NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
395 reports93,400 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Power Train
I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, GOT ON THE BRAKES, PUT THE CAR IN PARK HOWEVER THE CAR WAS REGISTERING IN REVERSE. BEFORE I KNEW IT, THE CAR WAS GOING BACKWARDS AND I WAS MOVING TOWARD PASSING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I CUT THE CAR OFF TO STOP IT FROM GOING INTO TRAFFIC. THE CARS GEARBOX WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I ATTEMPTED TO START …
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I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, GOT ON THE BRAKES, PUT THE CAR IN PARK HOWEVER THE CAR WAS REGISTERING IN REVERSE. BEFORE I KNEW IT, THE CAR WAS GOING BACKWARDS AND I WAS MOVING TOWARD PASSING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I CUT THE CAR OFF TO STOP IT FROM GOING INTO TRAFFIC. THE CARS GEARBOX WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND TRY AND MOVE THE GEARS BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS STRANDED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WAS ADVISED THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FIAT BUT THE DEALERSHIP ACTS AS IF THERE ISNT A RECALL AROUND THIS??? MY CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
NHTSA ODI #10907643
58,927 miles · Sep 15, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED OPERATING. THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL RELATED TO THE CLUTCH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,927. UPDATED 12/01/16*LJ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10906800
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10906292
46,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEARS, THE CLUTCH FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEARS, THE CLUTCH FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10905888
1,760,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
I CAN NOT GET MY HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OFF WHEN I CONTACT FIAT AT 888-242-6342 THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS SOME KIND OF UPDATING SOFTWARE CALLED FOLLOW ME 30. I KNOW FOR FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THIS SOFTWARE AVAILABLE FOR THE 2012 THAT SOFTWARE WAS ONLY USED ON VEHICLES IN 2010 AND FIAT DIDN'T HAVE 5 DEALERSHIPS IN THE EN…
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I CAN NOT GET MY HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OFF WHEN I CONTACT FIAT AT 888-242-6342 THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS SOME KIND OF UPDATING SOFTWARE CALLED FOLLOW ME 30. I KNOW FOR FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THIS SOFTWARE AVAILABLE FOR THE 2012 THAT SOFTWARE WAS ONLY USED ON VEHICLES IN 2010 AND FIAT DIDN'T HAVE 5 DEALERSHIPS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IF THEY HAD ONE IN 2010. THE SOFTWARE FOLLOW ME WAS ONLY ON FOREIGN FIAT CARS ALSO I KEEP GETTING A LIGHT SAYING TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING IS UNAVAILABLE! WHEN I CALL FIAT I GET POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE I EVEN HAD A LADY CALL ME A CRIMINAL FOR GIVING MY WHOLE VIN # SHE STATED SHE NEEDED TO "MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T JUST WALK BY THE VEHICLE AND GIVE A VIN # THAT YOU GOT FROM SOMETHING ELSE." I BELIEVE FIAT IS HACKING IN TO VEHICLES IN AN EFFORT TO GET CUSTOMERS TO BRING THE VEHICLES TO KEN GRAFF FIAT 198 E 500 SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY UTAH 84111. I REFUSE TO GO BACK TO THIS CAR DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO BE MORE CONCERNED WHITH WHEN AND WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND IF I HAD A CAR NOTE FIAT TRIED TO PRETEND THAT THEY DIDNT HAVE PARTS AVALIBLE AND TO GET ME TO DRIVE A LOANER CAR. I OWN MY CAR! I DONT HAVE A CAR NOTE AND IT SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF FUNNY BUSINESS GOING ON IN REGARDS KEN GRAFF AND CHYSLER FIAT AURBUN HILLS REFUSES TO HELP WITH THE MATTER ALSO THE MILEGAGE SEEMS TO HAVE SLOWED DOWN A WHOLE LOT FOR EXAMPLE IF I DRIVE 20 MILES IT WILL ONLY SHOW 15. I WANT MY CAR TO WORK NOT BE A DANGER TO MY CHILD AND MYSELF MY CAR NOW HAS 176,000 MILES ON IT!
NHTSA ODI #10905668
34,569 miles · Sep 10, 2016
Power Train
THE CAR EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE CAR NO LONGER HAD POWER, AND STOPPED ON A SECTION OF HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER SPACE. THE CLUTCH WAS REPAIRED AT MY COST IN MAY 2016 (PRIOR TO THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT, NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V-302), AND AN …
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THE CAR EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE CAR NO LONGER HAD POWER, AND STOPPED ON A SECTION OF HIGHWAY WITH NO SHOULDER SPACE. THE CLUTCH WAS REPAIRED AT MY COST IN MAY 2016 (PRIOR TO THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT, NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V-302), AND AN ONLINE REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST WAS MADE TO FIAT IN JULY 2016 (AFTER THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT). I CHECKED THE STATUS OF MY REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST IN SEPTEMBER, AND WAS TOLD "FROM WHAT I AM SHOWING ON THE FILE IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED AS THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. ONCE THE PARTS DO BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL THEN THE FILE WILL BE REVIEWED FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS." MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED THE AUTOMOBILE, SO AVAILABILITY OF PARTS IS IRRELEVANT, FIAT IS SIMPLY STALLING REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR COST.
NHTSA ODI #10905483
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10899748
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/13/16*LJ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10899596
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2016
Power Train
I WAS AT A TIRE PLACE IN MONTGOMERY,ALABAMA GETTING MY TIRE FIT AND ONCE THE GUY WAS FINISH . I PAID HIM FOR HIS SERVICE START MY CAR UP AND THE CAR ALLOW ME TO TAKE IT OUT OF DRIVE BUT ,IT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE , THE GEARS WAS NOT WORKING , I WAS ALWAY IN THE STREET WHEN ISSUE ACQUIRED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE IT…
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I WAS AT A TIRE PLACE IN MONTGOMERY,ALABAMA GETTING MY TIRE FIT AND ONCE THE GUY WAS FINISH . I PAID HIM FOR HIS SERVICE START MY CAR UP AND THE CAR ALLOW ME TO TAKE IT OUT OF DRIVE BUT ,IT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE , THE GEARS WAS NOT WORKING , I WAS ALWAY IN THE STREET WHEN ISSUE ACQUIRED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SHOW ON MY DASH THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY.
NHTSA ODI #10901979
21,000 miles · Aug 26, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STIFFENED AND SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE SHIFTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE CLUTCH PEDAL STIFFENED AND SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE SHIFTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10898990
Official recalls
3Nov 15, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Consequence: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Consequence: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
May 16, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S34.
Nov 10, 2011
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER 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
1EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
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