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1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Chrysler Sebring Convertible do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 72.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

60 reports with mileage · 32 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

Power Train complaints

22 reports
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170,000 miles · Sep 13, 2017
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM 24, 1020 BELMONT ST, BROCKTON, MA, 0230…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM 24, 1020 BELMONT ST, BROCKTON, MA, 02301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE CAMSHAFT TIMING AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO ITS CONDITION. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #11023003

140,000 miles · Mar 27, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

CAR WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED. WILL RESTART AFTER ABOUT 15 TRIES. HAPPENS AFTER FILLING TANK. 1ST THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS. BUT TRIED DIFFERENT STATIONS. SAME PROBLEM. SPORADIC. OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN I SHUT OFF CAR AND THEN ATTEMPT TO START IT AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER. DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. VERY DA…

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CAR WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED. WILL RESTART AFTER ABOUT 15 TRIES. HAPPENS AFTER FILLING TANK. 1ST THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS. BUT TRIED DIFFERENT STATIONS. SAME PROBLEM. SPORADIC. OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN I SHUT OFF CAR AND THEN ATTEMPT TO START IT AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER. DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON HIGH SPEED ROADWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702127

68,000 miles · May 21, 2014
EnginePower TrainSteering

THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER, STEERING, AND BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS UP TO 55MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 MECHANICS AND THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CHRYSLER WON'T EVEN RETURN MY CALLS REGARDI…

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THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER, STEERING, AND BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS UP TO 55MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 MECHANICS AND THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CHRYSLER WON'T EVEN RETURN MY CALLS REGARDING THE ISSUE, WHICH I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. I'M WONDERING IF I CAN TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEM. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593187

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I BUY THIS CAR ON APRIL 2011, HE WAS WORKING GOOD BUT I TAKE THE CAR TO PROGRAM THE PAGER TO OPEN DOORS AND TRUNK TO BAKERSFIELD CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY DID NOT PROGRAM THE PAGER BUT THEY CHANGE THE SHIFT PART WHO WAS ON RECALL, FROM THAT MOMENT TO THIS DATE THE CAR WORKS FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS AND STOP, I CHANGE ALREADY THE SPARK …

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I BUY THIS CAR ON APRIL 2011, HE WAS WORKING GOOD BUT I TAKE THE CAR TO PROGRAM THE PAGER TO OPEN DOORS AND TRUNK TO BAKERSFIELD CHRYSLER DEALER, THEY DID NOT PROGRAM THE PAGER BUT THEY CHANGE THE SHIFT PART WHO WAS ON RECALL, FROM THAT MOMENT TO THIS DATE THE CAR WORKS FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS AND STOP, I CHANGE ALREADY THE SPARK PLUG ROTOR DISTRIBUTOR CAP, CAMSHAFT SENSOR, IGNITION RELAY, WIRES AND DISTRIBUTOR, AND THE CAR CONTINUE STOP. I USED ALL MY MONEY I'M DISABLE AND HAVE VEHICLE TO MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440063

73,000 miles · Jun 5, 2009
Power TrainCrash

WHILE SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE IN OUR 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, INSTEAD SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE UNTIL HITTING A GOLF CART AND THE END OF THE GARAGE, DESPITE STANDING O…

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WHILE SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE IN OUR 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, INSTEAD SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE UNTIL HITTING A GOLF CART AND THE END OF THE GARAGE, DESPITE STANDING ON THE BRAKE FULL FORCE. IT ONLY STOPPED AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10272982

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2008
Power Train

BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2005 MY SEBRING STRANDED ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A SUNDAY. I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR ALMOST SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT AND FROM SEPTEMBER OF 2005 TO DECEMBER 2005 I HAD ALREADY INVESTED OVER 3,000 DOLLARS INTO IT. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND…

