IllustrationACCELERATOR STICKS , HAPPENED ONE TIME WHEN VEHICLE WAS NEW, (VEHICLE WAS LESS THEN SIX MONTHS OLD, ALSO HAPPENED ON 07/11/08 AND 07/12/08) WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR THEN REMOVING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR, PEDAL DOES NOT RETURN, CAR KEEPS GOING FASTER TILL ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. *TR
1999 Chrysler 300M
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 300M years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Chrysler 300M are substantially higher than the model-year median of 52.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 300M years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
3225–50K
5050–75K
3575–100K
31100–150K
11150K+
168 reports with mileage · 183 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports6 fire reports14 injury reports
Power Train complaints
32 reportsI RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS I NOTICED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY FACTORY STEREO WENT OUT. THE NEXT THING I NOTICED WAS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. AFTER THAT MY DRIVER AND …
Read full complaint
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS I NOTICED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY FACTORY STEREO WENT OUT. THE NEXT THING I NOTICED WAS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. AFTER THAT MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SPEAKERS WENT OUT. AFTER THAT MY HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TURNING ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. AFTER THAT MY HEATING UNIT WOULD COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHENEVER I WOULD START THE CAR. I'VE NOTICED A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CAR ONCE I'VE STARTED IT UP. MY HEATED SEATS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. THERE'S A WHISTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. MY ENGINE SOUNDS LOUD NOW. THERE'S A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS SHORTING OUT. ITS HAS A DENSE HIGH PITCHED SOUND. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON THEY WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF. WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR THE ENGINE STRUGGLES TO TURN OVER. IT SEEMS AS IF EITHER MY BATTERY IS DYING OR MY ALTERNATOR HAS HAD IT. THE CAR HAS DIED ON ME BEFORE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THERE IS A MYSTERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THESE CHRYSLER 300M CARS. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND NONE OF THEM COULD PINPOINT THE EXACT CAUSE OF ALL THESE PROBLEMS I'M HAVING WITH THE CAR. I GUESS I'M '!@#$%. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THESE DEFECTS AND I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY ON THE CAR. YEAH, I'M REALLY !@#$%. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. WHEN ENGAGED, THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT REMAIN IN THE PARK POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLV…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. WHEN ENGAGED, THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT REMAIN IN THE PARK POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE MUST BE PARKED ON A HILL AND WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE PARK POSITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
1. NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING 2. INPUT/OUTPUT SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION FAILED. SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO (0) WHEN MOVING. ONLY 2ND GEAR AVAILABLE. HAD TO DRIVE SIDE STREETS AT LOW SPEED TO PREVENT ENGINE FROM REVVING TOO HIGH AS IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. 3. OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR; REPLACED INPUT/OUTPUT SENSORS ON TRANSMISSION. …
Read full complaint
1. NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING 2. INPUT/OUTPUT SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION FAILED. SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO (0) WHEN MOVING. ONLY 2ND GEAR AVAILABLE. HAD TO DRIVE SIDE STREETS AT LOW SPEED TO PREVENT ENGINE FROM REVVING TOO HIGH AS IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. 3. OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR; REPLACED INPUT/OUTPUT SENSORS ON TRANSMISSION. COST $173.90. *JB
1999 CHRYSLER 300M, DRIVING ALONG FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, SUDDEN DECELERATION. BIG SCARE FOR WIFE COMING HOME IN RUSH HOUR. SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. COULD NOT GET CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER FORWARD GEAR, STILL WOULD GO INTO REVERSE. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK TO TOW THROUGH HOUSTON, 65 MILES TO H…
Read full complaint
