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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

Air Bags complaints

51 reports
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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

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

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

170,000 miles · Nov 18, 2014
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10658915

128,000 miles · Aug 14, 2013
Air Bags

MY AIRBAGS EXPLODED ON MY CHRYSLER 300M 1999 JULY 8TH. THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. CLEAN TITLE. I CAME HOME FROM WORK, PARKED MY CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 3 HOURS LATER I HAD TO RUN TO THE STORE AND AS I WALKED TOWARDS MY CAR I NOTICED BOTH OF MY FRONT AIRBAGS OUT. I LOOKED AROUND MY CAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS…

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MY AIRBAGS EXPLODED ON MY CHRYSLER 300M 1999 JULY 8TH. THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. CLEAN TITLE. I CAME HOME FROM WORK, PARKED MY CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 3 HOURS LATER I HAD TO RUN TO THE STORE AND AS I WALKED TOWARDS MY CAR I NOTICED BOTH OF MY FRONT AIRBAGS OUT. I LOOKED AROUND MY CAR TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE AND I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. I ASSUMED THAT THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS COULD'VE BEEN DUE TO THE SEVERE WEATHER WE HAD IN OUR AREA, THERE WAS SOME FLOODING AND ALSO THE HOT/HUMID WEATHER. I DIDN'T MOVE MY CAR AFTER SEEING THE AIRBAGS OUT, THE CAR WAS LEFT AS IS. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SENT ONE OF THEIR AGENTS TO TAKE A LOOK AND TAKE PICTURES AND CHECK THE CAR OUT HIMSELF. HE WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT AIRBAGS EXPLODED WITHOUT THE CAR BEING IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT HE SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TALK WITH SOME OTHER PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER COME ACROSS A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER HE SENT ANOTHER AGENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE WAS SURPRISED AS WELL, HE TOOK A LOOK AT THE CAR, INSIDE AND OUT, COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THIS WAS BASICALLY AN INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT. A WEEK LATER THE FIRST AGENT CALLS BACK TO NOTIFY ME THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY US FOR THIS DAMAGE AND THAT WE ARE ON OUR OWN BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO PUT THE BLAME ON. I THEN DECIDED TO CALL CHRYSLER TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO EITHER AND ALSO TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT'S A 99. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 4K OUT OF POCKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535382

55,000 miles · Oct 6, 2011
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL HOME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL HOME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 05/10/12

NHTSA ODI #10429002

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2008
Air BagsStructure

CRACK DEVELOPING OVER THE PASSENGER AIR BAG THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND CHRYSLER DOESN'T CARE. 99 CHRYSLER 300M. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231953

40,000 miles · Feb 27, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AIR BAG FAILURE IN THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 03/18/08. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219303

150,000 miles · Jan 7, 2008
Air BagsStructure

THE DASHBOARD CRACKS ALONG THE SRS AIRBAG ENCLOSURE. THIS CRACK CAN NOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214067

85,000 miles · Mar 17, 2006
Air Bags

I OWN A '99 CHRYSLER 300M. THE DASH HAS DEVELOP A 10" VERTICAL CRACK ON THE DASH ABOVE THE AIR-BAG. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR 300M'S, ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THESIS A FLAW IN MANUFACTURING AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153062

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.