23 problems related to child seat have been reported for the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Internal mechanical failure of integrated child safety seat, right hand side. The cable assembly in the seat module has failed. This cable assembly locks the retractable shoulder belts. The cable hooks directly to the latch plate and when the belt buckle is connected to the latch plate the plate's forward movement pulls the cable causing the shoulder belt's retractor to lock. This cable connection has separated from the latch plate (cable end is also frayed with three strands left on it's end), rendering the shoulder belts, retractor assembly unlockable. This is a very unsafe condition for any childs life if vehicle is in an accident and shoulder belts do not restrain the child in the seat like is supossed to. Left hand icss also has a problem with the seat cushion pivot frame which is twisted at left attached point. Dealer says there is no warranty coverage. That the seat modules need to be replaced and costs on an estimate of $1,300+. I, refuse to pay any amount when my gut feeling is that Chrysler has put out these icss which are having the same problem I'm having now for a few years now. Chrysler on 01/02/03 told me that if I pay the first $800+ that they would pay the remaining difference. Now, to me this is like saying yes, we know we have problems with these icss so we are willing to help. Well, after reading so many like complaints about these icss, I feel that Chrysler should realize that every time a child is placed in their "Chrysler" icss that the child's life is in their hands. They need to own-up to flaws of engineering and fix these seats so that we the customer can trust in their product. . Any information you could provide, I would appreciate it. Respectfully, severino l. Rodriguez.
The cable on my integrated child seat failed. There was no accident but it has been difficult to latch for a while. There was a recall related to the latch plate. There were no obsticles in that area and even the dealership agreed that it is a broken cable. My seat is probably the oldest of these integrated seats and I'm concerned that the cable would wear and just break on seats that are built in. Dodge has agreed to replace the necessary part if I pay for the laber. The total cost is about $650 of which I will have to pay about $120. I'm concerned that others may also be having this problem. It also occurs to me that if my cables snapped when there was no crash what would happen if there was a crash. Maybe these seats were safe when they were new but are the now?.
The built-in css harness latch plate is broken. It fails to stay locked in the buckle. Took vehicle to dealership & was informed no warranty on built-in css. Would need to replace entire seat in vehicle.
Build in child seat located in middle bench. Bckles latch and shoulder straps will not tighten and lock. The danger is not immediately apparent since the buckle still latches.
Middle 2 seats are build-in ccs, and the belt buckle do not latch on either one.
Both integrated child safety seats cause childs' legs to fall asleep. In one case, child sustained nerve damage . Please provide further information.
Built in (child seat) belts continued to tighten on child and would not release properly.
Integrated child safety seat would not release child properly, lock released however belts tightened on child.
The child car seat straps would not release, they only get tighter and tighter. The consumer was not shown the release hooks in order to retract straps efficiently.
Ea97003, when unhooking the latch on the seat the belts retracted up around the child's neck and chest so tight that the belts had to be cut to remove the child. The belts on the child seat will be replaced by dealer.
Rear bench intergrated child safety seats locking mechaniism will not unlatch. Children have to slide out. Dealer tries to rerair seat.
Had put child in seat; went to get child out & latch would not release; when t-shield harness is moved, it tightens. Pulls aggressively hard on latch until it releases. Happens constantly.
Seat belt restraint on built in child safety seat too short, causing neck irritation.
The built-in child seat gets stuck with the child in the seat and when the seats are close and then a child cant get in them. Chrysler did a recall and installed a safty clip to address getting the child out. But the problem continues that you cant use the seat when the get stuck in the closed position so you cant put a child in the seat. Also note Chrysler has change the mechinism on newer vans. They gave a an escape route not a fix to the problem of the belts getting stuck due to food falling in the lock area. Remeber we are talking about a child seat. I would also like to report I have brought the car in to the dealership three times to unlock the seat belts when the get stuck perminantly closed. This time I was told I would have to call Chrysler customer service which I call over 25 time at the dealership, and from my home and work only to receive a busy signal every time. I ask the dealership to call since they gave me the number and they declined. Please let me know how many other complaints have been issued on this child seat system.
Integrated child safety seat, both original and replacement have failed.
Vehicle equiped with child integrated safety seats, however strap restraints failed several times causing them to get jammed while the spring mechanism that tightens the shoulder straps kept getting tighter and tighter.
Intrgrated child seat buckle broke, preventing belt from locking in the housing mechanism. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer stated that entire seat needed to be replaced. Please provide any further details.
Children have been stuck in the integrated child safety seats five times and had to be cut out.
Integrated child safety seat latch stuck and straps continued to tighten.
Left side intergrated css belts no longer stay tight when buckled. Once buckled and pull on belts, they will release. Child is no longer secure. Dealer says to fix, part alone (whole new icss module) will be $409. Very unrealistic price when for $100 can easliy buy a car seat . Have two children still using both icss. Do not feel icss should have failed after 3 1/2 years of use and then be so unreasonable to fix.
Child seat replacement does not recoil.
Recall 98v2185000; dealer did not give instructions on how to properly clean the buckle . Problem was corrected by remedy of recall. The problem has reoccurred, and the clips were not easily removed. Please provide further information.
Integrated child safety seats locking mechanisms on the seatbelts jam repeatidly from debris that enters into recepticle, due to design flaw. Child suffered when belt tightened and was turning blue/could not breath. Recall on component due to defect, not notified in time.