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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Steering complaints

48 reports
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160,000 miles · Mar 13, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT LATER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A SEWAGE AREA. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT LATER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A SEWAGE AREA. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694129

68,000 miles · Sep 21, 2014
EngineSteeringStructureCrash

I WAS STOPPED & JUST PUT IT INTO DRIVE FROM PARK & THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT IT DIDN'T STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE CAR IS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE DID PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637881

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2011
SteeringSuspension

ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT ALL THE BOLTS ASSOCIATED WITH MY RACK AND PINION HAD BECOME LOOSE. HE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS UP, AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THEY WORKED LOOSE AGAIN. HE DID RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION …

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ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT ALL THE BOLTS ASSOCIATED WITH MY RACK AND PINION HAD BECOME LOOSE. HE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS UP, AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THEY WORKED LOOSE AGAIN. HE DID RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION AND IS SHOCKED THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT MADE A RECALL YET. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS, BUT AS I READ ON THE INTERNET SOMEONE HAS DIED FROM THE RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS, AND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC FRIEND IS GOING TO TRY TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AGAIN USING LOCK TIGHT(?) ON THE BOLTS AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP THE PROBLEM. MY FEAR IS THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AS LISTED ON WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2000/CHRYSLER/300M/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX AND CANNOT GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND THEIR ONLY HELP LIES WITHIN A RECALL BY CHRYSLER ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE DIFFICULT ECONOMY. NOT EVERYONE IS LUCKY TO HAVE A MECHANIC THAT IS A FRIEND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441101

108,000 miles · Mar 21, 2009
Steering

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A SHOPPING MALL THE POWER STEERING ON MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M WENT OUT.(NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED) I HAD TO USE MOST OF MY STRENGTH TO COMPLETE THE TURN. I PULLED INTO A NEARBY PARKING SPACE WITH THE SAME DIFFICULTY AND RAN MY ERRAND. WHEN I RE-ENTERED THE CAR THE STE…

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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A SHOPPING MALL THE POWER STEERING ON MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M WENT OUT.(NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED) I HAD TO USE MOST OF MY STRENGTH TO COMPLETE THE TURN. I PULLED INTO A NEARBY PARKING SPACE WITH THE SAME DIFFICULTY AND RAN MY ERRAND. WHEN I RE-ENTERED THE CAR THE STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL I GOT TO MY HOUSE ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER WHEN THE POWER STEERING AGAIN WENT OUT. I LEFT THE CAR PARKED UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. I DROVE TO A DEALERSHIP ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY AND THEN LATER BACK HOME WHEN THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING EITHER ON THE WAY TO OR FROM THE DEALERSHIP NOR HAS IT OCCURRED SINCE THEN. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN THAT THIS MAY BE A PRECURSOR TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE MANY STEERING RELATED PROBLEMS WITH MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AND FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS TO PASS THIS INFORMATION ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262665

110,751 miles · May 15, 2008
Steering

1. STARTED WITH CLUNKS AND AWKWARD NOISES IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO HAVE LOOSE PLAY. FRONT SUSPENSION WAS CHECKED AN NEVER FOUND A PROBLEM. 2. ONE NIGHT TURNED LEFT AND CAR WANTED TO TURN RIGHT. WHILE NORMAL DRIVING THE CAR WOULD PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. COUNTLESS AMOUNT OF EVENTS WERE I ALMOST CRASHED. 3.…

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1. STARTED WITH CLUNKS AND AWKWARD NOISES IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO HAVE LOOSE PLAY. FRONT SUSPENSION WAS CHECKED AN NEVER FOUND A PROBLEM. 2. ONE NIGHT TURNED LEFT AND CAR WANTED TO TURN RIGHT. WHILE NORMAL DRIVING THE CAR WOULD PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. COUNTLESS AMOUNT OF EVENTS WERE I ALMOST CRASHED. 3. RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TIE RODS. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE IF REQUESTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227842

138,000 miles · Feb 20, 2008
SteeringSuspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A REPAIR SHOP THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED REPLACING ON HER VEHICLE. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT IF SHE DROVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WOULD FAIL. SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE IN HER PREVIOUS VEHICLE, A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. A MECHAN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A REPAIR SHOP THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED REPLACING ON HER VEHICLE. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT IF SHE DROVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WOULD FAIL. SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE IN HER PREVIOUS VEHICLE, A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. A MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT IF SHE DROVE AROUND A CURB, THERE WOULD BE A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE STEERING WOULD GREATLY MALFUNCTION. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ODI #10218637

134,222 miles · Aug 12, 2007
Steering

RACK AND PINION BROKE AFTER I NOTICED A LOSS OF CONTROL IN STEERING MY CAR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN THE DEVICE SNAPPED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10199346

74,382 miles · Sep 6, 2006
Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON SUBURBAN STREETS IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A SUDDEN WHIRRING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. UNDER HIGHER SPEEDS OR MORE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, LOSS OF POWER STEERING COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. POWER STEERING LOSS WAS CAUSED BY A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID THAT WAS…

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WHILE DRIVING ON SUBURBAN STREETS IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A SUDDEN WHIRRING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. UNDER HIGHER SPEEDS OR MORE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, LOSS OF POWER STEERING COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. POWER STEERING LOSS WAS CAUSED BY A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID THAT WAS LEAKING FROM THE STEERING GEAR. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR YET. DUE TO FIRE HAZARD FROM LEAKING FLUID AND NO POWER ASSIST IN THE STEERING, VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167518

104,000 miles · May 19, 2006
SteeringStructure

IT IS SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M, AND THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN ALARMING RECENT EXPERIENCE FOR ME, HAVING JUST BOUGHT A USED ONE AND HAVING CHANGED A LOT OF FRONT-END SUSPENSION PARTS BEFORE ALIGNING AND RE-ALIGNING. I FEEL SO HORRIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT AND CONTINUE TO BUY THESE 300 CARS TODAY. IN CO…

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IT IS SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M, AND THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN ALARMING RECENT EXPERIENCE FOR ME, HAVING JUST BOUGHT A USED ONE AND HAVING CHANGED A LOT OF FRONT-END SUSPENSION PARTS BEFORE ALIGNING AND RE-ALIGNING. I FEEL SO HORRIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT AND CONTINUE TO BUY THESE 300 CARS TODAY. IN COMPARISON TO MY OTHER CARS, (A 1993 PONTIAC FIREBIRD AND EVEN AN OLDER CHRYSLER PRODUCT, A 1986 DAYTONA) WHICH CAN BE EASILY ALIGNED IF ALL THE RIGHT PARTS ARE IN AND WORK WELL, THE 300M SIMPLY CANNOT BE ALIGNED IT SEEMS, NO MATTER WHAT PARTS ARE CHANGED. WHAT A SHAME FOR AMERICA MANUFACTURING! SHAME!*JB

NHTSA ODI #10157903

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2006
Steering

1999 300M CHRYSLER "STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS". WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2000 AT A USED DEALERSHIP WITH 30,000 MILES, EVER SINCE WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND COST US A LOT OF MONEY. ON ONE OCCASION WHERE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ITSELF AND LUCK…

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1999 300M CHRYSLER "STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS". WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2000 AT A USED DEALERSHIP WITH 30,000 MILES, EVER SINCE WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND COST US A LOT OF MONEY. ON ONE OCCASION WHERE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ITSELF AND LUCKILY IT WAS NOT BUSY ON THE ROAD AND SAFELY PULLED ON THE SIDE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND PAY $1400 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL. AS OF TODAY, AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSES ITS STEERING AND IT JUST KEEP ROLLING AND IT SO LOOSE. I CONTACTED AND DID NOT WANT TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY OR EVEN OFFER ME A DISCOUNT TO FIX IT. THEY SAID WARRANTY WAS UP. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE LACK OF ATTENTION FROM CHRYSLER TO MY PROBLEM AND I THINK ITS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156181

Official recalls

3

04V021000 · 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

2

EA03011 · 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.