general problems of the 2000 Dodge Caravan

Cpsc: 200 Dodge Caravan: consumer states seat belt is jammed.

The consumer stated this is the 2nd time the child seat belt became jammed and was not able to get his nephew out of the seat.

Seat belts will not release.

The Chrysler gen3 seat belt issue must be corrected immediately. Anything short of an immediate recall is neglegent!!!.

I own a 2000 Dodge Caravan and am concerned about the safety of the seat belt buckle. They do not meet safety standard ('buckle release mechanism shall be designed to minimize the possibility of accidental release. ') and are dangerously prone to unlatching during auto accidents. The buckle, known as the generation 3 (gen3), may have been installed in as many as 16 million Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. The buckle has become unlatched many times for my two childrens car seats and I know have to check them everytime I get in the car. Two women were killed and a child seriously injured in a roll-over accident Dec. 28, 2002, near beeville, texas. This brings the total number of deaths to 17 and serious injuries to 27 in accidents in which gen3 buckles are believed to have unlatched. Please issue a recall to have the seatbelt replaced with one that meet standards and will do it's job to help protect my family in an accident.

I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan and have read the articles claiming the belts to be unsafe. My family has seen this happen we have had our child's seatbelt that holds his carseat in place come unlatched and at that time we couldn't figure out why. Now that we have read the articles about it I understand how and I am concerned. Not only is it unsafe for my child but I am continuously turning around and checking the seatbelt out of concern also and this means I am taking my eyes off the road. We have e mailed Chrysler about this and haven't gotten a response from them and I have talked to the dealership about it and they just say that who ever is writing these articles are blowing it out of proportion. I don't think being concerned about my child safety is going overboard. Thank god we haven't had an accident when my child's seatbelt wasn't fastened or anything like that but I do want to have something done about these seatbelts.

I am horrified to know that my 2000 Dodge Caravan has gen 3 seat belts installed after Dodge knew full well that they come unlatched unintentional during a crash test. It made me think back about my van and realize that my seat belts have become unlatched. I have also put my children's car seats in and they too have become unlatched. About a month ago I went away and bought my dog along, I placed my dog in the seat with a dog seat belt and she kept becoming unlatched. I am very concerned about this and want the gen 4 seat belts installed in my van. I am going to try and sell it now unless I get it changed. Who do they think they are putting millions of people in danger when the consumer/victim are trying to protect themselves and their family from harm. How dare they!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want something done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Child seat that was placed in rear outboard and seat belt released while makinng a soft left turn. Consumer has contacted manufacturer. Child seat was secured before vehicle was driven.

I own a 2000 Dodge Caravan which is equipped with gen 3 seatbelts. I have two daughters, ages 1 and 4, who ride in my van daily. On at least three different occasions, one of the seat belts securing my daughters' car seats in has unlatched while I was driving and was I unaware of this until I stopped the vehicle to get them out. Luckily, no injuries have occurred yet; however, I cringe to think about what could of or what will happen if I am ever in an accident. The seat belts are going to unlatch and my daughters are going to be unprotected. Dodge promotes itself as being "the safest minivan" and a "family minivan" which is why I chose to buy the Dodge Caravan. How untrue this is. Dodge has a serious crisis which must be dealt with immediately.

Mechanism on all the seat belts is very sensitive, with a slight tap on release button belt will release and undo.