1999 CHRYSLER 300M, DRIVING ALONG FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, SUDDEN DECELERATION. BIG SCARE FOR WIFE COMING HOME IN RUSH HOUR. SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. COULD NOT GET CAR TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER FORWARD GEAR, STILL WOULD GO INTO REVERSE. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK TO TOW THROUGH HOUSTON, 65 MILES TO HOME ON WEST SIDE. $165.00 FOR TOW ALONE. THIS ISSUE, I SEE, IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR. WHY DOESN'T CHRYSLER ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM??? TCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, OR TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK MAY BE TO BLAME, I THINK IT'S THE TRANSAXLE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR, SINCE SPEEDO IS NOT WORKING. TRANSMISSION HAD NO PRIOR SIGN OF PROBLEMS. LOVE THOSE COMPUTERS. SURE DO HATE THEM IN MY CAR. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. HE SAYS THAT ON MAY 15TH ,2005 HE STARTED VEHICLE AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND THE SHIFTER BROKE FROM THE WELDING. SHIFTER IS ON THE FLOOR NOT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. HE NOTICED THAT ON MAY 13TH 2005 IT WOULD NOT GO IN DRIVE. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS LOCKED. HE PULLED THE SHIFTER REA…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. HE SAYS THAT ON MAY 15TH ,2005 HE STARTED VEHICLE AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND THE SHIFTER BROKE FROM THE WELDING. SHIFTER IS ON THE FLOOR NOT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. HE NOTICED THAT ON MAY 13TH 2005 IT WOULD NOT GO IN DRIVE. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS LOCKED. HE PULLED THE SHIFTER REALLY HARD AND IT RELEASED. HE DROVE VEHICLE AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL MAY 15TH 2005. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM LIKE THIS. HE THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD TRIED TO STEAL THE CAR. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CABLE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GETTING HOT AND IT MIGHT BREAK REALLY SOON SO HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT. *AK *NM
I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 69000 MILES ON MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. AS A RETIREE I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO OWNING IT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS BEFORE CONSIDERING PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. MY PROBLEMS WITH THE 300 STARTED IN JAN OF '99 INOPERABLE WINDOW MOTORS A ) 1/28/99 957 MILES DRIVERS SIDE B) 3/30/99 3792 MILES RIGHT RE…
Read full complaint
I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 69000 MILES ON MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. AS A RETIREE I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO OWNING IT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS BEFORE CONSIDERING PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. MY PROBLEMS WITH THE 300 STARTED IN JAN OF '99 INOPERABLE WINDOW MOTORS A ) 1/28/99 957 MILES DRIVERS SIDE B) 3/30/99 3792 MILES RIGHT REAR C) 6/7/99 6301MILES RIGHT FRONT D) 8/01/01 27364 MILES LEFT REAR INDOW ALSO CRACK IN DASH ALL OF THE ABOVE WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FOLLOWING WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY 1) 7/25/02 40046 MILES TRANSMISSION SENSORS (WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY) 2) 2/14/03 ABOUT 46000 MILES DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AGAIN. I REPLACED THE MOTOR 3) ABOUT 4/03 47000 MILES, RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR CAPUT. STILL CAPUT. 4) ABOUT 50000 MILES, 2 OF 6 RADIO SPEAKERS DO NOT WORK 5) 6/03/04 58528 MILES SIGNIFICANT SHIMMY AFTER NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE. STILL SHIMMIES. 6) 6/19/04 58561 AIR CODITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILS MY PROBLEM IS I GUESS I DON'T COMPLAIN ENOUGH. I WAS PROMPTED TO DO SO THIS TIME AFTER SURFING THE NET AND FOUND I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS REGARD. PERHAPS SOME GOOD WILL COME OF MY PLIGHT, IF NOT FOR ME, SOMEONE ELSE. THIS WAS THE 1ST AND LAST CHRYSLER DAIMLER PRODUCT I WILL OWN.
CONSUMER WENT TO BUCKLE THE CHILD INTO THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE CHILD TOUCHED THE GEAR SHIFT, AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE.*AK
IN REVERSE VEHICLE JERKED BACK WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA RECALL 04V021000 REGARDING THE FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK. AFTER HAVING THE NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PL…
Read full complaint
NHTSA RECALL 04V021000 REGARDING THE FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK. AFTER HAVING THE NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *NM
Official recalls
304V021000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Jan 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
03V035000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Feb 5, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
00V034000 · Seat Belts
Feb 4, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TURNING LOOP (ATL) TOP MOUNTING BOLT WAS INADEQUATELY MANUFACTURED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE AFFECTED MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT WITHSTAND SUFFICIENT FORCE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN CERTAIN IMPACT SITUATIONS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A BELTED OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHOULDER BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER MOUNTING BOLTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
PE03010 · Throttle Control Failure
Opened Feb 27, 2003 · Closed Sep 2, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:cables
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.