I found out that the 1998 dodge caravan that I purchased has two design flaws. One is that the vehicle does not have brake-shift interlock. The other is that the vehicle is equipped with chrysler gen3 seat belts that, in some vehicles, have unlatched while people were driving. I believe that the government should order a recall of the 1998 caravan for both of these important safety issues.
1998 Dodge Caravan seat belts problems
23 complaints (4% of all complaints for this car). 5 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 23
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- crashes
- 5
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Front: buckle assembly5
- Rear/other3
- Front: retractor3
- Front: anchorage3
- Front: webbing2
- Front1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Dodge Caravan seat belts problems in other years
Related recalls
Seat belts: rear/other
- What is wrong
- On certain minivans, some trim material can loosen and drop into the rear outboard seat belt assembly, causing the seat belt to become inoperative.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the trim with foam blockers and inspect and replace all 3rd row seat belt assemblies. Owner notification began june 3, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 02V076000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Rear seat belt malfunction
This investigation was opened january 16, 2002, based on seven reports alleging the third row seat belt retractors failed on certain 1997 and 1998 model year caravan and voyager vehicles.the reports indicated a tar like substance entered the retractor mechanism, thus causing the retractor to jam or bind.in this condition the seat belt is rendered inoperable, as the webbing cannot retract or be withdrawn from the retractors for use.recall scope:the affected vehicles are 1997 through 1999 dodge caravan, plymouth voyager, and chrysler town & contry built on a short wheel base chassis.the inclusive dates of production are june 1996 through october 31, 1999.recall remedy: daimlerchrysler dealers will replace the mastic sound barrier patches with foam blockers, as well as, inspect and replace all third row rear seat belt assemblies contaminated by the mastic patch.
PE02004
What 1998 Dodge Caravan owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Our middle row seat belts stop working. They don't retrack on their own. This is about the 4th we have to replace them both. We just replaced them in january of 07 and they don't retrack again. According to the dealer the pin or I forget what they called it snapped again. We have not been in an accident since they were replaced in january. We are afraid that even after replacing them that they will not protect or kids if god forbid we are in an accident. They keep breaking with just everyday use. Each seat belt cost around $200.00 just for the parts and they are currently on backorder for a month and now my kids can't sit in the middle rows.
Dt: the contact owns a 1998 dodge caravan. The vehicle was involved in a frontal accident at 55 MPH. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy, and the seat belt did not restrain. The contact's husband was driving the vehicle and he hit the steering wheel, and his coworker was the passenger, and he went into the windshield. Both occupants where wearing their seat belts and where properly restrained. The air bag warning light was on before recall repairs had been done in july 2005, and horn would not work. After the recall repairs were completed the light did not come back on. There was pre-impact braking to both occupants. This caused injuries to both occupants. The dealership and the manufacturer have been contacted, and they told her they would send her file off to special investigations, and she may hear from back from them, and she may not. This accident occurred on october 11, 2005. T a police report was taken. The accident caused property damage to the vehicle.
While driving between 35-45 MPH, going around a curb, the back of the van skidded. This resulted in the vehicle going over a hill, and impacting a tree head on. Upon impact, only passenger's air bag deployed. Also, the seat belt failed to retract. Driver sustained I facial injuries. Vehicle was totaled.
I was forced to brake suddenly and the car seat my 4 year old daughter was buckeled into went flying into the back of the passenger seat. The problem is that the seat belts in the 1998 dodge caravan are easily depressed by a game boy, dolls or my older daughter either buckeling or unbuckeling her booster seat. I've found my 4 year olds strap in car seat unbuckeled at least 6 times in the past 4 years. Had we been in a serious accident rather than just a sudden braking my daughter would have been severly injured.
The vehicle is equipped with gen3 seat belts which has a release button which protrudes from the rest of the buckle. The button can be accidentally y bumped which causes the buckle to release. The consumer contacted the manufacturer about the buckle but they refused to replace the seat belts. *ak
All seat belts in 1998 dodge caravan popped out when latched.
Consumer paid for a repair on the seat belt and later found that there is a repair and request for reimbursement for seat belt repair. Driver side rear seat belt locked. Mr
Consumer stated that when exiting the vehicle it would be hard for the consumer to unlock the driver's side seat belt and consumer will be forced to slide out. Dealer notified. Ts
Front seat belts are different from driver's seat to passenger's seat. Both have trouble getting them released, when exiting vehicle seat belt would not unlock and consumer was forced to slide out. Dealer notified. Ts...
Questions about the 1998 Dodge Caravan seat belts
Does the 1998 Dodge Caravan have seat belts problems?
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Dodge Caravan, 4% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Caravan seat belts problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Caravan seat belts?
Yes, 1 recall: 02V076000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Dodge Caravan have the most seat belts problems?
The Dodge Caravan model years with the most seat belts complaints are 1992 (176 complaints), 1993 (113 complaints) and 1991 (89 complaints).
Other 1998 Dodge Caravan problems
Engine 137Transmission 103Airbags 99Electrical 68Brakes 48Steering 42Fuel system 41Suspension 37Acceleration 33Lights 32Body 26Visibility 18Tires 15Seats 13Locks 5Wheels 3Driver assistance 1
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