NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
251 reports40,000 miles · Jan 20, 2003
Power Train
ON JUNE 22, 2002 I WAS DIRVING MY CAR TO WV. HALF WAY THERE THE TRANSMISSION 'POPPED' OUT OF 5TH GEAR. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT IN SEARCH OF ASSISTANCE WHERE I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT REMAIN IN 3RD GEAR EITHER. IN THIS SMALL TOWN I WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYONE WHO COULD/WOULD LOOK AT MY CAR SO I PROCEEDED TO CHARL…
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ON JUNE 22, 2002 I WAS DIRVING MY CAR TO WV. HALF WAY THERE THE TRANSMISSION 'POPPED' OUT OF 5TH GEAR. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT IN SEARCH OF ASSISTANCE WHERE I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT REMAIN IN 3RD GEAR EITHER. IN THIS SMALL TOWN I WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYONE WHO COULD/WOULD LOOK AT MY CAR SO I PROCEEDED TO CHARLESTON WHERE MY DAD AND A COUSIN WHO COULD LOOK AT MY CAR WERE. IT WAS FOUND THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD NO FLUID IN IT - SO THIS WAS REPLACED WITH FLUID AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE SO WE COULD GET BACK TO RICHMOND. ALL 360 MILES I HAD TO DRIVE HOLDING MY GEAR SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR OR 3RD GEAR WHEN NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HOME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS WONDERFUL! THEY SAID MY CLUTCH CABLE WAS BROKEN AND I HAD SEVERAL OIL LEAKS! THEY REPAIRED EVERYTHING AND IT WAS ALL COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRENTY. THANK YOU FOR THAT WARRENTY! MY CAR ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES AT THE TIME.
NHTSA ODI #10003001
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
NAR 1/29/2003. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHICH CAUSED $6000.00 IN DAMAGES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10006052
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDED REAR SEAT BELT PROBLEMS, NO POWER ON THE BACK WINDOWS, EGR VALVE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS AND SPEED SENSOR FAILURE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #568461
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA ODI #770053
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
SHOULD BE NATIONAL RECALL. DT
NHTSA ODI #770028
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
IF I REPORTED THIS BEFORE I APOLOGIZE. CAR OVERHEATED ON 10-14-02. PULLED ASIDE LET COOL DOWN. DROVE HOME CHECKED UNDER HOOD. COOLANT IN RESERVOIR, OIL IN ENGINE. STARTED CAR THE NEXT DAY, NO HEAT FROM HEATER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT MOVE OFF OF COLD. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CAR DECELERATED AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WENT ON. PULL…
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IF I REPORTED THIS BEFORE I APOLOGIZE. CAR OVERHEATED ON 10-14-02. PULLED ASIDE LET COOL DOWN. DROVE HOME CHECKED UNDER HOOD. COOLANT IN RESERVOIR, OIL IN ENGINE. STARTED CAR THE NEXT DAY, NO HEAT FROM HEATER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT MOVE OFF OF COLD. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CAR DECELERATED AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WENT ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CALLED FOR TOW. CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. COMPRESSION TEST DONE, THEY SAID BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO DAYS LATER, CAR TOWED TO SELLING DEALERSHIP, AUTHORIZED TEAR DOWN OF ENGINE. THEY STATE CAR OVERHEATED, SEVERELY DAMAGED ENGINE TO POINT WHERE SOME COMPONENT WAS CRYSTALIZING. THEY SAID NOTHING ABOUT A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER REFUSES TO HELP. DAIMLER CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ASSIST AND WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. HAVE MADE CALLS TO CHRSYLER CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED COMPLAINT, WROTE A LETTER TO CHRYSLER. THEN SENT A FAX TO CHRYSLER ONLY RESPONSE WAS THROUGH DEALERSHIP AND MESSAGE LEFT ON ANSWERING MACHINE. "WON'T ASSIST YOU WON'T LOOK AT CAR. DT
NHTSA ODI #769785
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
CONSUMER STATE. THE FUEL PUMP WIRE WAS BURNED INSIDE THE GASOLINE TANK, DUE TO THAT DEFECT CAR WAS STALL ON THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA ODI #8022705
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR WAS SERVICED ON 09/07/02. ON 10/14/02, LOOKED UP TO SEE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE "H" RUNNING HOT. NO WARNING, NO DASHBOARD LIGHT WARNING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CAR COOLED OFF DROVE HOME. POPPED HOOD, COOLANT IN RESERVOIR AND CHECKED OIL, OIL IN ENGINE. NEXT DAY, 10/15/02, STARTED CAR, STARTED FINE. NOTICED THE TEMP G…
