2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Seat Belts Problems

ON 12/25/2010 MY FAMILY AND I WAS DRIVING IN OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, VIN # [XXX]. WE SLIDE ON ICE AND SNOW GOING DOWN A HILL AND AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WE SMASHED INTO A TREE HEAD ON. BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. LUCKY NO BIG INJURIES. THE WHOLE FRONT END, METAL BAR, RADIATOR, HOOD AND FRAME WERE ALL DAMAGED. IF THE TREE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANY LARGER, WE WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS INJURIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 124,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ES. ON MAY 13, 2007, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, FORCING HER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS SHOVED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. BOTH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG FAILED. THE ENGINE SIZE AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,000.

Mileage: 88,000

ACCIDENT, GRAND CARAVAN WAS TOTALED. VAN FLIPPED, EXTENSIVE FRONT END, FRAME, SIDE, ROOF, ETC, DAMAGE. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NOR DID THE SIDE AIR BAGS. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS, INCLUDING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, INDICATE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT BECAME DISENGAGED DURING THE ACCIDENT (AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BELT TANG AND ANCHORAGE BUCKLE).*JB

Mileage: 42,000

WE'VE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MIDDLE ROW INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS. SEVERAL TIMES, THE TENSIONER ON THE SEAT WOULD NOT WORK, AND I HAD TO POP THE END OF THE SEAT BACK COVER OFF TO ACCESS THE MECHANISM TO FREE WHAT THE BELT WAS CAUGHT ON. I DIDN'T COMPLETELY REMOVE THE COVER SO I COULD SEE EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE BUCKLE WILL NOT SECURE THE BELT PLATE. IT WILL SECURE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND WE'VE RECENTLY NOTICED THAT IT WORKS BETTER IF WE LATCH A PARTICULAR SIDE FIRST, THEN THE OTHER SIDE (5 POINT HARNESS). I DON'T KNOW IF THE MECHANISM STICKS OR IF FOOD OR SOMETHING GOT FORCED INSIDE. THESE HAVE BOTH BEEN RECURRING PROBLEMS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.*JB

Mileage: 21,000

THE MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT AND ALL THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELTS WOULD COME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING OR NOT DRIVING. THE RELEASE BUTTON STICK TOO HIGH UP, ANY PRESSURE CAUSES THE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE CLAPS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

Mileage: 37,500

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP ABOUT 20 TIMES BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING NOISES AND SQUEAKING WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED MANY COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE FRONT END NOISE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAD INTERNAL DAMAGE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO BUCKLE AND UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT PADS WERE WORN AND THE ROTOR WERE GROOVED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS. THE INNER TIE ROD WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED THE STEERING TO MAKE NOISE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY. *NM

I AM CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THE GEN3 SEATBELTS IN MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED AS UNSAFE BUT AM FORCED TO PAY MY DEALER TO DO IT.*AK

Mileage: 27,000

PROBLEMS WITH SEAT TENSIONER AND AUTOMATICS DOORS MALFUNCTIONING.*MR AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON, AS A RESULT CONSUMER HAS HAD THE SEATBELT TENSIONER AND AIRBAG MODULE REPLACED. AUTOMATIC DOORS HAVE ALSO MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS BEEN REPROGRAMED. *TS

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 DODGE CARAVAN ON 4/17/02. ON 5/27/02 THE VAN WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON (THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM - PREVIOUSLY IN ON 4/25/02). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER CIRCUIT WAS OPENED, WIRES TRACED BACK FROM ACM TO TENSIONER, NO CRIMPS FOUND, MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE WAS THEN REPLACED.*AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON 4/17/02. ON 2/21/03 THE VAN WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN! THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID THE LEFT FRONT SEATBELT TENSIONER SHORTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

ON 4/17/02 I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THIS TIME IT WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT AGAIN. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, AIRBAG DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED AND THE LEFT FRONT SEATBELT TENSIONER CIRCUIT WAS REPROGRAMMED. I INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE SECOND ROW SEATBELTS WOULD NOT "LOCK" WHEN YOU JERKED ON THEM, BUT ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THEY WERE "OPERATING NORMALLY AT THIS TIME". I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE REAR LIFTGATE AGAIN. PER THE DEALERSHIP, THE CODES WERE REPROGRAMMED AGAIN. *AK

