← New search

1998 Plymouth Breeze

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 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

Other model years Selected 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

48 reports with mileage · 126 unknown

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 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports11 fire reports15 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

67 reports
Clear category filter
79,000 miles · Nov 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, B…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10436706

60,000 miles · May 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE WITH A 2.0 LITER MOTOR. I HAVE ONLY 6000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I DRIVE VERY LITTLE WITH IT. I AM 81 YEARS OLD AND DONT DO MUCH DRIVING ANY MORE. I RECENTLY FOUND MOTOR OIL IN MY WATER INSIDE MY RADIATOR. *TR I WAS TOLD BY A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THEY TOLD ME TH…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE WITH A 2.0 LITER MOTOR. I HAVE ONLY 6000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I DRIVE VERY LITTLE WITH IT. I AM 81 YEARS OLD AND DONT DO MUCH DRIVING ANY MORE. I RECENTLY FOUND MOTOR OIL IN MY WATER INSIDE MY RADIATOR. *TR I WAS TOLD BY A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THEY TOLD ME THAT ANY MOTOR BETWEEN 1995-2005 HAD DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AND THAT CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAD CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY INTRODUCING A NEW REVISED VERSION ON THE HEAD GASKET ...THICKER, MORE DURABLE! ANYWAY THE DEALERSHIP NEW ABOUT IT AS DID MANY PERSONS ON THE INTERNET THAT OWNED THESE VEHICLES FROM THE YEARS THAT I SPECIFIED. SO I CALLED CHRYSLER CORPORATION AND TYLER ASKED ME FOR THE VIN NUMBER TO MY VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT I HAD 2 RECALLS ON IT BUT THEY KNEW NOTHING OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THE YEARS I SPECIFIED AND WOULD NOT OPT TO FIX IT FOR ME OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT FACT. SO I AM REPORTING CHRYSLER CORPORATION FOR THEIR LACK OF HONESTY AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT SINCE WE BALED THEM OUT OF A BAD FINACIAL SITUATION AND NOW LOOK AT THEM. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THE BAIL OUT WAS NOT WORTH IT. WE SHOULD HAVE LET THEM GO UNDER!

NHTSA ODI #10399249

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE, WAS EXITING OHIO TURNPIKE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. BF (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0637-91)*JB UPDATED 12/10/10 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10370071

116,000 miles · Dec 17, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE EXTINGUISHED TH…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AFTERWARDS. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE SUSTAINED MINOR HAND INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

NHTSA ODI #10252081

63,000 miles · Dec 7, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET, IT SHOULD NOT BE LEAKING OIL, THERE MUST BE A DEFECT, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A LOT MORE PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS FAST, BECAUSE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY…

Read full complaint

ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET, IT SHOULD NOT BE LEAKING OIL, THERE MUST BE A DEFECT, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A LOT MORE PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM, I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS FAST, BECAUSE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY A $1000 TO GET IT FIXED WHEN IT IS DAIMLER CHRYSLER FAULT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175467

89,000 miles · Nov 29, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I RECENTLY TOOK MY BREEZE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD AN OIL LEAK AND THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. AT THE SAME TIME HE TOLD ME ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. I ASKED HIM TO WAIT ON THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR SO I COULD TALK TO THE DEALER WHILE I WAS HAVING THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER REPAIRED. W…

Read full complaint

I RECENTLY TOOK MY BREEZE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD AN OIL LEAK AND THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. AT THE SAME TIME HE TOLD ME ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. I ASKED HIM TO WAIT ON THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR SO I COULD TALK TO THE DEALER WHILE I WAS HAVING THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER REPAIRED. WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANIC GAVE A HEAVY SIGH AND SHOOK HIS HEAD. WHEN I ASKED WHAT THAT WAS FOR, HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO BECAUSE IT WASN'T A RECALL PROBLEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND THIS TO BE QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW / MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I FIND IT ASININE THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WILL NEITHER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOR ADMIT ANY PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174693

