Investigations
REAR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE02004 - closed, opened 2002-01-16.
NHTSA investigation PE02004 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2002-01-16 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2002-03-11 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE02004 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED JANUARY 16, 2002, BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS ALLEGING THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED ON CERTAIN 1997 AND 1998 MODEL YEAR CARAVAN AND VOYAGER VEHICLES. THE REPORTS INDICATED A "TAR" LI..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED JANUARY 16, 2002, BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS ALLEGING THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED ON CERTAIN 1997 AND 1998 MODEL YEAR CARAVAN AND VOYAGER VEHICLES. THE REPORTS INDICATED A "TAR" LIKE SUBSTANCE ENTERED THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM, THUS CAUSING THE RETRACTOR TO JAM OR BIND. IN THIS CONDITION THE SEAT BELT IS RENDERED INOPERABLE, AS THE WEBBING CANNOT RETRACT OR BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTORS FOR USE. RECALL SCOPE: THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE 1997 THROUGH 1999 DODGE CARAVAN, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER, AND CHRYSLER TOWN & CONTRY BUILT ON A SHORT WHEEL BASE CHASSIS. THE INCLUSIVE DATES OF PRODUCTION ARE JUNE 1996 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1999. RECALL REMEDY: DAIMLERCHRYSLER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTIC SOUND BARRIER PATCHES WITH FOAM "BLOCKERS", AS WELL AS, INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL THIRD ROW REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES CONTAMINATED BY THE MASTIC PATCH.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.