2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
minivan
Moderate overlap front: original test
Tested vehicle: 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport
Rating applies to 2001 models
The Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country were redesigned for the 2001 model year.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of the Grand Caravan in three 40 mph moderate overlap frontal crash tests into deformable barriers. After the first test, Chrysler indicated the results were different from tests the company had conducted and requested a retest.
Results of the second test were more consistent with company test results for structural performance, but the amount and pattern of intrusion were similar. More significantly, a fuel leak occurred, revealing a weakness in the design of a circular fitting where the fuel lines exit the fuel tank. Further examination of the fitting in the van tested first showed stress fractures in the same area as the leak in the second van.
A third test was conducted after Chrysler made a design change to fix the fuel tank fitting and retrofitted a 2001 model with the redesign (all 2002 and later models include the modification). Examination of the redesigned fitting after the third test indicated no damage.
Because the 2001 models were not recalled to fix the fuel tank fitting, the structural rating is Poor, as is the overall rating, because of the potential for fuel leakage in a crash of this severity.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | |
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0102 | CEF0111 | CF00028 |
| Footwell intrusion | |||
| Footrest (cm) | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Left (cm) | 14 | 19 | 24 |
| Center (cm) | 21 | 24 | 26 |
| Right (cm) | 20 | 22 | 26 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 14 | 17 | 23 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |||
| Left (cm) | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Right (cm) | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Steering column movement | |||
| Upward (cm) | 11 | 9 | 8 |
| Rearward (cm) | -5 | -2 | 0 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0102 | CEF0111 | CF00028 |
| Head | |||
| HIC-15 | 602 | 456 | 587 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 81 | no contact | 71 |
| Neck | |||
| Tension (kN) | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 30 | 19 | 18 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.43 | 0.41 | 0.38 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 34 | 41 | 51 |
| Legs | |||
| Femur force - left (kN) | 5.2 | 7.7 | 7.2 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 0.60 | 0.48 | 0.68 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 1.70 | 1.27 | 1.06 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 9.3 | 6.6 | 7.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |||
| Left | 63 | 59 | 71 |
| Right | 142 | 134 | 273 |