1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Seat Belts Problems

WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED IN A FIVE CAR COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE REAR SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED, CAUSING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO FLY FORWARD, HITTING THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC *JB

SEAT BELT COMPLAINT. *NLM

CONSUMER SAW A NEWS PROGRAM STATING THAT 1993-2002 GRAND CARAVANS HAVE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED FOR HER FAMILY'S SAFETY AND FEELS A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *JG

THE FEMALE END OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY CRUMBLED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. WE ARE WORRIED THAT THE OTHER SEAT MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY SINE THE PROBLEM INVOLVES A CHILD SEAT. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***770772

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. TS SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HARNESS STRAPS RECEPTACLE IS INOPERATIVE, UNABLE TO FASTEN BUCKLE. NLM

REAR SEAT BELTS ARE RELEASING INVOLUNTARILY. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND KNEW NOTHING OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL REPLACE SEAT BELT WITH SAME EXACT STYLE INSTEAD OF USING ANOTHER KIND THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OWNERS EXPENSE.*AK *TT

I WAS SITTING NEXT TO MY CHILD IN HIS CAR SEAT AND WAS PUTTING ON MY SEATBELT WHEN I BUMPED THE RELEASE LEVER TO HIS SEATBELT AND IT POPPED OPEN. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OTHER DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLE OWNERS HAD BEEN HAVING WITH THEIR GEN-3 SEATBELTS. I THOUGHT THAT IF IT WAS THIS EASY TO RELEASE THE BELT, THEN THERE HAD TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. NLM

1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS GEN-3 SEAT BELTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE NEW GEN-4 SEAT BELTS INSTALLED ASAP. THE GEN-3 SEAT BELTS ARE UNSAFE DUE TO ACCIDENTAL RELEASE. I WANT MY CAR TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR MY FAMILY AND A POSSIBLE RELEASE DURING AN ACCIDENT IS NOT SAFE!*AK

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE GEN-3 SEATBELT WHICH IS DEFECTIVE. ON AT LEAST 8 OCCASIONS MY SONS CAR SEAT HAS BECOME UNBUCKLED BECAUSE IF ANYTHING TOUCHES THE TOP OF THE BELT IT RELEASES. SO IF THE CAR SEAT SHIFTS AT ALL THE SEATBELT IS RELEASED AND OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE MANY PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED. *AK

MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS THE GEN-3 SEATBELTS. AFTER SEEING THE INVESTIGATION ON ABC NEWS, I BUCKLED UP ON MY MINIVAN AND APPLIED SLIGHT UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE BELT AND BARELY TOUCHED THE RED SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON WITH THE PALM OF MY HAND AND THE SEAT BELT EJECTED. I PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME WITH THE REST OF THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE THE SEAT BELTS EJECT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING HITTING THE RELEASE BUTTON. I THINK IF THE PALM OF MY HAND RELEASED THE BELTS, I REALLY DO NOT FEEL THAT MY FAMILY IS SECURE AT ALL IN THE GRAND CARAVAN. I HAVE TOLD CO-WORKERS THAT ALSO HAVE THESE TYPE OF SEAT BELTS AND ARE GOING TO PROCEED WITH A COMPLAINT. *AK

REQUEST RECALL TO REPLACE SEATBELTS. *AK

LEFT REAR ROW AND LEFT MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES LOCKED UP, AND REQUIRED CONSUMER TO CUT BELTS TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF VEHICLE. BOTH BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES LOCKED UP, AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

INTEGRATED SEAT BROKE AT THE LATCH PLATE BETWEEN LEGS. THERE'S A JAGGED PLASTIC PIECE THAT CAN INJURE CHILD. IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS OVER 36,000. CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COST.*AK

BELT KEEPS COMING LOOSE FROM THE SYSTEM, IS EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ALL THE TIME. I AM SURE THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND IS THE MANUFACTURER GOING TO FIX IT? OR DO I GET STUCK FOR THE REPAIRS AGAIN? *AK

DESIGN OF SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY CAUSES BELT BUCKLES TO BECOME DISLODGED WHEN VEHICLE HITS ROUGH ROAD.