NHTSA Defect Investigation List for the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is an office within the NHTSA which investigates serious safety problems in the design, construction or performance of vehicles. The NHTSA is authorized to order manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles, if the ODI finds a safety issue. NHTSA investigations for the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan, both ongoing and closed, are listed below:
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FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA06003
Component: Air Bags:Frontal*
Summary: DaimlerChrysler (DCC) will replace the frame rail-mounted front air bag crash sensors in approximately 270,958 MY 2005 DaimlerChrysler minivans (NHTSA recall no. 07V-192). These vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with brass bushings and were built between April 24, 2003 and February 2, 2005. This action covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in 27 states (Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia. Vehicles sold or currently registered outside of these states, approximately 133,128 MY 2005 minivans, will receive a lifetime warranty on the front crash sensors. Although these vehicles use the same brass bushing sensors and were built during the same period as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure. DCC will also provide written notification to all affected vehicle owners. NHTSA and DCC differ regarding the significance and impact of the defect, but in the interest of remedying the affected vehicles expeditiously and to avoid a protracted dispute, DCC is implementing steps to replace the subject components. Based on these actions, the Agency has decided that further use of its resources does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists in the subject vehicles. The Agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. Select document search for additional information.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA06003 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
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FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE05061
Component: Air Bags:Frontal*
Summary: The model year (MY) 2005 DaimlerChrysler (DC) minivans have the new advanced frontal air bag systems with two front crash sensors mounted on the frame rails behind the front bumper and a main crash sensor inside the air bag control module mounted in the passenger compartment. According to DC, the front crash sensors are designed to optimize detection of frontal offset and angular crashes. The advanced air bag system offers different levels of air bag inflation based on input from the crash sensors. This investigation revealed that the front crash sensors can corrode from water entering the sensor assembly. DC is still investigating all potential root causes of sensor failures. A corroded sensor can set a fault code, illuminate the air bag warning lamp, and become disabled. It appears that failure of one or both front crash sensors can potentially result in no/late deployment of frontal air bags and non-deployment of driver's higher inflation levels in certain frontal crashes. It should be noted that occupants of vehicles involved in a crash may not be aware of late or improperly reduced level of air bag inflation and thus field reporting of such events may be suppressed. This preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (EA06-003) for further investigation of MY 2005 (and 2006) DC minivans. Note: Total number of ODI and manufacturer complaints includes some duplicate reports.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE05061 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
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FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR FAILURE NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ09003
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side Inflator Module*
Summary: Chrysler will replace the frame rail-mounted front air bag crash sensors in approximately 312,442 model year (MY) 2005 and 2006 Chrysler minivans (recall 10V-008). These vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with ultradur brand plastic housings and steel bushings and were built between January 19, 2005 and April 5, 2006. This action covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in 27 states (Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia. Vehicles sold or currently registered outside of these states, approximately 185,000 MY 2005-2006 minivans, are not included in the recall. Although these vehicles use the same crash sensors and were built during the same period as the ones described above, they experience significantly lower failure rates because of reduced road salt exposure. Also, MY 2006-2007 minivans built after April 5, 2006, are not included in the recall. These vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with crastin brand plastic housings and steel bushings and experience significantly lower failure rates compared to the recalled vehicles. NHTSA and Chrysler differ regarding the significance and impact of the defect, but in the interest of remedying the affected vehicles expeditiously and to avoid a protracted dispute, Chrysler is implementing steps to replace the front crash sensors. Based on these actions, the Agency has decided that further use of its resources does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists in the subject vehicles. The Agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. Select document search for additional information.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ09003 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
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Loss of Headlight Illumination NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA11010
Component: Electrical System*
Summary: To date, ODI has interviewed several complainants who confirmed that the headlights fully extinguish, and remain extinguished, on an intermittent basis. In most cases this occurred while the vehicle was in motion. The occurrences do not show a repeatable pattern, and the problem occurs at a low frequency, typically one or more weeks between failures. For this reason most complainants have not attempted diagnosis or repair of the problem, so the cause is unknown, and the problem continues to occur. In the cases where repairs have been attempted, which consisted mainly of headlight switch and body control module replacements, mixed success is reported. In interviews complainants advised ODI that they can usually toggle the headlight switch, or turn on the high beams by actuating the column stalk (pulling it upward), when the headlights unexpectedly turn off. Complainants report that toggling the switch is usually effective, and the high beams have always been available when the column is used. During the course of the interviews ODI was able to obtain a few suspect headlamp switches for further evaluation. No verifiable crashes or injuries have been identified in the vehicle owner complaints (voqs). Chrysler notes that its complaints also include allegations of dimming or flickering of the headlights in addition to loss of headlamps, and that their analysis of available data indicates a declining trend occurring in the field. Chrysler data reports two alleged crash incidents; one where a consumers vehicle lost forward lighting and struck a deer, and one where a consumer alleged their lighting stopped working, causing them to depart the roadway and drive into a ditch. A minor injury is alleged in this second incident. Both incidents occurred several years ago, and neither allegation has been confirmed by ODI. ODI is opening this investigation to continue its analysis of the alleged defect and its consequences, which will include additional analysis of consumer reports, their frequency and trend, and Chrysler's technical information for the headlight system and its components. Additionally testing will be conducted to evaluate possible root cause(s) of the alleged defect, and will include analysis of suspect components collected from the field, and/or assessment of subject vehicles that have reportedly experienced the condition.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA11010 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
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Loss of Headlight Illumination NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE10022
Component: Electrical System*
Summary: To date, ODI has interviewed several complainants who confirmed that the headlights fully extinguish, and remain extinguished, on an intermittent basis. In most cases this occurred while the vehicle was in motion. The occurrences do not show a repeatable pattern, and the problem occurs at a low frequency, typically one or more weeks between failures. For this reason most complainants have not attempted diagnosis or repair of the problem, so the cause is unknown, and the problem continues to occur. In the cases where repairs have been attempted, which consisted mainly of headlight switch and body control module replacements, mixed success is reported. In interviews complainants advised ODI that they can usually toggle the headlight switch, or turn on the high beams by actuating the column stalk (pulling it upward), when the headlights unexpectedly turn off. Complainants report that toggling the switch is usually effective, and the high beams have always been available when the column is used. During the course of the interviews ODI was able to obtain a few suspect headlamp switches for further evaluation. No verifiable crashes or injuries have been identified in the vehicle owner complaints (voqs). Chrysler notes that its complaints also include allegations of dimming or flickering of the headlights in addition to loss of headlamps, and that their analysis of available data indicates a declining trend occurring in the field. Chrysler data reports two alleged crash incidents; one where a consumers vehicle lost forward lighting and struck a deer, and one where a consumer alleged their lighting stopped working, causing them to depart the roadway and drive into a ditch. A minor injury is alleged in this second incident. Both incidents occurred several years ago, and neither allegation has been confirmed by ODI. ODI is upgrading this investigation to an engineering analysis (EA11-010) to continue its analysis of the alleged defect and its consequences, which will include additional analysis of consumer reports, their frequency and trend, and Chrysler's technical information for the headlight system and its components. Additionally testing will be conducted to evaluate possible root cause(s) of the alleged defect, and will include analysis of suspect components collected from the field, and/or assessment of subject vehicles that have reportedly experienced the condition.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE10022 »
* This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
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Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit NHTSA Defect Investigation #AQ10001
Component: Unknown Or Other
Summary: The Agency, particularly in recent months, has been informed of incidents involving allegations of personal injury and death claimed to have been caused by safety defects and failures to conform to minimum Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) on rental car vehicles for which a safety recall to remedy the safety defect or noncompliance had allegedly not been performed prior to the rental car company's lease of the vehicle. NHTSA understands that there is presently a petition before the federal trade commission (ftc) seeking to prohibit at least one rental car company from renting vehicles on which safety recall campaign remedies remain outstanding. The purpose of this audit query (aq) is to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on the above-listed safety recall campaigns. These campaigns were chosen due to their inclusion of vehicles used in the rental market. This information is expected to provide the Agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets, in general or individually, perform necessary recall-related repairs or other remedies on the vehicles owned and then leased for use on the roadways. This aq is opened.
NHTSA: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #AQ10001 »