ALL OWNERS LOOK AT THE TOP OF SLIDING DOORS AT THE ROOF BLACK WEATHER STRIPPING I NOTICED THAT ON NUMEROUS GRAND CARAVANS THAT THE ROOF SEAMS ARE CRACKING, I OWN A GRAND CARAVAN 2003 WITH 26,000 MILES AND THERE ARE CRACKS AT FOUR LOCATIONS. JUST BEHIND THE FRONT DOORS AT THE ROOF AND AT THE BACK OF THE SLIDING DOORS AT THE ROOF ALL ALONG THAT BLACK WEATHERSTRIPPING THAT GOES FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE FIX FOR THIS ID PUT MATCHING COLOR SEAM SEALER IN THE CRACKS AND SEND ME ON MY WAY, HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT TELL ME WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. A COLLISION SHOP FELT THAT THE VANS STRUCTURE IS SHIFTING AND THE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. IF ANYONE KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I TELL EVERYONE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFTEY BOARD. PS I AM A BIG MOPAR FAN I CURRENTLY OWN A 1969 DODGE CHARGER,1970 SUPER BEE, AND A 71 GTX. I AM SO UPSET THAT DODGE TREATED ME AS A SOCCER DAD SO I WAS LEFT TO TELL ALL HERE AT THE DODGE FORUM. PLEASE REPLAY
IF YOU HAVE HAD THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM

 

All it is is cracking seam sealer, there is no roof integrity failure. I have seen a few and have done what your dealer has recommended. There is a service bulletin on this issue, its not a safety issue. Its due to the sealer drying out and cracking, not because the unibody is shifting. If the body shifted that much the glass would break first or the doors wouldn't close or line up right.

 

THANKS FOR THE REPLY AND ITS FUNNY YOU MENTIONED THE DOORS BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT THATS ANOTHER ISSSUE I SEE WITH MY VAN. THE FRONT DOORS ARE OUT OF ALIGN. AND MY VAN HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKEDE AT ALL. I STILL DON'T THINK THAT THE SEAMS SHOULD COME APPART IN LESS THAN A YEAR THATS PRETTY MESSED UP ESPESIALLY WHEN YOU PAYING 30,000 + FOR A NEW CAR. AND AS FOR THERE SERVICE BULLETIN FIX SOUNDS LIKE A WALL SPACKEL JOB OR A BAND AID. I HAVE OLD CARS WITH ORIGINAL SEAMS STILL UNCRACKED, SOUNDS AS IF YOU WORK FOR DODGE? THANKS FOR THE REPLY 1971GTX440

 

I do work at a dealer, it was only an issue with vans built at the Windsor assembly plant, 11th digit of the VIN would be a 'R'. The body panels on the RS minivans don't always line up, to be expected with 750000 built each year. Shouldn't happen though. I see you have quite a collection, cars these days aren't built like they used to be.