NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 1996 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 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, both ongoing and closed, are listed below:
Summary: This investigation is closed.Chrysler corporation has submitted a defect information report identifying a safety defect and outlining the proposed remedy.recall number 98V-185 has been assigned to this safety recall.
Component(s): Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
Summary: There is no summary currently available
INVESTIGATION: POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM
NHTSA Engineering Analysis #EA99013
Status:
CLOSED
Date Opened: June 11, 1999
Date Closed: August 10, 2001
Recall: No recall issued
Component(s): Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Summary:
INVESTIGATION: POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation #PE99010
Status:
CLOSED
Date Opened: February 03, 1999
Date Closed: June 11, 1999
Recall: No recall issued
Component(s): Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Summary: There is no summary currently available
INVESTIGATION: SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation #PE96008
Status:
CLOSED
Date Opened: January 25, 1996
Date Closed: June 28, 1996
Recall: No recall issued
Component(s): Seat Belts
Summary: There is no summary currently available
INVESTIGATION: INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP
NHTSA Defect Investigation #SQ96016
Status:
CLOSED
Date Opened: September 18, 1996
Date Closed: February 04, 1997
Recall: No recall issued
Component(s): Seat Belts:Integrated Child Seat
Summary: ODI continues to receive complaints alleging latching/retractor mechanism problems.Chrysler's assessment of the problem indicates that owners of the vehicles are not adhering to the cleaning requirements for the seat.the seat appears to malfunction if crumbs of food or beverage residue accumulates on the latching tongue in the"well" located between the child's legs.ODI has 19 complaints of retract lockup.seven of these complaints report cutting the straps to remove the child.two of the seven consumers allege the child was choking.Chrysler reports 60 owner/field reports which indicated 19 harnesses were cut to remove the children.additional information is needed to fully assess the safety consequence of the alleged defect and to evaluate the Chrysler corporation's rational for not conducting a safety recall campaign.
Summary: This engineering analysis was opened on January 31, 1997 based on information gathered during preliminary evaluation (PE), PE96-051. The PE was opened on August 19, 1996, to investigate allegations of fuel leakage from the area where the fuel pump/sending unit joins the fuel tank.for brevidy, this area will be referred to as the "pump/tank interface."these allegations were first received by ODI on August 2, 1996 while investigating allegations of Chrysler minivan throttle shaft hand-up, and uncontrolled engine speed, in PE96-036.while discussing that issue with a fleet, it was alleged that at least 10(out of 40) 1996 early production Chrysler minivans leaked fuel from the pump/tank interface.analysis of the complaint and warranty data indicate fuel tank leakage incidents in the subject vehicles predominatly affected early production vehicles.the data involving confirmed incidents of tank/pump interface leaks suggest that those failures have been declining since July 1996.ODI has received no reports of the subject condition involving original equipment pumps and tanks since September, 1997.currently this isssue does not reqresent a continuing field concern.ODI will continue to monitor the subject vehicles for fuel leaks of any type.a safety related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of Agency resoured does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety related defect exists.the Agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
Summary: Analysis to date indicates that some of the subject vehiclescontinue to experience fuel leaks from the fuel tank at the "sending unit" interface.most often the leak involves the O-ring seal.
