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1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Child Seat Problems

33 owner-reported child seat complaints from NHTSA data

33
Complaints
1
Recalls
Jan 2003Dec 1999
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Child Seat Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #98V185000

CHILD SEAT

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. IN ADDITION, AN INSTRUCTIONAL OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT CARD WILL BE PROVIDED.

Owner Complaints (33)

mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Jan 2003

INTERNAL MECHANICAL FAILURE OF INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT, RIGHT HAND SIDE. THE CABLE ASSEMBLY IN THE SEAT MODULE HAS FAILED. THIS CABLE ASSEMBLY LOCKS THE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER BELTS. THE CABLE HOOKS DIRECTLY TO THE LATCH PLATE AND WHEN THE BELT BUCKLE IS CONNECTED TO THE LATCH PLATE THE PLATE'S FORWARD MOVEMENT PULLS THE CABLE CAUSING THE SHOULDER BELT'S RETRACTOR TO LOCK. THIS CABLE CONNECTION HAS SEPARATED FROM THE LATCH PLATE (CABLE END IS ALSO FRAYED WITH THREE STRANDS LEFT ON IT'S END), RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELTS, RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY UNLOCKABLE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION FOR ANY CHILDS LIFE IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RESTRAIN THE CHILD IN THE SEAT LIKE IS SUPOSSED TO. LEFT HAND ICSS ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT CUSHION PIVOT FRAME WHICH IS TWISTED AT LEFT ATTACHED POINT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. THAT THE SEAT MODULES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND COSTS ON AN ESTIMATE OF $1,300+. I, REFUSE TO PAY ANY AMOUNT WHEN MY GUT FEELING IS THAT CHRYSLER HAS PUT OUT THESE ICSS WHICH ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I'M HAVING NOW FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. CHRYSLER ON 01/02/03 TOLD ME THAT IF I PAY THE FIRST $800+ THAT THEY WOULD PAY THE REMAINING DIFFERENCE. NOW, TO ME THIS IS LIKE SAYING YES, WE KNOW WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE ICSS SO WE ARE WILLING TO HELP. WELL, AFTER READING SO MANY LIKE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE ICSS, I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REALIZE THAT EVERY TIME A CHILD IS PLACED IN THEIR "CHRYSLER" ICSS THAT THE CHILD'S LIFE IS IN THEIR HANDS. THEY NEED TO OWN-UP TO FLAWS OF ENGINEERING AND FIX THESE SEATS SO THAT WE THE CUSTOMER CAN TRUST IN THEIR PRODUCT.. ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. RESPECTFULLY, SEVERINO L. RODRIGUEZ

NHTSA #: 10000697
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Aug 2001

CONSUMER STATES THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH PINCHES BOTH INFANTS WHO USE THIS SEAT, BOTH OF THE CHILDREN ARE WELL UNDER THE 50 POUND LIMIT FOR THE SEAT. *SLC

NHTSA #: 562605
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Aug 2001

CONSUMER STATES THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH PINCHES BOTH INFANTS WHO USE THIS SEAT, BOTH OF THE CHILDREN ARE WELL UNDER THE 50 POUND LIMIT FOR THE SEAT. *SLC

NHTSA #: 562605
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Apr 2001

THE CABLE ON MY INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT FAILED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO LATCH FOR A WHILE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE LATCH PLATE. THERE WERE NO OBSTICLES IN THAT AREA AND EVEN THE DEALERSHIP AGREED THAT IT IS A BROKEN CABLE. MY SEAT IS PROBABLY THE OLDEST OF THESE INTEGRATED SEATS AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THE CABLE WOULD WEAR AND JUST BREAK ON SEATS THAT ARE BUILT IN. DODGE HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE NECESSARY PART IF I PAY FOR THE LABER. THE TOTAL COST IS ABOUT $650 OF WHICH I WILL HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $120. I'M CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MAY ALSO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT ALSO OCCURS TO ME THAT IF MY CABLES SNAPPED WHEN THERE WAS NO CRASH WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS A CRASH. MAYBE THESE SEATS WERE SAFE WHEN THEY WERE NEW BUT ARE THE NOW?

