Chrysler Corporation: Seat Belts › Integrated Child Seat
Chrysler Corporation reported this defect to federal regulators on Oct 24, 1996 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 150,000. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
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 TO MAKE SURE THE CHILD IS RESTRAINED IN THE CASE OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The risk
THE LATCH PLATE LOCATED IN THE SEAT CUSHION AREA MUST BE FREE TO MOVE BACK AGAINST ITS STOP AFTER THE BUCKLE IS REMOVED TO ALLOW THE SHOULDER BELTS TO BE PULLED OUT. ALWAYS BE SURE THE AREA AROUND THE LATCH PLATE IS FREE OF FOOD OR OTHER ITEMS THAT MIGHT PREVENT THE LATCH PLATE FROM MOVING BACK.
The remedy
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.
10 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Chrysler Town And Country | 388 | 9 | 14 | 27 |
| 1997 Dodge Caravan | 714 | 15 | 37 | 44 |
| 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan | 583 | 6 | 39 | 29 |
| 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager | 261 | 5 | 15 | 16 |
| 1997 Plymouth Voyager | 346 | 11 | 16 | 14 |
| 1996 Chrysler Town And Country | 938 | 12 | 52 | 33 |
| 1996 Dodge Caravan | 1,403 | 18 | 47 | 57 |
| 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan | 1,157 | 11 | 42 | 31 |
| 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager | 569 | 11 | 23 | 10 |
| 1996 Plymouth Voyager | 756 | 15 | 30 | 35 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 97I001000.
Full record for the 1997 Chrysler Town And Country → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →