1996 DODGE CARAVAN Air Bagsfrontal Problems

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT DOING 3 OR 4 MPH, WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NEVER HIT ANYTHING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES ON HER FOREARM. THE CONTACT DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYTHING COULD BE, AND GOT RID OF THE VAN. *AK

MAY 7, 2005, I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER CAR WAS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ACCORD HIT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY 1996 DODGE CARAVAN JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. THROUGH THE COURSE OF HAVING THIS CAR, THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT WAS AN ISSUE ALMOST FROM DAY ONE. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BILL KAY CHRYSLER IN NAPERVILLE, THEY WOULD CHECK IT AND FIND NOTHING WRONG. FINALLY I WAS TOLD TO IGNORE THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY SENSOR THAT COULD NOT BE FIXED.

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' FOR DODGE CARAVAN 1996, CLOCK SPRING BROKEN. *BF THE CONSUMER DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL, UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE ALREADY MADE. #02V293000 *JB

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC *JB

1996 DODGE CARAVAN'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.*MR THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONSUMERS CLAIM, THEY STATED THE INSPECTION SHOWED IMPACT TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING RECALL 02V293000 ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A ACCIDENT. *AK *SC *JB

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL 02V293000 AND FUEL TANK FILLER NECK RECALL 96V002000 PARTS WILL TAKE 3-4 DAYS TO BE ORDERED, WHEN THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT, IT HAS BEEN 3 WEEKS AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE MOTOR TO GO BAD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLOCKSPRING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *MR THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE, THEN THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BEING BROKEN, OIL LEAKED DUE TO THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. RECALL#02V293000 *SCC *JB

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED, PUDDLES OF GAS IS FORMED UNDER IT. THIS HAPPENED ANYTIME VEHICLE WAS PARKED. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS AND NO ONE KNEW WHY. ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND WINDOW WIPERS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TT

CLOCK SPRING FAILURE CAUSES THE AIR BAG AND HORN TO NOT WORK. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING AND THEN MY AIR BAG AND HORN WORKS. THESE 2 ITEMS ARE SAFETY FEATURES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768035

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CLOCK SPRING. THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING CAUSED THE AIR BAGS/HORN TO FAIL. *AK *JB *TS

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE HEATER. SCC *JB

THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL #02V293000 AND HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING.*JB

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE HIT THE DEER AND HER DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE FURTHER INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE GAINING MORE SPEED, CONSUMER HIT A RETAINING WALL AND CAME TO A STOP. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES INVOLVED IN A COLLISION TRAVELLING APPROX 35MPH. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S BAG DID NOT. TS

THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS IN ON (DOES NOT WORK.) MECHANIC TELLS US THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NO AIRBAGS PLUS NO HORN = SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE. UPON RESEARCH, IT LOOKS LIKE MANY OTHER CARAVAN USERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY LIT AND VEHICLE'S HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DLR WHO ADVISED THAT AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING. MR

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH AT A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A DEER. FRONTAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING EXTENSIVE ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY, AS WELL AS THE HORN NOW DOES NOT WORK. BOTH FAILURES COINCIDED WITH EACH OTHER. THE SYMPTOM STARTED RATHER INTERMITTENT, THEN BECAME SOLID WITHIN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I FOUND THAT I DO NEED A HORN, SOMETHING I THOUGHT I NEVER USED. A FUNCTIONING AIRBAG WOULD BE NICE!*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55-60 MPH VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND FORCED INTO A GUARDRAIL, DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT, SHE GOT ANOTHER VAN FROM THE DEALER IN JULY 2001 AND SHE WAS IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 2001 THAT SAME THING HAPPENED. THE BAG IN THIS VAN DID NOT DEPLOY. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING AT 5MPH ON DIRT ROAD AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. DID NOT CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LEFT FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A 1997 LINCOLN, CONTININTAL IMPACT OF 35-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

DUE TO THE SAFTY FACTORS INVOLVED AND THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS,DODGE SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLES AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

EA10007; CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP MECHANIC. HE STATED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD, ALSO, HORN NOT WORKING.*AK CONSUMER STATED CRUISE CONTROL WAS ALSO INOPERABLE, AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES UNTIL THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH ON STREET, PASSING ONTO HIGHWAY. WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, CAUSING A COLLISION, AND FORCING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO GO OFF. BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE WHICH WAS GOING PAAROXIMARELY 40-50 MPH, VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. NLM. TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT.

