Chrysler has issued a recall for all of its 2005-2006 minivans: the Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan. The recall concerns possible issues with the airbag.
Chrylser states that this isn’t actually a recall, but rather a “safety improvement campaign.” The NHTSA says the issue is that under certain weather conditions (Presumably cold weather, as most of the affected states listed are in the north part of the US), a front airbag sensor can crack and water could get in. This can cause the sensor to become inoperative, reducing the performance of the airbag. Luckily, the airbag will still work using other sensors, hence Chrysler’s note that this a “safety improvement campaign.”
The affected states are Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Alaska and the District of Columbia.
To fix this, dealers will be replacing sensors with redesigned ones. The recall will begin in June. If you own ones of the affected cars and your airbag warning light goes off, get it inspected by your dealer ASAP.
Press Release:
Vehicle Make / Model:
CHRYSLER / TOWN AND COUNTRY
DODGE / CARAVAN
DODGE / GRAND CARAVAN
Model Year(s): 2005-2006
Manufacturer: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
Mfr’s Report Date: JAN 07, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V008000
NHTSA Action Number: RQ09003
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 312442Summary
CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER INTO THE SENSOR. THIS CAN CAUSE THE SENSOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THESE SENSORS WERE ADDED TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.
Consequence
IF THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER IS IMMEDIATELY ALERTED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PROMPTLY SERVICED. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED, THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE ENHANCED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy
CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WITH A NEW DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Notes
CHRYSLER’S CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS J38. THIS ACTION IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER HAS INFORMED NHTSA THAT IT WILL PROVIDE THE MODIFICATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AT NO COST.
Source: Autoblog