1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Seat Belts Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT PULL OUT. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS WERE VERY LOOSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE MAY BE THE SWITCH THAT IS USED TO DETERMINE IF THE DOOR IS AJAR. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS, AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE DEALER AS WELL AS A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE ABS FAILING. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 96V099000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE ANTILOCK SERVICE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - THE SEAT BELTS, AIR BAG AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. *NM

Mileage: 142,660

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS FROZEN AND SEAT BELT CANNOT BE WORN. MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT GETTING THE BELT TO LOOSEN UP AND ALL ATTEMPTS FAILED. DEALER TELLS ME THE REPAIR WILL COST $328 TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING THE VEHICLE ILLEGALLY AND I'M LAUGHABLY SURPRISED THAT THE NHTSA, GIVEN THAT THERE ARE 13 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME COMPONENT ISSUE ALREADY FOR THIS MODEL YEAR ALONE, HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL. ARE SEAT BELTS NO LONGER A SAFETY COMPONENT OR CONCERN FOR THE AGENCY THAT FIRST MANDATED THEIR USE? CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER THIS REPAIR. *JB

Mileage: 137,000

DRIVER'S LAP BELT WILL NOT LATCH INTO BUCKLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED LOCKING SEATBELT. ATTEMPTED TO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AT DEALER. TOLD NO PART AVAILABLE. TOLD JUNK YARD IS ONLY SOLUTION FOR A REPLACEMENT BELT AND RETRACTOR. VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DURING IMPACT THE ANCHOR WHICH ATTACHES THE SEATBELT TO THE FLOOR BECAME UNATTACHED, THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE TO HOLD CHILDS CAR SEAT IN PLACE CAUSING HER TO STRIKE THE FRONT ROW PASSENGER SEAT, THE CHILD SUSTAINED A BLOODY LIP AND BRUISED CHEEK. NLM

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT GETS STUCK, WORKS RARELY, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO LUBRICATE IT. THIS STARTED IN 1994 WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, NOT REPAIRED.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT HAS BECOME STUCK AND CANNOT BE PULLED OUT TO BE USED.*AK

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL JAM UP AND NOT ALLOW MOVEMENT. MANY TIMES IT TAKES 5 MIN TO FIGHT THE SEATBELT JUST TO GET IT TO PULL OUT SO THAT IT MAY BE PUT ON. ONCE I GET IT ON, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE AS MUCH AS TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO PAY TOLLS ECT. IT TIGHTENS UP AS I DRIVE AND THERE HAVE MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT OFF BECAUSE IT BECOMES TO TIGHT. THEN I EATHER HAVE TO FIGHT WHILE DRIVING OR PULL OVER AND FIGHT WITH IT TO GET IT BACK OUT SO THAT I MAY COMPLY WITH THE LAW. I NEED TO GET IT IN SOON FOR REPAIR. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT OR RELEASE (TOTALLY INOPERABLE). NLM

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT STICKS IN THE RETRACTOR AND WILL NOT COME OUT. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES/HOURS OF TUGGING, IT MAY/MAY NOT FREE UP AND PULL OUT. EVEN THEN, IT GENERALLY DOES NOT MOVE FREELY IN AND OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. I PREVIOUSLY HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AT A COST OF ABOUT $200. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SAFETY RELATED, DODGE WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *AK

THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. ALSO, SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STICKS WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. SOMETIMES SEAT BELT TIGHTENS AROUND THE DRIVER FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. ALSO, SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE STICKS WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. SOMETIMES SEAT BELT TIGHTENS AROUND THE DRIVER FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAN'T USE FRONT SEAT BECAUSE OF SEAT BELT SAFETY LAWS. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT WILL NOT PULL OUT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SEATBELT WOULD NEED REPLACED AT CONSUMERS COST. *SLC

FALSE LATCHING OCCURRED WHEN THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE RECEPTICAL WAS DISPLACED DOWNWARD, ALLOWING BUCKLE TO ENTER THE SPACE BETWEEN PLASTIC HOUSING AND THE LATCH, RATHER THE LATCH ITSELF.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97V149000). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. RETRIEVED VEHICLE. CHECKED & NOTICED OLD SEAT PARTS STILL ATTACHED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, WHO CHECKED & NOTICED OLD PARTS. HAD SERVICE MANAGER REPLACE OLD PARTS WITH NEW ONES BEFORE VEHICLE LEFT DEALERSHIP. *AK

ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THE RETRACTOR NO LONGER WORKS. ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE THE RETRACTOR LOCKS UP, AND AT TIMES THE RETRACTOR DOESN'T WORK. *AK

MIDDLE SEAT BELT OCCASIONALLY UNLATCHES, AND IT IS HARD TO REPOSITION SEAT BELT. OWNER INSISTED UPON REPLACING ENTIRE SEAT BELT FOR $ 200. *AK

THE SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR, AND WILL NOT COME OUT AT ALL. THE SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

THE BELT RETRACTS AND WON'T A;LLOW DRIVER TO PULL IT OUT. EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE CAN PULL IT OUT, AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO BEING STUCK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. *AK

SEAT BELT FAILED 3 TIMES IN TWO SMALL IMPACT CRASHES TO RELEASE, RESULTING IN SEVERE CHEST/NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. DRIVER HAD TO BE MANUALLY REMOVED. *AK

RIGHT/REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED FROM ANCHOR. *AK

DRIVERS SEAT BELT TWISTED AND DOES NOT RETRACT.

RIGHT CENTER SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED FROM FLOOR ANCHOR.

OWNER STATES THAT HIS SEAT BELT IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BECOMES DETACHED WHILE TRYING HOOK BELT HE ALSO NOTES THAT THE SPRING CLIP IS FAULTY. OWNER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS. *AK

RIGHT MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FREQUENTLY RELEASES FROM ANCHORAGE, NO INJURIES, AS OF YET, NOT CHECKED BY DEALER. *AK

THE SPRING CLIP HAS BROKEN, CASING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME MISALIGNED. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT COMES LOOSE AND/DISCONNECTS DUE TO POOR ASSEMBLY. *AK

THE CENTER SEAT/RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE RELEASES WHEN TRYING TO PUT ON BELT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CENTER SEAT/RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE RELEASES WHEN BELT IS IN USE. *AK

CENTER SEAT/ RIGHT SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE RELEASES FREQUENTLY WHEN THE BELT IS IN USE. *AK

CENTER SEAT/RIGHT SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE RELEASES FREQUENTLY WHEN THE BELT IS IN USE. *AK

SEAT BELT HOOK FROM THE RIGHT SIDE SEAT DETACHES FROM THE FLOOR. *AK

THE CENTER SEAT/RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE RELEASES WHEN SEAT BELT IS BEING USED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT LOOKED AT PROBLEM. *AK

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE, THE MIDDLE SEAT ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WHEN ATTACHING THE SEAT BELT IN THE CLIP THE BELLT WILL NOT STAY ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR OR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE , IN FOR REPAIR, CONTINUES TO FAIL, PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 1994. *AK

THE LITTLE HOOK COMES UNDONE SOMETIMES WHEN BUCKLED IN. WHEN TURNING AROUND IN THE SEAT BELT ON THE SECOND ROW ON THE RIGHT, THE HOOK COMES UNDONE FROM THE ANCHOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE LITTLE HOOK COMES UNDONE SOMETIMES WHEN BUCKLED IN. WHEN TURNING AROUND IN THE SEAT BELT ON THE SECOND ROW ON THE RIGHT, THE HOOK COMES UNDONE FROM THE ANCHOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE SEAT BELT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE DISENGAGES FROM THE METAL HOOK ON THE FLOOR, CAUISNG THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE SPRING CLIP HAS NOT BROKEN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 25 MPH COLLISION IN WHICH THE SEAT BELT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF VEHICLE DISENGAGED FROM THE FLOOR ANCHOR, CAUSING A CHILD TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND TO BE INJURIED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER BUT THE CLIP WAS NOT REPLACED. PLEASE ADD ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT HIS SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AND THAT THIS OCCURS IN THE FRONT.OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS DEALERS AND THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK

THE CENTER SEAT/RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE RELEASES WHEN BELT IS IN USE AND WHEN TRYING TO PUT BELT ON. *AK

CENTER SEAT/RIGHT SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE RELEASES WHEN THE BELT IS IN USE. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BELT MOUNTED TO SIDE OF VAN FAILS TO RESTRAIN PASSENGER'S SHOULDER. *AK

FLOOR HOOK FOR MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILS TO KEEP SEATBELT SECURED TO FLOOR. *DH