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. ALSO, FAILURE OF HORN TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD WORK SOON AFTER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON. *AK CONSUMER STATES ON 2 OCCASIONS THE CRUSE WOULD ONLY DISENGAGE BY PUSHING THE OFF BUTTON, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AT A CERTAIN PLACE. *SLC

DURING A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT AT 30-35 MPH (ESTIMATED), NEITHER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE INITIAL REVIEW BY THE BODY SHOP INDICATES THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. THE EXTENT OF INJURIES TO MY WIFE (DRIVER) ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME AS THEY HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY (PAIN IN LEFT WRIST AND HAND, RIGHT ELBOW, AND CHEST). SHE WILL BE SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION.*AK

PE00032; AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING:INTERMITTENTLY OPERATED. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. FINALLY, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON. CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY AND CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. A FEW DAYS LATER, OWNER SAW NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT INVESTIGATION. *AK

DECEMBER 1999, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, DEALER REPLACES AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. EXTENDED CHRYSLER WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER REPAIR COST OF $270. JULY 18, 2000 RETURN TO DEALER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS THE CLOCK SPRING IS OK BUT NOW THE AIR BAG MODULE HAS FAILED AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE AIR BAG SYSTEM COST ESTIMATED AT $600 PLUS. DECLINE THE WORK AND COMPLAIN TO CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED BEYOND 36,000 MILES. WHAT DOES MILEAGE HAVE TO DO WITH A AIR BAG, IT IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM? I EXPLAIN THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM AND MY FAMILY IS IN DANGER. CHRYSLER DISCUSSES WITH SUPERVISOR AND REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR. PLEASE CALL ME AS I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO HAVE CHRYSLER TO ISSUE A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY ITEM. THANK YOU!. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON/HORN WILL NOT WORK/ CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN A CRASH OR DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT STAYED ON. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. I HIT A SLIGHT DIP IN THE ROAD AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED MY CHILD'S SEAT WAS NOT RESTRAINED IN THE REAR SEAT. THEY CLOSED THE HIGHWAY FOR 5 HOURS LOOKING FOR A BABY, WHO MAY HAVE CLIMBED OUT ONE OF THE BROKEN WINDOWS, THEY THOUGHT. THANK GOD, SHE WAS AT HOME. *AK

I AM REPORTING THE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG "CLOCK SPRING" AFTER THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD OF THIS VEHICLE. THE ITEM IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE PASSENGER AND SHOULD NOT FAIL. THE FREQUENCY OF THESE FAILURES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO INSURE THAT IT IS NOT ENDANGERING DRIVERS AND PASSENGER OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *AK

A FIRE STARTED IN THE A/C VENT BY THE STEERING WHEEL, FROM WHICH FLAMES CAME OUT AND ENGULFED THE CAR. ALSO, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE SHUT OFF. VEHICLE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS SEEMED TO BE COMING OUT. ALSO HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. IF THE AIRBAGS WERE TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY, IT MIGHT RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY THREE VEHICLES, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

GOING 35MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE RIGHT, AVOIDING VEHICLE IN ROAD; PICKUP MAKING LEFT & WAS REARENDED BY DODGE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. JUST ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BACK HOME. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES & BACK SPASMS. *AK

VEHICLE HIT A POST IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETAIN THE DRIVER IN THE SEAT WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO GET HURT. INVESTIGATION (DP-96- 014) FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SENSOR. *AK

DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

DRIVER CANNOT OPEN WINDOW WITHOUT HIS FACE BEING APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES FROM THE AIRBAG, DEPENDING ON SIT AND WHEEL POSITIONS, IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO OPERATOR'S NECK. *AK CONSUMER STATES BUMPERS ON VEHICLE ARE MADE OF THIS USELESS PLASTIC.*JB

WHEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT EYE AND ALSO CONSUMER HAD CONCUSSION. *AK *SLC

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING AN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES, ALSO PASSENGER'S AIR BAG BROKE OUT OF THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING SHARP EDGES WHICH LARCERATED PASENGER'S ARM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION WITH TREE. TT