1989 Dodge Caravan defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 1989 Dodge Caravan. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE
  Defect Petition DP98003 · opened Mar 11, 1998 · closed Apr 10, 1998

  The petition alleges that the chrysler corporation failed to produce a quality transmission in its model year 1989 minivans, which can fail immaturely

• LIFTGATE LATCHES
  Engineering Analysis EA94005 · opened Jan 31, 1994 · closed Oct 25, 1995

  Liftgate latches in the subject vehicles have failed in low and moderate speed impacts resulting in occupant ejections, injuries, and fatalities.there are two failure modes associated with latch failure: fork bolt-detent lever bypass, and inertial unlatching.nhtsa analyses of chrysler and peer minivans took the form of…

• R/HTCHBCK HYDR.CYLIN.FAILS
  Preliminary Evaluation PE92027 · opened Mar 10, 1992 · closed Jun 3, 1992

  There is no summary currently available

• REAR WIPER SWITCH/FIRES
  Preliminary Evaluation PE91062 · opened Mar 19, 1991 · closed Jul 31, 1991

  There is no summary currently available

• SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
  Preliminary Evaluation PE91026 · opened Jan 4, 1991 · closed May 1, 1991 · led to recall 91V053000

  There is no summary currently available

• TRANS PARK SYSTEM FAILURE
  Engineering Analysis EA91010 · opened Dec 10, 1990 · closed Dec 31, 1991

  There is no summary currently available

• REAR SEAT STRUCTURE FAILS
  Preliminary Evaluation PE90079 · opened May 7, 1990 · closed Oct 2, 1990

  ===

• UNDERDASH FIRES
  Engineering Analysis EA90011 · opened Feb 23, 1990 · closed Feb 28, 1991

  There is no summary currently available

• UNDERDASH FIRES
  Preliminary Evaluation PE89170 · opened Sep 26, 1989 · closed Feb 23, 1990

  There is no summary currently available

• TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING
  Preliminary Evaluation PE89036 · opened Jan 9, 1989 · closed Jan 31, 1989

  ===