I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE IN THE ST.PAUL PIONEER PRESS PAGE 9A DATED 4/20/99. IT IS ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF DAIMLERCHYSLER GM AND GAS TANKS LEAKING. IN DECEMBER OF 1998 I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SITUATION. AS I WAS DRIVING THE GAS LINE APPARENTLY BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TANK AND ALL THE GAS DRAINED O…
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I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE IN THE ST.PAUL PIONEER PRESS PAGE 9A DATED 4/20/99. IT IS ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF DAIMLERCHYSLER GM AND GAS TANKS LEAKING. IN DECEMBER OF 1998 I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SITUATION. AS I WAS DRIVING THE GAS LINE APPARENTLY BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TANK AND ALL THE GAS DRAINED OUT OF MY VAN. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY. BY THE TIME I GOT TO MY DESTINATION A FULL TANK OF GAS HAD DRAINED OUT OF MY CAR. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME WE REPORTED FUEL LEAKAGE TO THE DEALER. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE MINIVANS.
NHTSA ODI #704674
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline
MY WIFE AND SON HAD JUST LEFT CHURCH AND WAS SETTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE QUICK CONNECT ON THE FUEL LINE POPPED OFF AND THE VAN QUIT. WHEN I ARRIVED THE ENGINE (FAN BELT SIDE) HAD BEEN SPRAYED WITH GAS AND GAS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH AND PUDDLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I TRIED TO SEE IF IT WOULD START AND PROBA…
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MY WIFE AND SON HAD JUST LEFT CHURCH AND WAS SETTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE QUICK CONNECT ON THE FUEL LINE POPPED OFF AND THE VAN QUIT. WHEN I ARRIVED THE ENGINE (FAN BELT SIDE) HAD BEEN SPRAYED WITH GAS AND GAS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH AND PUDDLED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I TRIED TO SEE IF IT WOULD START AND PROBABLY ANOTHER QUART OF GAS OR SO PUMP OUT BEFORE MY WIFE NOTICED THERE WAS GAS RUNNING OUT THE BOTTOM OF VAN. A MAN WHO HAD STOPPED TO HELP, ACTUALLY FOUND THE GAS LINE PROBLEM AND SNAPPED IT BACK ON, AFTER TUGGING ON THE LINE SOME TO SEE IF IT WOULD COME OFF I AGREED TO TRY STARTING IT AGAIN.(I HAD ALREADY CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WASN'T CRAZY ABOUT STARTING IT WITH ALL THE GAS AROUND) IT STARTED UP AND RAN ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND IT POPPED OFF AGAIN. WHEN IT POPPED OFF THE SECOND TIME WE WERE WATCHING, THE DANGEROUS THING ABOUT IT WAS THAT BEFORE IT COMPLETLY POPPED OFF AND KILLED THE ENGINE IT SPRAYED GAS OVER THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE FOR APPROX 5 - 10 SECONDS. WE POPPED IT BACK ON AGAIN AND STARTED IT, BUT THE TOW TRUCK WAS THERE BY THEN AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THE DEALER KEPT THE VAN 4 DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I PICKED IT UP AFTER TRYING TO GET THEM TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLACE IT UNTILL THEY COULD DUPLICATE IT POPPING OFF, I GUESS SEE IT COME OFF THEMSELVES. I'M DRIVING IT NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO LET THEM KEEP IT ANOTHER 20,000 MILES SO THEY CAN SEE IT POP APART. I HAVE CHECKED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND NONE. I DON'T KNOW IF OUR VAN IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE FAULTY FITTING OR MAY BE OTHERS, THAT'S WHY I AM WRITING YOU AND AFTER SEEING HOW THE FITTING COMES APART IS REALLY SCARY WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT POPPING APART ON HOT ENGING INSTEAD OF A COLD ENGINE. WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT IT CAME LOSE THE FIRST TIME AND THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTH LOOKING INTO BECAUSE THEIR IS POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE, EVEN WITHOUT THE FIRE IT SCARED MY WIFE A
NHTSA ODI #700367
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE FUEL TANK CRACKED, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK, WHICH IF IGNITED MAY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK 2 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #827116
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL LEAKS FROM UPPER RIGHT SIDE OF TANK WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL.
