NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
117 reports68,000 miles · Aug 11, 2005
Electrical System
1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE SHUT DOWN & WOULD NOT START, HAD TOWED TO ARCHER DODGE, FIRST TOLD THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE SHIFTER CABLE. & THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. THEN TOLD THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM, THEY NEEDED TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEN TOLD THE PCM WAS THE PROBLEM. CALLED & WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS FIXED, WENT TO PICK IT UP & CAR WOULD NOT …
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1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE SHUT DOWN & WOULD NOT START, HAD TOWED TO ARCHER DODGE, FIRST TOLD THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE SHIFTER CABLE. & THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. THEN TOLD THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM, THEY NEEDED TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEN TOLD THE PCM WAS THE PROBLEM. CALLED & WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS FIXED, WENT TO PICK IT UP & CAR WOULD NOT START, STILL THE SAME AS IT WAS WHEN TOWED. CAR STAYED IN SHOP. CALLED 2 DAYS LATER & WAS TOLD CAR WAS FIXED, WENT BACK TO ARCHER DODGE TO PICK UP CAR, CAR WOULD NOT START, SAME AS IT WAS WHEN CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN. TOLD NOW THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AGAIN & THIS WILL COST ABOUT $185.00. I ASKED IF THE DIAGNOSTIC SHOW ANYTHING THE FIRST TIME THEY RAN IT, & WAS TOLD NO. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE IN AUBURN HILLS, MI. ABOUT THE MATTER, WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR, & WAS TOLD NO THEY DO NOT TALK TO CUSTOMERS. CHECKED DIFFERENT FORUMS ON THE INTERNET & FOUND OUT THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM, FOR THIS IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, SO THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD, OR IF THIS CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DIVING THIS COULD BE ACCIDENT LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN. ASKED CHRYSLER WHAT SHOULD I DO, WHEN I OWN A CHRYSLER PRODUCT, & CHRYSLER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR CHRYSLER TO DO A STUDY & PAY FOR PARTS THAT DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY JUST TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS MY PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM, FOR I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE FOR THERE PARENT COMPANY IS LOCATED IN GERMANY, IS THIS TRUE, IF SO I FEEL THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10132493
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
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentVisibility
1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE GIVES OFF THE WRONG READING.*MR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AIR CONDITION DID NOT WORK. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10131259
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 · Mar 25, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115853
77,000 miles · Mar 21, 2005
Equipment
BLOWER FAN RELAY ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. SECOND TIME THAT BLOWER RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED IN 6 MONTHS. PART # 04885844. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10114445
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS ON EITHER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE FROM HITTING HER FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT NHTSA. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10111505
92,000 miles · Dec 11, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
MY 1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU. A BYSTANDER RAN UP TO MY WINDOW TO ADVISE THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, HE SAW FLAMES COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO GET MY 2 YEAR OLD AND SISTER OUT OF THE CAR. FIREMEN CAME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT IN THE CAR AND STATED IT W…
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MY 1999 PLYMOUTH BREEZE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU. A BYSTANDER RAN UP TO MY WINDOW TO ADVISE THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, HE SAW FLAMES COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO GET MY 2 YEAR OLD AND SISTER OUT OF THE CAR. FIREMEN CAME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT IN THE CAR AND STATED IT WAS SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL FIRE. I HAD NO WARNING OF THIS NO WARNING LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR WHATSOEVER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10102654
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2004
Electrical System
VEHICLE JUST DIED IN TRAFFIC, RESTARTED AFTER WHILE. A CODE COME UP ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (NO BUS). HAD A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT AND IT WOULD NOT DELIVER GAS TO INJECTIONS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10100628
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering
THE BRAKE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN WET OR WHEN AIR HIT THEM. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND EXPLAINED THA TEH NOISE WAS NORMAL. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10099660
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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