1996 Dodge Grand Caravan

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON…

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTI…

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS. FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK AT THE INTERFACE OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHMENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ATTACHING NUT WITH A NUT THAT INCLUDES TIGHTER DESIGN TOLERANCES. THE SEALING O-RING WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. IN ADDITION, AN INSTRUCTIONAL OW…

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRAL CHILD SEATS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. ON THE INTEGRAL CHILD SEAT, THE SHOULDER BELTS RESTRAINING THE CHILD RETRACT AND LOCK IN PLACE AFTER THE BELT BUCKLE IS CONNECTED TO THE LATCH PLATE. THE LATCH PLATE MOVEMENT LOCKS THE BELTS T…

Fix: OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A VIDEO TAPE AND 2 HARNESS CLIPS. THE VIDEO TAPE INSTRUCTS OWNERS ON THE PROPER USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILD SEATS.

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MODULES TO THE SEAT FRAME CAN BREAK.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT MODULE BOLTS.

A STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGE CAN BUILD UP ON THE UNGROUNDED METAL SECTION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND STRAP FOR THE FUEL FILLER TUBE.

IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXPANSION PLUG AND RETAINING BRACKET OVER THE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG.

THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE CAN ALLOW FUEL TO PASS INTO THE VAPOR CANISTER RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE WITH A FILLER TUBE THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL ROLLOVER VALVE. THE ASSOCIATED ROLLOVER VALVE VAPOR HOSES WILL BE REROUTED.

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE REAR BENCH SEATS TO THE SEAT RISERS MAY BE EMBRITTLED AND FRACTURE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BENCH SEAT TO RISER BOLTS.

Fix: CHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH CHILD SEAT ASSEMBLIES WITH REVISED SEATS CONTAINING RETRACTOR IMPROVEMENTS. THE REVISED SEATS WILL ALSO INCREASE CHILD COMFORT BY INCORPORATING PROTECTIVE SEAT BELT WRAPS TO PREVENT BELT CHAFE.

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING Closed

AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING Closed

DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK Closed

POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM Closed

POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY Closed

FUEL TANK LEAKS Closed

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 WH…

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP Closed

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.

INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP Closed

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…

FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK Closed

ANALYSIS TO DATE INDICATES THAT SOME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL TANK AT THE "SENDING UNIT" INTERFACE. MOST OFTEN THE LEAK INVOLVES THE O-RING SEAL.

SAFETY BLT LATCH OPERATION Closed

FUEL LEAKEAGE FROM ROLLOVER VALVE Closed

Airbag

On certain vehicles, the clockspring assembly may have been backwound during the vehicle assembly process. This could illuminate the air bag warning lamp and may eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit. Correction: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on vehicles with less then 115 000 kms. Owners of vehicles with over 115 000 kms will be offered extended…

Fuel System

On certain vehicles equipped with the 3.3L or 3.8L engine the Nitrile "O-ring" seals used in the fuel rail may degrade over time and extended exposure to elevated temperatures. This could result in fuel leakage, and, in the presence of an ignition source, an underhood fire could occur. Correction: External seals will be installed at both of the fuel rail crossover tube joints.…

Fuel System

On certain vehicles, fuel may leak from the tank at the interface of the fuel pump module attachment due to a combination of process and assembly variations. Fuel leakage could potentially cause a vehicle fire. Correction: The fuel pump module attaching nut will be replaced with a nut that includes tighter design tolerances. The sealing o-ring will also be replaced.

Seats And Restraints

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT. THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELT LATCH MECHANISM MAY BECOME CONTAMINATED CAUSING THE SEAT BELT RELEASE MECHANISM TO STICK AND PREVENT THE RETRACTOR FROM RELEASING. THIS MAY RESULT IN DIFFICULTY REMOVING A CHILD FROM THE RESTRAINT. CORRECTION: CHILD SEAT LATCH PLATE MECHANISM WILL BE INSPECTED AND CLEANED. AN EXTENDER W…

Structure

NOTE: RUNNING BOARD KITS SOLD IN THE 1996 CALENDAR YEAR AND USED ON 1996-97 CHRYSLER BUILT MINIVANS. A TIRE JACK TOP-ADAPTER, USED IN THE KITS TO PREVENT JACK AND RUNNING BOARD INTERFERENCE, MAY CREATE AN UNSTABLE VEHICLE CONDITION WHEN USED WITH THE JACK TO RAISE THE VEHICLE. THIS SITUATION MAY ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO FALL OFF THE JACK. CORRECTION: ADAPTER WILL BE REMOVED FROM TH…

Seats And Restraints

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE CHILD SEAT TO THE SEAT FRAME MAY BREAK. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. CORRECTION: SEAT BOLTS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS REQUIRED.