I haven't seen that on either my former 2011 or my 2013 T&Cs.
I did have this happen on my former '06 Grand Caravan.

 

My 2013 GC broke yesterday. Only 600 miles on the clock. I see this as a result of me sliding in and out. I'll try to be more careful after I get it fixed.

 

This happened to me around 500mi, too. I brought it in and it was fixed under warranty. It has been solid ever since.

 

Happened on my 2008. Repaired under warranty.

 

I'm a victim of this on the passenger trim. Haven't had time to take it to the dealer yet.

 

Update: improved part

Wanted to give an update. The passenger seat side cover came in recently and I finally had a chance to get it to the dealer for replacement today. The new part has an additional plastic mounting point on it the old part lacked. The seat frame has a existing metal tab just above/forward the seat controls that now has a corresponding place on the side cover to attach to. The side cover seems to be much more secure now. Incidentally the driver-seat side cover broke about 2 weeks ago. I will give an update on whether the replacement part is updated with the new mounting slot when that is replaced.

 

I too have had repeated failures of this part.

Wanted to give an update. The passenger seat side cover came in recently and I finally had a chance to get it to the dealer for replacement today. The new part has an additional plastic mounting point on it the old part lacked. The seat frame has a existing metal tab just above/forward the seat controls that now has a corresponding place on the side cover to attach to. The side cover seems to be much more secure now. Incidentally the driver-seat side cover broke about 2 weeks ago. I will give an update on whether the replacement part is updated with the new mounting slot when that is replaced.

On my last visit for repair, I asked if the part had been redesigned. They showed me the failed and replacement part. Nothing changed. I'm interested in your experience with a new/additional connecting point.

 

Mine ocured an 60,000 miles. An oversized friend of my wife with very short legs caused it when sliding out of the car. Dealer replaced it, new part?. We have her lower the seat all the way down and ask her to slide carefully. Hope this fixes the issue.

Note, the "roll" that surrounds the seat makes it difficult for short legged people to enter and exit. Not much one can do about that.

 

My 2007 seat trim was broken by the mechanic at the dealership. When they brought the car to me, I saw a broken piece of plastic on the carpet and they called the service manager. The dealership paid for the replacement. It appeared that the back of the mechanic's shoe caught unter the trim piece pulling it away from the screw that attaches the trim to the base of the seat.. Or that's what they said, anyway. Probably happens more than we know.

 

Repeated breaks on a 2013 T&C Ltd

I purchased my T&C in August 2012. The first failure of the passenger side trim occurred in September. When I took it in for warrantee replacement, the dealership had ordered the wrong part - drivers side vs passenger side. However, upon examination, we found that BOTH sides were broken. Both were replaced. By November the drivers side broke again. This time, prior to my arrival for the appointment, the service manager attempted to demonstrate the problem to a visiting Chrysler Service Rep by looking at a used T & C in inventory. They found that, it too, was broken.

Both the service manager and the Chrysler rep, claimed ignorance to the problem. Yet, when I visited with two different Chrysler dealerships, both service managers claimed to be fully aware of the problem and that they had seen/replaced many over the past few years. Seems strange that the Chrysler rep would be unaware of the problem.

This past January, the passenger side was, once again, broken. I haven't taken it in for replacement yet. My concern is two fold:

First. The dealership is some 40 miles away. It uses the better part of a morning for travel and have the part replaced. This makes the car unavailable for my wife, who works and is the primary user of the car, and the cost in fuel, maintenance, etc. is considerable.

Second One day the warranted will have expired. Then who is going to pay for the continual replace of these parts?

I wrote to Chrysler about the problem and with the question about the future expiration of the warrantee. After a paragraph touting how great they are, their response was "The information you are seeking is either unavailable or considered
proprietary."

My guess is that Chrysler hasn't redesigned the part because an analysis of the cost of a redesign and tooling is greater than the warrantee replacement cost. Further, they will continue to profit for part sales for out-of-warrantee sales.

I'm thinking of a suit against the dealership because I believe that they are/were well aware of the problem and continued/continues to knowingly sell defective merchandise and against Chrysler for the same thing. Unfortunately, until my warrantee runs out and the part fails again, I can't show damages.

 

I still haven't had issues with my trim on either the former 2011 or the current 2013.

 

Same trim piece broke on my '12 R/T.

 

Our 2012 VW Routan has the same problem on the drivers side. I will check to see if the tab is broken. Thanks for the info everyone. Now I will get to see how good the VW dealeris at replacements under warranty, if it is actually broken.

KC.

 

My company vehicle doubles as an office. Just entering/exiting, leaning across drivers seat, both sides are broken. Very poor design, can't tie up van at dealership just for this.

 

Do all of you have power seats?

 

Mine have all been power seats.

 

Good picture of the poor design. Mine has a slot to accept the tab, it doesn't help. The seats could have been made with out those cheap looking unyielding plastic shells. I guess it hides the transition from leather to cloth, but what good is it if pressure from every day normal use dislodges it? BTW mine are non powered cloth seats.