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BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2005 MY SEBRING STRANDED ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A SUNDAY. I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR ALMOST SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT AND FROM SEPTEMBER OF 2005 TO DECEMBER 2005 I HAD ALREADY INVESTED OVER 3,000 DOLLARS INTO IT. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES ON IT WAS INFORMED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR MY CAR IS A 4000 DOLLAR JOB THAT THEY ONLY GUARANTEE FOR 3 YEARS OR 36 THOUSAND MILES. WELL HERE I AM AT 97 THOUSAND MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN SLIPPING POURING OUT FLUID EVERYWHERE. CHRYSLER TELLS ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK, BUT THE TRANS IS NO LONGER COVERED AND I AM STILL PAYING OFF THE FIRST BILL. THESE CARS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND NEEDING NEW TRANSMISSIONS IN THEM. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST YOU AT LEAST AT THE MINIMUM OF 60 THOUSAND MILES, MOST OTHER VEHICLES GUARANTEE THE TRANSMISSION FOR 75 THOUSAND MILES! DOES CHRYSLER NOT BECAUSE YOUR LUCKY IF IT LASTS THE 30 THEY GUARANTEE IT FOR AND THEY KNOW IT? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS? I DO KNOW ONE THING I WILL NOT BY A CHRYSLER AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10215794

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2006
Power TrainSeat BeltsStructure

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE ON OUR 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI. THE SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO LOCK OVER TIME. THE PLASTIC LOCKING CLIP INSIDE THE LOCKING CLIP WILL BREAK (DID BREAK) WITH CONTINUOUS USE. THE DEALER WANTS $100.00 + FOR THE PART. IF CHRYSLER USED A STAINLESS STEEL LOCKING WE WOULD HAVE THIS…

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DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE ON OUR 1999 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE JXI. THE SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO LOCK OVER TIME. THE PLASTIC LOCKING CLIP INSIDE THE LOCKING CLIP WILL BREAK (DID BREAK) WITH CONTINUOUS USE. THE DEALER WANTS $100.00 + FOR THE PART. IF CHRYSLER USED A STAINLESS STEEL LOCKING WE WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION SENSORS HAVE A LIMITED LIFE. AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE DURING LOW DECELERATION AND LOW ACCELERATION THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND OR SLIPS. RIGHT NOW I HAVE SWAP THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISM TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND WE SIT IN THE BACK IF WE'RE A PASSENGER BECAUSE $100.00 RIGHT NOW IS NOT AFFORDABLE. ALSO WHEN IT RAINS WATER FILLS IN THE REAR QUARTERS, RIGHT UP TO THE SPEAKERS, I HAVE TO PARK ON A HILL TO DRAIN IT! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172411

56,000 miles · Jun 24, 2005
Electrical SystemPower Train

VEHICLE FAILED ( COMPLETE MECHANICAL STOP) ON HIGHSPEED HIGHWAY INTERSTATE: TWICE FROM ELECTRONIC FAILURES IN TRANSMISSION SOLINIODS, LEADING TO A THIRD FAILURE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, THE 4TH WAS A COMPLETE ELECTRONIC FAILURE, FOLLOWED BY THE 5TH FAILURE-SAME AS THE 4TH THE NEXT DAY AFTER CHRYSLER SERVICED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10126523

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 04V021000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFTER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FREEZE PLUGS ROTTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10115808

49,286 miles · Mar 7, 2005
Power Train

RECALL CAMPAIGN: NOTICE FOR CHRYSLER SEBRING 1999 TRANSAXLE. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DISTANCE HE HAD TO TRAVEL TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10114877

Official recalls

1

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.

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.

RQ03005 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock

Opened Apr 8, 2003 · Closed Jul 16, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

THREE OF THE MANFACTURER COMPLAINTS AND TWO OF THE MANUFACTURER CRASHES REPORTED ABOVE WERE DUPLICATES OF ODI REPORTS.THE MAJORITY OF CRASHES OCCURRED AFTER OPERATORS PARKED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ENGAGING PARK GEAR POSITION; A NON-FUNCTIONAL IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO PREVENT KEY REMOVAL BEFORE THE OPERATORS EXITED THE VEHICLE.MOST OF THE CRASHES WERE MINOR AND INVOLVED MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE.FOUR OF THE INJURY INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN UNATTENDED CHILDREN MOVED THE GEARSHIFT FROM THE PARK POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, ONE INJURY OCCURRED WHEN THE OPERATOR WAS STRUCK BY A ROLL-AWAY VEHICLE AFTER PARKING AND EXITING.ALL INJURIES WERE RELATIVELY MINOR.A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURES APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO DISENGAGEMENT OF THE INTERLOCK PIN THAT RIDES IN THE INTERLOCK LEVER SLOT WITHIN THE SHIFT MECHANISM.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WILL BE OPENED TO FURTHER STUDY INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURES.