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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

What owners actually said

377 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2004
Power Train

THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDING WRONG INFORMATION REGARDING THE CONSUMER HAVING THE FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK RECALL 04V021000 PERFORMED. THE FIRST TIME THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL. THE SECOND TIME THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE THEY INDICATED THEY COULD …

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THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDING WRONG INFORMATION REGARDING THE CONSUMER HAVING THE FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK RECALL 04V021000 PERFORMED. THE FIRST TIME THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL. THE SECOND TIME THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE THEY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGE TITLE ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED ROAD WORTHY BY THE STATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089123

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2004
Power Train

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OR PARKED AND WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION, CONSUMER COULD MOVE THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE ,AND TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AXLE FLOOR SHIFTER PARK INTERLOCK IGNITION.…

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WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OR PARKED AND WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION, CONSUMER COULD MOVE THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE ,AND TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AXLE FLOOR SHIFTER PARK INTERLOCK IGNITION. THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. BUT CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10087899

50,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN. THEN , CONSUMER DROVE SLOWLY HOME. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ENGINE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A STANDARD FAILURE W…

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WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN. THEN , CONSUMER DROVE SLOWLY HOME. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ENGINE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A STANDARD FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLE'S ENGINES. THE ENGINE'S WERE REDESIGNED IN THE NEWER MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. *AK THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAULTY ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10080183

100,000 miles · Jul 26, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED , AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED.*AK ENGINE…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED , AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED.*AK ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10079637

41,000 miles · Jul 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

PURCHASED 1998 DODGE INTREPID 2.7 IN YEAR 2001 AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN SUMMER OF 2002. KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND HAD OIL IN IT WHEN IT SHUT DOWN. REPLACED ENGINE IN MAY 2002 FOR $4,100. THIS YEAR JUNE 2004 THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING REAL LOUD WITH NO WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF 95 IN VIRGINIA AND SHUTDOWN. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR P…

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PURCHASED 1998 DODGE INTREPID 2.7 IN YEAR 2001 AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN SUMMER OF 2002. KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND HAD OIL IN IT WHEN IT SHUT DOWN. REPLACED ENGINE IN MAY 2002 FOR $4,100. THIS YEAR JUNE 2004 THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING REAL LOUD WITH NO WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF 95 IN VIRGINIA AND SHUTDOWN. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR PUSHED OFF 95 AND HAD POLICE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED ALL THE WAY BACK TO MARYLAND AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR THE 2ND TIME.... ESTIMATED COST $6.300 PURCHASING ENGINE THROUGH JASPER WHO HAS STATED THE ENGINE HAS OIL LINE ISSUES AND WATER PUMP ISSUES. THEY HAVE REVAMPED AND REDESIGNED (SO THEY SAY TO MAKE IT A BETTER ENGINE) BUT THE COST TO HAVE A 2ND ENGINE IS JUST CRAZY AND I REFUSE TO FIX IT AGAIN.... SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ENGINE PROBLEM...... IT IS UNFAIR TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRUSTED TO PURCHASE A CAR FROM CHRYSLER/DODGE AND THEN TO HAVE OUR LIVES TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. HOW MAY COMPLAINTS DOES THERE NEED TO BE BEFORE THIS ENGINE IS RECALLED. MYSELF AND OTHERS DO TO RESEARCH ON ANOTHER SITE WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY AND HAVE LOST LOTS OF MONEY AND MOST OF US STILL OWE A BALANCE FOR THE CAR ITSELF... PLEASE SOMEONE HEAR US AND HELP!!!! I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP...... **(INFORMATION GIVEN FOR MILEAGE WAS 96000 AFTER PURCHASE THEN ON SECOND ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED WAS SAID TO HAVE ONLY 12000 MILES AND ONLY PUT 29000 ON IT UNTIL JUNE 18TH, 2004.)**** THANK YOU, TERRY AMATO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10082214

82,000 miles · Jul 16, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED PROPERLY SINCE OWNERSHIP. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082127

79,000 miles · Jul 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY WIFE WAS ON A TRIP TO ARKANSAS WITH HER PARENTS WHEN THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND HAD TO STAY IN A MOTEL DUE TO THE FACT THE PARTS HOUSE SENT THE WRONG PART. AFTER GETTING THE CAR FIXED AND ON HER WAY, FATHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE 2.7 ENGINE DROPPED A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN.. THIS ENGINE HAS BE…

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MY WIFE WAS ON A TRIP TO ARKANSAS WITH HER PARENTS WHEN THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND HAD TO STAY IN A MOTEL DUE TO THE FACT THE PARTS HOUSE SENT THE WRONG PART. AFTER GETTING THE CAR FIXED AND ON HER WAY, FATHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE 2.7 ENGINE DROPPED A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN.. THIS ENGINE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY ME WHEN IT COMES TO OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE... 3000 MILES OR 3 MONTHS FAITHFULLY SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 8 MONTHS NOW. BOUGHT IN OCTOBER OF 2003...THE CAR HAS 79,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.. I HAVBE BEEN TOLD BY A REPUTABLE MECHANIC IN JACKSON, TENNESSEE WHERE THE CAR IS AND HE HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS WILL BE THE 5TH 2.7 ENGINE HE HAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 6-7 MONTHS.. NOW I AM OUT OF ONE VEHICLE AND PROBABLY WON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH ANOTHER 2.7 CRAP ENGINE... I NEED SOME HELP FROM SOMEONE... WHO DO I NEED TO TURN TO FOR THIS????*AK

NHTSA ODI #10080811

131,000 miles · Jul 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

JULY 2002, ENGINE MAKING NOISES. DEALER SAYS DON'T KNOW WOULD HAVE TO EXPLORE. INSURANCE WOULDN'T PAY UNLESS ENGINE WAS ALREADY FAILED. AUGUST 2002 ENGINE FAILURE 5000 MILES PAST INSURANCE LIMIT. CURSORY CHECK SHOWS FLUIDS ALL OKAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10080632

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAG FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10080349

50,000 miles · Jun 30, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID, I HEARD A NOISE A SAW A BLUE CLOUD OF SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. O INDICATOR OR WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A DODGE DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE EN…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID, I HEARD A NOISE A SAW A BLUE CLOUD OF SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. O INDICATOR OR WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A DODGE DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND WOULD BE $6,000 TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOW $100!!!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10079056

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.