Illustration1999 CHRYSLER 300M THE DASHBOARD HAD 2 VERTICAL CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD ALONG THE PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAG. *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 300M years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
3225–50K
5050–75K
3575–100K
31100–150K
11150K+
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 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD HAD DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK TO THE RIGHT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE CRACKED DASHBOARD UNLESS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED. THE CRACK GREW LARGER WITH TIME AND WENT FRO…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD HAD DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK TO THE RIGHT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE CRACKED DASHBOARD UNLESS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED. THE CRACK GREW LARGER WITH TIME AND WENT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THIS TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE IT COULD OBSTRUCT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. UPDATED 7/18/2006 - *NM
MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. SHE IS A STAY AT HOME MOTHER. THE VEHICLE HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILES, 77K BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LITTLE AND ONLY FOR ERRANDS AND SHORT TRIPS WITH OUR (2) SMALL CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE IS STORED IN A GARAGE. OUR EXPERIENCE WAS UPON RE…
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MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. SHE IS A STAY AT HOME MOTHER. THE VEHICLE HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILES, 77K BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LITTLE AND ONLY FOR ERRANDS AND SHORT TRIPS WITH OUR (2) SMALL CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE IS STORED IN A GARAGE. OUR EXPERIENCE WAS UPON RETURNING HOME 6/17, WE TURNED ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROX. 1/4 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE. WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO FIND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CHRYSLER SERVICE TECHNICIAN HAS SINCE TOLD US THE FAILURE WAS THE FRONT BALL JOINT BREAKING IN TURN SNAPPING OFF THE SPINDLE AND BENDING THE STRUT AND FRONT FENDER. HE TOLD US " WE DON'T EVEN STOCK THESE PARTS BECAUSE THEY NEVER GO BAD." AND " THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED." MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED. 15-20 MPH. AT HIGH SPEEDS, IT SEEMS CERTAIN TO ME SERIOUS DAMAGE AND BODILY INJURY COULD OCCUR. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED NO COMPENSATION OR EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS REBUFFED TO EVEN GET INFORMATION FOR A POSSIBLE RECURRENCE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE? CHRYSLER DID TELL ME PART OF THE REASON THEY REJECTED RESPONSIBILITY WAS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD MULTIPLE OWNERS AND THE PREVIOUS ONE MAY HAVE MIS-HANDLED THE VEHICLE. WE KNOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER. IT WAS MY FATHER-IN-LAW. HE ENJOYED THE CAR SO MUCH HE LEASED ANOTHER ONE. THIS CAR HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKUPS. NOTHING IN MY SERVICE MANUAL INDICATES THERE MAY BE A FAILURE OF THIS MAGNITUDE AT THIS POINT IN THE VEHICLES LIFE. I'M REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA SO THERE IS A FORMAL RECORD ON FILE IN THE EVENT THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AGAIN. I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ON A SURFACE STREET AS THE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR. THE BILL FOR THIS REPAIR IS EXCESSIVE. THE CHRYSLER 300M, TO MY KNOWLEDGE WAS CHRYSLER'S MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE IN 1999. *JB
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, I HAVE DEVELOPED A 7 INCH CRACK IN THE DASH ABOVE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OF MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. CRACK CONTINUES TO GROW AND CONCERNS SAFETY. NO REPAIRS DONE DUE TO PROXIMITY OF AIR BAG. *NM
THE VINYL ON THE DASHBOARD OVER THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG HAS SPONTANIOUSLY CRACKED OPEN ALL ALONG THE CREASE THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BREAK WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. I WONDER IF THIS AFFECTS THE FORCE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *NM
IT IS SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M, AND THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN ALARMING RECENT EXPERIENCE FOR ME, HAVING JUST BOUGHT A USED ONE AND HAVING CHANGED A LOT OF FRONT-END SUSPENSION PARTS BEFORE ALIGNING AND RE-ALIGNING. I FEEL SO HORRIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT AND CONTINUE TO BUY THESE 300 CARS TODAY. IN CO…
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IT IS SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M, AND THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN ALARMING RECENT EXPERIENCE FOR ME, HAVING JUST BOUGHT A USED ONE AND HAVING CHANGED A LOT OF FRONT-END SUSPENSION PARTS BEFORE ALIGNING AND RE-ALIGNING. I FEEL SO HORRIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT AND CONTINUE TO BUY THESE 300 CARS TODAY. IN COMPARISON TO MY OTHER CARS, (A 1993 PONTIAC FIREBIRD AND EVEN AN OLDER CHRYSLER PRODUCT, A 1986 DAYTONA) WHICH CAN BE EASILY ALIGNED IF ALL THE RIGHT PARTS ARE IN AND WORK WELL, THE 300M SIMPLY CANNOT BE ALIGNED IT SEEMS, NO MATTER WHAT PARTS ARE CHANGED. WHAT A SHAME FOR AMERICA MANUFACTURING! SHAME!*JB
ON 04/26/06, WHILE AT A SAMS CLUB STORE, I NOTICED A LARGE BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THE TWO GOODYEAR EAGLE LS 225/55R17BW TIRES THAT I PURCHASED FROM WALMART AND HAD INSTALLED BY WALMART ON 03/28/06. THE TIRE WAS DETERMINED BY A TIRE ASSOCIATE AT THE SAMS CLUB STORE TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON, SO HE REMOVED THE WHEEL AND RE…
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ON 04/26/06, WHILE AT A SAMS CLUB STORE, I NOTICED A LARGE BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THE TWO GOODYEAR EAGLE LS 225/55R17BW TIRES THAT I PURCHASED FROM WALMART AND HAD INSTALLED BY WALMART ON 03/28/06. THE TIRE WAS DETERMINED BY A TIRE ASSOCIATE AT THE SAMS CLUB STORE TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON, SO HE REMOVED THE WHEEL AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SPARE. I AM TAKING THE TIRE BACK TO WALMART ON 04/27/06 TO GET A CREDIT TO BE APPLIED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT TIRE. *NM
1999 300M CHRYSLER "STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS". WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2000 AT A USED DEALERSHIP WITH 30,000 MILES, EVER SINCE WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND COST US A LOT OF MONEY. ON ONE OCCASION WHERE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ITSELF AND LUCK…
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1999 300M CHRYSLER "STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS". WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2000 AT A USED DEALERSHIP WITH 30,000 MILES, EVER SINCE WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND COST US A LOT OF MONEY. ON ONE OCCASION WHERE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ITSELF AND LUCKILY IT WAS NOT BUSY ON THE ROAD AND SAFELY PULLED ON THE SIDE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER AND PAY $1400 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL. AS OF TODAY, AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSES ITS STEERING AND IT JUST KEEP ROLLING AND IT SO LOOSE. I CONTACTED AND DID NOT WANT TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY OR EVEN OFFER ME A DISCOUNT TO FIX IT. THEY SAID WARRANTY WAS UP. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE LACK OF ATTENTION FROM CHRYSLER TO MY PROBLEM AND I THINK ITS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE. *NM
I HAVE HAD MY 300M FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE CRACK QUICKLY GREW FROM ABOUT 1 INCH TO ABOUT 7 INCHES IN A MATTER OF DAYS. I HAD A LOCAL COMPANY COVER THE DAMAGE BUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE REL…
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I HAVE HAD MY 300M FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE CRACK QUICKLY GREW FROM ABOUT 1 INCH TO ABOUT 7 INCHES IN A MATTER OF DAYS. I HAD A LOCAL COMPANY COVER THE DAMAGE BUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THE RELIABILITY OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THESE ISSUES, I HAVE FOUND THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYONE THAT OWNS A 300M HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM INCLUDING MY SISTER. I READ THAT THE TEAR IN THE DASH IS BECAUSE THE DASH IS THINNER AROUND THE AIRBAG TO ALLOW DEPLOYMENT, THUS A PRICEY REPAIR (REPLACEMENT). I BELIEVE THAT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD PICK UP THE TAB ON THIS ONE. *JB
IN 10/2005, 1999 CHRYSLER 300 M WAS PURCHASED. TWO WEEKS LATER, LIGHTS WOULD START FLICKERING ON INSIDE OF CAR. IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD, ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, AND CAR WOULD NOT START UP. CAR WAS JUMPED WITH BATTERY VAC, ALLOWED CAR PERFORMANCE FOR ONE TRIP. SAME DAY, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND CAR WOULD START, BUT INSID…
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IN 10/2005, 1999 CHRYSLER 300 M WAS PURCHASED. TWO WEEKS LATER, LIGHTS WOULD START FLICKERING ON INSIDE OF CAR. IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD, ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, AND CAR WOULD NOT START UP. CAR WAS JUMPED WITH BATTERY VAC, ALLOWED CAR PERFORMANCE FOR ONE TRIP. SAME DAY, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND CAR WOULD START, BUT INSIDE LIGHT FLICKERING WAS STILL A PROBLEM. IN 11/2005, CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WARRANTY'S BODY SHOP. BODY SHOP CLAIMS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. BODY SHOP SAYS THEY JUMPED VEHICLE; WHEN VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, CAR OPERATED CORRECTLY WITH NO MORE INSIDE LIGHT FLICKERING FAILURE. ON 4/16/2006, CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND REQUIRED JUMP FROM BATTERY VAC; JUMP ONLY ALLOWED CAR ONE TRIP, CAR FAILS TO START UP AGAIN. *NM
Official recalls
304V021000 · 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
2EA03011 · 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.