Phone:

(800) 992-1997

Web:

Dodge Customer Service

Mail:

Dodge Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 21-8004
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004

1995 Dodge Stratus NHTSA Defect Investigations

• Defect Investigation #EA03011 - 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.
• Defect Investigation #PE02082 - There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, ODI found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations. Additionally, the report rate is low (1.60/100K).the information available fails to establish the existence of a defect trend at this time.further allocation of Agency resources to this issue is unwarranted and the preliminary evaluation is being closed.
• Defect Investigation #DP03002 - Mr. larry a. sackey submitted a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by letter dated April 18, 2003, requesting that nhtsafurther investigate the "defective collapsible steering shaft system" on 1987-1995 vehicles manufactured by the DaimlerChrysler corporation.in part because of 49 cfr § 30120(G), NHTSA has decided to limit the scope of the petition vehicles to 1993-1995 models, excluding the 1993 Jeep grand Cherokee and 1994-1995 Dodge Ram series trucks that were recalled (93V210 & 96V230) for steering column failure.if the analysis of these vehicles had identified a potential problem, the scope could have been expanded in an investigation.a review of ODI's data base shows no recent complaints and a lack of a complaint trend concerning the subject issue on the subject vehicles as a whole or by individual models.therefore, the petition is denied.for details, see federal register notice volume 68, no. 130, July 8, 2003.
• Defect Investigation #EA97016 - Alleged front suspension may collapse due to failure of lower control arm ball joint; loss of vehicle control may result.
• Defect Investigation #PE97009 - Front suspension may collapse due to failure of lower control arm ball joint; loss of vehicle control may result.