT LOW TO MID-SPEEDS. THIS PAST WEEKEND, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AT LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE ABS RUMBLED SO LOUD THE ENTIRE VAN SHOOK. WE THEN STOPPED THE VAN, PLACED IT IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO GEAR (DRIVE). WHEN THE BRAKES WERE AGAIN APPLIED, THEY WERE ROCK SOLID (NO MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL) THEN THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A TREE VICE AN ON-COMING VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE ROLLED SLIGHTLY UP THE TREE, BROKE THE WHEEL FRAME CONNECTION PIECE, BENT THE SWAY ARM, BUCKLED THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL, AND EXPLODED THE TIRE. VAN CURRENTLY HAS 16K MILES. NO INJURIES. EVENT WAS WITNESSED BY THREE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BUT WITH THAT TYPE OF HIT ON THE TREE, SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE ALSO DEPLOYED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10269919

Incident

May 23, 2009

Mileage

16,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN, ROLLED OVER INTO A DITCH, AND LANDED ON ITS ROOF. THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELTS WOULD LOCK IN CASE OF A ROLLOVER. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE SEAT BELTS AND STRUCK THEIR HEADS. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MISALIGNED BACK AND UPPER AND LOWER SPINAL STRAIN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CUT HAND AND UPPER AND LOWER SPINAL STRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DETERMINED TO BE DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

NHTSA ID

10217477

Incident

Jan 12, 2008

Mileage

32,000 mi