1991 Dodge Caravan body problems

What is wrong

Vehicle description: mini vans. The bolts used to attach the strut to the body and the rear liftgate can accumulate fatigue damage if three factors combine. If the bolt is loose, the gas strut is over-pressurized, and the frequency of opening and closing cycles is higher than for the average customer, the bolt can fail.

Risk

Personal injury could occur if the bolts break allowing the liftgate to fall suddenly.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect for loose fasteners, if the fasteners are loose, the strut (and integral bolts) will be replaced. If the bolt shows evidence of torque, the bolt will be removed, larger washers will replace the existing washer and the bolt will be reinstalled and hand tightened to the target torqued.

Recall number 99V213000 · Recall details

On may 7, 1997, chrysler filed a defect information report to recall 436,000 1992 dodge caravan/grand caravan, plymouth voyager/grand voyager and chrysler town and country vehicles to repair the liftgate supports; safety recall 97v‑079.odi had investigation the rear liftgate support problem for 1991-1993 chrysler minivans in pe 96-035 and ea96-027.at the time of closing ea96-027 on may 16, 1997, a safety related defect trend had not been identified on the 1991 and 1993 models.since the closing of ea96-027, odi has received 34 complaints of rear liftgate support attaching bolt failures, including ten injuries, on the subjecet vehicles.it is recommended that a recall query be opened to determine the scope of liftgate support failures on the subject vehicles.closing note: on july 19, 1999, damilerchrysler agreed to recall 1991, 1993, and 1994 model year vehicles to remedy rear liftgate supports; safety recall 99v‑213.it is recommended that rq99-004 be closed.

RQ99004

The retainer bolt of the rear liftgate support cylinders may shear resulting in sudden collapse of the rear hatch door.

EA96027

The retainer bolt of the rear lift gate support cylinders may sheer resulting in the sudden collapse of the rear hatch door.

PE96035

Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.the federal safety agency analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form of static and dynamic crash testing, engineering evaluations, complaint and field analyses, and real world data analyses.a technical report discussing these analyses can be found in the engineering analysis technical report in the public viewing file.chrysler has advised the federal safety agency that it will conduct a campaign to replace the latches on all the subject vehicles.the chrysler campaign will consist of notification letters to all owners; free replacement of all latches with stronger, safer latches regardless of the age of the minivans; national advertising to promote customer awareness of the campaign; quarterly reports regarding campaign completion rates; as well as additional measures to ensure a high completion rate, above and beyond the actions that normally would be taken in a formal safety recall.these include follow up written and telephonic notifications to owners who do not bring their vehicles in for corrective action.the federal safety agency firmly believes that the crash performance of the latches on these minivans raises serious safety concerns, and that the campaign addresses these concerns.the chrysler corrective action will increase the strength of the liftgate latches and decrease the potential for inertial unlatching, thereby reducing the risk of crash-related openings of the liftgate and possible occupant ejection through the liftgate opening.owners of chrysler minivans will get a stronger, safer latch free of charge at the earliest possible time, without the need for further technical investigation and complex and time-consuming litigation with an uncertain outcome.based on the above, odi is closing this investigation.

EA94005