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CAR WAS SERVICED ON 09/07/02. ON 10/14/02, LOOKED UP TO SEE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE "H" RUNNING HOT. NO WARNING, NO DASHBOARD LIGHT WARNING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CAR COOLED OFF DROVE HOME. POPPED HOOD, COOLANT IN RESERVOIR AND CHECKED OIL, OIL IN ENGINE. NEXT DAY, 10/15/02, STARTED CAR, STARTED FINE. NOTICED THE TEMP GAUGE WAS NOT MOVING OFF THE "C" FOR COLD, NO HEAT COMING FROM THE HEATER STARTED OFF TO WORK. WAS DOING ABOUT 68, WHEN CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DECELERATE AND IMMEDIATELY THE LITTLE "RED GENIE LOOKING OIL LAMP LIGHT" WENT ON. IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AS CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY LOOSING POWER. CALLED FOR TOW TRUCK. CAR WAS TOWED NOT TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF ON-GOING SERVICE PROBLEMS, BUT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I AUTHORIZED THEM TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND TOLD ME "BLOWN HEAD GASKET." BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL IF ANY MORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE WITHOUT TEARING DOWN THE ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TWO DAYS LATER TO SELLING DEALERSHIP. ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN. THEIR RESPONSE, "ENGINE OVERHEATED" DOING SEVERE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. NO MENTION OF A HEAD GASKET BEING THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. DEALER OFFERS TO DO NOTHING. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 3, 2002 AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY OPINIONS OR PRICES TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER WAS NOTIFIED. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT MANAGER WHO SAY "THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO ASSIST; WON'T EVEN COME LOOK AT THE CAR. I NOW HAVE A 3-1/2 YEAR OLD CAR THAT IS UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS A CAR THAT HAS HAD ITS SHARE OF ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THE NHTSA, THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY AND JUST UNDER DODGE DEFECTS, I NOTE THAT THE STRATUS, CIRRUS AND NEONS HAVE A LONG, LONG HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. DT
NHTSA ODI #769227
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
CONSUMER STATES THAT BECAUSE OF A SEVERE GASOLINE LEAK, IT WAS NECESSARY TO REMOVE TEH GASOLINE TANK AND REPLACE THE LOCK RING AND SEAL LOCATED BETWEEN THE TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP. *JG *TS
NHTSA ODI #568044
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STOP OIL LEAKING FROM MY CAR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR NEEDED THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE STATES THIS PART IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE OF COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM AND I AM WONDERING WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE TO GET MY MONEY REFUNDED. I HAVE SPENT $700…
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AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STOP OIL LEAKING FROM MY CAR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR NEEDED THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE STATES THIS PART IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE OF COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM AND I AM WONDERING WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE TO GET MY MONEY REFUNDED. I HAVE SPENT $700.00 IN REPAIRS. DT
NHTSA ODI #768555
NHTSA investigations
5EA05019 · Power Steering Fluid Fires
Opened Nov 7, 2005 · Closed Jan 12, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
ODI HAS RECEIVED 29 REPORTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKAGE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER CIRRUS, DODGE STRATUS AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES (JA-CARS) EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES.THESE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FIRE RESULTED FROM A POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK OR THAT IT OCCURRED AFTER AN EXTENDED DRIVE AND SHORTLY AFTER BEING PARKED - CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH IGNITION OF POWER STEERING FLUID ON A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SURFACE DURING THE VEHICLE HOT SOAK PERIOD. ON JANUARY 6, 2006, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON MY 1999 AND 2000 JA-CARS BUILT FROM JULY 1, 1998 TO JULY 31, 2000 AND EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES (RECALL 06V-001).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT ?THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY PREMATURELY HEAT, AGE AND DEVELOP A LEAK. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.DCC INDICATED THAT IT WAS AWARE OF 94 COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THIS CONDITION WHEN IT MADE THE DEFECT DETERMINATION.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT CONDITION, DCC WILL REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH A NEW PART MADE FROM A HOSE MATERIAL WITH INCREASED HEAT RESISTANCE CAPABILITY. CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling
