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1999 Chrysler 300M

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 300M years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Chrysler 300M are substantially higher than the model-year median of 52.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

168 reports with mileage · 183 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports6 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

351 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER STEP-FATHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAITED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BEFORE DRIVING TO THE DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER STEP-FATHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAITED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BEFORE DRIVING TO THE DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11360965

2 miles · Nov 18, 2017
Air BagsCrash

I AM NOT SURE WHO MANUFACTURED THE AIRBAGS IN 1999 CHRYSLER 300S, BUT I AM WONDERING WHAT WOULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG TO HAVE A HOLE IN IT AND WHERE THE HOLE IS, IT WAS FRAYED, MY DAUGHTER WAS THE PASSENGER WHEN THEY WERE HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL AND PASSENGER DOOR, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT AND WAS …

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I AM NOT SURE WHO MANUFACTURED THE AIRBAGS IN 1999 CHRYSLER 300S, BUT I AM WONDERING WHAT WOULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG TO HAVE A HOLE IN IT AND WHERE THE HOLE IS, IT WAS FRAYED, MY DAUGHTER WAS THE PASSENGER WHEN THEY WERE HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL AND PASSENGER DOOR, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT HAD A BIG HOLE IN IT AND WAS FRAYED WHERE THE HOLE WAS, LIKE A FLAG THAT HAS BEEN BLOWING IN THE WIND FOR YEARS, I AM COMING UP ON STATUE OF LIMITATIONS SO YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WOULD BE SO APPRECIATED!!!! MY LAWYER DOES HAVE PICTURES OF THE AIRBAG WITH THE HOLE IN IT, AND SHOWING ALSO HOW IT WAS FRAYED. MY DAUGHTER SADLY LOST HER LIFE IN THIS ACCIDENT, SHE WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED NOVEMBER 29TH 2014 ON HWY 23 NEAR WAITE PARK MN, CAR WAS IN MOTION, HER NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11047231

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2016
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE RANDOMLY OCCURRING AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE RANDOMLY OCCURRING AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10881272

208,000 miles · Nov 28, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

"TAKATA RECALL" ON NOV. 04,2015 A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY AND WAS MOVING APPROX. 30-35MPH. I T-BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE 2 OTHER PASSENGERS OTHER THAN MYSELF. THE DRIVER HAD HIT HIS LEG UNDER THE DASH. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT AND BOTHE MY KNEES HIT …

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"TAKATA RECALL" ON NOV. 04,2015 A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY AND WAS MOVING APPROX. 30-35MPH. I T-BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE 2 OTHER PASSENGERS OTHER THAN MYSELF. THE DRIVER HAD HIT HIS LEG UNDER THE DASH. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT AND BOTHE MY KNEES HIT THE LOWER PART OF THE DASH. MY SEAT BELT DID WORK ON IMPACT AND I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. MY DAUGHTER INLAW WAS IN THE BACK SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SHE SUFFERED 2 BUMPS ON HER HEAD. AS FOR ME, I DIDNT HAVE ANY BROKEN BONES BUT I SUFERED SEVERE BRUISING. I WAS IN SHOCK AND MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT I STARTED FEELING SHARP PAINS TO THE LEFT PART OF MY CHEST CONSTANTLY LIKE NEEDLES STABING OVER AND OVER. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO BREATH. I COULDN'T GET A FULL BREATH. THE LAST FEW DAYS I'VE STARTED HAVING MUSCLE SPASMS IN MY LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK AND UPPER LEFT ARM/SHOULDER. OTHER PAIN I'VE BEEN HAVING I'VE EXPLAINED TO THE DOCTOR AND OTHERS AND THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS MY SIATIC (DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT) NERVE. IF I STAND WRONG OR REACH UP WITH MY ARMS THE PAIN GOES FROM MY LOWER BACK AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BACK OF MY LEGS. IT'S A DEEP ACHING PAIN THAT SEEMS TO BE AGGRIVATING. IT IS WORSE IN THE MORNIGS OR WHEN IT IT COLD. I HAVE TO TAKE MUSCLE RELAXERS, DONT KNOW IF THERE IS ANY PERMANENT DAMAGE. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. CAT SCAN AND X-RAYS CAME BACK OK. NO BROKEN BONES. I HAVE THE POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT BUT AT THIS TIME I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SCAN AND DOWNLOAD. IF ITS NEEDED I CAN PROVIDE IT AT A LATER TIME. I HAVE AN ATTORNEY.

NHTSA ODI #10807311

180,000 miles · Sep 28, 2015
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINED AND THE SEAT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V035000 (SEATS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #10778247

51,000 miles · May 25, 2015
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING FROM WINDSHIED AREA ALL THE WAY DOWN ,THEN ANOTHER CRACK DID THE SAME.ONE CRACK IS ON PASSENGER SIDE AND ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ODI #10721340

160,000 miles · Mar 13, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT LATER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A SEWAGE AREA. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING THAT LATER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A SEWAGE AREA. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694129

140,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
Seats

MY 1999 300 M HAS THE FOLLOWING ISSUE: ******* RECALL ID # 57541 - SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINERPLUSHIDE DETAILS RECALL DATE: FEB 05, 2003 MODEL AFFECTED: 1999 CHRYSLER 300M SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSEQUENCES:…

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MY 1999 300 M HAS THE FOLLOWING ISSUE: ******* RECALL ID # 57541 - SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINERPLUSHIDE DETAILS RECALL DATE: FEB 05, 2003 MODEL AFFECTED: 1999 CHRYSLER 300M SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSEQUENCES: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403. POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 1066000 ******* MY COMPLAINT IS WITH CHRYSLER. THE DEALER (JACK KEY IN LAS CRUCES) SAYS THE CAR WAS FIXED IN 2005 (I KNOW IT WAS NOT BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE I DROVE IT OFF OF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR). DEALER SAY NOT COVERED BY RECALL. CALLED ABOVE 800 # AND CHRYSLER SAYS SAME. DEALER SAYS I HAVE TO PAY FOR FIX. IT'S NOT THE MONEY THAT BOTHERS ME. IT'S THE FACT THAT I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT A RECALL STATES AND THE COMPANY IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT FOR FREE. CHRYSLER SAYS THEY FIXED IT BUT YET THE EXACT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THAT'S NOT A FIX. REPLACING A FAULTY/GOING TO BREAK/RECALLED PRODUCT/... WITH THE EXACT SAME PART IS NOT A FIX IN MY BOOK. WHEN YOU RECALL SOMETHING, YOU FIX IT WITH SOMETHING THAT WON'T GET RECALLED AGAIN. CHRYSLER, IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS THAT COST YOU CUSTOMERS. THANK YOU, *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681180

200,000 miles · Jan 29, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

THIS VEHICLE HAS A RAW GAS SMELL. COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. I MUST COVER MY FACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679848

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS CRACKED WHERE THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10662147

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.

03V035000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Feb 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

00V034000 · Seat Belts

Feb 4, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TURNING LOOP (ATL) TOP MOUNTING BOLT WAS INADEQUATELY MANUFACTURED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE AFFECTED MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT WITHSTAND SUFFICIENT FORCE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN CERTAIN IMPACT SITUATIONS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A BELTED OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHOULDER BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER MOUNTING BOLTS.

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.

PE03010 · Throttle Control Failure

Opened Feb 27, 2003 · Closed Sep 2, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Vehicle Speed Control:cables

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Vehicle Speed Control

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.