2013 Dodge Grand Caravan: airbags did not deploy in a crash

Filed Oct 16, 2026 · Airbags, Electrical · IL · fire

My vehicle caught fire on 10-14 after being parked for 2.5 hours. Three weeks prior I had bumped into a light pole while backing up and my airbag light triggered on. The airbag did not deploy and nothing seemed wrong with the van. Then my battery died so I had to have it jumped. It died 3-4 times before I replaced it with a fresh battery 10-7. I did smell heat, but I attributed it to my oil leak, but I think I was smelling wires, not oil. I went by an autoparts store and they read my old battery temp and it was at 173 and didn’t say it was hot or anything. I don’t think that was safe to put a new battery in when there was obviously a problem. The airbag light consistently dinged off and on but since the airbag didn’t deploy I didn’t think it was any problem. But now I think it was slow draining the battery and then the new one kept charging it causing something to overheat and catch fire.

Filed Dec 20, 2022 · Airbags · 68,000 miles · IL · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear driver’s side moving the vehicle approximately 5ft. The air bags failed to deploy. As a result, the contact and his son sustained soreness in the neck. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was damaged and towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2019 · Airbags · 190,000 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2013 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, another vehicle failed to obey a red light at 35 MPH and crashed into the front of the contacts vehicle. During the crash the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a right hip and an ankle injury along with a concussion. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer was contacted and an inspection was performed on the vehicle but no problem was found. The local dealer was notified. The contact mentioned that there was a recall related to the air bags associated with her vehicle but the recall information was not available. The failure mileage was 190,000.*dt *dt*jb consumer stated airbag recall in my vehicle due to defective software being installed at the factory, which would cause airbag failure in auto accident. Consumer would like to request a vehicle examination and review of an airbag system failure, in an auto accident that totaled my 2013 dodge grand caravan. 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'*jb *tr

Filed Jul 16, 2018 · Airbags · 96,000 miles · NJ · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a side impact collision. The air bags did not deploy. There was one injury that required medical attention. The contact's wife suffered a whiplash. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. Due to the speed (which was unknown) of the collision, the door pillars were dented. The vehicle was driven to a body shop and was deemed operable. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.*tt the consumer stated the vehicle has since been deemed a total loss due to a wiring issue caused by the accident. *js *dt*jb audio available

Filed Aug 28, 2017 · Airbags · 100,000 miles · CA · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owned a 2013 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that the driver was driving at 45 MPH when the front passenger tire blew out causing her to drive up a dirt hill flying 20 feet in the air that landed the vehicle upside down. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver did receive medical attention that required her to be medevac to the hospital, where it was determined that she fractured her t12 bone located within her back. In addition, there was two other passengers one refused to receive medical attention. The third passenger however sustained undetailed injuries of a fractured nose, fractured back, and shattered hip. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard where the insurance company would review it. The insurance company declared that the vehicle was destroyed. The local dealer (anderson chrysler dodge jeep ram) was contacted at 928‑764‑5153 and made aware of the failure and informed the owner to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was also contacted and made aware of the failure. The manufacturer sent a final letter that stated after the investigation that the rate of deceleration to activate the air bag was not present, no further additional assistance was offered. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. Updated 09/19/17 *bf ..updated 09/25/17 *bf updated 09/20/2017*js ..updated 09/21/17 *bf *js

Filed May 12, 2017 · Airbags · 55,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2013 dodge grand caravan. While driving 20 MPH, another vehicle struck the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The front driver's side air bags failed to deploy; however, the passenger side air bags deployed. The contact suffered bruising and knee pain. The contact was transported to the hospital for medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the contact's insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v283000 (electrical system, air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Body, Suspension · 6,000 miles · MI · crash · 2 injuries

I was at a stop sign on the corner of ferry and eighth in niles, mi getting ready to turn northbound; a truck was going southbound and it was blizzard and icy conditions out, he was going to fast and when I turned right, he hit me on the drivers side spun my vehicle around twice and ended up hitting both sides of the vehicle in the front of the van taking the whole front end off. Neither air bags went off and my granddaughter was also in the front passenger seat. He was going fast enough that I ended up northbound kitty corner across the road and he ended up in a telephone pole. Both of his airbags went off in his truck upon impact. The bumper, headlights, frame was bent, the hood, the whole front end was smashed, (over $8000 of damage), but no airbags. I could feel the impact from the crash and ended up having to have physical therapy and my granddaughter had to go to the er.. Both vehicles had to be towed. I had the van fixed at a licensed shop, when I called and asked dodge why neither airbag deployed, because they stated that their are sensors that go off on impact and my bumper had to be replaced, they stated, no reply, because I had not had it done at a dodge dealership. I am still having therapy for hip and back from impact and settled with insurance. I'm just wondering why the airbags did not go off on impact, other vehicle was going faster than what he should have for conditions and more than 25.