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2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN — SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

1 injured · 543611 · 2005-07-11

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
GRAND CARAVAN
Year
2005
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

WE RENTED A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE "STOW AND GO" SEATS. THE SEAT BACK FOR THE SECOND ROW SEATS RETURNS TO THE DOWN POSITION UNDER CONSIDERABLE SPRING PRESSURE. ON THREE OCCASIONS, MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY WERE STRUCK IN THE FACE BY THE HEADREST WHEN THE SEAT BACK WAS RELEASED BY RAISING THE LEVER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SEAT. IN ONE CASE, MY DAUGHTER WAS STRUCK IN THE JAW WHEN SHE BENT OVER TO RELEASE THE SEAT BACK. I WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE TWICE: ONCE ON THE LEFT SIDE AND ONCE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IN BOTH CASES MY GLASSES WERE TORN FROM MY FACE. EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE ANSI Z87 SAFETY GLASSES, THEY WERE THROWN A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE AND DAMAGED BY THE IMPACT. BEING RENTERS OF THE VEHICLE, WE WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND HAD NOT BEEN ADVISED BY THE RENTAL AGENCY TO WATCH OUT FOR THE SEATS. FOR MYSELF, I CONSIDER THE SPRING LOADING TO BE AN UNFORTUNATE DESIGN CHOICE. THE SEAT BACK APPEARS TO PACK A CONSIDERABLE PUNCH.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10128392
Machine
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