NHTSA Complaint #741770 — 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS OF INTEGRAL CHILD SEAT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. BROUGHT IMMEDIATELY TO DODGE DEALER, WHO TOOK OFF THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A TWISTED SEAT BELT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY WHICH HAPPENS WITH SEAT BELTS. THE REPAIR WOULD INVOLVE THE PURCHASE OF A $710 CHILD SEAT MODULE FROM DODGE PLUS AT LEAST AN HOUR OF LABOR. MY VAN HAD 500,500 MILES, 500 OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND WAS PURCHASED AS A DEMO. DODGE TOLD THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE $710 AFTER I COMPLAINED I COULD PURCHASE A CHILD SEAT FOR MUCH LESS. I HAVE MOVED MY 18-MONTH-OLD TO THE OTHER SIDE, BUT I WONDER IS IT SAFE? WILL IT RESTRAIN PROPERLY DURING AN ACCIDENT? WHAT IF THE OTHER SIDE ALSO SPONTANEOUSLY STOPS WORKING WHEN WE ARE OUT, I HAVE NO OTHER IN THE VAN. I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THESE SEATS UP UNTIL NOW, BUT I NEVER REALIZED HOW QUICKLY THEY COULD FAIL AND HOW COST PROHIBITIVE REPAIR WOULD BE. ANY INFORMATION YOU COULD PROVIDE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.