Phone:

(800) 992-1997

Web:

Dodge Customer Service

Mail:

Dodge Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 21-8004
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004

1993 Dodge Grand Caravan NHTSA Defect Investigations

• Defect Investigation #PE96008 -
• Defect Investigation #EA97005 - Center seat, right-side, safety belt anchorage releases, frequently when the belt is in use
• Defect Investigation #EA94028 -
• Defect Investigation #PE94024 -
• Defect Investigation #RQ00011 - Steering wheel separation can result from a crack in the steering wheel armature stamping, separating the steering column shaft from the steering wheel
• Defect Investigation #DP03002 - Mr. larry a. sackey submitted a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by letter dated April 18, 2003, requesting that nhtsafurther investigate the "defective collapsible steering shaft system" on 1987-1995 vehicles manufactured by the DaimlerChrysler corporation.in part because of 49 cfr § 30120(G), NHTSA has decided to limit the scope of the petition vehicles to 1993-1995 models, excluding the 1993 Jeep grand Cherokee and 1994-1995 Dodge Ram series trucks that were recalled (93V210 & 96V230) for steering column failure.if the analysis of these vehicles had identified a potential problem, the scope could have been expanded in an investigation.a review of ODI's data base shows no recent complaints and a lack of a complaint trend concerning the subject issue on the subject vehicles as a whole or by individual models.therefore, the petition is denied.for details, see federal register notice volume 68, no. 130, July 8, 2003.
• Defect Investigation #EA94005 - 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.NHTSA 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 NHTSA 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.NHTSA 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.
• Defect Investigation #RQ99004 - The liftgate support attaching bolts may break.this could result in the liftgate falling unexpectedly which may injure someone standing under it.