2005 Dodge Grand Caravan

VEHICLE--DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (2005)- WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR AND RIGHT FRONT FENDER/LIGHT AREA STRUCK CONCRETE BARRIER. IMMEDIATELY UPON IMPACT, SPARKS CAME SHOOTING OUT, TIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND CAR BURST INTO UNCONTROLLABLE FLAMES. THE ENTIRE CAR WAS TORCHED AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. AFTER TALKING TO BODY SHOP, FROM ESTIMATION OF STRUCTURE DAMAGE FROM IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY $2000-3000, HOWEVER NOW BECAUSE OF FIRE, THE VAN IS A TOTAL LOSS. I LITERALLY HAVE 3 TIRES AND A LICENSE PLATE REMAINING. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE IN MOTION AT 35 MILES PER HOUR IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS ON A DRY, 4 LANE STREET, WHEREAS A TRUCK RAN A STOP ON 5/6/2016. MY VEHICLE FRONTEND TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON A LEVEL SURFACE, 4 LANE STREET & STRUCK THE OTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT & SUFFERED LOWER BACK, NECK & LEFT PHEMUR INJURIES. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EMERGENCY CARE. SINCE FEBRUARY 2016 I WROTE LETTERS TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP WHOM DOLD ME THIS VEHICLE & NO RESPONSE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A ROAD ANIMAL. THE CONTACT CRASHED FORCEFULLY INTO THE SIDE OF A DITCH, WENT AIRBORNE AND THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, WRIST AND HAND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,500.

INVOLVED IN A NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION. BACK THIRD SEAT, SEAT BELT (LAP AND SHOULDER) FAILED TO TIGHTEN ON IMPACT. VICTIM THEN PROCEEDED TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE DVD OPTION CASE THEN WHIPLASHED FRONT X2 AND BACK X2. LATER IT WAS DISCOVERED MOST OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THIS VEHICLE DO NOT PROPERLY SECURE ANYONE IN POSITION DUE TO NOT TIGHTENING UP WHEN LATCHING OR ON IMPACT. THE SEAT BELT LATCH BUT DOES NOT PULL BACK TO TIGHTEN AND ON IMPACT IT DID NOT TIGHTEN TO SECURE THE PERSON ON IMPACT. THIS PERSON IS NO DIAGNOSED WITH POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME OR MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. HAD THE CAR VEERED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND ROLLED, HIS DIAGNOSIS COULD OF BEEN MORE SEVERE OR DEATH. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR FRONT END HEAD ON COLLISION AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND WAS A PASSENGER AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD BY THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO THAT IF MY AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED THEY WOULD HAVE TOTALED MY VAN OUT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. I AM VERY ANGRY AT DODGE! WHY HAVE AIRBAGS IF THEY DON'T WORK AND FAIL TO GO OFF. THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND WASN'T KILLED. HE IS INJURED PRETTY BAD THOUGH. BAD JOB DODGE! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO PUT YOUR CUSTOMERS LIVES AT RISK!!!!! *TR

2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, KNOWN ISSUE, AIRBAGS FAILURE TO DEPLOY. THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A FEW YEARS AND ARE ONLY NOW DOING THE RECALL. MY HUSBAND WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT OVER 40MPH, LOTS OF DAMAGE, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I'VE CONFIRMED WITH CHRYSLER THAT MY MODEL WAS ONE OF THE VINS LISTED IN THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05061 JULY 11, 2008 MY MOTHER AND I WERE IN A CRASH INVOLVING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE IMPACT DID ABOUT $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED IT HAS TO DO WITH THIS INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECTIVE SENSORS. HOW CAN I BE SURE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE? *TR

CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS 2005 AND NEWER "KNEE BOLSTER" AIRBAG SYSTEM, HAS A STEEL PLATE HINGED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH AND IS PROPELLED BY THE DEPLOYING AIRBAG INTO THE DRIVER'S LEGS. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY AND INSTINCTIVELY PULLS THE LEGS BACK AND THE ASSEMBLY DROPS IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S LEGS PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THAT IS IF THE DRIVER'S LEGS AREN'T BROKEN BY THIS, AND THEN THEY CAN'T STOP THE VEHICLE IF THEY WANTED TO. THIS WILL LEAD TO SECONDARY AND MORE SERIOUS COLLISIONS AND POSSIBLY DEATH FOR OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DRIVER CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH WHEN IT COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A COW. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S LEGS WERE INJURED BY THE COVER OF THE LOWER AIR BAG. *TR

THE KNEE BLOCKER AIRBAG IN MY 05 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OPENED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE AIRBAG IS BEHIND A STEEL PLATE HINGED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH. ATTACHED TO THIS PLATE IS THE HARD PLASTIC PANEL. THE AIRBAG PROPELLED THIS PLATE AND PANEL INTO MY SHINS, DISABLING ME, AND WHEN I BROUGHT MY LEGS BACK FROM THE PAIN, THE HARD PLASTIC PANEL DROPPED IN FRONT OF MY LEGS AND PREVENTED ME FROM RETURNING MY FEET TO THE BRAKE. HAD I BEEN SUFFERING FROM OSTEOPOROSIS MY LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN SHATTERED AND I COULD NOT HAVE STOPPED MY VAN, HAD IT CONTINUED TO ROLL AFTER THE INITIAL COLLISION. *JB

IN THE 05 AND NEWER DODGE/CHRYSLER CARS AND MINIVANS, THERE IS A "KNEE BLOCKER" AIRBAG SYSTEM INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN, THAT IS DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN AND IN IT'S INTENDED USE. THE LOWER DASH PANEL IS ATTACHED TO A METAL FRAME THAT IS HINGED AT THE BOTTOM AND BEHIND THAT IS THE AIRBAG THAT DEPLOYS AT JUST UNDER 200 MPH. WHEN THE AIRBAG INFLATES IN AN ACCIDENT, THIS HARD PLASTIC REINFORCE PANEL WILL SLAM DOWN ON A DRIVER'S LEGS CAUSING INJURY. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL... WHEN THE DRIVER'S LEGS ARE STRUCK, THE FIRST INSTINCT IS FOR THE DRIVER TO RECOIL AND BRING THEIR LEGS AWAY FROM THE CAUSE OF THE PAIN. WHEN THEY DO THIS, THIS PANEL DROPS IN FRONT OF THE LEGS AND NOW THE DRIVER CANNOT GET THEIR FEET BACK TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IF THEIR VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ROLL, THERE IS A DANGER OF A FURTHER COLLISION WITH THE DRIVER HAVING LITTLE CONTROL. ONE LAST CONSIDERATION, IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO DIABETICS (LOWER LIMBS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO LOWER LEG PROBLEMS, AND THOSE WITH OSTEOPOROSIS WHO LIKELY WOULD HAVE BROKEN LOWER LIMBS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAR END THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S CHILD WAS INJURED AND PROPERTY DAMAGE INCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 24,930.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN A VEHICLE HIT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A RAILROAD STOP WAITING FOR A TRAIN TO PASS WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACTS VEHICLE TO HIT THE VEHICLE THAT WAS SITTING AT THE RAILROAD CROSSING IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HIT THE VEHICLE WITH A HARD FORCE THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRASH RESULTED IN ALL PASSENGERS HAVING BOTH BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHE AND HER 3 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES WHICH SENT THEM TO THE HOSPITAL. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN THE PASSENGERS . THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE FELT THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER OR DRIVER . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34618.*AK

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 7, 2006 WHEREIN HER 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO PUSH HER VEHICLE INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. DESPITE THE DEGREE OF IMPACT, WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO TOTAL HER MINI VAN, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS RELEASED. I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHY THIS WAS THE CASE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 5 OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER AND WAS TAKEN TO A STORAGE YARD. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT) UPDATED 01/09/07. *JB

THIS IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL I SENT TO CHRYSLER CONCERNING AN ACCIDENT ON 2-3-06 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN. CHRYSLER HELD UP REPAIRS AND SENT A "SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR" TO LOOK AT THE VAN. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT CHRYSLER NOW SAYS THE AIR BAG WORKED AS DESIGNED AND THEY ARE DENYING OUR CLAIM. WE ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND ON THE PHONE AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT DISCUSS IT WITH US NOW. ALL I WAS ASKING WAS FOR THEM TO RECALL THIS FEATURE AND MAKE IT DEPLOY TO CAUSE LESS INJURY AND OR DISABLE IT ON OUR VAN. THANK YOU JIMMY SUTHERLAND MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN OUR 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THE VEHICLE PERFORMED WITH EXCEPTION TO THE DRIVERS KNEE AIRBAG. THIS AIRBAG IS LOCATED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AND BEHIND BOTH A METAL AND PLASTIC DASHPLATE, WHEN DEPLOYED THESE DASHPLATES WERE FORCED INTO MY WIFE'S LOWER LEGS CAUSING INJURIES FROM THE KNEES DOWN. NO OTHER INJURIES WERE SUFFERED BY ANYONE IN EITHER VEHICLE OTHER THAN THESE LEG INJURIES. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IF THIS AIR BAG WASN'T THERE SHE WOULD HAVE HAD NO INJURIES EITHER. OR IF THIS AIR BAG WAS INSTALLED SIMILAR TO THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AND NOT BEHIND THE TWO PLATES THEN NO INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFERED. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW A SAMPLE AT THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.REBELWITHACLUE.COM/CINDYS%20ACCIDENT.JPG I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PLEASED WITH THE DODGE PRODUCT I DO OWN A 2000 DAKOTA QUAD CAB ALONG WITH THE 2005 GRAND CARAVAN AND THESE ARE NOT OUR FIRST DODGES. I WOULD HATE FOR THEM TO BE OUR LAST BECAUSE OF THIS AIRBAG SITUATION, MY WIFE IS NOW AFRAID BECAUSE OF THE INJURIES AND WONDERS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAD BEEN AT HIGH SPEED. AMPUTATION? I HOPE NOT. I USUALLY WOULD NOT SUGGEST DISABLING A SAFETY DEVICE BUT I FEEL THIS WOULD BE SAFER IF DISABLED. THANK YOU JIMMY SUTHERLAND. *NM

HIT FROM BEHIND AND BOTH OURS SEATS BROKE. REPORTED TO DODGE AND THEY TOLD US SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO DEFLECT REARWARD SO AS TO ABSORB IMPACT. THEY FAILED TO TELL US HOW WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP OR TO KEEP FROM GOING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS WE WERE FLAT ON OUR BACKS. JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT LOGIC. IT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. *JB

VEHICLE (2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN) WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND RAN INTO TREES, DEPLOYING AIRBAGS. GLOVE BOX DOOR DROPPED OPEN AND ALL THE WAY DOWN (PAST THE NORMAL OPEN STATE), SEVERELY INJURING THE LEFT LEG OF FRONT PASSENGER.

See attached document for complaint

I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AND NO AIR BAGS WERE INFLATED. I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. I HIT MY BRAKES BUT NOT SOON ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE I HIT HAD NO DAMAGE. I HAVE A BROKEN BUMPER AND BENT HOOD.