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOSS OF POWER AND CAR STALLED, UNABLE TO RUN AC OR CAR STALLS. HAD THE CAR TUNED UP, MECHANIC FOUND ENGINE OIL IN THE SPARK PLUG WELL. CAUSING MISFIRE AND LOSS OF POWER. REPLACED O-RING 6/2005. IN 6/2006 SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. LOSS OF POWER, UNABLE TO RUN AC. WAS GOING TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, MECHANIC FOUND THICK GUNKY OIL…

Read full complaint

LOSS OF POWER AND CAR STALLED, UNABLE TO RUN AC OR CAR STALLS. HAD THE CAR TUNED UP, MECHANIC FOUND ENGINE OIL IN THE SPARK PLUG WELL. CAUSING MISFIRE AND LOSS OF POWER. REPLACED O-RING 6/2005. IN 6/2006 SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. LOSS OF POWER, UNABLE TO RUN AC. WAS GOING TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, MECHANIC FOUND THICK GUNKY OIL RESEMBLING LARD. REMOVED THE GUNK AND WEEKS LATER THE SPARK PLUG WELL HAS OIL LEAKING INTO AGAIN WITH WEEKS. CAR RAN WELL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BACK TO THE LOSS OF POWER. CAR IS NOT ABLE TO RUN WITH AC ENGAGED OR IT WILL STALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164198

19,000 miles · Mar 24, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL WAS NOTICED ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE UPPER HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ALSO CONSULTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL CHRYSLER VEHICLES, WITH SAME PROBLEM, IN THE SH…

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL WAS NOTICED ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE UPPER HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ALSO CONSULTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL CHRYSLER VEHICLES, WITH SAME PROBLEM, IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10153611

55,000 miles · Dec 28, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

SEVERE OIL LEAK IN MY MOM'S 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT IS CAUSING ME CONCERN. THIS OIL LEAK IS CAUSED BY A BAD HEAD GASKET. THE OIL IS LEAKING ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE OIL WILL GET ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSE A FIRE. I UNDERSTAND FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVER…

Read full complaint

SEVERE OIL LEAK IN MY MOM'S 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT IS CAUSING ME CONCERN. THIS OIL LEAK IS CAUSED BY A BAD HEAD GASKET. THE OIL IS LEAKING ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE OIL WILL GET ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSE A FIRE. I UNDERSTAND FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND PEOPLE IN THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER ENGINES. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. OTHER REPUTABLE CAR MANUFACTURES FIX PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. WHY ISN'T CHRYSLER BEING REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT??? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146210

70,989 miles · Apr 29, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL CHANGE. BOLT AND OR OIL PAN STRIPED OUT. REPLACE OIL PAN. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. TWO DEFFERNT KINDS OF METAL. BOLT AND OIL PAN. ALIUMINIM AND STEEL. CAR DEALER STATES THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT AFTER SO MANY OIL CHANGES THAT IT WEARS OUT AND THE TWO METALS ARE NOT WRITE WITH EACH OTHER. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE ON ALL CA…

Read full complaint

OIL CHANGE. BOLT AND OR OIL PAN STRIPED OUT. REPLACE OIL PAN. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. TWO DEFFERNT KINDS OF METAL. BOLT AND OIL PAN. ALIUMINIM AND STEEL. CAR DEALER STATES THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT AFTER SO MANY OIL CHANGES THAT IT WEARS OUT AND THE TWO METALS ARE NOT WRITE WITH EACH OTHER. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE ON ALL CARS WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. I THINK THAT THESE TWO METAL DO NOT ACT WRITE TOGATHER AND THAT ALL CONSUMERS WILL TO REPLACE IT SOONER OR LATER. I THINK THESE PARTS SOULD BE ALL STEEL. IF YOU GOT ALL THESE OIL CHANGES TO DO YOU NEED PARTS THAT ARE SRONGE AND CAN HOLD UP TO THE TASK AT HAND.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118687

Official recalls

3

04V021000 · 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.

99V244000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 15, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP. IF THE TUBE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, IT WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CONTACT EXISTS, THE TUBE WILL BE FASTENED WITH A CLIP.

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.

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

2

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.

EA99028 · Steering Shaft Binding

Opened Sep 10, 1999 · Closed Jul 26, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available