WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 2ND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR LOWER GEAR. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1996 Plymouth Breeze
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Plymouth Breeze do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 117.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Breeze years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 182 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
25 reportsAFTER AN OIL LEAK WAS DETECTED, WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET/MOTOR MOUNT SUPPORT, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING A LOUD RATTLE WHEN CHECKED OUT CAR IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND WILL NEED TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT IN 59,000 MILES. I ALSO FEEL THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE 2 TIMES THAT I HAD THE VEHIC…
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TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING A LOUD RATTLE WHEN CHECKED OUT CAR IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND WILL NEED TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO OUT IN 59,000 MILES. I ALSO FEEL THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FOUND THAT THE CAR WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE 2 TIMES THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE IN, THIS WAS VERY OBVIOUS PROBLEM IF THEY HAD CHECKED IT OUT PROPERLY.
VEHICLE LUNGES/SURGES AT IDLE. ACTS LIKE IT DOESN;T GO OUT OF GEAR. MUST PRESS FIRMLY ON BRAKE TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM LUNGING AHEAD. VERY ROUGH IDLE. SHAKES STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY. MUST PLACE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AT STOP TO CONTROL VEHICLE. WHEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL ENGINE RACES MOMENTARILY AND THEN SLOWS DOWN. VEHICLE IS HARD …
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VEHICLE LUNGES/SURGES AT IDLE. ACTS LIKE IT DOESN;T GO OUT OF GEAR. MUST PRESS FIRMLY ON BRAKE TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM LUNGING AHEAD. VERY ROUGH IDLE. SHAKES STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY. MUST PLACE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AT STOP TO CONTROL VEHICLE. WHEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL ENGINE RACES MOMENTARILY AND THEN SLOWS DOWN. VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL WHEN STOPPED, PERFORMANCE UNPREDICTIBLE, UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS TO OTHER PERSONS AND VEHICLES.
I PURCHASED A USED CAR, AND SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO FIX MINOR THINGS IF THE CAR IS OLD, BUT THIS CAR IS A 1996. ALMOST STILL NEW AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE TRANSMISSION COULD BAD THIS SOON. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS LEAKING OIL SO I FIGURED IT WAS JUST SOMETHING SIMPLE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO JIM EARP CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH…
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I PURCHASED A USED CAR, AND SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO FIX MINOR THINGS IF THE CAR IS OLD, BUT THIS CAR IS A 1996. ALMOST STILL NEW AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE TRANSMISSION COULD BAD THIS SOON. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS LEAKING OIL SO I FIGURED IT WAS JUST SOMETHING SIMPLE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO JIM EARP CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH ON 55TH AND L STREET THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY HEADGASKETS, AND BRAKES.I DID. THEY CAR WAS STILL LEAKING SO I TOOK IT BACK IN ON 6/10/99 BUT THEY COULD'T LOOK AT IT. I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER THEY TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION IS PROBALY CRACKED. I DO HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND WHO BOUGHT HIS CAR BRAND NEW AND THE SAME PROBLEM, HEADGASKETS WENT BAD, HIS ENGINE CRACKED, AND NOW HIS CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR BAD TRANSMISSION. MY CAR MAKES MORE NOISE NOW AND IT DIDN'T BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT I KNOW 2 PEOPLE AND MYSELF ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE PLYMOUTH BREEZE. *AK
THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM (RECALL COMPONENT #98V183000) FAILED PRIOR TO NOTICE CAUSING VEHICLE COLLISION AND DAMAGE. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER AND DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.
VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REPAIR INSPECTION OF THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP BROKE PART INTENTIONALLY.
ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 1998, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR PLYMOUTH BREEZE ON HIS WAY TO WORK. WHILE DRIVING HE HEARD SEVERAL TERRIBLE, LOUD NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY LOSS POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AAMCO TRANSMITTIONS. AAMCO TRANSMITTIONS FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE, THE DIFFERENTAL PIN WORKED ITS WAY OUT OF PL…
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ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 1998, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR PLYMOUTH BREEZE ON HIS WAY TO WORK. WHILE DRIVING HE HEARD SEVERAL TERRIBLE, LOUD NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY LOSS POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AAMCO TRANSMITTIONS. AAMCO TRANSMITTIONS FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE, THE DIFFERENTAL PIN WORKED ITS WAY OUT OF PLACE, CATCHING ITSELF ON METAL. THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN SPLIT INTO THREE PIECES (AAMCO BELIEVES). THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN MADE SEVERAL 3 INCH HOLES IN THE CASING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONTAMINATED AND DESTROYED. THE SOLUTION, TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. THE PLYMOUTH BREEZE IN THIS REPORT HAS NOT EVER BEEN SERVICED FOR PROBLEMS OTHER THAN RECALLS. WE BELIEVE THE DAMAGE STARTED TO BEGIN WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN ITS WARRANTY LIFE. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO TWO CHRYSLER ENGINEERS, TWO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS, AND THREE CHRYLSER DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES. THEIR OPINION IS THE SAME. THEY ALL BELIEVE THAT IT TAKES TIME FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE TO OCCUR. AND NOT ONE OF THE SPECIALISTS HAVE EVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH A CAR LESS THAN 100,000 MILES DRIVEN! WE HAVE CONTACTED CHRYLSER FOR A REFUND OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR PLYMOUTH BREEZE'S NEW TRANSMITTION.
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 98V183000. *AK THE DEALER SAID THAT THE FAULTY COMPONENT FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. HOWEVER, THE RECALL NOTICE SAID THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY REMOVED, WHICH IT DOES, OR IF THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT BEIN…
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CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 98V183000. *AK THE DEALER SAID THAT THE FAULTY COMPONENT FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. HOWEVER, THE RECALL NOTICE SAID THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY REMOVED, WHICH IT DOES, OR IF THE KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT BEING TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION, WHICH IT DOES, THE IGNITION INTERLOCK CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *YD
Official recalls
604V021000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Jan 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.
98V183000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Aug 6, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
97V201000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Nov 13, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.
97V095000 · Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
Jun 6, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.
96V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
May 3, 1996
THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A DAMAGED DOUBLE LIP REAR PISTON SEAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT(S) WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT PRIOR TO PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDR PISTON ASSEMBLY.
96V074000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
May 2, 1996
CORROSION OF THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN CAUSE THE SOLENOID VALVES TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF EITHER FRONT WHEEL VALVE STICKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE FROM A STRAIGHT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLATE AND SILICONE GREASE INJECTED INTO THE SOLENOID CAVITY TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS CONDITION.
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
1EA03011 · 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.
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