Air Bag Not Deploy problems of the 1999 Dodge Caravan

The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Caravan. While driving 40 mph, the front passenger side tire blew out. The contact lost control of the vehicle and struck a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy. The weather conditions were clear. The contact was injured and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. The failure mileage was 58,000.

Vehicle was making a left turn into an intersection and was hit in the front on driver's side quarter panel. Owner was driving at approximately 20 mph while the oncoming vehicle was going at approximately 60 mph. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. Owner contacted the manufacturer, and was informed that only if the vehicle was hit in a certain spot will the air bags deploy. Owner sustained injuries, and was taken for emergency treatment. Also, the van was totaled.

Consumer's vehicle was ran off the road by another vehicle, causing consumer's vehicle to crash into a stop sign at about 35 mph. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. Manufacturer was contacted by owner.

This vehicle was involved in a head collision at 35 mph. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. Manufacturer was contacted by owner.

While traveling about 45 mph another vehicle suddenly stopped on the highway consumer applied the brakes but pedal went to the floor. Consumer avoided the other vehicle by skidding into a ditch. Upon impact, both frontal air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained head and back injuries,but refused to go to the doctor for medical attention. Vehicle was towed to consumer's residence.

The consumer hit a pole and the airbag failed to deploy on impact.

Consumer's vehicle stopped at a red light when a drunken driver collided with car from the rear. Consumer's vehicle also collided with a car positioned in front. Upon impact, airbags failed to deploy. Driver sustained serious injuries.

While making a right turn into the parking lot. A vehicle collided and hit the vehicle head on in the parking lot. Both air bags did not deploy. The consumer sustained head neck and leg injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company.

While driving at 35 mph air bag warning light came on ,and the horn failed to work. Also, cruise control did not work. A recall was issued on clock spring affecting earlier models. Recall campaign; NHTSA campaign id number : 04v480000. For the air bag. The consumer stated that she was in a car accident and the air bags did not deploy. The consumer submitted paperwork on a reimbursement for the clock spring repair.

Air bag light on and horn, cruise control not working. Dealer said its my problem & will cost $300+. I know there have been numerous complaints of same prob. & other year models recalled for same problem. The dealer told me the air bag will not deploy in a crash.

Collision at 30 plus miles per hour air bag did not deploy. The front of the van struck another car on the side traveling at 30 miles per hour. Causing severe neck and back injuries. .

Consumer stated while driving air bag light came on and remained on. Consumer was told by a mechanic that this meant that if vehicle was to be involved in a collision air bags would not deploy. Consumer took vehicle to a dealer to find out about a recall. Consumer was told by dealer that this vehicle was not covered under the recall.

While traveling at 60 mph vehicle involved in a rear end collision. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Consumer was concerned since a recall letter was received for NHTSA recall 04v48000.

Nhsta recall 04v480000 concerning clock spring failure. Consumer's vehicle was traveling about 10 mph when it hit a vehicle in front. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.

Consumer states that vehicle was in a collision hitting a tree head on. Upon impact, both front air bags did not deploy. Dealer notified.

While driving the air bag light illuminated. The consumer was concerned that in the event of an accident the air bags would not deploy. The horn and cruise had become inoperative, and the clockspring was faulty and was replaced.

While traveling on the highway at 58 mph vehicle ran over an ice patch, and spun out of control over the divider onto curb. Upon impact, both air bags failed to deploy. Also, driver's side shoulder belt failed to lock properly. Driver sustained a minor injury. Dealer notified.

Consumer was involved in head-on collision at approximately 35 mph impact with $5000 worth of damage. Dual airbags did not deploy, causing injuries to driver, even with seatbelt worn.

While at a complete stop another vehicle hit cosumer's vehicle in rear and pushed vehicle into the another vehicle head-on. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.

In our 1999 Caravan, several months ago, the cruise control and horn began to intermittently not work. Then the airbag light intermittently would come on while driving and while parked. At this time neither the horn, the cruise control and sometimes the windshield wipers will not work at all. The airbag light will still come on and off intermittently. We called the dealer's repair service and they told us that they thought it sounded like the clock spring mechanism. Upon taking the vehicle in for physical inspection/ diagnostics, an open circuit was detected and we were informed that the clockspring indeed needs to be replaced. However, at this time the necessary part is backordered (on a national basis) and is not immediately available. The technician told us that if we were in an accident the airbags would not deploy. Since we drive our minivan primarily with our entire family on board (ie, myself, my spouse, and 4 young children) I am greatly concerned that we are not able to have this problem immediatly fixed. Upon viewing your website I have discovered that an investigation into this has been started but did not find out the status of this investigation. If these parts are "nationally" backordered, that should tell you that there is a big problem out there. If even one of those vehicles is in an accident and the airbags will not deploy, there is severe risk of phyical injury to the driver/passenger and possibly additional passengers in this vehicle. Please continue your investigation and request a recall. Isn't saving a life that important? we also are being asked to pay close to $300 for the diagnostics and installation of this clockspring (if we can get one), for something that appears even to an amateur detective to be a design flaw and a very serious one! please help!.