EXITING HIGHWAY AT 30 MPH WHEN RAIN STARTED. ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE ELECTRIC CONTROL BUTTON TO RAISE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW; WINDOW JAMMED ABOUT ONE INCH FROM TOP. PUSHED CONTROL BUTTON AGAIN BUT WINDOW DID NOT MOVE. WITHIN ABOUT 20 TO 30 SECONDS SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING INTERIOR OF CAR FROM UNDER THE CONTROL BUTTONS PANEL; ALSO DISTINCT …
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EXITING HIGHWAY AT 30 MPH WHEN RAIN STARTED. ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE ELECTRIC CONTROL BUTTON TO RAISE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW; WINDOW JAMMED ABOUT ONE INCH FROM TOP. PUSHED CONTROL BUTTON AGAIN BUT WINDOW DID NOT MOVE. WITHIN ABOUT 20 TO 30 SECONDS SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING INTERIOR OF CAR FROM UNDER THE CONTROL BUTTONS PANEL; ALSO DISTINCT ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC AND/OR RUBBER STARTED COMING FROM INSIDE MY LEFT FRONT DRIVERS DOOR PANEL. SMOKE AND ACRID FUMES BECAME VERY STRONG AS I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. I THREW OPEN MY DOOR, GOT OUT AND IMMEDIATELY USED MY ALWAYS PRESENT RATCHET SCREWDRIVER TO REMOVE THE CONTROL BUTTON COVER AND WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE TWO ELECTRIC PLUGS WHICH I OBSERVED AND LUCKILY WITHIN ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES THE SMOKE ENDED. ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES LATER I RESTARTED MY CAR AND DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO MY DEALERS SERVIVE CENTER. AFTER ABOUT THREE HOURS THE SERVICE MGR. INFORMED ME THAT A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TAKEN PLACE AND HAD "FRIED" SEVERAL OF THE COMPUTERS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AS I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS WERE TOTALLY COVERED. IT WAS OVERHEARD BY ME WHEN THE MECHANIC WAS SPEAKING TO THE SVCE. MGR. THAT THEIR WAS EVIDENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE INNER DOOR AND ALSO IN AND AROUND THE CONTROL BUTTONS ON THE INSIDE. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS WITH BODY DESIGN WHICH ALLOWS RAIN WATER TO SOMEHOW LEAK INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DRIVERS DOOR UNNOTICED AND THERBY CAUSING THIS EMERGENCY? PERHAPS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS OK BUT NOT THE CHANNELING AWAY OF RAIN WATER OR EVEN CAR WASH WATER. ALSO, WHEN THEY REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON MY CAR, DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN WHENEVER IT RAINS? I REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE NEAR ME ON THE ROAD HAD THE SMOKE AND FUMES OVERCOME ME BEFORE I HAD THE CHANCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #745957
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
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SUBJECT NEW VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY THREE DASHBOARD VENTS AND EDGES OF HIGH CONTRAST ARE POSITIONED MIDWAY DOWN THE DASHBOARD SUCH THAT THEY REFLECT STRONG GRILLE DETAIL IN THE MID WINDSHIELD, SEVERELY OBSCURING DRIVER VISION OF TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIANS, PETS, AND ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF OVERHEAD SUNLIGHT OR …
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SUBJECT NEW VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY THREE DASHBOARD VENTS AND EDGES OF HIGH CONTRAST ARE POSITIONED MIDWAY DOWN THE DASHBOARD SUCH THAT THEY REFLECT STRONG GRILLE DETAIL IN THE MID WINDSHIELD, SEVERELY OBSCURING DRIVER VISION OF TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIANS, PETS, AND ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF OVERHEAD SUNLIGHT OR STREETLIGHTS. CLEAR DIGITAL PHOTO'S WILL BE SENT ILLUSTRATING THE HAZZARD IF YOU RSVP WITH AN E-MAIL ADDRESS THAT ALLOWS ENCLOSURE. PLEASE RSVP ASAP, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER CORRECTABLE ISSUE AND A SERIOUS HAZARD TO THOUSANDS OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER & DODGE MINI VAN OWNERS & DRIVERS.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY BECOME DISABLED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL COVERED VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. FOR THOSE VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 70,000 MILES, DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL OFFER AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY UNDER WHICH IT WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING AT NO CHARGE IF IT FAILS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 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.
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
4
EA04013 · Driver Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Opened Jun 4, 2004 · Closed May 25, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
THE DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING CAN DEVELOP AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION RESULTING IN NONFUNCTIONAL DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED), AND/OR STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED).IN ITS OCTOBER 5, 2004 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL AND REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL MY 1998.5-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER MINIVANS, BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1998 AND AUGUST 2000, WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS.IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THIS COMPONENT ON MY 1998.5-2000 MINIVANS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE.THE DETAILS OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION ARE DESCRIBED IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S LETTER (SEE RECALL NO. 04V-480).THE AGENCY BELIEVES THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS WITH RESPECT TO THOSE VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY THE LIFETIME WARRANTY.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE PAGE 2 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
PE04017 · Overheating Of Seat Heaters
Opened Feb 18, 2004 · Closed Jun 21, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 24 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT SPARKS/OVERHEATS.DAIMLERCHRYSLER BELIEVES THE FAILURE IS DUE TO ONE OF TWO FACTORS:THE STITCHING OPERATION ON THE SEAT COVER MAY CAUSE THE SEWING NEEDLE TO SEVER SOME STRANDS OF THE WIRE HEATING GRID IN THE SEAT, OR A POOR SOLDER JOINT/WIRE CONNECTOR FAILS DUE TO IMPROPER PROCESSING OR LONG TERM OVERSTRESSING.THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH MUST BOTH BE TURNED ON TO POWER THE SEAT HEATER.COMPLAINANTS REPORT THAT WHEN OVERHEATING OCCURS, SWITCHING THE HEATER OFF ALSO STOPS THE OVERHEATING.THE FAILURE CANNOT OCCUR IN AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF.ODI FINDS THAT THE 33 FIRE ALLEGATIONS ARE REPORTING VERY LOCALIZED OVERHEATING(PHOTOS OF DAMAGED SEATS SHOW HOLES THE SIZE OF A PENCIL OR LESS).THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF SUSTAINED COMBUSTION AND NO REPORTS OF OTHER FIRE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.THE INJURY ALLEGATIONS ARE REPORTING MINOR INJURY.NO CONSUMERS REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT (PHYSICIAN CARE).THERE ARE NO ALLEGATIONS OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO FAILURE OF A HEATED SEAT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
EA01007 · Air Bag Clockspring
Opened Feb 21, 2001 · Closed Nov 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
RQ00008 · Dc Minivan Fuel Injector Rail Leak
Opened Mar 9, 2000 · Closed Mar 18, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
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