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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
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

170,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

THE CAR FOR NO REASON STALLS AND LEAVES NO CODES. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AT THE DEALERS 2 TIMES AND A MECHANIC ONCE, THEY BOTH SAY THEY CANT FIX IT IF IT ISN'T BROKEN. THE DEALER SAID DRIVE IT UNTIL IT FAILS FOR GOOD, MY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF IT STALLS IN SAY THE OUTER LANE OF THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MPH AND I HAVE NO POWER…

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THE CAR FOR NO REASON STALLS AND LEAVES NO CODES. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AT THE DEALERS 2 TIMES AND A MECHANIC ONCE, THEY BOTH SAY THEY CANT FIX IT IF IT ISN'T BROKEN. THE DEALER SAID DRIVE IT UNTIL IT FAILS FOR GOOD, MY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF IT STALLS IN SAY THE OUTER LANE OF THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MPH AND I HAVE NO POWER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY FROM A 70 MPH SEMI WHAT DO I DO THEN BODIES ALL OVER THE INTERSTATE AND WHOS AT FAULT THEN? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649730

122,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Engine

CAR STARTED ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 12TH, DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES, STOPPED FOR 10 MINS, RESTARTED & DRIVEN 5 MORE MILES. I WENT TO START IT AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR, WOULD TURNOVER BUT WOULD NOT START. CAR TOWED BY MECHANIC 8/13/2014. AS OF 9/26/14, CAR HAS BEEN IN MECHANIC'S CARE & UNABLE TO FIX. CAR BEING TOWED BAC…

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CAR STARTED ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST 12TH, DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES, STOPPED FOR 10 MINS, RESTARTED & DRIVEN 5 MORE MILES. I WENT TO START IT AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR, WOULD TURNOVER BUT WOULD NOT START. CAR TOWED BY MECHANIC 8/13/2014. AS OF 9/26/14, CAR HAS BEEN IN MECHANIC'S CARE & UNABLE TO FIX. CAR BEING TOWED BACK TO ME WITH NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO FIX IT. MECHANIC HAS HAD VEHICLE ON 2 SEPARATE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES. MECHANIC INFORMED ME HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COMPUTER THEN FLYWHEEL THEN BACK TO COMPUTER BUT UNABLE TO FIX IT & GIVING UP TRYING. THIS CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE WITH LOW MILES ON IT, I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO GET IT FIXED. IT WAS WITH MECHANIC 6 WEEKS & NOW BEING RETURNED AS "UNFIXABLE". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639240

68,000 miles · Sep 21, 2014
EngineSteeringStructureCrash

I WAS STOPPED & JUST PUT IT INTO DRIVE FROM PARK & THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT IT DIDN'T STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE CAR IS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE DID PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637881

166,900 miles · Sep 8, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

1ST TIME PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IT STALLED I LUCKED OUT HAD MOMENTUM TO MAKE IT ACROSS. 2ND TIME NOT SO LUCKY STOPPED AT LIGHT ATTEMPTED U TURN STALLED HALF WAY THROUGH STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC IT WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 4 MIN. SO THE REST IS THE SAME STORY PUT IN SHOP CANNOT DIAGNOSE. VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE.STALLING AND HARD STARTING BOT…

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1ST TIME PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IT STALLED I LUCKED OUT HAD MOMENTUM TO MAKE IT ACROSS. 2ND TIME NOT SO LUCKY STOPPED AT LIGHT ATTEMPTED U TURN STALLED HALF WAY THROUGH STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC IT WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 4 MIN. SO THE REST IS THE SAME STORY PUT IN SHOP CANNOT DIAGNOSE. VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE.STALLING AND HARD STARTING BOTH INTERMITTENT AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING AND SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY (3 TO 6 TIMES A DAY). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631712

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

71,000 miles · Apr 12, 2012
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT WOULD …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10454966

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2011
SteeringSuspension

ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT ALL THE BOLTS ASSOCIATED WITH MY RACK AND PINION HAD BECOME LOOSE. HE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS UP, AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THEY WORKED LOOSE AGAIN. HE DID RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION …

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ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT ALL THE BOLTS ASSOCIATED WITH MY RACK AND PINION HAD BECOME LOOSE. HE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS UP, AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THEY WORKED LOOSE AGAIN. HE DID RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION AND IS SHOCKED THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT MADE A RECALL YET. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS, BUT AS I READ ON THE INTERNET SOMEONE HAS DIED FROM THE RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS, AND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC FRIEND IS GOING TO TRY TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AGAIN USING LOCK TIGHT(?) ON THE BOLTS AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP THE PROBLEM. MY FEAR IS THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AS LISTED ON WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2000/CHRYSLER/300M/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX AND CANNOT GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND THEIR ONLY HELP LIES WITHIN A RECALL BY CHRYSLER ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE DIFFICULT ECONOMY. NOT EVERYONE IS LUCKY TO HAVE A MECHANIC THAT IS A FRIEND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441101

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 · Aug 17, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AT ANYTIME. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BY AREA MECHANICS, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AT ANYTIME. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BY AREA MECHANICS, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE, CURRENT MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/14/11*LJ UPDATED 09/23/11*JB

NHTSA ODI #10419807

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.