NHTSA ODI #530812
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1997
Exterior LightingFuel System, GasolineSteering
HEAD LAMP SWITCH FAILED. (MJS)
NHTSA ODI #523176
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL SENDING UNIT GASKET OF FUEL TANK LEAKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #518649
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic
FUEL LINE DISCONNECTED, CAUSING FUEL LEAK AND STRONG ODOR.
NHTSA ODI #520350
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other
FUEL TANK: FUEL TANK LEAKS WHEN IT IS FULL, IT DOES NOT LEAK WHEN IT IS NOT COMPLETELY FULL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP ON GAS TANK, AND THE THEY ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP ON THE ENGINE . THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.THE ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TANK ASSEMBLY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #814421
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineFire
FLAMES COMING OUT OF GAS TANK.
NHTSA ODI #518395
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHEN ACCELERATING FUEL TANK SHIFTS AGAINST VEHICLE FRAME, CAUSING LOAD THUMPING NOISES WHEN SLIGHTLY LESS THAN A FULL TANK OF FUEL. DEALER APPLIED PADDING KIT, PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING A CHILD FROM THE RESTRAINT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. IN ADDITION, AN INSTRUCTIONAL OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT CARD WILL BE PROVIDED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH P215/65R15 GOODYEAR CONQUEST TIRES MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEEL. THE TIRES CAN EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN AIR PRESSURE LOSS WITHOUT WARNING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIRES THAT WERE MOUNTED ON STEEL WHEELS.
THE MASTER CYLINDER REAR SEAL, BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC FLUID AND THE VACUUM RESERVOIR, MAY NOT SEAL ADEQUATELY ALLOWING HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM RESERVOIR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES, THE LEVEL SENSOR WILL DETECT THE LOSS OF FLUID AND ILLUMINATE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE WARNING LAMP. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED CAN RESULT IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDENDUM (4-14-97): VEHICLES INSPECTED PER CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 707 AND FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE THE LISTED SUSPECT MASTER CYLINDER DATE CODE RANGE, MUST NOW HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER PRIMARY PISTON REPLACED (CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 714).
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
6
EA01007 · Air Bag Clockspring
Opened Feb 21, 2001 · Closed Nov 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
RQ00008 · Dc Minivan Fuel Injector Rail Leak
Opened Mar 9, 2000 · Closed Mar 18, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA99013 · Post Collision Fuel System
Opened Jun 11, 1999 · Closed Aug 10, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
No summary supplied.
PE99010 · POST-COLLISION Fuel System Integrity
Opened Feb 3, 1999 · Closed Jun 11, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
There is no summary currently available
EA97003 · Integrated Child Seat Belt Lockup
Opened Jan 31, 1997 · Closed Aug 19, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
ODI CONTINUES TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING LATCHING/RETRACTOR MECHANISM PROBLEMS.CHRYSLER'S ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM INDICATES THAT OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE CLEANING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SEAT.THE SEAT APPEARS TO MALFUNCTION IF CRUMBS OF FOOD OR BEVERAGE RESIDUE ACCUMULATES ON THE LATCHING TONGUE IN THEWELL LOCATED BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS.ODI HAS 19 COMPLAINTS OF RETRACT LOCKUP.SEVEN OF THESE COMPLAINTS REPORT CUTTING THE STRAPS TO REMOVE THE CHILD.TWO OF THE SEVEN CONSUMERS ALLEGE THE CHILD WAS CHOKING.CHRYSLER REPORTS 60 OWNER/FIELD REPORTS WHICH INDICATED 19 HARNESSES WERE CUT TO REMOVE THE CHILDREN.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND TO EVALUATE THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION'S RATIONAL FOR NOT CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.
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