NHTSA #: 743469
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Mar 2001

BUILD IN CHILD SEAT LOCATED IN MIDDLE BENCH. BCKLES LATCH AND SHOULDER STRAPS WILL NOT TIGHTEN AND LOCK. THE DANGER IS NOT IMMEDIATELY APPARENT SINCE THE BUCKLE STILL LATCHES. *AK

NHTSA #: 883357
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Mar 2001

MIDDLE 2 SEATS ARE BUILD-IN CCS, AND THE BELT BUCKLE DO NOT LATCH ON EITHER ONE.*AK

NHTSA #: 883275
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Mar 2001

THE STRAPS TO THE SAFETY SEAT DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY TO HOLD THE CHILD SECURELY. THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER PIECE TO KEEP THE CHILD FROM SEPARATING THE STRAPS AND GETTING OUT OF THE SEAT. ALSO THE CHILD IS ABLE TO RELEASE THE SAFETY SEAT EXTENSIONS WHICH WERE INSTALLED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN THE SAFETY SEATS WERE RECALLED.

NHTSA #: 741985
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Feb 2001

CHILD SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACK WHILE CHILD WAS LOCKED IN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INOFRMATION. *AK

NHTSA #: 879676
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Nov 2000

RECALL 98V2185000; DEALER DID NOT GIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN THE BUCKLE . PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY REMEDY OF RECALL. THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, AND THE CLIPS WERE NOT EASILY REMOVED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA #: 875496
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Oct 2000

DAY CARES VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN HAS A INTEGRAL CHILD SEAT. HARNESS STRAP TIGHTENS UP & IS VERY HARD TO RELEASE. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT COULD BE TIME CONSUMING & DANGEROUS TO THE CHILD TRYING TO GET THEM OUT. DEALER HASN'T RESPONDED TO THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA #: 872744
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Jun 2000

INTRGRATED CHILD SEAT BUCKLE BROKE, PREVENTING BELT FROM LOCKING IN THE HOUSING MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA #: 863461
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: May 2000

CHILD TRAPPED IN SEAT UNABLE TO RELEASE CHILD RESTRAINT. *AK

NHTSA #: 722601
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Mar 2000

THE BUILT-IN CSS HARNESS LATCH PLATE IS BROKEN. IT FAILS TO STAY LOCKED IN THE BUCKLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED NO WARRANTY ON BUILT-IN CSS. WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT IN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA #: 858530
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Dec 1999

LEFT SIDE INTERGRATED CSS BELTS NO LONGER STAY TIGHT WHEN BUCKLED. ONCE BUCKLED AND PULL ON BELTS, THEY WILL RELEASE. CHILD IS NO LONGER SECURE. DEALER SAYS TO FIX, PART ALONE (WHOLE NEW ICSS MODULE) WILL BE $409. VERY UNREALISTIC PRICE WHEN FOR $100 CAN EASLIY BUY A CAR SEAT . HAVE TWO CHILDREN STILL USING BOTH ICSS. DO NOT FEEL ICSS SHOULD HAVE FAILED AFTER 3 1/2 YEARS OF USE AND THEN BE SO UNREASONABLE TO FIX. *AK

NHTSA #: 716609
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Oct 1999

CHILD SEAT REPLACEMENT DOES NOT RECOIL

NHTSA #: 713235
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Aug 1999

BOTH INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS CAUSE CHILDS' LEGS TO FALL ASLEEP. IN ONE CASE, CHILD SUSTAINED NERVE DAMAGE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA #: 844873
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: May 1999

MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 23MOS, 35INCHES, 31LBS, IS ABLE TO REMOVE THE TODDLER CHEST CLIP AND PUSH HER ARMS OUT OF THE SHOULDER STRAPS. CENTURY HAS A LOCKING CLIP BUT FISHER-PRICE DOES NOT. F-P HAS OFFERED TO TAKE THE SEAT BACK FOR A FULL REFUND SINCE IT IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR MY CHILD, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I WORRY ABOUT OTHER CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO DO THIS. UP UNTIL NOW I WAS QUITE SATISFIED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT. *AK

NHTSA #: 706211
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Mar 1999

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS LOCKING MECHANISMS ON THE SEATBELTS JAM REPEATIDLY FROM DEBRIS THAT ENTERS INTO RECEPTICLE, DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. CHILD SUFFERED WHEN BELT TIGHTENED AND WAS TURNING BLUE/COULD NOT BREATH. RECALL ON COMPONENT DUE TO DEFECT, NOT NOTIFIED IN TIME.

NHTSA #: 544510
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Nov 1998

WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CHILD OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER COULD'NT GET THE CHILD OUT DUE TO THE HARNESS STRAP BUCKLE WOULD'NT COME OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE CHILD TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD GET THE CHILD OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK

NHTSA #: 830193
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Sep 1998

VEHICLE EQUIPED WITH CHILD INTEGRATED SAFETY SEATS, HOWEVER STRAP RESTRAINTS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING THEM TO GET JAMMED WHILE THE SPRING MECHANISM THAT TIGHTENS THE SHOULDER STRAPS KEPT GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER.

NHTSA #: 541113
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Aug 1998

CHILDREN HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS FIVE TIMES AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT.

NHTSA #: 780364
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Jun 1998

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT, BOTH ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT HAVE FAILED.

NHTSA #: 537469
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Jun 1998

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH STUCK AND STRAPS CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN.

NHTSA #: 536225
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Jun 1998

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH STUCK AND STRAPS CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN.

NHTSA #: 536225
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: May 1998

THE BUCKLE CAME LOOSE SO THAT THE CHILD IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER IS GOING TO REPLACE . *AK

NHTSA #: 823510
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Dec 1997

INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT WOULD NOT RELEASE CHILD PROPERLY, LOCK RELEASED HOWEVER BELTS TIGHTENED ON CHILD.

NHTSA #: 525757
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Oct 1997

BUILT IN (CHILD SEAT) BELTS CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN ON CHILD AND WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY.

NHTSA #: 604622
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Sep 1997

THE CHILD CAR SEAT STRAPS WOULD NOT RELEASE, THEY ONLY GET TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SHOWN THE RELEASE HOOKS IN ORDER TO RETRACT STRAPS EFFICIENTLY.

NHTSA #: 521656
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: May 1997

EA97003, WHEN UNHOOKING THE LATCH ON THE SEAT THE BELTS RETRACTED UP AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK AND CHEST SO TIGHT THAT THE BELTS HAD TO BE CUT TO REMOVE THE CHILD. THE BELTS ON THE CHILD SEAT WILL BE REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA #: 812451
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: May 1997

HAD PUT CHILD IN SEAT; WENT TO GET CHILD OUT & LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE; WHEN T-SHIELD HARNESS IS MOVED, IT TIGHTENS. PULLS AGGRESSIVELY HARD ON LATCH UNTIL IT RELEASES. HAPPENS CONSTANTLY. *AK

NHTSA #: 812287
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: May 1997

REAR BENCH INTERGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS LOCKING MECHANIISM WILL NOT UNLATCH. CHILDREN HAVE TO SLIDE OUT. DEALER TRIES TO RERAIR SEAT. *AK

NHTSA #: 812150
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Feb 1997

LEFT SIDE OF CHILD SAFETY SEAT WON'T RELEASE.

NHTSA #: 515524
mediumCHILD SEAT
Filed: Dec 1996

SEAT BELT RESTRAINT ON BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT TOO SHORT, CAUSING NECK IRRITATION.

NHTSA #: 512204

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