ON 4/17/02 I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THIS TIME IT WAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT AGAIN. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, AIRBAG DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED AND THE LEFT FRONT SEATBELT TENSIONER CIRCUIT WAS REPROGRAMMED. I INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE SECOND ROW SEATBELTS WOULD NOT "LOCK" WHEN YOU JERKED ON THEM, BUT ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THEY WERE "OPERATING NORMALLY AT THIS TIME". I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE REAR LIFTGATE AGAIN. PER THE DEALERSHIP, THE CODES WERE REPROGRAMMED AGAIN. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON 4/17/02. SINCE THEN, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT/SEATBELT TENSIONERS AND MALFUNCTIONING AUTOMATIC DOORS. THIS TIME THE VAN WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT AGAIN. PER THE DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAG MODULE WAS REPLACED AGAIN AND TENSIONER OVERLAY HARNESS COMPLETED AS PER STAR. THE REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN AGAIN, HAD ALREADY BEEN REPROGRAMMED AND THIS TIME THE LIFTGATE LATCH WAS REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!!!*AK

THE REAR SEATBELTS ON THE REAR BENCH OF OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DO NOT STAY LATCHED ON OUR CARSEATS. IN JUNE OF 2003 I NOTIFIED DODGE AND THEY STATED THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THEY NOW HAVE MY COMPLAINT - REFERRAL #11380233. THE REAR BENCH IS ALSO NOT LATCH EQUIPPED BUT DOES HAVE ONE REAR TOP TETHER ANCHOR PLACED IN THE MIDDLE. I HAVE 3 (SOON TO BE 4) CHILDREN IN CARSEATS. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ALL SEATS WERE TO BE LATCH COMPATIBLE IN ALL POSITIONS. AS FOR THE SEATBELT ISSUE, THE DEALER CLAIMED IGNORANCE TO THE INTERNET SO I HAVE PRINTED OFF THE STORIES ON UNSAFEBELTS.COM TO TAKE TO THEM TODAY WHEN I GO TO PICK IT UP. THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRIGGER THE RESPONSE - BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T TRY TO BUCKLE IN ONE OF MY MANY CARSEATS EITHER SO THEY WILL BE DOING THAT TODAY.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH UNSAFE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR. I WANT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO REPLACE THEM AT THEIR EXPENSE ASAP!*AK

MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS EXITING OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WHEN HER FOOT SLIPPED THROUGH THE SAFETY BELT STRAP. THE STRAP WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE SLIDING DOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE STRAP WAS IN IT'S STORAGE POSITION, BUT WAS CLEARLY STILL IN THE WAY OF HER STEPPING PAST THE MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT AS SHE EXITED FROM THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE STRAP "LOOPED" AROUND HER FOOT, SHE THEN TRIPPED AND TUMBLED OUT OF THE SLIDING DOOR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WITNESSED EVERYTHING--ANY TALLER: SHE WOULD HAVE STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE DOOR OF THE CAR. SHE ACTUALLY FELL OUT THE SLIDING DOOR AREA AND SCRAPED HER ARMS PRETTY GOOD. I WAS SURE SHE MUST HAVE BROKE BOTH ARMS THE WAY THAT SHE FELL. BUT, WE WERE LUCKY THIS TIME. THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY TO MOUNT THOSE SAFETY STRAPS TO AVOID THIS TYPE OF THING. WHEN THE PASSENGER IN THE MIDDLE SEAT IS STRAPPED IN, IT IS EVEN WORSE AS EACH PASSENGER PASSING TO THE REAR SEATS MUST WALK OVER OR UNDER THE STRAPS AS WELL. IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, SHE WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER AND THE "RESTING" STRAP STILL CAUGHT HER LEG AS SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE. CLEARLY NOT SAFE IN MY OPINION. JUST THOUGHT I'D PASS THIS ALONG. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL 5 REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES UNLATCH EASILY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE UNAFFECTED. THE CONSUMER PERFORMED THAT STEEL BALL TEST SEEN ON TELEVISION. BALL WAS ROLLED OVER BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS AND THEY CAME UNDONE EASILY. TS

THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR NUT CAME OFF THE STUD. IT IS APPEARENT THAT THE NUT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND VIBRATED OFF DURING TRAVEL. THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED WHEN MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO FASTEN THE SAFETY BELT AFTER A STOP FOR LUNCH.*AK

CHILD WAS IN SEAT BELT PLAYING WITH A TOY AND ACCIDENTLY HIT SEATBELT BUCKLE, CAUSING IT TO COME UNLATCHED. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WE WANT NHTSA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE GEN 3 SEAT BELTS IN OUR CAR. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE OF THIS PART, AS OTHERS HAVE, SINCE WE DEPEND ON THESE BELTS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE ABCNEWS REPORT ABOUT THESE DEFECTIVE BELTS, ASAP, AND DO WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE.*AK

VEHICLE HAS GEN3 SEATBELTS IN THE MIDDLE AND BACK. THIS SEATBELT IS VERY EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY BECOME UNLATCHED, AND DOES NOT PASS THE 30MM BALL BEARING TEST (I TRIED THIS AT HOME). I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF THESE BELTS BY CARSEATS MOVING AROUND, ELBOWS, ETC. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THESE BELTS REPLACED BY THE NEWER GEN4 DESIGN.*AK