ODI HAS RECEIVED 29 REPORTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKAGE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER CIRRUS, DODGE STRATUS AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES (JA-CARS) EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES.THESE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FIRE RESULTED FROM A POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK OR THAT IT OCCURRED AFTER AN EXTENDED DRIVE AND SHORTLY AFTER BEING PARKED - CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH IGNITION OF POWER STEERING FLUID ON A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SURFACE DURING THE VEHICLE HOT SOAK PERIOD. ON JANUARY 6, 2006, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON MY 1999 AND 2000 JA-CARS BUILT FROM JULY 1, 1998 TO JULY 31, 2000 AND EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES (RECALL 06V-001).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT ?THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY PREMATURELY HEAT, AGE AND DEVELOP A LEAK. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.DCC INDICATED THAT IT WAS AWARE OF 94 COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THIS CONDITION WHEN IT MADE THE DEFECT DETERMINATION.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT CONDITION, DCC WILL REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH A NEW PART MADE FROM A HOSE MATERIAL WITH INCREASED HEAT RESISTANCE CAPABILITY. CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
ODI HAS RECEIVED 29 REPORTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKAGE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER CIRRUS, DODGE STRATUS AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES (JA-CARS) EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES.THESE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FIRE RESULTED FROM A POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK OR THAT IT OCCURRED AFTER AN EXTENDED DRIVE AND SHORTLY AFTER BEING PARKED - CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH IGNITION OF POWER STEERING FLUID ON A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SURFACE DURING THE VEHICLE HOT SOAK PERIOD. ON JANUARY 6, 2006, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON MY 1999 AND 2000 JA-CARS BUILT FROM JULY 1, 1998 TO JULY 31, 2000 AND EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES (RECALL 06V-001).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT ?THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY PREMATURELY HEAT, AGE AND DEVELOP A LEAK. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.DCC INDICATED THAT IT WAS AWARE OF 94 COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THIS CONDITION WHEN IT MADE THE DEFECT DETERMINATION.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT CONDITION, DCC WILL REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH A NEW PART MADE FROM A HOSE MATERIAL WITH INCREASED HEAT RESISTANCE CAPABILITY. CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
PE05036 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jun 29, 2005 · Closed Nov 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON JUNE 29, 2005, ODI OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE05-036 TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2000 CHRYSLER CIRRUS, DODGE STRATUS AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE PASSENGER CARS (JA CARS). THE JA CARS WERE INTRODUCED IN MY 1995 AND ENDED WITH MY 2000.THEY WERE PRODUCED WITH 2.0L, 2.4L AND 2.5L ENGINES.THE INCIDENT DATA IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY OF THIS RESUME ARE FOR SUBJECT VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES FOR ALL CAUSES. ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER, EVIDENCE COLLECTED FROM FIELD INSPECTIONS OF FIRE INCIDENT VEHICLES INDICATE THAT FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE IS THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE IS USED IN JA CARS WITH BOTH THE 2.4L AND 2.0L ENGINES IN MY 1995 THROUGH 2000.THE FIRE INCIDENT RATE IN THE MY 1999 THROUGH 2000 JA VEHICLES WITH 2.4L ENGINES IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN IN THE PRIOR MODEL YEAR VEHICLES USING THAT ENGINE AND IN ANY OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE 2.0L OR 2.5L ENGINES.DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS CONTINUING ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE ISSUE AND HAS PROVIDED PERIODIC UPDATES TO ODI. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-019) HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE AND FREQUENCY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
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.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
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