Dodge and Chrysler recall query RQ14002
Air Bag Non-Deployment/Engine Stall. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this recall query about the air bags on 11 model years (2008–2010). Opened Jun 16, 2014, closed Mar 2, 2015 after 9 months. It concerns recall 14V373000. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedIn March 2011 Chrysler submitted a defect information report for NHTSA Recall No. 11V139 declaring a defect condition that could cause the ignition key to inadvertently move from the RUN to the ACC position on model year (MY) 2010 Dodge Journey, Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Town and Country. The report identified engine stalling as the defect consequence and cited customer complaints and warranty claims, as well as two rear-end collisions, as leading to the recall action. Chrysler determined that a defective WIN module, which is effectively the equivalent of the ignition switch, was the cause of the inadvertent key rotation, and that a new design WIN module would be installed as a remedy. In Spring 2014 ODI conducted outreach to major light vehicle manufacturers regarding ignition key position and its effect on air bag system availability. The outreach was conducted in connection with NHTSA Recall No. 14V047, a recent recall involving inadvertent ignition key rotation and subsequent air bag disablement in certain GM products. During discussions held in April 2014, Chrysler advised ODI that Chrysler air bag systems of this vintage, including the subject vehicles, revert to energy reserve when the ignition key moves to the ACC or OFF position, and that under energy reserve the air bags would only be available for a short period, approximately two tenths of a second (ODI notes this consequence was not identified in the 11V139 recall report).A review of the ODI consumer database conducted after the April 2014 discussions identified complaints alleging that MY 2008-2009 vehicles may have a similar defect as the MY 2010 vehicles, and that some MY 2010 consumers reported experiencing ignition key position concerns after the 11V139 recall remedy was applied. Accordingly this investigation was opened. In response to ODI?s information request letter, Chrysler reported that MY 2008-2009 subject vehicles used the same design WIN module as the recalled vehicles, and also identified 66 consumer reports and one non-injury crash incident potentially related to inadvertent ignition key rotation. Chrysler?s review of the MY 2010 remedy used in 11V139, which involved installation of a Trim Ring as opposed to replacement of the WIN module, showed the remedy did not adequately address ignition key position concerns, and in some use-cases could cause other systems to operate improperly (radio, instrument panel lighting, HVAC fan motor, etc.).Chrysler subsequently filed multiple defect information reports to 1) add the MY 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, and the MY 2009 Dodge Journey to the original recall scope, and 2) stating that the complete WIN module would be replaced with a new design component in all recalled vehicles (including those that had the Trim Ring installed during 11V139).Chrysler?s report also advises of constrained remedy parts availability, see NHTSA Recall No. 14V373 for further details. Accordingly, the investigation is closed based on the recall action Chrysler is undertaking. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10584873, 10583399, 10573295, 10566365, 10546805, 10513060, 10509284, 10503121, 10496599, 10475027, 10456099, 10450629, 10443680, 10422766, 10410447, 10409269, 10402947, 10402751, 10402660, 10396943, 10394957, 10356632, 10315972
A Recall Query is a look at a recall that already exists — whether its remedy works, whether it reached every vehicle it should have, whether the manufacturer met its obligations. 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 is closed. A recall query ends with NHTSA’s finding on the recall it examined — the remedy stands, is widened, or a new campaign follows; the file names the recall it concerned and NHTSA’s closing resume carries the reasoning.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themAlso named: 2008 Chrysler Town AND Country; 2009 Chrysler Town AND Country; 2010 Chrysler Town AND Country; 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan; 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan; 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan; 2008 Dodge Journey; 2009 Dodge Journey; 2010 Dodge Journey; 2009 Dodge Journey AWD; 2010 Dodge Journey AWD.
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 RQ14002 a recall?
No — it is NHTSA’s examination of recall 14V373000, which has its own page and remedy.
Is RQ14002 still open?
No. It closed on Mar 2, 2015 with its finding on recall 14V373000.
Which vehicles does RQ14002 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 11 model years: 2008 Chrysler Town AND Country, 2009 Chrysler Town AND Country, 2010 Chrysler Town AND Country, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan 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.