NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
20 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Oct 4, 2006
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THE NUMBERS OF RECALLS THAT ARE STILL PENDING ON MY CAR. THE THREE PENDING RECALLS ARE 843, C45, AND E23. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND I WAS SERVED AND TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ORDER THE PARTS. THE DEALER NEVER CALL TO TELL ME ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE PARTS. I CALLED TO CHECK AND THE PARTS NEVER ARRIV…
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I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THE NUMBERS OF RECALLS THAT ARE STILL PENDING ON MY CAR. THE THREE PENDING RECALLS ARE 843, C45, AND E23. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND I WAS SERVED AND TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ORDER THE PARTS. THE DEALER NEVER CALL TO TELL ME ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE PARTS. I CALLED TO CHECK AND THE PARTS NEVER ARRIVED. THE DEALER HAVE NOT TAKE ANY ACTION TO REPAIR MY CAR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10169914
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2006
Power TrainSteeringCrashFire
1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE HIGH PRESSURE STEERING HOSE DEFECT. *TS THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE AND THE ACCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED, WERE DUE TO A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TWO RECALLS THAT WERE ISSUED. AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT A RESULT OF THE RECALLS. *JB UPDATED 01/7/14 UPDATED 0…
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1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE HIGH PRESSURE STEERING HOSE DEFECT. *TS THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE AND THE ACCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED, WERE DUE TO A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TWO RECALLS THAT WERE ISSUED. AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT A RESULT OF THE RECALLS. *JB UPDATED 01/7/14 UPDATED 02/26/14
NHTSA ODI #10159463
90,000 miles · Aug 8, 2005
Electrical SystemPower TrainFire
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT 1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. CONSUMERS PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND 5 MINUTES LATER CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BATTERY WAS SEVERELY BURNED AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE FIR…
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DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT 1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. CONSUMERS PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND 5 MINUTES LATER CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BATTERY WAS SEVERELY BURNED AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED THERE. A WEEK EARLIER NHTSA RECALL 04V021000 REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. FIRE AND POLICE REPORTS WERE ISSUED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10131892
100,000 miles · Apr 22, 2005
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PUT INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A DECK. THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. THE FLOOR SHIFT I…
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WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PUT INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A DECK. THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. THE FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK 04V021000 RECALL WAS PERFORMED A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A COLLISION SHOP BEING SERVICED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
NHTSA ODI #10119040
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2004
Power Train
THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A RECALL, TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND WAITED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN NOTIFIED THE PART WAS NOT IN. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10087801
54,900 miles · Aug 10, 2004
Power Train
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THE TUMBLER FAILED. *AK RECALL#04V021000. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10087571
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train
I SUPPOSEDLY HAD A GASKET PUT ON MY VEHICLE BUT I STILL HAVE A WATER LEAK. I SEE THERE WERE RECALLS ON HEADS OR GASKETS. I ALSO HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON MY CAR WHICH I STILL HAVE PROBLEM WITH . I HAVE PAID OVER$400 TO GET THAT GASKET PUT ON. WHEN I USE MY AIR CONDITIONER THE POWER OF MY ENGINE WEAKENS AND I HEAR VALVES RATT…
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I SUPPOSEDLY HAD A GASKET PUT ON MY VEHICLE BUT I STILL HAVE A WATER LEAK. I SEE THERE WERE RECALLS ON HEADS OR GASKETS. I ALSO HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON MY CAR WHICH I STILL HAVE PROBLEM WITH . I HAVE PAID OVER$400 TO GET THAT GASKET PUT ON. WHEN I USE MY AIR CONDITIONER THE POWER OF MY ENGINE WEAKENS AND I HEAR VALVES RATTLING. I DO NOT KNOW THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE EVERY GET THESE THINGS FIX WHEN THERE WERE A RECALL FOR THEM OR NOT. I ALSO HAD TO PUT A TRANSMISSION SENSOR ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER FOR THIS VEHICLE. I THOUGHT MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE CAR. BUT AFTER LOOKING AT THE RECALL OF THE VEHICLE. I BASICALLY HAVE TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WHERE I TOOK MY CAR TOLD ME THAT I HAD A RECALL ON MY BRAKES BUT I DO NOT THINK THEY DID ANYTHING ABOUT. THEN I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I NEEDED WORK FOR THE STARTLING AND POWER OF MY VEHICLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AFTER ONE WEEK IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THE GASKET. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THEN I NEEDED THAT TRANSMISSION SENSOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE MY CAR NEVER STOPPED DRIPPING WATER. I DO NOT KNOW EXACT DATE. I STILL HEAR THE ROARING SOUND WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082237
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2004
Power TrainCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. THEN, TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED BACKWARD. THE PASSENGER DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED, AND PASSENGER WAS DRAGGED DOWN THE HILL AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.*A…
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VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. THEN, TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED BACKWARD. THE PASSENGER DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED, AND PASSENGER WAS DRAGGED DOWN THE HILL AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10079750
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering
AIR CONDITIONING-BURNED OUT ENGINE-TIMING BELT DISINTEGRATED, THERE IS OIL DRIPPING INTO THE HEAD GASKET AS WELL TRANSMISSION-FELL OUT WHEEL-TIE ROD BROKE OTHER-STRANGE NOISES IN THE CAR, WINDOW AND DASH-HEAR A RATTLING NOISE STEERING-THE SWAY MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED
NHTSA ODI #10069673
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION SENSORS WENT OUT, EXTENDED WARRANTY REFUSED TO PAY ANY OF COSTS. HEAD GASKET OUT OF CAR PRESENTLY UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY HELP WHATSOEVER.
NHTSA ODI #10069171
NHTSA investigations
4EA05019 · 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.
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