Illustration3" CRACK IN PASSENGER SIDE DASH WHERE THE AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED FROM. I HAVE A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. *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 reportsTHERE IS A 10 TO 12 INCH VERTICAL CRACK WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS IN THE DASH. IS THIS SAFE? COULD THE AIRBAG RELEASE WITHOUT AN IMPACT? THIS STARTED AS A SMALL 1-2 INCH CRACK AND HAS INCREASED IN SIZE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. *JB
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
MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M HAS DEVELOPED 2 CRACKS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD, ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE CRACKS FORM ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ALWAYS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AIR BAG. I TRIED TO GET THE CRACKS REPAIRED, BUT NO ONE IS WILLING TO…
Read full complaint
MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M HAS DEVELOPED 2 CRACKS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD, ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE CRACKS FORM ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ALWAYS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AIR BAG. I TRIED TO GET THE CRACKS REPAIRED, BUT NO ONE IS WILLING TO DO THE WORK DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG. I BELIEVE THIS IS MUCH MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAN SIMPLY A COSMETIC ONE DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS: THE AIR BAG IS DESIGNED TO DEPLOY WITH A GIVEN AMOUNT OF FORCE. IN MY CAR, THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY TO BREAK THROUGH THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL IS FACTORED INTO THE FORCE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DASH IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE AIR BAGS MAY (NOTE, I DID NOT SAY "WILL"--I'M NOT A CHRYSLER ENGINEER) DEPLOY TOO FORCEFULLY, THEREBY CAUSING GREATER INJURIES TO A PASSENGER-SIDE OCCUPANT. IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE DASH WON'T BREAK AWAY PROPERLY, CAUSING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DASHBOARD FOAM OR OTHER MATERIAL TO BE PROJECTED TOWARD THE FACE AND BODY OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE OCCUPANT AND CAUSING LACERATIONS AND/OR EYE INJURIES THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ENCOUNTERED IN A MEDIUM-SPEED FRONT-END COLLISION. AND IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT IF THE DASHBOARD IS COMPROMISED, IT MAY INTERFERE WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ALTOGETHER. PLEASE NOTE MY COMPLAINT AND TAKE ANY ACTION THAT YOUR OFFICE MAY FEEL IS NECESARY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE SEE THIS LINK FOR OTHERS WHO ARE HAVIGN THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING. HTTP://300MCLUB.ORG/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=3903&START=0&POSTDAYS=0&POSTORDER=ASC&HIGHLIGHT=GARAGE+DOOR. *NM
MY CHRYSLER 300M LOSES ITS POWER BRAKES WHENEVER IT IS COLD AND IT SEEMS DAMP OUT SIDE. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP IT WORKS GOOD ENOUGH TO DRIVE BUT THE BRAKES ARE STILL SLUGGISH. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 15 MIN TO HALF HOUR THE BRAKE BOOSTER SEEMS TO START WORKING OK. IT HAS DONE THI…
Read full complaint
MY CHRYSLER 300M LOSES ITS POWER BRAKES WHENEVER IT IS COLD AND IT SEEMS DAMP OUT SIDE. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP IT WORKS GOOD ENOUGH TO DRIVE BUT THE BRAKES ARE STILL SLUGGISH. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 15 MIN TO HALF HOUR THE BRAKE BOOSTER SEEMS TO START WORKING OK. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE NO BRAKING WHEN THE CAR IS COLD SOMETIMES! AND A LOUD SUCKING SOUND COMES OUT OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER WHEN ITS HANGING UP. *JB
DASH CRACKED OVER AIR BAG. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND QUARTER PANEL. THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. HOWEVER, THE FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. UPON INITIAL IMPACT THE PASSENG…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND QUARTER PANEL. THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. HOWEVER, THE FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. UPON INITIAL IMPACT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED, SHE WAS THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND LANDED ON TOP OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK AREAS. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB
I PURCHASED MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M IN APRIL 2001 IT HAD 24000.00 MILES. WITHIN THE 6 MONTHS I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM TO GET IT REPLACED. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AGAIN BUT EVERYTIME I TOOK IT T…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M IN APRIL 2001 IT HAD 24000.00 MILES. WITHIN THE 6 MONTHS I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM TO GET IT REPLACED. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AGAIN BUT EVERYTIME I TOOK IT TO BE DIAGNOSED THEY KEPT TELLING ME TO CHANGED THE TIRES OR HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED OR I NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL LAST WEEKEND DEC 17, 2005 WHEN THE ENTIRE WHEEL BROKE OFF FROM THE AXLE, HAD IT NOT HAPPENED AS MY WIFE WAS ABOUT TO PULL OUT OF OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX IT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS ABOUT A 1000 FEET FROM OUR APARTMENT WHICH IS WHERE SHE WAS HEADED. I'VE BEEN READING THE EMAIL BOARDS AND I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF CHRYSLER 1999 300M ARE HAVING THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I STARTED NOTICING IT WHEN MY CAR WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 TO 70 MPH AND THE WHEELS WOULD VIBRATE, AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS THERE WOULD BE A CLUMPING NOSE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. ALSO WHEN MAKING TURNS IT SEEMS THE WHEEL WOULD LOOSE TRACTION WHEN IT'S WET. *JB
WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN. THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO 5500 WITH SPEED REACHING IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, NO OBSTRUCTION WAS FOUND ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL, HAZARD LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO KEEP FROM FURTHER ACCELERATION UNTIL THE IGNITION …
Read full complaint
WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE THROTTLE STUCK OPEN. THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO 5500 WITH SPEED REACHING IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, NO OBSTRUCTION WAS FOUND ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL, HAZARD LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO KEEP FROM FURTHER ACCELERATION UNTIL THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO OFF SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BY DEALER AS ' HIGH IDLE', CORRECTED BY TIGHTENING THROTTLE BODY SCREW AND FIXING MISALIGNED THROTTLE BODY. REPAIR COST - $45.00. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 300M CHRYSLER. EVER SINCE HE BOUGHT THE CAR HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FLAT TIRES. HAD ABOUT FIFTEEN FLAT TIRES, NOT PUNCTURED BECAUSE THE WHEELS WILL NOT HOLD AIR. HE STATED THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER CHROME WHEELS BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM AROUND THE RIM THAT CAUSED CORROSION AND THE TIRE L…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 300M CHRYSLER. EVER SINCE HE BOUGHT THE CAR HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH FLAT TIRES. HAD ABOUT FIFTEEN FLAT TIRES, NOT PUNCTURED BECAUSE THE WHEELS WILL NOT HOLD AIR. HE STATED THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER CHROME WHEELS BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM AROUND THE RIM THAT CAUSED CORROSION AND THE TIRE LOSING AIR. HE STATED THIS WAS BASED ON WHAT DON SMITH TOLD HIM. HE STATES THAT DON SMITH TRIED TO GET HIM NEW TIRES A ND TRIED TO HELP HIM SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL .HE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED, AND THE DEALER KEPT PUTTING HIM OFF. THE SERVICE MAN AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM IT WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. THE TIRE SERVICEMAN TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM FOR AS LONG AS HE OWNED THE CAR. IN JANUARY 05 HE TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HIM IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AFTER PUTTING NEW TIRES ON THE CAR. HE PUT NEW TIRES ON AND IT STILL HAPPENED. THE NEW TIRES HAVD 4,000 MILES ON THEM. HE WAS STILL HAVING FLAT TIRES. ALSO TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER LAST ON 10-03-05 AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY COULD NOT COVER IT. HIS LAST FLAT TIRE WAS ON 10-7-05.*AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - *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.