1998 Dodge Caravan Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 4%of 629 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 73,088miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Dodge Caravan, 4% of the 629 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 73,088 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving between 35-45 MPH, going around a curb, the back of the van skidded. This resulted in the vehicle going over a hill, and impacting a tree head on. Upon impact, only passenger's air bag deployed. Also, the seat belt failed to retract. Driver sustained I facial injuries. Vehicle was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10110888, filed 2005-02, 100,000 miles“I found out that the 1998 Dodge Caravan that I purchased has two design flaws. One is that the vehicle does not have brake-shift interlock. The other is that the vehicle is equipped with chrysler gen3 seat belts that, in some vehicles, have unlatched while people were driving. I believe that the government should order a recall of the 1998 Caravan for both of these important safety issues.”
NHTSA complaint #10314899, filed 2010-02“Our middle row seat belts stop working. They don't retrack on their own. This is about the 4th we have to replace them both. We just replaced them in january of 07 and they don't retrack again. According to the dealer the pin or I forget what they called it snapped again. We have not been in an accident since they were replaced in january. We are afraid that even after replacing them that they will not protect or kids if god forbid we are in an accident. They keep breaking with just everyday use. …”
NHTSA complaint #10225369, filed 2008-04“I was forced to brake suddenly and the car seat my 4 year old daughter was buckeled into went flying into the back of the passenger seat. The problem is that the seat belts in the 1998 Dodge Caravan are easily depressed by a game boy, dolls or my older daughter either buckeling or unbuckeling her booster seat. I've found my 4 year olds strap in car seat unbuckeled at least 6 times in the past 4 years. Had we been in a serious accident rather than just a sudden braking my daughter would have been severly injured.”
NHTSA complaint #10075085, filed 2004-06“Both rear seat belts have body sealant oozing on them - to the point where one will not budge from the side wall. The other, if you pull hard will release, but it is covered with sticky sealant which one would not want to wear!! I called a Dodge dealership and they told me that they have seen many of these problems, but with my vehicle being over 36,000 miles, they wouldn't repair it unless I paid ~$450.00. Meanwhile, I cannot buckle my children up. I think that this is a manufacturing defect and should be repaired free of charge. …”
NHTSA complaint #709435, filed 1999-07Related recalls
- 02V076000Mar 8, 2002On certain minivans, some trim material can loosen and drop into the rear outboard seat belt assembly, causing the seat belt to become inoperative.Covers: Dodge Caravan 1997–1999, Plymouth Voyager 1997–1999, Chrysler Town And Country 1997–1999
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 4% |
| 2014 | 1 | 5% |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 3 | 2% |
| 2005 | 9 | 2% |
| 2003 | 5 | 3% |
| 2002 | 15 | 6% |
| 2001 | 12 | 5% |
| 2000 | 23 | 5% |
| 1999 | 22 | 4% |
| 1998 | 23 | 4% |
| 1997 | 22 | 3% |
| 1996 | 42 | 3% |
| 1995 | 17 | 3% |
| 1994 | 31 | 5% |
| 1993 | 114 | 12% |
| 1992 | 175 | 19% |
| 1991 | 90 | 15% |
| 1990 | 23 | 8% |
| 1989 | 15 | 8% |
| 1988 | 5 | 5% |
| 1987 | 6 | 9% |
| 1986 | 5 | 10% |
| 1985 | 5 | 10% |
| 1984 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1998 Dodge Caravan
135 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
103 complaintsAir bags
99 complaintsElectrical system
68 complaintsBrakes
48 complaintsSteering
42 complaintsFuel system
41 complaintsSuspension
37 complaintsVehicle speed control
33 complaintsExterior lighting
31 complaintsEquipment
28 complaintsBody and structure
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Dodge Caravan
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology