IllustrationCONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER COASTED VEHICLE ONTO SIDE OF ROAD. TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED ENGINE.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Intrepid 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
625–50K
4050–75K
7275–100K
49100–150K
7150K+
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
198 reportsI MADE A SHORT DRIVE HOME AT APPROX. 5:45 AM WHEN MY ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOST OF POWER AND A HARD KNOCK SOUND. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING INTO MY COMMUNITY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I RESTARTED THE CAR, IT REPEATEDLY KNOCKED LOUDLY THE NEXT 100 YARDS TO MY HOME. I THEN HAD IT TOWE…
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I MADE A SHORT DRIVE HOME AT APPROX. 5:45 AM WHEN MY ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOST OF POWER AND A HARD KNOCK SOUND. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING INTO MY COMMUNITY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I RESTARTED THE CAR, IT REPEATEDLY KNOCKED LOUDLY THE NEXT 100 YARDS TO MY HOME. I THEN HAD IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS TOTALED. THE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLING, WITH PLENTY OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. SO I HAD ALREADY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WHEN THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE CAME TO BE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED AND THE ONLY REPAIR NEEDED ON THE CAR WAS A MINOR OIL LEAK WHICH SHOULD NOT OF CAUSED SUCH A DRASTIC PROBLEM LIKE THIS. *JB
MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *LA
WE (HUSBAND AND I) OWN A 1998 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE CAR DIED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, NO LIGHTS CAME ON, NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS. WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS CAR, WITH OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD IN THE …
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WE (HUSBAND AND I) OWN A 1998 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE CAR DIED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, NO LIGHTS CAME ON, NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS. WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS CAR, WITH OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD IN THE TOWN WE LIVE IN WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WERE GOING AROUND A CURVE. LUCKILY THE TWO CARS BESIDE US WERE PAYING ATTENTION, BECAUSE SINCE THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO STEER OUT OF THE WAY, THE OTHER TWO CARS DID MANAGE TO HONK THEIR HORNS AND SWERVE, NEARLY GOING OFF OF THE ROAD. (I HAVE READ AND BEEN TOLD BY TONS OF MECHANICS THE 2.7L ENGINES IN THESE CARS ARE HORRIBLE). *LA
THE ENGINE FAILURE IS WHAT I'M SICK ABOUT. WE PAID THE CAR OFF IN DEC. 2002, AND WE WERE HAPPY WITH A RELATIVELY NEW, LOW MILEAGE CAR. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY, 2003 THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK. CHECKED OIL - FINE. IN FEBRUARY HAD OIL CHANGED. PRO TEAM TOLD US OIL DIRTY - THEY DID A FLUSH. OIL LIGHT STILL BLINKING! END OF MARCH…
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THE ENGINE FAILURE IS WHAT I'M SICK ABOUT. WE PAID THE CAR OFF IN DEC. 2002, AND WE WERE HAPPY WITH A RELATIVELY NEW, LOW MILEAGE CAR. HOWEVER, IN JANUARY, 2003 THE OIL LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK. CHECKED OIL - FINE. IN FEBRUARY HAD OIL CHANGED. PRO TEAM TOLD US OIL DIRTY - THEY DID A FLUSH. OIL LIGHT STILL BLINKING! END OF MARCH INTO APRIL CAR STARTED TO BLOW A LITTLE BLACK SMOKE, PROGRESSED TO STUTTERING AND STALLING. TOOK CAR TO CHRYSLER DEALER (FIVE STAR) FIRST THEY SAID SOMETHING WITH CARBURATOR WAS GONE - FIXED $1,L00!TOOK CAR HOME, NO CHANGE(?)BACK TO DEALER, THEN THEY TOLD US ENGINE (2.7 LITER) WAS SHOT. NEEDED TRANSPORTATION. HAD NEW ENGINE DONE. PAID $5,500 - CREDIT CARD - NO OTHER WAY. BEING ANGRY AND SICK ABOUT IT EVER SINCE.
