The problem
Vehicle description: Mini vans equipped with integrated child seats. The shoulder harness restraint on the integrated child seat can become difficult to extract when the safety belt latch plate becomes contaminated.
The risk
This can cause difficulty in releasing a child from the restraint.
The fix
Dealers will clean the latch mechanism. An extender will be added to the emergency release anchor for the child seat safety belts so that the release clips are more visible and accessible to the operator in the event that the retractor mechanism can not be unlocked. In addition, an instructional owner's manual supplement card will be provided.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V-185 (98V185000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Component | Child seat |
| Report date | August 6, 1998 |
| Owners notified | November 30, 1998 |
| Vehicles affected | 157,000 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the other / not specified
- 1996 Chrysler Town and Country other problems 29
- 1997 Chrysler Town and Country other problems 11
- 1996 Dodge Caravan other problems 80
- 1997 Dodge Caravan other problems 29
- 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan other problems 59
- 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan other problems 17
- 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager other problems 35
- 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager other problems 11
- 1996 Plymouth Voyager other problems 39
- 1997 Plymouth Voyager other problems 8
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V-185 repair free?
Yes. Chrysler dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will clean the latch mechanism. An extender will be added to the emergency release anchor for the child seat safety belts so that the release clips are more visible and accessible to the operator in the event that the retractor mechanism can not be…
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 157,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.