Dodge and Mitsubishi preliminary evaluation PE14013
Clutch Interlock Switch Malfunction. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this preliminary evaluation about the switch on 10 model years (2004–2007). Opened May 19, 2014, closed Dec 23, 2014 after 7 months. It led to safety recall 14V795000. became a recall
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedOn December 16, 2104, Chrysler Group LLC submitted a Safety Recall Report to NHTSA describing a defect in the clutch ignition interlock switches in approximately 66,819 model year (MY) 2006 through early-2007 Dodge Ram Trucks, Dodge Dakota, and Mitsubishi Raider vehicles equipped with manual transmissions and built between July 1, 2005 and July 31, 2006 (NHTSA Recall No. 14V-795, Chrysler Recall No. P80), including 38,969 MY 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles that are part of the subject vehicle population for PE14-013. Chrysler's Safety Report states that:1) the clutch ignition interlock switch return springs may experience fatigue failure due to material issues; 2) if the return springs are broken, the switch contacts may not reflect actual clutch pedal position; and 3) the failures could result in a vehicle experiencing unintended movement if the ignition is cranked when the clutch pedal is not being pressed. Chrysler's recall remedy will replace the clutch ignition interlock switch on all affected vehicles with a switch with a more robust design. On May 19, 2014, ODI opened PE14-013 to investigate clutch ignition interlock failure in MY 2004 through 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks with manual transmissions, based on two MY 2006 complaints and one MY 2004 complaint. One of the MY 2006 complaints involved a fatality that occurred when a young child was able to start a MY 2006 Ram 3500 truck that was parked with the transmission in gear, without depressing the clutch. The diesel engine started and the vehicle moved forward under power running over another child resulting in fatal injuries. ODI's analysis of failure data from all sources identified a total of 14 complaints and 16 warranty claims for the subject vehicles. Thirteen (13) of the complaints and all 16 warranty claims were for the 38,969 MY 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks that were included in 14V-795. The single complaint that was outside the scope of Chrysler's recall was the MY 2004 ODI complaint identified in the opening resume for PE14-013. Further analysis of this incident indicates that the cause of the clutch switch failure in this vehicle was spring damage caused by hydraulic fluid leakage from the clutch master cylinder into the switch. The field data did not show any other similar incidents of switch failures caused by clutch master cylinder leakage. This investigation is closed based on Chrysler's recall.
A Preliminary Evaluation is the first formal stage: NHTSA has decided the complaints and other information it screened are worth a closer look, and asks the manufacturer for its own data on the condition. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one became a recall. The campaign page carries the manufacturer’s filed defect, risk and remedy, the build window and every model year covered; whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themAlso named: 2006 Dodge Dakota; 2007 Dodge Dakota; 2004 Dodge RAM 2500; 2005 Dodge RAM 2500; 2006 Dodge RAM 2500; 2004 Dodge RAM 3500; 2005 Dodge RAM 3500; 2006 Dodge RAM 3500; 2006 Mitsubishi Raider; 2007 Mitsubishi Raider.
A vehicle page’s investigation list carries the same action; a name here is the scope NHTSA opened, not a list of affected VINs.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs PE14013 a recall?
No — it is the investigation that led to one. Recall 14V795000 is the campaign; its page carries the remedy.
Is PE14013 still open?
No. It closed on Dec 23, 2014 and led to recall 14V795000.
Which vehicles does PE14013 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 10 model years: 2006 Dodge Dakota, 2007 Dodge Dakota, 2004 Dodge RAM 2500, 2005 Dodge RAM 2500, 2006 Dodge RAM 2500, 2004 Dodge RAM 3500 and more. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.