NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
698 reportsClear category filter64,363 miles · Sep 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. I HAD MY ENGINE OIL AND FILTER CHANGED EVERY 5,000-7,000 MILES. I HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. WHILE GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE I NOTICED MY ENGINE STUTTERED AND ALMOST DIED, I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD THAT THE ENGINE WAS KNOCK…
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COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. I HAD MY ENGINE OIL AND FILTER CHANGED EVERY 5,000-7,000 MILES. I HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. WHILE GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE I NOTICED MY ENGINE STUTTERED AND ALMOST DIED, I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD THAT THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING EXCESSIVELY. AT THE TIME I HAD 4 KIDS FROM MY SON'S BASEBALL TEAM IN THE CAR AND I HAD TO GET THEM HOME. SO I DROVE HOME SLOWLY WITH THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE 2.7L ENGINE IS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS FAILURE. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,784.72. I'M STILL PAYING ON THE CREDIT CARD BILL AND MAKING CAR PAYMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN NEVER RECOUP MY LOSSES ON THIS CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090835
92,000 miles · Sep 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, SO I PULLED OVER. HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, FALLS DODGE. DEALER STATED ENGINE HAD DEEP ENGINE PROBLEM DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. ONLY RESOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE ENGINE. COST OF NEW ENGINE $7800. PLUS LABOR. HAD CAR TOWED BACK HOME AS REPAIR BILL WAS NOT FEAX…
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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, SO I PULLED OVER. HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, FALLS DODGE. DEALER STATED ENGINE HAD DEEP ENGINE PROBLEM DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. ONLY RESOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE ENGINE. COST OF NEW ENGINE $7800. PLUS LABOR. HAD CAR TOWED BACK HOME AS REPAIR BILL WAS NOT FEAXIBLE, DUE TO DOWNSIZING, LOSS OF JOB. NEEDED CAR FOR INTERVIEWS AND JOB IF FOUND. SEARCHED FOR USED ENGINE. NONE FOUND. CONTACTED MECHANIC IN TALLMADGE WHO SAID HE COULD HELP. FOUND ENGINE, USED, AT COST OF $3800 PLUS REPAIRS. TOOK 4 MONTHS. NEED CAR FOR EMPLOYMENT. HAVING ENGINE REPLACED WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL LAST AS THESE 2.7 L ENGINES ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. FOUND MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS AND FRUSTRATIONS OVER THESE ENGINES ON THE NET. NEED HELP AS CHRYSLER IS STATING ENGINE SLUDGE MY FAULT EVEN THOUGH I FOLLOWED THEIR MANUAL. NO ONE FROM DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WILL ADMIT ANY PROBLEM EXITS NOR OFFER ANY RESOLUTION. THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS FINANCIAL, MENTAL, AND PHYSICAL STRESS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090819
60 miles · Sep 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
OUR 1999 DODGE INTREPID SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN JULY 2004 AT 60MPH. OUR CAR HAS JUST OVER 65.000 MILES. OUR CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP IN THE ENGINE. OUR CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR AND THE OIL AND FILTERS CHAGNED EVER…
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OUR 1999 DODGE INTREPID SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN JULY 2004 AT 60MPH. OUR CAR HAS JUST OVER 65.000 MILES. OUR CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP IN THE ENGINE. OUR CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR AND THE OIL AND FILTERS CHAGNED EVERY 3000 MILES (OR LESS). THE ESTIMATED REPAIR WAS +$7500.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AS THE ORIGINAL WAS NOT SALVAGABLE. WE RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM DODGE REGARDING A TRANSMISSION RECALL, BUT CAN'T HAVE THE REPAIR PERFORMED BECAUSE THE CAR ISN'T DRIVEABLE. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INJURY OR DAMAGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090617
55,000 miles · Sep 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE ENGINE AT 55310 MILES FOR A COST OF $2,372.28. NOW THE OIL LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE DO TO OIL SLUDGE . I HAVE HAD TWO MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE EITHER REPLACED WITH A USED ENGINE(WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEM AT A COST OF $3,000) R…
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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE ENGINE AT 55310 MILES FOR A COST OF $2,372.28. NOW THE OIL LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE DO TO OIL SLUDGE . I HAVE HAD TWO MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE EITHER REPLACED WITH A USED ENGINE(WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEM AT A COST OF $3,000) REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A JASPER ENGINE (SUPPOSEDLY HAS ENGINE ENGINEERING PROBLEM RESOLVED AT A COST OF $6,000) OR A CRANK SHAFT AND BEARING JOB AT A COST OF $3,000 WHICH WILL STILL RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEM DOWN THE LINE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10090466
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE LIGHT REGISTERED HOT ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PART. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND H…
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WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE LIGHT REGISTERED HOT ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PART. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090340
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER NAVIGATED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON SAME SUBJECT. WHEN WILL NHTSA RECALL THIS VEHICLES WITH 2.5 ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090318
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE. ALSO, RADIATOR MOTOR AND FAN DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING THE INDICATOR TO GET TO THE RED ZONE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090231
61,000 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MOTOR SLUDGE FOUND AT THE BASE OF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AND ALREADY THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090135
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AN DIT WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090131
59,502 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER A BRIEF DRIVE WITH NO PREVIOS INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEM. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR $8100.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.TECH SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE INTREPIDS WITH 2.7L ENGINES, BUT IT IS USUALLY DUE TO POOR MAINTAINANCE WHICH LEADS TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP, BUT THAT …
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THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER A BRIEF DRIVE WITH NO PREVIOS INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEM. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR $8100.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.TECH SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE INTREPIDS WITH 2.7L ENGINES, BUT IT IS USUALLY DUE TO POOR MAINTAINANCE WHICH LEADS TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP, BUT THAT HE COULD TELL MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND CLEAN. HE SIAD IT WAS CAUSED BY A WATER-PUMP FAILURE, WHICH THREW OFF THE TIMING AND TOTALLED THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD 59,000 MILES AND 2 PAYMENTS LEFT AND WAS NOW BASICALLY WORTHLESS. THE DEALERSHIP GOT CHRYSLER TO REDUCE THE BILL BY ABOUT 50% AND I HAD TO PAY $4000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. AFTER PICKING IT UP, THE A/C DOES NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS 'UNRELATED" AND WILL COST $1100. TO REPAIR. SOMEONE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS CAR AS WE ARE PAYING $20,000+ IN GOOD FAITH FOR CARS THAT SEEM TO SELF DESTRUCT BEFORE THEY ARE EVEN PAID FOR AND WE ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR 5 YEARS OF PAYMENTS!!! THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088829
Official recalls
4Jan 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.
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.
Apr 11, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. 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.
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.
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