NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
122 reports84,400 miles · Nov 30, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
SEPT. 2004 BOUGHT 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB W/HEMI. HAD APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES ON IT. TRUCK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE,RAN GOOD,DROVE GOOD. THEN IN OCT,2005,HAD A VALVE SPRING BREAK ON LEFT SIDE OF MOTOR,CAUSING MOTOR TO LOCK-UP. AT THIS TIME THE TRUCK HAD 84,400 MILES ON IT. WE LIVE 30 MILES FROM OUR JOBS,SO WE PUT A LOT OF MILES ON…
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SEPT. 2004 BOUGHT 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB W/HEMI. HAD APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES ON IT. TRUCK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE,RAN GOOD,DROVE GOOD. THEN IN OCT,2005,HAD A VALVE SPRING BREAK ON LEFT SIDE OF MOTOR,CAUSING MOTOR TO LOCK-UP. AT THIS TIME THE TRUCK HAD 84,400 MILES ON IT. WE LIVE 30 MILES FROM OUR JOBS,SO WE PUT A LOT OF MILES ON OUR VEHICLES. I CALLED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD EITHER FIX THE TRUCK,OR AT LEAST HELP WITH THE REPAIRS(AFTER ALL,YOU WOULD THINK THAT A HEMI MOTOR SHOULD BE GOOD FOR A LOT LONGER THAN 80,000 MILES).DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SAID THAT THEY WOULD NEED "A CERTIFIED DODGE DEALERSHIP"TO CHECK OUT THE TRUCK TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP(SAVANNAH DODGE,SAVANNAH,GA).THEY CONFIRMED THE BROKEN VALVE SPRING AND BROKEN VALVE. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN A FEW OF THESE SAME PROBLEMS,AND THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE HEAD(IT WAS DAMAGED)USE NEW VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS(WITH NEW"HEAVY-DUTY" VALVE SPRINGS).HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE THE VALVE SPRINGS ON THE OTHER HEAD WITH THESE NEW"HEAVY-DUTY"VALVE SPRINGS. I CALLED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AGAIN AND TOLD THEM WHAT THEIR FIVE-STAR DEALERSHIP SAID. AFTER CALLING DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SEVERAL MORE TIMES,THEY SAID THAT THEY(DAIMLER-CHRYSLER)WOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN DECIDE IF THEY WOULD OR COULD HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. NEEDLESS TO SAY,I HAD TO CALL DAIMLER-CHRYSLER BACK(THEY DO NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS)THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE(1)I DID NOT BUY THIS TRUCK NEW(2)IT WAS OUT OF THE 70,000 MILE WARRANTY(3)BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE RECEIPTS OF MY OIL CHANGES(I AM A MECHANIC OF 25+ YEARS,I DO MY OWN OIL CHANGES,BUY MY OIL(CASTROL 5W30)BY THE CASE AT WAL-MART EVERY 3000 MILES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10144096
92,505 miles · Oct 4, 2005
Power Train
WE HAVE HAD THE REAR END OF OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 REPLACED IN OUR VEHICLE THREE TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS. THE RING AND PINION WAS SHATTERED THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT IN. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN MAY 05. WE HAD TO PAY 219.00 AND AGAIN THE REAR END WENT OUT IN AUG 05. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138503
2,038 miles · Sep 11, 2005
Power Train
I HAVE A TERRIBLE LAUNCH SHUDDER IN THE DRIVE LINE OF MY TRUCK, WHICH THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK SEPT 03 AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER MAY 04 WITH 2027 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A HARD ACCELERATION THE DEALER SAID HE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL MORE TIMES FO…
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I HAVE A TERRIBLE LAUNCH SHUDDER IN THE DRIVE LINE OF MY TRUCK, WHICH THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK SEPT 03 AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER MAY 04 WITH 2027 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A HARD ACCELERATION THE DEALER SAID HE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT BUT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NO FIX. FINALLY, ON JULY 25, 2005, AT 9028 MILES A SERVICE TECH WENT FOR A RIDE WITH ME AND FELT THE SHUDDER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. I DROVE OFF THE DEALER PARKING LOT AND THE SHUDDER STARTED AS SOON AS I HIT THE PUBLIC STREET. I DROVE RIGHT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN CORRECTED. THE DEALER HAS SINCE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, REMOVED AND REPLACED 2 BEARING IN THE REAR END, AN ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS. NONE OF THESE HAVE WORKED. JEFF KOSIBA, FROM CHRYSLER ENGINEERING, COMPANY PHN# 313-493-3359, CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE HANGING UP AT WILL AND THAT THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE REMOVED AND REPLACED: THE REAR BRAKE HUBS, BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THIS REPAIR HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED AS OF THIS DATE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP, THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10136152
5,000 miles · Aug 22, 2005
Electrical System
STALLING WHEN GOING FROM IDLE SUCH AS ACCELLERATING OUT OF A TURN, TURNING FROM A STOP SIGN, PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING STALL.
