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1998 Dodge Intrepid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge Intrepid do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 377.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

183 reports with mileage · 194 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 198 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports12 fire reports20 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

33 reports
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113,500 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING , OR WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION. MY MECHANIC HAVE REPLACED 3 HEADLIGHT SWITCHES BUT ITS NOT WORKING. ALSO THE CAR HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM INTERNAL LAMPS TO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE READ LOT OF REVIEW FROM OTHER USERS. I CAN FILE A LAWSU…

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HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING , OR WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION. MY MECHANIC HAVE REPLACED 3 HEADLIGHT SWITCHES BUT ITS NOT WORKING. ALSO THE CAR HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM INTERNAL LAMPS TO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE READ LOT OF REVIEW FROM OTHER USERS. I CAN FILE A LAWSUIT WITH USER CONSUMERS IF I HAVE TO AGAINST DODGE. THIS THING IS VERY ANNOYING AND DODGE SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172631

31,000 miles · Apr 12, 2006
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN 1998, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUE WITH: ELECTRICAL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING (DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM) RACK AND PINION HAD TO REPLACE AT 36,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES EVERY YEAR, THEY CONSTANTLY ARE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. HAVE HAD TO …

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SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN 1998, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUE WITH: ELECTRICAL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING (DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM) RACK AND PINION HAD TO REPLACE AT 36,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES EVERY YEAR, THEY CONSTANTLY ARE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM ON DRIVER SIDE WHEN FIRST BOUGHT VEHICLE, NOW THE AUTOMATIC POWER DOWN ON DRIVE SIDE IS NOT WORKING AS WELL AS NOT BEING ABLE TO USE POWER UNLOCK AND LOCK FOR REAR DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEAK FROM HOSE, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HOSE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155215

55,000 miles · Dec 13, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 3/2002. SINCE I BOUGHT IT I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER THREE TIMES; HAD A FULL FRONT END REPLACEMENT; NEW ENGINE PUT IN; NEW TRANSMISSION; STUDS BROKE FROM THE FRONT TIRE AND WHILE THE TIRE WAS ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD MY CARD WAS SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 2 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE CAR. NOW THE ELE…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 3/2002. SINCE I BOUGHT IT I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER THREE TIMES; HAD A FULL FRONT END REPLACEMENT; NEW ENGINE PUT IN; NEW TRANSMISSION; STUDS BROKE FROM THE FRONT TIRE AND WHILE THE TIRE WAS ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD MY CARD WAS SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 2 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE CAR. NOW THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY SCREWED UP AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN RUNNING. I HAVE ALL MY PAPERWORK WHERE THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. I BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS VEHICLE "NO QUESTIONS ASKED" BECAUSE WE HAVE SPENT OVER $6,000 FIXING THIS PIECE OF JUNK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10145139

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE A COIL PACK REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE LET THE VEHICLE RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES THEN IT WAS READY TO BE DRIVEN. . ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED…

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DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE A COIL PACK REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE LET THE VEHICLE RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES THEN IT WAS READY TO BE DRIVEN. . ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE ELECTRICAL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10142421

82,000 miles · Sep 16, 2005
Electrical System

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THE MAIN BATTERY HARNESS CORRODED, FORCING THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY GIVEN POINT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, AND THE BATTERY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE AT CONS…

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DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THE MAIN BATTERY HARNESS CORRODED, FORCING THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY GIVEN POINT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, AND THE BATTERY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY DEFECT WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND THAT WAS WHY THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THIS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED FIVE TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, THEREFORE, THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE TO COVER THIS EXPENSE. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN THE CAR WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE SERVICE DEALER WOULD ONLY CLEAN THE CABLES TO THE BATTERY, AND THIS WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10136721

126,000 miles · Aug 12, 2005
Electrical System

THE IGNITION LOCK ON THIS VEHICLE WILL SURRENDER THE KEY IN ANY POSITION. THOUGH THE DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH A PUSH ROD IN THE SHIFTER AND THE SHIFTER ITSELF PER CHRYSLER RECALL CAMPAIGN C45, THE KEY CONTINUES TO COME OUT OF THE LOCK IN THE ACC, OFF, RUN, AND START POSITIONS. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED THE FAULT …

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THE IGNITION LOCK ON THIS VEHICLE WILL SURRENDER THE KEY IN ANY POSITION. THOUGH THE DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH A PUSH ROD IN THE SHIFTER AND THE SHIFTER ITSELF PER CHRYSLER RECALL CAMPAIGN C45, THE KEY CONTINUES TO COME OUT OF THE LOCK IN THE ACC, OFF, RUN, AND START POSITIONS. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED THE FAULT IS IN THE LOCK CYLINDER, THOUGH THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN C45 AND WAS NOT REPLACED. NOTE THAT THE CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN TO THE LOCK OR ACC POSITION WITHOUT THE SHIFTERS BEING IN PARK AND THE SHIFTER ALSO WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE LOCK CYLINDER IN THE LOCK OR ACC POSITION NOR HAS EITHER OF THE ABOVE FAILURES EVER OCCURRED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE KEY COMING OUT HOWEVER WAS ALREADY OCCURRING BY THE TIME THE RECALL NOTICE WAS FIRST RECEIVED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS JUST NOW TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICING DUE TO A LACK OF ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10132594

78,000 miles · Jun 22, 2005
Electrical SystemPower Train

DT: CALLER GOT RECALL LETTER ON TRANS AXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM #C45. CALLER TOOK IT TO DEALER, DEALER SAID THEY DID THE RECALL WORK, BUT THE CALLER SAID IT WAS NOT FIXED. SHE SAID SHE COUDN'T SHIFT IT WITHOUT A KEY AND SHE COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT WHILE IT IS IN GEAR. MANUFACTURER SAID THE WORK WAS DONE,…

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DT: CALLER GOT RECALL LETTER ON TRANS AXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM #C45. CALLER TOOK IT TO DEALER, DEALER SAID THEY DID THE RECALL WORK, BUT THE CALLER SAID IT WAS NOT FIXED. SHE SAID SHE COUDN'T SHIFT IT WITHOUT A KEY AND SHE COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT WHILE IT IS IN GEAR. MANUFACTURER SAID THE WORK WAS DONE, AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING ELSE . THEY OFFERED NO HELP. CALLER SAID PROBLEM IS LISTED ON THE RECALL LETTER BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. CALLER SAID ONE TIME SHE FORGOT TO PUT IT IN PARK AND TOOK THE KEY OUT AND THE CAR ROLLED AWAY. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10126185

140,000 miles · Mar 17, 2005
Electrical SystemPower Train

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 65 MPH 1998 DODGE INTREPID BLEWUP SO HARD IT EVEN BROKE THE STARTER OFF THE TRANSMISSION BELL HAUSING. THIS WAS A NICE CLEAN TAKEN CARE OF CAR BUT THE MOTERS ARE JUNK AND CHRYSLER SAID TUFF '!@#$% WE DONT CARE . CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE TO FIX EVERY ONE OF THESE WERE ALL BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10114259

160,000 miles · Jan 7, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE IDLING AND PARKING ON THE DRIVEWAY. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106994

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2004
Electrical System

CONSUMER, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD NOT WORK INCLUDING THE AIR BAG, FAN AND POWER WINDOWS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10089481

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.

98V049000 · Air Bags:frontal

Mar 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLE. SOME PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING SOME REQUIRED COMPONENTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE IN THESE VEHICLES.

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.