Caravan Rear shoulder straps Don't catch in crash

[temp409]

We wrecked our 2001 Dodge caravan last week 34 mph on a On ramp we hit the SUV in front of us that stopped suddenly and crushed our front drivers side corner in, my little girl (12 Yrs.) was hurt very bad - concussion, blood coming from eye nose and mouth when her face slammed the handle on back of drivers seat- I have pics. Her lap belt held fine but shoulder straps on rear Will NOT catch. The front shoulder straps held fine me and her dad were not hurt at all but None in the rear will catch, jerk hard and fast on front see how well they catch then jerk the rear see how they dont you can see for yourself. Just wanted to warn you wish someone had me. Check crash test ratings on Dodge caravan are very poor, msn.com autos is a good place to research. Who would think until it happens we didn't. Thank God Daughter is doing fine nose still blue eye open now but still burgundy around it.

[vamc]

Did you have an x-ray on your girl? any brain hemerage? I work in a e-r, just want to make sure she is ok. :-)

[temp409]

Yes she went by ambulance to hospital they done a cat scan nothing was broken she just had a concussion with blood coming from eye nose and mouth.

[vamc]

Im glad she is ok.

[Stevo2]

Originally Posted by temp409

We wrecked our 2001 Dodge caravan last week 34 mph on a On ramp we hit the SUV in front of us that stopped suddenly and crushed our front drivers side corner in, my little girl (12 Yrs.) was hurt very bad - concussion, blood coming from eye nose and mouth when her face slammed the handle on back of drivers seat- I have pics. Her lap belt held fine but shoulder straps on rear Will NOT catch. The front shoulder straps held fine me and her dad were not hurt at all but None in the rear will catch, jerk hard and fast on front see how well they catch then jerk the rear see how they dont you can see for yourself. Just wanted to warn you wish someone had me. Check crash test ratings on Dodge caravan are very poor, msn.com autos is a good place to research. Who would think until it happens we didn't. Thank God Daughter is doing fine nose still blue eye open now but still burgundy around it.

File a complaint with www.nhtsa.com

[temp409]

I filed with NHTSA office of defects Inverstigaion on 3-11-2006 about our 2001 Dodge caravan rear seatbelts shoulder strap not catching. Test drove Honda Odyssey ALL of their seatbelts catch FIRST jerk- ALL of Toyota Sienna's catch FIRST jerk and sienna rode the best was my favorite but at $30,000 it should be, I can't afford that. I bought the kia sedonna- rode better than odyssey. I paid $16,500 for the Kia ALL its seatbelts catch FIRST jerk too, plus excellent warranty 5 yr bumper to bumper with road side assistance 20yr 200,000 mile powertrain. NONE of the rear ones in Dodge caravan will catch, why is that? Durangos are the same way. I really hope something gets done before another child is hurt or killed.

[joe92k1500]

I have an 05 GC SXT. I checked the rear straps and none of mine catch either. I there an issue we dont know about or is this the way its "supposed to be" per dodge??? I'd like to find out.

[temp409]

I called Diamlerchrysler today they recorded it got the vin number and are going to have someone call me tomorrow. I'll let you know what they have to say but in the past when they have had faulty belts- go unsafebelts.com you can read about it like the gen3 buckle they just pay the people off and will not recall - A recall is what Im wanting but we will see what they have to say.

[neon_rt]

Some seatbelt setups don't "catch" by jerking the seatbelt. Some of them are inertia based and only "catch" when the vehicle is deaccelerated suddenly.
You can jerk them all day long and nothing is going to happen, it is not a very good test b/c it will never "catch" using this method. There is also the possibility that if you bought the van used that it had already been in a wreck and the seatbelts were broken before you took ownership.
We have been in two major accidents in Dodge minivans and survived quite well. I'm am getting tired of negligent drivers not paying attention and running red lights to T-Bone us or Rear end us at Stop lights, there is little excuse for hitting someone from behind, especially when you have the responsibility of your family's life in your hands.
I am glad to hear your family is OK, please drive safely.

[vamc]

Did they get back to you yet?

[temp409]

Ya their seatbelt guy called he said the same kind of seatbelts (pendilum) that are in the front are in the rear I said "NO WAY have you jerked on them something is different". He says the pendilum in the rear is heavier than the one in front thats why it don't catch when you jerk it . Than I said "Did you know that of ALL the minivans- sienna ,winstar, sedona, odyessy, they ALL catch front AND rear when you jerk? He said "well no I dont go around jerking seatbelts"(and he is suppose to be the seatbelts specialist_)lol I l said "I bet if it was your daughters face just got smashed in I bet you would". So now Im thinking he can just jerk my lawyers a**.

[temp409]

Called a lawyer 2 days ago just a local guy he wasn't in and he was suppose to call back still haven't heard. My cousin told me last night to Buy him a beer and he might and that he has a bit of a rep. for being a big drinker. lol I'll think about just calling another one Mon. but really I dont want money I just need to know if I should release my van to Damierchrysler they want to get it. I told them I didn't know yet. He (seatbelt guy for damierchrysler)told me to contact NHTSA, and I called , some girl answers doesn't know if they have ever put rear occupants in vans (I think they dont) for crash test gives me a email to write, I did, they haven't wrote back. Seatbelt guy told me they do all of their own crash test gov. makes them spend millions but he seemed unclear on rear occupant of van crashtesting. So Im just waiting

[temp409]

Were Your kids in back ?were they under shoulder strap or in car seat? Did their shoulder strap hold them? Ever hit anyone and got damage to front where the shoulder strap would of had to of kept their face front hitting seat in front of them? You could get on a hill slam on your brakes and test a pendilum mechanism. Ill bet ALOT of money caravan wont at 35mph. Ours didn't. We bought it NEW it was a 2001 but they are all the same in Daimerchrysler Front catches back wont when you jerk. And the whole explanation of Oh its pendilum is heavier in back than in front don't seem legit to me. If its the same kind it still should catch but maybe with a harder jerk.

[homefree]

What ever you do. Don't let Dodge get that van until you talk to a good lawyer, next, make sure you get lot's of pictures of you're little girl, next, get all you're records together "medical and police report".
Some thing sounds real fishy here. For one thing 99% of the people that ride in the back of a van are kids and for that reason the seat belts should catch alot faster than the front ones.

[neon_rt]

My seatbelts on all three of my Caravans have worked perfectly everytime.
Bet you a cookie the girl had her shoulder belt tucked under here arm b/c that part of the seatbelt rubs on her neck. My eleven year old daughter has gotten in trouble several times b/c I look back and see her with the seatbelt under her arm instead of were it should be. You should be sure about how the seatbelt was being worn before you make too much fuss, b/c once the big corporate lawyers get involved, you will be in for a grilling and if it turns out in their favor, you will be stuck with the Lawyer fees.