NHTSA ODI #10133841
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
TRUCK DEVELOPED WARPED ROTORS @ 13K MILES. ROTORS WERE TURNED AND FRON T CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO TSB. LATER SHUDDER REAPPEARD @ ABOUT 22K MILES. DEALER TURNED REAR ROTORS. SHUDDER REAPPEARED ~6K MILES LATER. REPLACED REAR DISCS SINCE OLDER ONES WERE BEYOND TURNING. SHUDDER REAPPEARED @ 34K. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH DEA…
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TRUCK DEVELOPED WARPED ROTORS @ 13K MILES. ROTORS WERE TURNED AND FRON T CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO TSB. LATER SHUDDER REAPPEARD @ ABOUT 22K MILES. DEALER TURNED REAR ROTORS. SHUDDER REAPPEARED ~6K MILES LATER. REPLACED REAR DISCS SINCE OLDER ONES WERE BEYOND TURNING. SHUDDER REAPPEARED @ 34K. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH DEALER AND DODGE CUST NO-SERVICE, FRONT HUBS WERE REPLACED AND FRONT ROTORS TURNED DUE TO TSB. NOW AT 38K MILES SHUDDER IS BACK.
NHTSA ODI #10133521
34,100 miles · Jul 21, 2005
Electrical System
THIS ISSUE OCCURS INTERMITTENLY, WHILE PULLING FORWARD INTO MY PARKING PLACE, I SHIFTED THE TRUCK INTO REVERSE AND IT STALLED. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHIFTED TO REVERSE THEN AGAIN AHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. EACH TIME WAS AFTER DRIVING AT LEAST 15 MILES…
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THIS ISSUE OCCURS INTERMITTENLY, WHILE PULLING FORWARD INTO MY PARKING PLACE, I SHIFTED THE TRUCK INTO REVERSE AND IT STALLED. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHIFTED TO REVERSE THEN AGAIN AHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. EACH TIME WAS AFTER DRIVING AT LEAST 15 MILES SO THE VEHICLE WAS HEATED UP. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHILE BACKING DOWN MY JET SKIS INTO THE WATER. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO DODGE FOR WARRANTY REPAIR AND AFTER 2 DAYS, THEY SAID THEY HAVE YET TO REPRODUCE OR DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10129631
13,000 miles · Jul 11, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT OEM ROTORS ARE TOO WEAK FOR THE FACTORY INSTALLED 20" WHEELS. I HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS TURNED AT 13K MILES BECAUSE OF UNEVEN WEAR.
NHTSA ODI #10128349
3,000 miles · Jul 1, 2005
Service Brakes, Air
AT 3,000 MILE THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE, THEN AT 9,000 MILE SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, NOW AT 22,000 I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT ONCE SERVICE BULLETIN IS DONE DODGE WILL NOT REPAIR AGAIN, AND NOW WARRANTY IS EXPIRED ON BRAKES
NHTSA ODI #10127228
30,000 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Power Train
I JUST HAD MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 SERIES TRUCK IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 30,000 MILES SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING CLIP HAD FALLEN OFF AND HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY REAR. THEY SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THEY FOUND IT NOW SINCE IT COULD HAVE CASED A SERIOUS AC…
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I JUST HAD MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 SERIES TRUCK IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 30,000 MILES SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING CLIP HAD FALLEN OFF AND HAD DONE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF MY REAR. THEY SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THEY FOUND IT NOW SINCE IT COULD HAVE CASED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT THE REAR HAD LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE DONE SOME HOMEWORK ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I DO A LOT OF TOWING WITH MY CAMPER AND FAMILY. I HAVE ALSO SEEN WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE ON THE REAR AXLES BREAKING. MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUT HAD REBUILT IT. I WANTED A NEW ONE BUT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND HAVEN'T HEARD OF MANY DIFFERENTIALS FAILING. WHAT CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO TO HELP ME?
NHTSA ODI #10124041
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2005
Power Train
REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE. PINION SEAL HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. THE NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER HAS BECOME UNBEARABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF UNPROFESSIONAL ASSESMENT OF AXLE. PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOP SAID I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT AS LONG AS I DID WI…
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REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE. PINION SEAL HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. THE NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER HAS BECOME UNBEARABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF UNPROFESSIONAL ASSESMENT OF AXLE. PROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOP SAID I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT AS LONG AS I DID WITHOUT IT LOCKING UP AND CAUSING ME TO CRASH.STILL HAS OVER 6000 MILES LEFT ON FACTORY WARRANTY. WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO WHEN I LIVE 50 MILES FROM DEALER AND HAVE TO DRIVE HOME BECAUSE OF AN UNCONCERNED, UNPROFFESSIONAL AND ABSOLUTELY WRONG ASSESSMENT OF MY AXLE ???? FAILURE WAS DUE TO PREMATURE AXLE BEARING WEAR. ASSESSED BY A REAL PROFESSIONAL.
NHTSA ODI #10122071
NHTSA investigations
1EA04025 · False Park
Opened Aug 26, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
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