Defect Investigations - Search Results

Navigate:   ODI Home   »   Defect Investigations   »  Search »  Results List

Search Results   Report Date : November 21, 2009 at 02:48 PM NHTSA Action Number : PE08047 N/A NHTSA Action Number : PE08047 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A Make / Models :         Model/Build Years:          DODGE / RAM     2000-2001      DODGE / RAM 1500     2000-2001      DODGE / RAM 250     2001      DODGE / RAM 2500     2000-2001      DODGE / RAM 3500     2000-2001      DODGE / RAM PICKUP     2000-2001      DODGE / RAM QUAD CAB     2001 Manufacturer : CHRYSLER LLC Component : LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS Date Investigation Opened : July 25, 2008 Date Investigation Closed : December 17, 2008 Summary: THE AGENCY OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 30 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE HOODS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 AND 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS FLEW UP AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION. THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PRIMARY HOOD LATCH AND A SECONDARY (BACKUP) HOOD LATCH. THE SECONDARY LATCH IS DESIGNED TO SECURE THE HOOD IF THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED OR OTHERWISE MALFUNCTIONS. IN THESE COMPLAINTS, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION, AND DID NOT LATCH. DODGE CONDUCTED RECALL 01V-040 IN 1999 TO ADDRESS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON MODEL YEAR 1994-1997 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS. THE INFORMATION CHRYSLER PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER INDICATED THAT THE MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES WITH STAINLESS STEEL RETURN SPRINGS, AS OPPOSED TO THE EARLIER RECALLED TRUCKS THAT HAD ZINC COATED CARBON STEEL RETURN SPRINGS. THE RECALLED COMPONENTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION-INDUCED FAILURE DUE TO THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED, WHEREAS THE CORROSION FAILURES IN THE NEWER MODELS APPEAR TO BE DUE TO LUBRICATION LOSS OVER TIME (REGULAR APPLICATION OF GREASE IS ADVISED PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). ODI'S REVIEW OF CHRYSLER'S WARRANTY, COMPLAINT, AND INJURY DATA FOR THE 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES INDICATES THAT THE RATES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE LOW AND ARE DECLINING. A POTENTIAL DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. Check to Request Research. Submit below.