ENGINE FAILURE: I HAD THE CAR FOR 7 MONTHS. IT SUDDENLY MADE A HIGH PITCH SQUEELING NOISE. I PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE IF I COULD FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. THE NOISE STOPPED SO I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION ANOTHER 11 MILES. I WATCHED THE TEMP. GAUGE AND THE ENGINE NEVER OVERHEATED. I PARKED AT MY DESTINATION …
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ENGINE FAILURE: I HAD THE CAR FOR 7 MONTHS. IT SUDDENLY MADE A HIGH PITCH SQUEELING NOISE. I PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE IF I COULD FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. THE NOISE STOPPED SO I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION ANOTHER 11 MILES. I WATCHED THE TEMP. GAUGE AND THE ENGINE NEVER OVERHEATED. I PARKED AT MY DESTINATION AND NOTICED A TRAIL OF WATER AND ANTIFREEZE. I NEVER STARTED IT AGAIN. I TOWED IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN, UNREPAIRABLE, COST COULD BE CLOSE TO $5,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. WINDOW: THE BACK RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW WILL GO DOWN BUT WILL NOT COME BACK UP UNLESS YOU TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF 5 OR 6 TIMES AND KEEP TRYING THE WINDOW. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED. I FIGURED I COULD LIVE WITH IT IF I DIDN'T ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN.
ON THE AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, THE BEARINGS IN THE TENSION PULLEY WENT BAD AND IT SHREADED THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH WE HAD JUST REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE NEW ENGINE. ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. A SENSOR WENT BAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR UNLESS THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. AFTER THA…
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ON THE AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, THE BEARINGS IN THE TENSION PULLEY WENT BAD AND IT SHREADED THE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH WE HAD JUST REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE NEW ENGINE. ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. A SENSOR WENT BAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR UNLESS THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. AFTER THAT, AS SOON AS WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP IT WOULD AGAIN FAIL TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST WHEN RE-ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE IS THE BIG PROBLEM. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. MY WIFE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. BUT THE ENGINE QUIT BEFORE SHE COULD EVEN GET THE CAR STOPPED. HAD IT TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THE SAID IT HAD NO OIL. WE CHANGED OIL IN THIS CAR LIKE CLOCKWORK. EVERY 3000 MILES AND WE HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKING. AND NO BLUE EXHAUST SMOKE INDICATING IT WAS BURNING UP INSIDE THE MOTOR. WE SUSPECTED BUILD UP OF ENGINE SLUDGE BUT DEALERSHIP DISPOSED OF OLD MOTOR BEFORE WE COULD SEE IT. CHRYSLER CORPORATIONS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TREATED US TERRIBLY. VERY RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL. THEY SAID ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE. WE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OUR PREVIOUS VEHICLE. A DODGE RAM THAT WAS BUILDING UP SLUDGE. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WE RECEIVED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE ON-LINE RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY TYPICAL PROBLEM. AND CHRYSLER MAINTAINS A CAVALIER ATTITUDE ABOUT IT. THEY SEEM TO BE TELLING EVERYONE THAT IT IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM AND THAT EACH CASE IS ISOLATED. THIS COST US OVER $4000.00. AND NOW WE CAN'T SELL THE CAR. I'M WONDERING WHEN THE NEW MOTOR WILL GO. IT NOW HAS 63000 MILES. SORRY FOR THE LONG LETTER, BUT, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AS MANY DETAILS AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. RONALD W. AULT. 989 435-9941. (BVDVDUDE@AOL.COM)
STARTER WENT OUT.
HEAT & A/C ONLY WORKS WHEN ON HIGH OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER YOU STOP THE CAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO CAR STARTS WHEN EVER IT GETS READY I HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM AND CRANK SENSOR $400 NOW AFTER ALL THAT THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD FOUND OUT IT'S THE ENEGINE AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
REPAIRS WERE DONE TO THE ENGINE ON 3 OCCASIONS, ROTORS 2 OCCASIONS, BRAKES 1 OCCASION, CONTROL ARMS (SUSPENSION) 1 OCCASION, STEERING 1 OCCASION, & ELECTRICAL. ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAVE 54,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE ONGOING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER, ROD H…
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REPAIRS WERE DONE TO THE ENGINE ON 3 OCCASIONS, ROTORS 2 OCCASIONS, BRAKES 1 OCCASION, CONTROL ARMS (SUSPENSION) 1 OCCASION, STEERING 1 OCCASION, & ELECTRICAL. ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAVE 54,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE ONGOING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER, ROD HARRIS, ADMITS IT A LIFTER TICKING BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS NORMAL. CHRYSLER GAVE ME AN "ADDED CARE SERVICE CONTRACT" THAT IS GOOD THROUGH 6/26/04 AND TO 75,000 MILES. PLAN CODE IS AD675H. THEY REFUSE TO FIX MY CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, AFTER THE FIRST THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT, I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER ON 1/12/04. ALSO NOTE THEY STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE TODAY 1/12/04 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT'S BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 5 DAYS. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON 1/7/04. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE FAILING NOW WITH MY 10 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. *LA
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.
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
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.