| Issue ID | 583085 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10153449 |
| Manufacurer | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| Brand | DODGE |
| Model | GRAND CARAVAN |
| Model Year | 2005 |
| File date | 03/02/06 |
| Component | AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | 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 |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 35800 |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | CLOVIS, NM |
| VIN pattern | 1D4GP24R25BXXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | Y |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | Y |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | 1 |
| No. of fatalities | 0 |
| Date of purchase | 20/06/05 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | Y |
| Cruise control | Y |
| Number of cylinders | 6 |
| Drive train type | FWD |
| Transmission type | AUTO |
| Vehicle speed | 45 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | BENDER DODGE |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | CLOVIS |
| Dealer's state code | NM |
| Dealer's ZIP code |