 

I checked ours yesterday while cleaning the van. They all seem ok, nice and sturdy.

June 9, 2011 build date

 

Anybody get the part and repair this themselves? I found the part on ebay cheaper than the dealer. Just wanted to see any specific directions for replacing or if I am going to have to wing it. would def prefer to not go to the dealer.

Thanks

 

Anybody get the part and repair this themselves? I found the part on ebay cheaper than the dealer. Just wanted to see any specific directions for replacing or if I am going to have to wing it. would def prefer to not go to the dealer.

Yes, I did my own on our 2011 T&C Touring L. The OEM Chrylser part is (presently) less than $67 at Amazon, part number 1UQ99DX9AB. A tab on my new one has apparently broken again, but the piece is still staying put for now. If it breaks to the point where it flops around again, I'll replace it again. I'd be interested in opinions on the Dorman -vs- Chrysler OEM part.

I've had other problems with my van's seat. One of the leather panels on the driver's seat tore while only a few years old (I had an auto upholstery shop replace that panel). My driver's seat frame also tore into a wire bundle that connects to the power seat motor and tore the insulation on the thickest +12V wire in the bundle, repeatedly blowing a 40 amp fuse for the seats under the hood. Another member of these forums had documented his repair of the same problem and I used that as a guide to find the same problem on mine and fix it by splicing in a new piece of wire and protecting the wiring bundle in a plastic loom with some nylon wire ties. It's been problem-free after those fixes.

 

Happened twice on our 09, one of the myriad little irritants. Once fixed under warranty, the second time out of warranty, did not bother to repair it.

 

Poor design seat panels

I have the same problem with my 2012 T&C . Have replaced 4 panels on drivers side and two on passenger side. Service manager says it is a bad design but offered no other help in preventing the continuation of the problem. Just noticed the drivers side clip is broken again. This time it shorted out the fuse for the seat controls. I can't understand how poorly Chrysler has responded to these continued complaints. I have had 4 chrysler vans in the past but I will never buy another.

 

I purchased a 2010 T&C in July and noticed both the driver and passenger side were broken. I don't know if they were broken when I purchased the car -- the driver's side seat was replaced by the used car dealer I purchased from because the previous seat leather was in very bad shape. I assume the plastic seat trim is part of the whole seat install. Both seats are powered.

BTW, I also have a 2005 T&C that had a similar problem on driver's side, there is a screw that holds the plastic trim to the seat frame and over time the plastic around the screw became brittle and broke, now the panel gets hung up on the seat rail when the seat is moved back (it's also a powered seat). Seems they haven't figured out a good design yet.

 

Yea my drivers side is broken ,just hait to see how much to buy one!

 

Seat Trim Breaking Away.......

I am having the same problems with my 2015 Town and Country Power Seat on the Driver's side. I am a big guy and do have the seat fully lowered and back as far as possible. My legs and feet do not reach the ground when getting out of the vehicle.

Having all the wiring attached to the plastic panel makes me nervous because it is just a matter of time before something gets caught and shorts out.

I do have the lifetime warranty plan, so maybe I can cover the repair with just the deductible. They must know they have a defective design. Parts sales would indicate that failures are wide-spread.

 

Seat Trim Breaking Away.......

I am having the same problems with my 2015 Town and Country Power Seat on the Driver's side. I am a big guy and do have the seat fully lowered and back as far as possible. My legs and feet do not reach the ground when getting out of the vehicle.

Having all the wiring attached to the plastic panel makes me nervous because it is just a matter of time before something gets caught and shorts out.

I do have the lifetime warranty plan, so maybe I can cover the repair with just the deductible. They must know they have a defective design. Parts sales would indicate that failures are wide-spread.

I just looked at the lifetime max care plan provisions and it specifically excludes Repairs required as a result of other than a manufacturing defect (such as a design defect or normal wear)

 

2017 Dodge Grand Caravan (Canadian). I have a van purchased in Canada that had the driver's seat heater replaced before moving back to Arizona. I have now discovered that they did not put the trim shield back on correctly and the metal tab is wearing though the side cloth. I just need to remove and reset the trim panel. There appears to be a metal snap holding the panel on. How do you release this catch?

 

Dorman makes a replacement Side Cover. This one is for Town and Country. (2015) Sure you can find one for the Dodge Caravan as well. They may have a picture showing the inside attachment parts.

15 2015 Chrysler Town & Country Seat Track Cover - Body Mechanical & Trim - Dorman - PartsGeek

Buy a 2015 Chrysler Town & Country Seat Track Cover at discount prices. Choose top quality brands Dorman.

www.partsgeek.com

If you must replace, under $40.00 USD is not a bad price and it is not hard to remove. There is a "hook" type attachment molded inside the cover that has to slide into a notch. Then the part Snaps into place.

Looks like maybe there are TWO screws, one on side and one removes from behind and below the seat. Then slide forward to free from the hook and slot.
I drilled a few holes in the side of mine and used heavy duty black tie-wraps to hold it in place. Doing OK a few years on. May be worth spending the money to replace. The newest REV C version is Mopar #